Rhys blurred aside as the hammer came crashing down, the shockwave blasting shards of frozen iron across the floor. Frost bit into his boots as he slid to a stop, his blade already surging with mana.
"[Water Blade]!"
A surge of sapphire energy spiraled down the Ruinous Darkness Blade's jagged edge. He swung upward in a clean arc—the strike met the Sentinel's knee with a ringing crack. Ice splintered, a chunk of the creature's leg breaking loose, but instead of falling, molten blue light spilled out from the wound like liquid flame.
The Sentinel's roar deepened. The light within it pulsed, spreading across its chest, veins of cold fire crawling up its armor.
Puddle's tone sharpened. Master, their cores—inside their chests. The 'heartfire.' Strike there, or they'll reform.
"Got it." Rhys kicked off the ground, momentum carrying him into a rising spin. Mana flared around him—swift, controlled.
"[Whirlwind Slash]!"