---
She loved that feeling. It meant the drop. It meant the slam. She kept her hunger on a short line.
On the ground, the fight chewed seconds in small bites. Kai's arms burned. His lungs pulled fire and gave back steam. His aura engine ran hot, but he kept it fed. He let Essence Eater sip and not gulp. He used Devourer's Bite once, quickly, on the edge of a spear that came too close. The iron groaned under his bite and the point bent. The four-star who held it stared at the broken tip and then at Kai and took one step back without meaning to. In that heartbeat, Azhara slid a knife under his ribs and laid him down like clothing. She moved again. She kept the count. She never let two men see her in the same place.
[System Notification: You have slain a Four-Star Soldier. +40 Experience.]
"You are obviously an ant. From your transformation I can see it." The captain dragged in breath and spat blood in the sand. "What is your name?" he said between teeth.
"Kai," he said.
