The tidal wave of steel tore across the chamber, spikes ripping through stone and leaving nothing but jagged ruin in their path. For a heartbeat, Noel's body locked up. There was no dodging, no cover—just death.
Then instinct roared louder than fear.
"Shadow Step!"
Darkness swallowed him as the wall of metal surged closer. He reappeared a split second later, arms already wrapping around Selene. Her eyes widened as he pulled her against him, plunging them both back into the shadows at the last possible instant.
They emerged in a battered corner of the hall, the floor behind them shredded into a forest of twisted spikes. Noel collapsed to one knee, Revenant Fang's edge trembling in his grip. His mana pathways screamed from the double cast, shadows still licking at his skin like smoke.
Selene steadied herself quickly, though her breathing was sharp. Her gaze flicked to him, cool but edged. "You're burning too much mana. You won't last if you keep forcing it."
