The ash was still settling.
All around them, the battlefield stood silent, scarred and scorched, the smell of ozone and burnt flesh lingering like a warning from the heavens. The last echoes of the abomination's death throes had faded into the distance. Then, from above, streaks of motion carved through the sky as the other Vanguards descended, forming a line beside Nikko Yakomoto.
Their boots touched the earth.
The storm of primal energy that had coiled around Nikko began to recede, unraveling like smoke whisked away by the wind. Her body returned to its normal size, hair shortening back to black, her muscles relaxing, her expression once more composed. But the change wasn't complete.
Her hands, were still clawed, elongated, and glimmering faintly with residual primal energy, remained in their transformed state.
Raven's brow furrowed.
"You alright?"
