In a devastated region, with the ground torn apart and trees fallen and twisted in all directions...
...a hand burst through the soil from below.
Niara emerged from the earth with a tense expression, covered in blood. That artifact… for them to have escaped instantly, they could only have teleported a short distance away. So, they must've been hit by part of the explosion too.
As soon as she came out, Darian healed her completely. Then... he took a deep breath...
No one else could see it, but an endless sea of black lines was slithering along the horizon. The karma of all the dead was flowing toward him like a tsunami.
Niara took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. It had been a dangerous raid into the enemy's main base, followed by a precise and terrifying escape. She focused on Darian and smiled, thrilled. Ever since he'd entered her life, everything was exciting — and she never felt alone again.
