Back at the forest.
The monster growled.
Its body now pulsed red, veins of molten light crawling across its skin like lava cracking through armor. Its eyes, cold and sharp, never left Kaelen.
Kaelen clenched his fists, his feet bracing against the shattered earth beneath him.
Then, he raised his hand.
"
A radiant dome burst outward, bathing the battlefield in soft, golden light. The broken terrain began to mend within its bounds. The air shimmered with warmth, mana flowing with divine purity. His body, still strained from earlier spells, felt lighter now.
But there was no time to breathe.
"
Shhhhhhkt—shink!
Holy spears of light erupted from the air at random, sharp and bright as starlight. They struck from unpredictable angles, trying to intercept the monster's movement, cutting, grazing and slowing it.
The monster ducked, weaved, then roared and barreled through a rain of blades, breaking dozens of thorns in a single charge.
