"Is Sir Emery alright?" Vic asked, worry tightening his voice.
"What are you doing, kid? Focus!" Annara snapped, flames dancing at her fingertips.
Minutes had passed since their brutal clash with the guardian golem—minutes in which Emery and Dravic had remained locked in a silent soul duel, suspended like statues. The battlefield held its breath.
"Watch out!!" Livi cried.
The guardian golem broke through VIA's controlled artisan construct with a sudden burst of power and barreled straight for Vic. The Baphomet guardian tried to intercept but was instantly overwhelmed. At the very last moment, Emery's dark avatar blurred into view, intercepting the blow and dragging Vic out of the kill zone.
"It's learning!" Annara shouted over the clash, frustration clear. "Not only are you the weakest link, that formation talisman of yours is dealing real damage—it's adapting to you!"
