A Brute roared, swinging a slab-sized fist; I sidestepped, let the blow pass, then buried the bastard sword under its jaw, twisting free in a spray of gore. The gap it left was all I needed! Because the Commander was right there, climbing over the last corpse ramp.
I raised the blade high, spirit power flooding the steel, the edge humming with killing intent.
And then I froze from the sheer pressure.
As if the weight of a mountain slammed down on me, thick and suffocating, like standing beneath a collapsing building.
My muscles locked as the air itself seemed to tighten around my chest. The strange Qi was both dense and murky, like a swamp. The level was close to mine, no higher even! But lacked the same finesse and technique.
It was wild like an untamed beast.
The dark aura enveloped my body, wrapped my limbs and somewhere in the smoke... hidden by the horde, a new silhouette stepped into view.
A man I once knew.
