BANG—!
The shot missed—but only barely.
I felt the wind of it graze my cheek, and before I could even process how close I'd been to losing my head, she adjusted her aim and fired again.
Bang! Bang!
The sound echoed through the arena like thunderclaps, each one followed by a faint shimmer in the air where the magic barrier intercepted the projectiles.
I dove to the side, rolling across the floor. "What the hell is that!?"
"A prototype," Aria said with the kind of casual tone someone might use when describing their favorite teacup. "Mana compression rounds. They hit harder than a crossbow bolt and travel faster than a spell."
She fired again.
I had to duck behind Lan, shifting it into its staff form, using it as a shield while my brain tried to keep up.
