Splat!
The sound of thick blood splashing onto the smooth stone floor echoed across the field, followed immediately by a harsh, wet cough.
Illena's body lurched as she hacked up another mouthful of blood, the salty-sweet metallic taste overwhelming her tongue.
Her arms twitched as her grip on the woman's wrist loosened, and her legs dropped weakly from around her opponent's waist.
Her back slid down the wall, temporarily limp. Her gauntlets scraped loudly along the stone as she collapsed to one knee, coughing harder.
A fine spray of red mist exploded from her lips when she exhaled. Blood spilled freely now, trailing down her chin, soaking into her suit.
She placed her trembling hands on the ground to support herself, but then her fingers slipped between the stones, shoveling out sand.
Her stomach clenched again in a tight, uncontrollable spasm, nerves firing wildly as the pain spread through her core and around her body.
