The girls separated smoothly as everyone focused, the playful intimacy of moments ago replaced by the sharp edge of survival.
Weapons and artifacts materialized in their hands. Raven stood bare handed as silent blood-mirage energy hummed around her, Summer had shadow-veiled daggers that drank the light, Katherine held crystalline sound-forks that could shatter talents with a single note.
Seth drew a heavy broadsword etched with defensive runes, Connor a sleek rapier that sang with restrained power. Mana-regeneration pendants glowed faintly at their throats, ready to drink the realm's ambient energy.
"This barrier is on par with Galactic Factions…" Seth muttered, eyes wide as he watched groups of Sixth and Seventh Calamity cultivators hammer at the dome with forbidden arrays, only for the crystal surface to reflect their attacks back in blinding rainbows.
