Herald's first attack came without warning.
One moment it floated above harbor, crystalline structure pulsing with void energy. The next, a beam of concentrated corruption lanced toward the evacuation zone. Two kilometers distant. Where thirty thousand civilians had sheltered after clearing waterfront.
The void beam was purple-black. Three meters wide. Moving at near-light speed. Impossible to intercept through normal means.
But Rama had Timeline 1 memory. Had seen this exact attack. Had died to it once. Learned from dying.
He moved before conscious thought. [Tactical Overseer] had predicted the attack vector. Champion-enhanced speed covered fifteen meters in heartbeat. Void Render raised. [Champion's Presence] channeled through blade.
The void beam hit his greatsword instead of civilian shelter.
