The conductor was in front of me.
Then it was five meters away.
I arrived on the empty stone beside the second pier with Nihil still locked in my hand. The blade had come with me, clear of the active link before the next pulse reached the place where I had been falling.
The charge I had armed was gone.
Pain stayed. The first return had already damaged my channel. Moving away did not take it back.
[ THE VILLAIN'S LEDGER - CONTINGENCY ]
QUALIFYING LETHAL EVENT: ACTIVE
INTERVENTION: FIVE-METER SIDESTEP COMPLETED
CHARGES: 3 -> 2
NDI FEE: +2.0%
NDI: 29.0% -> 31.0%
VP BALANCE: 50
I didn't confirm anything.
Once armed, the service did not wait for another instruction when the lethal condition began.
My knee hit the floor. The remaining pressure ran through my arm in broken, painful bursts. Another bright pulse struck the empty contact point across the chamber.
The charge had moved me clear of one death. The link was still active.
Liora reached me.
