The sky above the crater darkened as hundreds of shadow needles materialized along the upper rim of the cliffs.
The second barrage of Underworld projectiles detached simultaneously, screeching through the sulfur haze like a localized storm of poisoned rain aimed squarely at the fallen summoner.
Before the lethal storm could descend upon Hajin's bleeding frame, Helen dashed across the shattered bedrock with blinding, desperate speed.
Six brilliant crystal Shards ignited in an explosive, razor-sharp orbit around Helen's left wrist, abandoning her earlier five-Shard limit in an instant.
The manifested sixth Shard radiated a piercing glacial aura that lowered the air temperature inside the crater by twenty degrees in a single heartbeat.
Dense sheets of hoarfrost cascaded down her armored arms, crackling across the stones as her true combat depth surged to the surface.
