The space in the center of the cannon’s barrel pulsed, power building.
Kira’s world narrowed to that tiny pinprick of light.
It grew, the area around it distorting.
Her muscles tensed.
Now.
Kira sprung to the right. The left side of her body was bathed in heat as the beam lanced past her.
The ground shook again, sand flying.
Kira darted backward, putting ten feet between herself and the cannon in an instant.
In the back of her mind, she realized her smile probably looked a tad deranged. She couldn’t bring herself to care, having far too much fun with her new toy.
The cannon roared again. And again. And again.
Each time, Kira barely evaded as she played the role of bait.
If it was possible to make an inanimate object insane with frustration, that was what she was trying to do.
The better for Raider to slip in unnoticed.
Jin kept a running commentary in the background, noting the power fluctuations in the cannon to provide her with enough warning each time to evade.
Raider was within feet of the cannon when it finally shifted in his direction.
“I guess it finally figured out who the real threat was,” Jin said.
“I suppose that means our fun is over,” Kira muttered as she launched herself in the cannon’s direction.
Even pushing herself as hard as she could, she knew she wouldn’t make it in time.
Not by foot anyway.
Kira concentrated, unfurling a tendril of ki and hardening it into two short spikes.
She launched them at the cannon as Raider raised the rod he held. With a flick of his wrist, he extended the rod to the length of a long sword.
He reached the base of the wall as the cannon fired, the blast sailing over his shoulder.
He swung his arm, the rod sheering the cannon in half.
Kira’s spikes landed a second later, embedding deep.
There was a pulse that had Raider’s eyes widening.
“Fuck,” he yelled as he shoved away from the wall, racing away.
Kira changed direction in the same instant.
There was a whoosh and then an explosion shook the arena. The force of which knocked both flat.
Kira rolled onto her back, her ears still ringing from the blast. Her shoulder throbbed, the pain letting her know she’d probably have a bruise later.
“Was that necessary?” Raider shouted.
