“Any last words?” Noah growled, a maniacal look in his eyes.
Fresh panic set in Yiran’s brain as Noah closed the distance.Run! Move!But where could he go? He was trapped in a death match, and even if he won, a band of Hybrids was waiting outside to get him. He was doomed. This was the end. He couldn’t—
There’s only one solution to this.Stop fencing.
“Rui,” he gasped out loud. Why was he thinking of her now?
Stop fencing.
She was right. No more rules. But what could he—Tesha’s glove.
No. Song Yiran’sweapon.
He’d never been drawn to offensive moves when it came to magic. His instinct had always been to defend himself during sparring sessions at the Academy or to protect his teammates so that theycould launch their attacks. But there was a specific offensive spell that had stuck in his head after a class.
The spell was a cheat. Its incantation disguised its intent, making it impossible for an opponent to read. A successful casting was a killing blow. There was no other outcome. Though effective, it was seldom used, and cadets were taught to avoid it even when circumstances were dire. The difficulty of the spell didn’t lie only in its execution, but also in the sacrifice the caster had to make. It drained every drop of spiritual energy from you, bringing you close to death’s door. And if you were alone against more than one opponent, you would be completely vulnerable after.
Yiran’s circumstances were beyond dire now. He could put on his glove. Either the thing inside him was magic or it wasn’t. What else did he have to lose? Death in the form of a child soldier was heading his way.
There’s only one solution.
Yiran emptied his mind. Slipped his hand into his glove—
Stop fencing.
—and whispered the incantation.
Searing heat cascaded through his body. The world burned brighter in his eyes. The air dazzled with energy, and it flowed through him andoutof him. He channeled everything he could feel. Gave all he had. Through the crimson haze of delirium, he saw Noah’s feral face, his eyes blazing with hate....
The violet flashes stopped.
Something hit the sand.
Yiran saw Noah’s crumpled form. The boy wasn’t moving at all. And suddenly, it wasn’t Noah on the ground anymore.
It was Eddy.
Impaled against a tree. Bleeding. Dying.
White spots filled Yiran’s vision. Nausea rose in his throat. But he limped over and crouched down. Without his pincers and spiked tail, Noah looked so young, so small.
So utterly human.
“Eddy,” Yiran breathed out. He shook his head.“Noah.”
There was no response.
“Noah?” he repeated, voice strangled.
He grabbed Noah’s arm. Flesh and bone. The Hybrid wasn’t turning into stone or crumbling into ash the way Aloysius did when Rui vanquished him. Something had gone wrong with Yiran’s offensive spell. It’d knocked Noah out, but it hadn’t killed him.
No.Something went right.It wasgoodthat Yiran had failed. Noah was still alive.
“Finish the fight,” a voice commanded.
“It’s finished,” Yiran whispered.
“Finish. The. Fight.”
