Reborn Evolution
Page 47
He-aspun-aaround,-ahis-aattention-asplit-abetween-amaintaining-ahis-anet,-acontrolling-athe-atyphoons,-aand-awhatever-ahad-aappeared-abehind-ahim.-a
Back-awhere-athey'd-aleft-aHelena-ato-arecover,-aunder-athe-aprotection-aof-ahis-aBlue-aHealing-aRain,-aa-asmall-aball-aof-afire-ahad-ablasted-ainto-athe-aair,-agiving-aoff-aa-aheavy,-apure-afeeling-aof-afire.-a
That-aball-aof-afire-ahad-aemerged-afrom-aa-ascaled-ahumanoid-awho-awas-aclutching-ainto-aHelena's-ashoulders.-a
"Is-athat-aa-aDemon?!-aWhat?!"-aHis-aeyes-aopened-awide-ain-ashock-aand-aconfusion,-aand-aa-amild-abit-aof-apleasure-athat-aa-aspecies-ahe-athought-awas-aextinct-ahad-areappeared.-a
Before-ahe-acould-ado-aanything-aelse,-ahowever,-athe-agiant-adragon-aabove-athem-aspoke-aaloud.-a
"YOU'VE-aHIT-aME,-aAND-aHAD-aYOUR-aTURN!"
"NOW-aI-aCOMMAND:-aTHE-aWORLD-aSHALL-aBURN!"
The-agargantuan-aball-aof-afire-ait-ahad-aspawned-awas-aunleashed.-a
It-aspanned-aat-aleast-afive-amiles-ain-ascale.-aBoiling-afire-ablazing-atrails-aof-ainfernal-aheat,-ait-awas-aa-aminiature-asun-aunto-aitself,-aa-adevastating-astar-aof-aflame-athat-awould-aincinerate-aanything-ain-aits-apath.-aThe-aair-aaround-ait-adistorted-aand-ashivered-aunder-athe-avast-ainfluence-aof-athe-adragon's-aattack,-athe-apower-ainherent-ain-ait-asimply-atoo-astrong.-a
An-aattack-aof-athis-ascale-acould-adevastate-athe-aentire-acity-abehind-athem.-aIn-afact,-ait-acould-adecimate-athe-aentire-aplateau-athis-acity-arested-aon.-aThe-asheer-amight-awithin-ait-awas-aridiculous.-a
Trajan-adropped-ahis-atyphoons-aand-aspun-aback,-ahis-aeyes-aclosing-aas-ahe-aclasped-ahis-ahands-atogether.-a
"Rain-aMagic:-aEmpyrean-aRain-aNet-a--aSEAL!"-a
The-alast-abit-aof-aenergy-aleft-ain-ahim-avanished,-aspent-aup-aas-ahe-afinished-acasting-ahis-aspell-aand-ayelled-aaloud.-a
"PROBUS,-aCUT-aTHE-aPLAN,-aSAVE-aHELENA!"
..-a..-a..-a..-a..-a..-a..-a..-a..-a
Drago's-avision-ahad-abeen-areplaced-aby-aa-athousand-alines-aof-ared-alight.-a
Everywhere-ahe-alooked,-athe-ared-alines-aseemed-ato-apull-aand-atug,-ashowing-adifferent-alevels-aof-aheat,-aof-aenergy,-aof-apower.-a
Ausra's-avoice-arang-aout-ain-ahis-amind,
'Your-acurrent-aform's-aLife-aElemental-aenergy-ais-ainteracting-awith-athe-aFire-aElemental-aenergy,-aand-aoverloading-ayour-asystem.-aThe-aenergy-ahas-abeen-asuccessfully-aabsorbed,-abut-ayour-acurrent-aform-ais-aunable-ato-abear-athe-abrunt-aof-athe-aheat.'-a
His-aLesser-aThrone-aDemon-aform-awas-apowerful,-abut-ait-awasn't-adesigned-ato-ahandle-araw,-aElemental-aFire-aenergy.-aThe-aFire-aEnergy-awas-aunlike-athe-aLife-aEnergy.-aIt-awas-adangerous-aand-awild,-afull-aof-apowerful-aheat.-aEven-awith-ahis-aLife-aEnergy-aacting-aas-aa-abaseline-aand-aprotecting-ahim,-ahis-abody-astill-acouldn't-abear-ait.-a
If-ait-ahad-ajust-abeen-athe-aenergy-afrom-athe-aGolden-aApple,-aDrago-amight-ahave-abeen-aable-ato-ahandle-ait.-aAusra-awas-aable-ato-adirect-athat-aenergy-aand-ahelp-ahim-acontrol-ait.-a
The-aenergy-ahe-aabsorbed-afrom-athe-afemale-avampire,-ahowever,-awas-alike-aa-adeadly-apoison,-arunning-awild-aand-arampant.-aIt-awas-anearly-auncontrollable.-a
His-aeyes-ashook-aas-ahe-atried-ato-again-acontrol-aof-athe-apower,-afeeling-ait-astart-ato-ago-awild-ainside-ahim.-aHis-aentire-abody-abegan-ato-ashake.-a
'Ah-okay.'-aHe-amentally-asputtered,-aletting-ago-aof-athe-afemale-avampire.-aHe-ahad-asuccessfully-amanaged-ato-apull-aall-athe-afire-aenergy-aout-aof-aher-abody.-a
As-ahe-alet-ago,-ahe-avaguely-asaw-aher-aopen-aher-aeyes-awide,-ablinking-aand-astaring-aup-aat-ahim.-a
Drago-afell-ato-athe-aground-aand-ainstantly-aassumed-aa-asitting-aposition,-ameditating.-a
'Control-ait.-aControl.-aI-amust-acontrol-ait.'-aHis-amind-aconcentrated,-adoing-aeverything-ahe-acould-ato-awill-athe-avirile-aenergy-ato-astop.-a
He-acompletely-aignored-ahis-asurroundings,-afocused-aonly-aon-ahimself.-a
In-athe-asky-aabove,-athe-aapocalyptic-ameteor-aof-afire-awas-acurrently-abeing-asurrounded-aby-aa-amassive,-ablue-anet.-aA-ahurricane-aof-awhite-asteam-ablasted-aout,-aspreading-aacross-athe-asky-aas-athese-atwo-aforces-acollided,-asending-athe-aentire-aarea-ainto-aa-astorm-aof-afog.-a
Gradually,-aDrago's-afaded-agreen-ascales-abegan-ato-atake-aon-aa-ared-atinge.-aHe-agave-aoff-aheat,-asteam-aescaping-afrom-ahis-abody.-a
'It's-anot-aworking.'-aHe-ainstantly-acame-ato-athe-aconclusion-aas-ahe-afelt-ahis-abody-astart-ato-aturn,-athe-aeffects-aof-athe-aenergy-abeginning-ato-adamage-ahim.-aEven-awith-ahis-anear-aperfect-aself-control,-ahe-awas-aunable-ato-aget-aa-afull-ahandle-aof-athe-aFire-aEnergy.-a
'Very-awell,-athen,-aPlan-aB.'-aHe-adidn't-ahesitate,-ahis-ahead-anodding-asharply-aas-ahe-awent-awith-ahis-abackup-aplan,
'Ausra,-aEvolve-ame-ainto-aa-aFire-aImp.'-a
'Evolving…'-a
His-aentire-abody-ashifted,-athe-ared-alights-aflashing-ain-ahis-aeyes-aas-ahis-aform-abegan-ato-atransform.-a
The-aLife-aAura-athat-asurrounded-ahim-abegan-ato-aturn-ainward-aand-avanish-aas-ahis-abody-achanged-ashape.-a
His-abody-abegan-ato-agrow-asmaller,-acondensing-ainward-ato-aroughly-aa-ameter.-aHis-aclawed-ahands-abegan-ato-ashift,-abecoming-atiny,-aincorporeal-aflame-hands.-aStreams-aof-awarm-afire-abegan-ato-awrap-aaround-ahis-abody.-aHis-ahead-abegan-ato-aglow-aa-abright-aorange,-atransforming-ainto-aa-amass-aof-aflames.-a
Before-ahe-aeven-afinished-atransforming,-ahowever,-aa-anotification-aappeared-ain-ahis-ahead.-a
'Your-aFire-aImp-aform-ahas-aundergone-aa-amutation,-aconsistent-awith-athe-aFire-aElemental-aenergy-ain-ayour-abody-aalongside-atraces-aof-athe-aLaw-aof-aFire.'
'This-amutation-ahas-aset-aoff-aa-achain-areaction-ain-ayour-asoul.-aIf-athis-ais-anot-aaddressed,-athere-ais-aa-anonzero-achance-ayour-asoul-awill-adissipate.'
His-aeyes-aflashed.-a
'How-ado-aI-aaddress-athis?'-aHis-ahead-awas-astarting-ato-afeel-ahazy,-athe-acolossal-aheat-arunning-ain-ahis-abody-amaking-ahim-afeel-aas-aif-aeverything-aseemed-aa-abit-aodd.-aHis-amind-awas-aunstable,-athe-aworld-aaround-ahim-afeeling-aas-aif-ait-awasn't-aquite-areal.-a
'It-ais-arecommended-ato-acombine-ayour-aFire-aImp-abloodline-awith-ayour-aLesser-aThrone-aDemon-abloodline.-aIf-ayou-ainfuse-ayour-aremaining-aEnergy-aPoints,-aI-ashould-abe-aable-ato-aextrapolate-aa-avalid-acombination-aand-aavoid-athe-asoul-aadaptation-aperiod-awithout-atoo-amany-aserious-aside-aeffects.'-a
'Do-ait.'-aMaybe-ahe-awould-awaste-ahis-apoints,-abut-athat-awas-abetter-athan-adying.-aThis-ahad-aturned-aout-aa-abit-amore-adangerous-athan-ahe-athought-ait-awould-abe.-a
'Acknowledged.'-aAusra's-avoice-arang-aout-ain-ahis-amind-aas-ashe-aresponded.-a
'Combining-abloodlines.'-a
His-ahalf-formed-aFire-aImp-abody-avibrated-aand-athen-abegan-ato-aexpand,-afrom-aits-adiminutive-ameter-atall-aheight-ato-aa-ataller-atwo-aand-aa-ahalf-ameters-ain-ascale.-aPain-abegan-ato-aradiate-afrom-aDrago's-abody-aas-ahis-aarms-aand-alegs-atwisted,-achanging.-a
His-askin-aturned-apitch-ablack,-adarker-athan-anight.-aHis-ahands-atransformed-aback-ainto-ahumanoid-ahands,-amaintaining-athe-asame-acoal-ablack-acolor.-aHis-afeet-abecame-avaguely-ahumanoid,-abut-awith-athree-aclaws-ainstead-aof-atoes.-aA-ablack,-ahumanoid-amask-acovered-ahis-aface,-awith-asmall-astrings-aof-ablack-afire-arising-aoff-ait.-aBehind-athat-amask,-aan-aenormous-aball-aof-afire-aconstantly-aexploded,-alighting-ahis-ashoulders-aand-ahead-aconstantly-aaflame.-a
His-aarms-awere-acovered-ain-aa-apair-aof-ablack-agauntlets,-awith-ared-afire-arising-aout-afrom-athe-aend-aof-aeach,-awhere-ahis-aelbows-awere.-aTwo-asets-aof-asimilar-agauntlets-acovered-ahis-alower-alegs,-asmall-agouts-aof-afire-aexpanding-afrom-ahis-aknees.-a
(Image:-ahttps://www.epicpath.org/images/thumb/1/17/Ifrit4.png/801px-Ifrit4.png)
His-anew-aform-avirtually-aradiated-apower-aand-aheat.-a
'Combination-acomplete.-aNew-aform-aacquired.'-a
A-asmall-ablip-aof-ainformation-aappeared-ain-aDrago's-amind-aas-ahe-aclosed-ahis-aeyes,-afeeling-aa-asense-aof-amight-awithin-ahim.-a
-
<
br /> Ifrit-a--aLord-aClass-a(Early)
-
Maximum-aEnergy-aLevel:-a10,565-a
Ability:-aFire-aSense,-aLife-aSense,-aDemonic-aEyes,-aConstant-aRegeneration
Powerful-ademons-aborn-awith-aan-ainnate-aconnection-ato-athe-aElements-aof-aboth-aFire-aand-aLife.-aThe-aexact-aorigin-aof-athe-aIfrit-ais-aunknown,-abut-athe-araw-apower-aof-athis-aspecies-ais-ainarguable.-aThey-ahave-athe-aability-ato-aconstantly-aheal-afrom-ainjuries,-adrawing-aupon-athe-aenergy-aof-athe-auniverse-aaround-athem-ato-arestore-atheir-awounds.-aNearly-aimmune-ato-afire-abased-aattacks.
(Note:-aThe-aMaximum-aEnergy-aLevel,-ain-athis-acontext,-ais-athe-astrongest-aa-acreature-acan-abecome-athrough-anatural-agrowth.-aTraining-ain-amystic-amartial-aarts-aor-amagic-acan-agreatly-aenhance-athe-astrength-aof-aa-acreature-abeyond-atheir-anormal-alimits.)-a
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'Your-asoul-ahas-aforcibly-aaccepted-athe-aadaptation-aand-agrown-ayour-anew-abloodline-ato-aits-amaximum-aGrowth-aStage,-ausing-aup-athe-aabsorbed-aElemental-aEnergy.-aDue-ato-athe-aresulting-abacklash,-ayou-awill-afall-aunconscious-ain-aroughly-a11-aminutes.-aThe-arisk-aof-adeath-afor-athis-atransformation-awas-aapproximately-a7%,-abut-ahas-asuccessfully-abeen-aavoided.'-aAusra's-awas-acool-ain-aDrago's-amind.
Drago-aopened-ahis-aeyes,-asmall-aflames-agleaming-aout-aof-athem.-a
'Got-ait.'-aHe-aeyes-anarrowed-aas-ahe-atook-ain-athe-asituation-abefore-ahim.-a
He-aneeded-ato-aact-afast.
.
###-aChapter-a55-a--aStanding-aAlone
All-aHelena-acould-afeel-awas-aunending-afire-aand-apain,-aracking-aher-abody-aover-aand-aover.-aConstant-atorture-athat-adug-acinders-ainto-aher-amind,-aleaving-abehind-aembers-athat-aseared-aher-asoul,-aover-aand-aover.-a
It-awas-athe-aworst-aagony-ashe-ahad-aever-afelt-ain-aher-alife.
'FOCUS-aHELENA!'-aShe-amentally-ayelled,-atrying-ato-awill-aher-abody-ato-aheal.-aThe-anatural-aregeneration-aof-aa-avampire-awas-afearsome,-aespecially-afor-aher,-aa-aPseudo-King-aClass-avampire.-a
The-asearing-abeam-athat-adragon-ahad-asent-aout-awas-afar-atoo-apowerful-afor-aher-adefenses-ato-ahandle.-aShe-ahad-amanaged-ato-adodge-athe-abrunt-aof-athe-aattack,-abut-aeven-athe-adamage-afrom-ajust-athe-aair-aaround-ait-awas-atoo-amuch.-a
The-abeam-aof-afire-athe-aTranscendent-aFlame-aDragon-ahad-aspat-awas-amade-aup-aof-apure,-aconcentrated-aFire-aEnergy,-aderived-afrom-athe-aLaw-aof-aFire.-aIt-awas-aan-aattack-aone-acould-ause-aonly-aif-aone-ahad-aobtained-acomplete-amastery-aof-aa-aLaw,-athe-abar-afor-aentering-athe-aKing-aClass.
A-abar-athat-aHelena-ahad-abeen-atrying-ato-asurpass-afor-aa-adecade-anow,-aand-aconstantly-afailed.-aThe-abiggest-afailure-aof-aher-alife.-a
Over-aand-aover-athe-apain-awashed-aupon-aher-asoul,-asmashing-ainto-aher,-aburning-aher,-atrying-ato-amake-aher-agive-aup.-aHer-astrength-aof-awill-abegan-ato-awaver,-atears-aforming-ain-aher-aeyes-aas-athe-aworld-abegan-ato-atransform-ainto-ablackness.-a
'No…-aplease-ano…'-aHer-avoice-abegan-ato-alose-aits-aedge,-abecoming-asmall.-a
'Please…-aI-acannot-afail-anow…'-aMemories-abegan-ato-aflash-athrough-aher.-a
Memories-aof-aher-agrowing-aup-ain-athe-aAurelius-aFamily.-aOf-aher-aloving-aparents,-atwo-arelatively-anormal-avampires-athat-aserved-aas-abookkeepers-ain-aone-aof-athe-aFamily-aheadquarters.-a
Memories-aof-athem-adying-abefore-aher-aeyes-aduring-athe-aInvasion-aof-aLight-aby-athe-aShade-aCommune,-amore-athan-a40-ayears-aago.-aHer-apitiful-aweakness,-aunable-ato-aso-amuch-aas-araise-aa-ahand-ato-aprotect-athem.-a
Memories-aof-abeing-aalone,-aof-abeing-acaptured,-ataken-ato-abe-aa-aslave.-a
Memories-aof-aher-ahero,-aHighlord-aMarcus,-asaving-aher,-abut-asuffering-aa-aterrible-awound-ain-areturn.-a
His-agentle-asmile-aas-ablood-aspurted-afrom-aa-ahorrid-aslash-aon-ahis-achest,-aa-awound-athat-awas-acursed-ato-anever-afully-aheal.-a
Memories-aof-athe-aconstant-ayears-ashe-ahad-atrained,-aover-aand-aover,-anever-aletting-aherself-aslack-aoff.-aAll-afor-athe-achance-ato-aredeem-aherself,-ato-aprotect-athe-aman-athat-awould-agive-aup-aeverything-ato-aprotect-aher.-a
And-anow…-ain-athe-aend…-a
She-acould-anot-aeven-aprotect-aherself.-a
She-ahad-afailed.-a
Guilt,-ashame,-arage,-aanger,-adespair,-aloss.-a
A-aplethora-aof-aemotions-awashed-aover-aher-aas-adarkness-abegan-ato-atake-aover.-a
The-aworld-abegan-ato-aclose-aitself-aoff-afrom-aher.-a
And,-aonce-amore…-a
She-awas-aalone.-a
'Please.'
As-aher-aconsciousness-abegan-ato-afade,-ashe-asent-aout-aone-alast,-aquiet-acall,-abegging.-a
'Please-ahelp-ame.'-a
Silence-agreeted-aher.-a
'…'
'…'
'…'
'Come.'
Just-aas-ashe'd-alost-aall-ahope,-aa-avoice-aappeared-ain-aHelena's-aconsciousness.-aAn-ahonest,-apowerful-avoice,-afull-aof-aconfidence,-acare,-aand-asadness,-athe-aemotions-ain-ait-avisible-ato-aHelena.-aIt-arocked-aher-ato-aher-acore,-aflowing-athrough-aevery-afiber-aof-aher-abeing.-a
Like-aa-abeam-aof-alight-ain-aa-asea-aof-adarkness,-athis-avoice-acalled-aout-ato-aHelena,-aechoing-athrough-aher-asoul.-a
'Come-ato-ame.'
Helena's-aeyes-aopened-aup,-aa-aburning-alight-aappearing-ain-athem-aonce-amore.-a
..-a..-a..-a..-a..-a..-a..-a..
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Ifrit-a--aGrowth-aStage:-a(4/4)-aElder-aIfrit-a-
Growth-aProgress-a--a0/0-a-
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His-aforced-aemergency-atransformation-ahad-aallowed-ahim-ato-afully-agrow-ahis-abloodline,-ain-aaddition-ato-askipping-athe-asoul-aadaptation-aperiod,-athough-arisking-adeath-ain-athe-aprocess,-aas-awell-aas-aforcing-ahim-ato-afall-aunconscious-ain-aa-afew-aminutes.-aIf-ahe-ahadn't-ajust-aswallowed-aa-anatural-atreasure,-ahe-ahad-ano-adoubt-athat-asuch-aa-arisk-awould-ahave-aultimately-akilled-ahim.
Drago-apushed-athe-ainformation-ato-athe-aside-aas-ahe-ablinked,-alooking-aforward.-a
The-aworld-aaround-ahim-ahad-atransformed-ainto-aa-amaze-aof-asteam.-aWhite-afog-athat-alittered-athe-asky,-aobscuring-ahis-avision.-a
That-afog-arapidly-afaded,-ahowever,-aas-aan-aenormous,-agaping-ameteor-aof-aflame-aslammed-ainto-athe-aground-ain-afront-aof-ahim-aand-abegan-ahurtling-atoward-athe-acity.-aBright-astreaks-aof-aorange-afire-aexploded-aoff-aof-ait,-arippling-ain-athe-aair.-a
Drago-astared-aup-aat-athe-agiant-aball-aof-aflame,-ahis-aeyes-acalm-aas-ahe-aanalyzed-aeverything.-a
His-asenses-ahad-agrown-astronger-ain-ahis-anew-aform.-aIn-aparticular,-ahis-aability-ato-asense-aenergy.-a
He-acould-atell-athat-athis-avast-ameteor-aof-aflame-ahad-abeen-aweakened,-aits-aattack-apower-areduced-aby-aroughly-atwo-thirds-aof-aits-apeak.-a
Despite-athat,-aif-athe-aball-aof-afire-awas-aleft-aunchecked,-ait-awould-ablast-ainto-athe-acity,-aand-adevastate-ait,-awiping-aout-ahundreds-aof-athousands-aof-alives.-a
He-ahad-aapproximately-asix-aseconds-ato-areact.-a
He-atook-aa-adeep-abreath-aand-astepped-aforward,-ahis-afists-aclenched.-a
..-a..-a..-a..-a..-a..-a..-a.
Probus-athrew-ahimself-aforward,-ahis-abody-amoving-aso-aquickly-ait-awas-aa-ablur.-aThe-asharp-aAura-athat-asurrounded-ahim-acut-athe-aair-ain-afront-aof-ahim,-aallowing-ahim-ato-areduce-athe-atug-aof-afriction,-aand-avastly-aincrease-ahis-aspeed.
It-atook-ahim-aonly-aa-asplit-asecond-ato-aappear-anext-ato-athe-adowned-aHelena,-aand-athe-acreature-athat-awas-aattacking-aher.-a
His-aeyes-awere-acold-aas-ahe-aslammed-adown,-acracks-aappearing-ain-athe-aearth-adue-ato-athe-aforce-aof-ahis-alanding.-a
The-aattacker-aappeared-ato-abe-asome-atype-aof-ahumanoid,-awith-apitch-ablack-askin.-aIt-awas-aoddly-abuilt,-awith-aa-amass-aof-aflames-acoming-afrom-aits-ahead,-aarms,-aand-aknees.-a
It-awas-aemanating-aa-adangerous-aair,-abut,-afor-asome-aodd-areason,-astopping-aits-aattack-aon-aHelena,-aand-ainstead-alooking-aup-aat-athe-amassive-aball-aof-afire-athat-awas-arushing-atowards-athem.-a
'Trajan-acouldn't-astop-ait?'-aProbus-awas-atemporarily-ashocked-aas-ahe-acame-ato-athe-arealization.-a
Trajan's-aEmpyrean-aRain-aNet-awas-aa-aKing-aClass-aspell-athat-awas-aincredibly-apowerful.-aIts-astrongest-ause-awas-ain-asealing-athe-aenergy-aof-aa-acreature-aor-aobject.-a
Their-aoriginal-aplan-awas-afor-aTrajan-ato-aseal-athe-aAnomaly,-aand-afor-ahim-ato-aslice-ait-aapart.-aTrajan's-anet-awould-areduce-athe-adefenses-aof-athe-abeast-ato-avirtually-anothing,-awhile-ahis-ablade-astrikes-awould-aliterally-arip-ait-aapart.-a
A-asimple-aplan,-abut-ait-ais-aoften-athe-asimplest-aof-aplans-athat-asucceeded.-a
They-ahad-akilled-atwo-aother-aKing-aClass-aopponents-ausing-athis-amethod.-aHis-aown-apure,-aphysical-amight-acombined-awith-aTrajan's-atactical-aspells-amade-athem-aan-aincredibly-apotent-aduo,-aalbeit-aone-awith-acompletely-adifferent-afocuses.-a
Right-anow,-ahowever,-atheir-aplan-ahad-abeen-athrown-ainto-achaos-adue-ato-athe-aappearance-aof-athe-acreature-astanding-anear-aHelena.-a
No,-ahe-arealized,-aas-ahis-amind-aprocessed-aall-athese-athoughts-ain-aa-asplit-asecond.-a
Even-aif-athis-ahumanoid-ahadn't-aappeared,-athey-astill-awould-ahave-afailed.-aTrajan's-aspell-asomehow-afailed-ato-aseal-athe-aattack-aof-athe-aAnomaly,-ameaning-athe-anet-awouldn't-ahave-alanded-aon-ait-aanyway.-aSome-asort-aof-acolossal-amistake-amust-ahave-ataken-aplace.-a
The-acity-awas-alost.-a
His-asword-atechnique-awas-apowerful,-abut-ahe-ahad-ano-aconfidence-ain-asplitting-aan-aattack-aof-athis-ascale.-a
He-aneeded-ato-asave-aHelena-aand-aget-aout-aof-athe-away.
First,-athough,-ahe'd-atake-acare-aof-aher-aattacker.-a
His-ahand-arested-aon-athe-ahilt-aof-ahis-ablade-aas-ahe-aturned-atowards-athe-adistracted-acreature,-ahis-aeyes-acold.-a
Just-aas-ahe-awas-aabout-ato-astrike,-ahe-afelt-aa-ahand-alatch-aonto-ahis-afoot,-atugging-ahim-abackwards.-a
He-alooked-adown-ain-asurprise-aas-ahe-asaw-athe-astill-arecovering-aface-aof-aHelena-ashake-aher-ahead-afiercely,-ablood-aspurting-afrom-aher-alips-aas-aher-abody-atrembled.-a
..-a..-a..-a..-a..-a..-a..-a..
'It-abroke-athrough-amy-anet.'-aTrajan-astumbled-abackwards,-ahis-aeyes-afogged.-aHis-abody-ashook-awith-aexhaustion-aas-ahe-alooked-aup-aat-athe-afireball-aheaded-atowards-athe-acity,-ahis-amind-aablaze-awith-aa-asingle-athought.-a