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The acrid smell of burnt ozone permeated the arena, stinging my nostrils.
I felt the coarse sand against my feet, and my throat felt parched, the weight of impending defeat pressing down on me.
Looking over at Ashale, our eyes locked.
Words weren’t needed.
We both felt the same sinking feeling, the realization that we were utterly outmatched by this unknown psychic.
He was systematically dismantling our defenses, cage by cage, leaving us vulnerable and exposed.
Sneik’s triumphant laughter echoed in my ears, the sound grating and mocking.
The hope that had once blazed within me was now a smoldering ember, threatening to be snuffed out.
The weight of our impending doom settled in, wrapping its cold fingers around my heart.
Every sensation was amplified.
The smells of sweat and blood, the distant jeers from the crowd, the gritty feel of the sand, the stifling heat of the pit.
All of it bore down on me, making me feel smaller, more insignificant.
Our last-ditch attempt had failed, and the reality of our situation became painfully clear.
With every spirit we summoned now imprisoned, our chances of winning were slim to none.
The feeling of helplessness was overwhelming, and a chilling thought crossed my mind:
We were doomed.
19
ASHALE
The scene before me was a maelstrom of chaos.
Nova’s spirits were caged, their ethereal forms flickering in their confines, helpless and confined.
As much as it pained me to admit it, Sneik’s support — Erys — had rendered our greatest assets moot.
I had never before encountered such psychic power.
The gritty sand below me was hot to the touch as if mirroring the heat of the battle.
But amidst all the noise, the jeering crowd, the clinking of metal, and the growls of the trapped spirits, one thing was clear:
I still had my sword.
The blade was an extension of myself, its cold, sharpened edge a testament to years of training.
I didn’t need a spirit animal to wield it.
It was time to remind Sneik of that fact.
The weight of the blade reassured me as I charged, its familiar presence focusing my thoughts.
With each pounding step, I could feel the pulsing beat of my heart, a rhythm of determination.
