Shade struck. His fist, wreathed in crackling purple air, shot out with blinding speed.
Annette barely managed to bring her arms up in a cross-block, the force of the blow sending her skidding backward.
She grinned, a feral thing that spoke of bloodlust barely contained.
"Finally, a real challenge."
Shade straightened and looked at her with a small grin, "The last person that said that couldn't take another."
"Try me!!"
The two warriors clashed in a fury of blows, each impact sending shockwaves through the air.
Shade's soul essence-enhanced strikes met Annette's raw physical might in a deadly dance of destruction.
Meanwhile, Jeci found herself increasingly hard-pressed with a new opponent.
With Shade occupying Annette, the soldiers seemed to have regained some of their courage.
Even though they were not finding an answer to why their talent abilities were not working, they pressed in from all sides, causing a relentless tide of steel and flesh.
