Aldrich jumped back in haste, his instincts flaring and reflexes snapping into action.
What just happened?!
He stood frozen for a heartbeat, stunned. He had barely evaded. What even was that? Logic failed him for a moment, but the image replayed in his head with agonizing clarity.
Spatial Art? That had to be it. But how? What technique under spatial Art was it..?
Only the tip of Kyle's sword had broken through space, piercing ahead, while the rest of the blade remained firmly in Kyle's grasp. It made no sense.
Aldrich gritted his teeth. That shouldn't be possible... not without a stable tear in space.
There was no time to finish the thought.
"Hm... Mana Skin, is it?" Kyle muttered with a mild smirk. "It won't protect you a second time."
Aldrich's eyes widened. He prepared for another sudden assault, scanning the space around him. But his reaction wasn't fast enough.
A shattering sound cracked through the air.
A sharp sting tore through his side, just below the waistline.
