Just as Ethan was about to look down, a towering stone pillar erupted from the ground in the distance. Marek stood at its peak, rising rapidly into the sky. Dozens of stone spears burst from the surrounding earth, all pointed at Ethan.
At the same time, the spear in Ethan's hand lost its shape.
The shaft crumbled between his fingers, spilling to the ground as fine sand.
Marek's cane reappeared in his hand. He looked down at Ethan from above, smiling broadly.
"Well?"
He tapped his cane forward.
"Surprised?"
The first row of stone spears launched from the ground and shot toward Ethan from different angles.
He twisted aside from the one coming straight at him, then beat his wings and climbed sharply. The spears streaked beneath his feet and struck the earth in the distance, blasting huge waves of dirt into the air.
A second row formed immediately.
