The Crimson Eye began to form before Tomoe's sword had finished its descent, and Xarvenya felt its attention settle onto her before the first trace of red appeared in the sky.
The Sword Will pouring from Tomoe's blade had already ripped through the layers surrounding Earth, opening a path through protections that had obscured far more than simple attacks from outside, and Xarvenya had chosen the worst possible instant to move again.
The moment she reached for her Aether to protect Cassarae, the Heaven System finally saw her.
Every restraint meant for Demons descended at once, locking down Xarvenya's Will while her Aether reversed through pathways that had always been under her perfect control. How long had she trained? How long had her Aether been under her every command? And yet that all seemed to matter so very little now.
