Sable stared at Hajin as the pressure inside the arena changed direction.
The crimson mana that had been driving into her body stopped pushing outward, then curled back toward Hajin's trapped hand like water finding a drain.
'Is he absorbing the core's energy through some unknown skill despite his low rank?' she wondered as terror tightened her chest.
Hajin stood with his eyes closed while the dark-silver band around his pinky shone through the red light.
Every drop of hostile mana that reached his skin disappeared into the Spirit Ring, leaving the pathways behind it quiet for the first time since the failed strike.
The ten-Shard core dimmed from deep red toward pale pink while its violent vibration weakened beneath the pull.
Allen stepped away from the railing before he could stop himself.
"Impossible," he whispered, with his usual calm gone from his face.
