Ethan was still in particle form, and he sensed it too—something was off.
Maelor had changed direction so abruptly, with such a clear target, that it could only mean one thing: that sword mattered to him. Ethan didn't keep the particle state. The black grains snapped back together, rebuilding his body in an instant.
He lifted his arm and hurled the blue-white energy sphere forward.
It chased after Maelor from behind. Inside it, white lightning kept slamming into the pale-blue outer wall, driving the whole sphere to accelerate continuously as it flew.
Ethan shot after it, close behind.
In the center of the sky, Seraphine raised both hands with reverent focus.
First, she turned her palms toward Ethan.
A gentle holy light fell from her hands, crossing the distance and landing precisely on him. It didn't strike like an attack. It sank into his limbs and torso, flowing inward, replenishing the power he was burning through.
Then Seraphine rotated her other hand.
