Black fluid pooled beneath the broken armor as Korrath's body finally went still. The last embers of white fire guttered out one by one until only smoke rose from the cracks. Lucian stood over him in silence, shadows still coiled tight around the plaza as if expecting the corpse to rise again. Zane kept his hands in his coat pockets, red eyes unreadable. Anita's blood ribbons slowly retracted, the floating strands darkening as the fight's leftover power drained away.
Zane spoke first, voice low. "He's gone. No residual termination left. Whatever he gave her took everything."
Anita glanced at the empty cavity in the chest plate. "He ripped his own core out and forced her through. That wasn't desperation. That was choice."
Lucian's jaw tightened. "He bought her time and power. We should assume she's stronger now."
