Its physical strength and explosiveness was exactly what he needed in this fight, especially considering he didn't even need to reveal it as a shadow manifestation. It was a pure body enhancement soup mass.
As he readied himself, Nova also leveled her gaze at him and adjusted her stance, her feet sliding into a perfect combat position. "Even if you are trying to prove your expertise with that sword, no Ossuarist who truly takes me seriously would stand there without a soul mass manifested. I will not ask you a third time."
She didn't wait for him to respond. She looked up at the golden glow of the dome and spoke the words that triggered the Law of Stratus. Her voice was clear and resonant, carrying the weight of a formal contract.
"By the Law of the Pact and the rules of this city, I, Nova of the Mechanus Noble Xiph, stake my claim," she declared. "If I am the victor, the unattuned masterpiece shall be mine by right. If I fail, I relinquish all interest in the tool."
