Damian's grip tightened further.
But the words had already been said!
They had already carved themselves into his consciousness with edges sharper than any blade. They had already begun to reshape everything he thought he understood about that night, about his survival, about the eight years that followed!
Oh!
Mana boiled around him.
His human body blazed with blue-gold flames that erupted without conscious command. His beast form roared behind him, nine tails lashing with violence that sent crystalline shards flying in every direction. The cavern itself seemed to respond to his anguish, walls trembling, floor cracking, ceiling groaning under pressure that had nothing to do with physical force.
It felt like a volcanic eruption.
Power that had been building throughout the confrontation finally found release in forms that defied containment. The very earth of the Cradle of First Flames shuddered as its entity experienced emotions that transcended mere anger!
Damian roared!
