The laughter dying in Hide's throat was replaced by predatory violence.
Before the squad leader could even process the sound, Hide lunged forward. His bare, scaled right hand shot out like a viper, fingers hooked into razor-sharp talons aimed straight at the man's throat.
SWOOSH!
From the leader's left flank, one of the surviving assassins moved with desperate speed, thrusting an alloy longsword to sever Hide's outstretched wrist.
CLANG—CRACK!
The reinforced steel blade did not cut. The moment it struck the overlapping draconic scales of Hide's forearm, the weapon shattered into dozens of jagged metallic fragments.
The kinetic backlash deflected the shards in every direction. One spinning, razor-sharp sliver of broken steel tore through the air and drove itself deep into the right eye of the squad leader.
"ARGH!"
The leader screamed in agony, clutching his bloodied face as he stumbled backward, tearing himself out of Hide's reach.
Hide didn't even glance at him.
