Chapter 5528

Cormac thrust both palms outward; his shield ballooned, slamming into the incoming sword-light. The collision detonated with a cannon-blast boom, a shockwave rippling out in a perfect circle. Ancient oil lamps along the walls fluttered madly, their sickly green flames sputtering, ready to die at any moment.

Jared twisted mid-air, sliding past the worst of the concussion. Before the echo faded, he was already upon Cormac again-Dragonslayer stabbing forward like a serpent’s forked tongue, aimed unerringly at the hollow of the man’s throat.

Cormac’s reflexes matched the speed of his fury. He pivoted, shoulders slipping clear, and hammered a fist encased in swirling celestial energy toward Jared’s chest-the kind of strike that could turn a mountain into gravel.

Jared snapped his blade cross-wise, catching the blow. A dull crack boomed; raw force surged through the sword into his arms, numbing them to the elbow. He used that momentum to flip backward, boots skidding across the marble as he reset the distance.

Cormac’s eyes burned with fresh bloodlust. “You’re stronger than I expected,” he granted, voice dropping to a murderous growl, “but it changes nothing. You still die here.”

Jared’s mouth curled into a slow, scornful grin. “With only you to stop me?” He shook his head. “Nowhere near enough.”

Jared sprang forward again. His body blurred, dissolving into streaks of shadow so quick and light they seemed scooped out of the air itself. Cormac’s brows tightened. With both hands, he carved seals, loosing volley after volley of needle-thin celestial arrows. Each shaft gleamed like frosted steel and carried enough force to punch through stone.