Cursing his bad luck, Lith attempted to block with his left forearm. The knife passed from side to side, giving him the feeling a hot iron was branding his inner flesh. Lith wasn’t new to pain, he needed just to grit his teeth to bear it.

His right fist struck fast as a snake, but thanks to her superior training and rich battle experience, the talon managed to dodge it in the nick of time. Lith’s knuckles still managed to graze her chin, the impact made her feel dizzy, forcing her to switch from a dodge to a roll.

The talon’s view was blurry from the near hit, without that last second adjustment she would have collapsed on the floor, incapable of standing. Lith jumped back on his feet to finish her, but the other two were already on him, aiming for his vitals.

– “Damn, with no magic nor weapons, I can only block with my body. Solus, help me withstand the pain in case I lose some fingers.”

“Not on my watch!” She mind yelled. –   Lith wasn’t the only one that had been training to explore the limits of his new body. Ever since their almost clash with the Scorpicore, she had made several experiments about her shape-shifting abilities.

After being in the Small World for so long, she was able to overcome some of its restraints, if she put enough effort to it. Her ring form expanded covering Lith’s right hand, forming a stone gauntlet.

This new form was silver in colour, with runes of power glowing all over its surface. She had no idea how to synch again her mana core with Lith’s, but at least she could offer him some protection.