Too much.
From the other end, Aziel blocked the beast's first blow, striking her with tremendous force. The impact was a violent shock that shook the surroundings. Sparks from the contact sparked around her, briefly illuminating her face, now covered in a thick layer of sweat. It seemed that her cry of exertion echoed through the surroundings, straight into my gut. I wanted to move, to help her, to do more than just watch... but the transport matrix still hummed, incomplete, its magic vibrating between my fingers.
"Just a little more...!" I muttered through gritted teeth, swallowing the rage, and... the helplessness that consumed me.
Then it happened.
"Shhhh..."
A sharp whistling cut through the air. From the darkness, a blade of wind emerged, spinning like a sharp, murderous scythe, flying straight toward me.
In that instant, the world seemed to slow down.
