Still, I had to persist. I attempted an overhead swing; the dust formed eddies on either side from where I cut downwards. From my flank came the hidden strike. I was only able to lift my shield at the last moment. I went back in time to when Nora’s punch flung me through the air. The world spun about me. I gasped, my vision unclear as I tried to orient myself. The rising flames of the forest were the growing curtains of this hellish performance, a spotlight to reveal our battle. I could see the ribbons of fire dancing like spectators until Sun’Ra’s approach blocked out the starkness. The akar
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