The moment the Heart of the Deep Forge was forced down his torn throat, Dren convulsed.
Mana flared wildly from the heart, pale yellow light pulsing erratically as the artifact reacted to being embedded inside a living body against its will. Flesh crawled and knit itself back together—jaw reforming, teeth regrowing, blood evaporating into steam.
Zane looked at him, eyes narrowing slightly.
"Hey," he said casually, almost conversational.
"I've got an idea."
Dren tried to speak, but only a distorted sound escaped.
Zane's grip tightened in Dren's hair.
Zane smiled faintly.
"Since you're so obsessed with the planet's core and its so-called infinite mana…"
"Let me show it to you."
Dren barely had time to register what was happening before his body was yanked upward.
The ground fell away.
They rose higher and higher, the red land shrinking beneath them. Wind howled violently, pressure crushing down as altitude climbed. Dren's eyes widened as he realized what was happening.
