Everything was happening fast.
Faster than I could follow. But the immediate danger? That registered even faster. The hairs on my neck stood on end, a cold wave of warning slapping across my skin like ice water.
Perhaps this was what Tristan meant when he said I had a semblance of practical experience. Because in that moment, it was a familiar feeling—one that had accumulated after every unaccounted opening Tristan had taken to attack me during training.
But this was entirely worse.
It was as though every nerve in my body was screaming in unison. 'Death approaching. Death approaching.'
I didn't even see it clearly—just a massive shadow falling. I exploded out of the way, muscles burning as I leaped back. The Blizzard Mauler crashed into the ground exactly where I'd been standing, scattering snow in all directions like a detonation. Through the vague fog of white, my mind immediately accelerated into combat mode.
'Focus. Assess. Act.'
