For several breaths, the audience watched Joren's body without making a sound.
Then someone spoke.
"He actually killed him."
"The Heart Reaper?"
"Who else is lying there?"
The answer came sharply, but the speaker sounded no less stunned.
They had seen Joren lose his arms. They had watched him struggle on his knees, unable to move while Blackmoon stood over him.
The defeat had been obvious.
The death hadn't.
Some had expected Joren to reveal another cursed spirit, technique, or an artifact powerful enough to turn the fight. A Blessed of the Abyss surely had something left.
Others had waited for him to surrender.
Very few had believed they would watch a sword enter his heart.
"Why didn't he give up?"
"I thought he was about to."
"Maybe he couldn't accept losing?"
A few spectators looked toward the council, but the elders remained seated.
