As the sword descended.
The wolf roared and lunged at him in a burst of red, its body transformed into a projectile of fury and flesh, its one good eye burning with murderous intent.
The earth pulverized beneath its paws; rain was thrown out in concentric waves; the very air seemed to part before its charge.
Adam did not flinch.
He didn't tense his muscles.
He didn't scream.
He smiled as the sword came down with a golden glint.
And then the world split in two.
Red and gold collided in the middle of the street. The wolf's descending claw met the blade at a perfect angle, and for a fraction of a second that seemed like an eternity, both forces were suspended.
The crater beneath his feet sank even deeper; the already destroyed houses collapsed completely; the rain evaporated into a dome of steam that enveloped the scene like a shroud.
