The explosion tore through the courtyard like a raging beast unleashed from its cage.
When the Blood Bolt struck, it did not simply collide with Cain's figure and vanish. It pierced the space around him and continued forward, ripping through the grassy field behind him with terrifying force.
The ground erupted in a violent spray of dirt and shattered stone, chunks of earth flying high into the air before crashing down in all directions. The carefully trimmed grass that once covered the courtyard was obliterated in an instant, replaced by a gaping trench carved deep into the earth.
The shockwave rolled outward, knocking several nearby vampires off their feet. Dust billowed upward in thick clouds, swallowing Cain's figure completely. The scent of scorched soil and burnt mana filled the air, stinging their noses and throats.
The once elegant courtyard now looked like a battlefield.
For several long breaths, no one spoke.
