Chapter 10: Ch 10: Escape the Auction- Part 2
Nova’s boots pounded against the metal floor as he and Anna dashed toward the docked ship, the one he’d marked earlier.
They were seconds away when the air shifted—a sharp pulse of aether surged toward him like a wave of knives.
Nova reacted instantly.
His arm shot up, aether condensing into a hardened barrier over his skin. The force of the blow cracked against it with a metallic clang.
Sparks flew as his defense clashed with a gleaming sword covered in dense, unstable aether.
The pressure behind the blow pushed Nova back half a step, his eyes narrowing as he locked gazes with the attacker.
Powerful. Focused. Controlled rage.
Their weapons collided—Nova’s short aether-forged knife against the larger sword. Despite the size difference, the strike didn’t overpower him.
He shifted his weight, twisted the blade, and shoved the attacker back, using their momentum to slide out of the way.
The moment he stepped aside, he noticed her.
A beautiful warrior, calm but dangerous, preparing her second strike with practiced efficiency. Aether surged through her weapon again, building.