Dustin took the hit, and he felt as if a mountain had crashed into him. The flame's impact shattered his barrier, sending him backward. Blood sprayed from his mouth and streaked behind him in a sharp arc.

He crashed onto the white stone floor over 100 feet away, tumbling until his momentum finally ran out. Only after driving his longsword into the ground for support did he manage to kneel on one knee.

The blade vibrated in his grip, its glow nearly gone. Whatever strength he'd just managed to