Ian twisted midair, clutching Lucia tightly as the impact slammed into him like a speeding truck.0

What the fuck.0

Even as his vision blurred and flipped, Ian gritted his teeth and pulled Lucia closer into his arms. In the spinning chaos, the image from just moments ago replayed in his mind.0

A massive shadow had fallen—silent, formless, and sudden. Just a perfect arc cleaving through the air. At its heart had been a pair of eyes, burning with ashen fire, and behind them, a long, blurred streak trailing a towering figure like a raised blade.0

It had approached like a predator, using the gaps in the sparse forest canopy to conceal itself. Ian realized it must have struck from a blind spot—above and behind—where knights in visored helms couldn’t easily see.0

Whether it was instinct or cold calculation, Ian couldn’t tell.0

Crack—0

The next impact came with a deep, resonant thud. Ian tumbled through the air, his arms locked tighter around Lucia as he activated his Platinum Barrier, shielding her back and head.0

Crash!0

The force of the impact sent the Black Lions and their warhorses flying, crashing through underbrush and thudding into trees. Ian rolled a few times across the ground before finally slamming into a thick tree trunk, his back taking the full brunt of the landing.0

The breath caught in his chest, and a metallic tang flooded his mouth. Still, he clenched his jaw...0