Chapter 346

• Looking back, the details of how I’d fought through the warriors who tried to slow me down were a blur, but the vivid image of blood-soaked soil remained sharp in my mind, forever etched into my memory. The earth beneath me was damp, slick with the remnants of violence.
• Carlo had recovered from his stumble, but the reprieve was fleeting. A faint flicker of flame sparked in his palm, only to extinguish as quickly as it appeared. Then came the blow—a crushing strike to his chest that sent him sprawling backward, landing on his knees with a pained grunt.
• I didn’t feel the strain of running. My focus was razor-sharp as I carved through the warriors who dared block my path. The morning sun caught the blade of a sword poised above Carlo’s exposed neck, its pale metal gleaming with lethal intent.