The fire within me coiled and snapped as if reacting to his criticism, the earth element was just there waiting for an emotional response and then there was the other presence.
The shadow that had always lingered at the edge of my awareness.
The dark element.
I'd thought it was just energy that devoured light. But what if it did more than that?
What if it swallowed space itself?
I drew on it.
The arena dimmed in my vision as I opened my eyes, the air growing cold and heavy. The very light seemed to warp.
Aklim's eyes widened slightly, as he took in the change around me. "Interesting."
I took a step forward and then I vanished.
The crowd gasped.
For a split second, I felt like I was nowhere then everywhere. The world twisted around me like folds of silk, and I parted the strands to reappear behind him, driving a punch toward his ribs.
He barely deflected it, his arm snapping up just in time. But I was already gone again.
