Just moments earlier, right after he cut down the monstrous bird, Ben had seen the others locked in battle with the Magus.
At first he suspected them.
Were they allies of the Magus?
Was it a trap?
But then the spells flew.
They clashed against each other, and the Magus clearly tried to kill one of them.
Whatever connection they might have had before, it was broken now.
Maybe they had once stood on the same side, but not anymore.
That was all Ben needed to see.
He did not hesitate.
He charged.
BOOM.
The Magus smashed into the ground like a falling star, cracks spreading out beneath him.
The shockwave shattered stones and threw debris in every direction.
Ben landed with both feet forward and swung again at once.
His pickaxe came down in a heavy arc.
The Magus twisted and raised a wave of shadow to block, but Ben's mana-disrupting strike cut through it like paper.
Sparks burst out as the pickaxe grazed the Magus's ribs.
