"I read that?" Artemis said lightly, raising a brow, voice feigning innocence. "I must've forgotten. So many books down there."
It was the last crack in Velmira's restraint.
A surge of divine energy exploded from her open palm — faster than light, heavier than judgment. It struck Artemis square in the chest with a silent thunderclap, hurling her backwards like a doll caught in a tempest.
Her body slammed into the cold marble with brutal force — her back first, then her skull. The impact echoed like a crack of fate through the grand Hall of Realms.
Artemis lay crumpled on the floor, chest rising with ragged, broken breaths. Her limbs twitched faintly, stunned by the backlash. The pain screamed through every bone in her body, lighting her nerves on fire. Not just the impact — but the divine echo, ripping through her already depleted essence.
A hush fell over the chamber.
Even the seasoned celestial guards shifted uneasily. The air buzzed, pulsed with Velmira's authority.
