Cecilia's attack came like a tidal wave.
One instant she stood frozen, eyes pale and empty, and the next, she was upon him, faster than he'd ever seen her move before.
Her fist, wrapped in spiraling flame, slammed into Noah's chest, the sheer force sending him stumbling through the air.
His Aegis of Hades armor absorbed the blow, but the heat seared through, making his ribs ache.
"Cecilia!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the glowing cavern. "It's me!"
There was no response, not even recognition.
The soft, undulating music from the walls continued to hum, eerily serene despite the violence unfolding within it.
The rhythm of the tune seemed to match Cecilia's movements, rising and falling in sync with every strike she made.
Her eyes were lifeless, her expression calm in a way that was wrong.
She moved like a weapon. Efficient, deadly, and without hesitation.
Her fire spells burned through the air in tight spirals as they surged towards Noah.
