The shaman's eyes widened in shock as he hadn't expected such a sudden attack, but...
CLANG!
My blade crashed against a sudden shimmer of mana—the barrier flared to life at the last second, rippling like a pool of molten glass. Sparks flew in every direction, bouncing off my blade and scattering into the air like fireflies.
I frowned.
It was the same magic shield the shaman had used earlier to cushion his fall.
I launched a flurry of attacks—stab, slash, a twist of the wrist into a heavy overhead thrust—but no matter how I angled the blade, the shield held firm, not a single crack, not even a dent, each strike echoing with a dull thud that mocked my effort.
On the sixth strike, the barrier didn't just absorb—it retaliated, pulsing with a burst of stored energy, and the force of my own attack came hurtling back at me.
I stumbled a couple of steps before regaining my balance, and when I came to a stop, I narrowed my eyes.
The barrier had a rebound effect?
