The Duke lowered his glowing blade. His stance eased, but only for a moment. His chest rose and fell sharply as he tried to steady himself. Then
"Ugh—!" He suddenly staggered, one hand dropping his sword while the other clutched his chest.
Elric's eyes widened. "Duke!"
Dark veins began to crawl across the Duke's neck and face, pulsing with unnatural energy. His breathing grew ragged, each exhale spilling traces of corrupted mana into the air.
Then, with a sharp crack, two horns forced their way out. One stood tall and jagged while the other was broken halfway, as if it had been cut long ago.
The pressure around him grew unbearable. His mana leaked out in torrents, darker and heavier than before. Knights nearby coughed and gasped for air, clutching their throats as the suffocating aura spread across the battlefield.
