Trevor blinked, shield forgotten. "James, man, that's not-"
"Shut it!" James clapped, scaring Trevor shut. The kid yelped, stumbling back.
Emma stood, bow half-drawn. "What the hell's this? We're a team.
"Team?" James's grin split wide, demonic now, eyes gleaming with madness. "You were my discipline. My followers. But you forgot who built this."
He raised his arms, and the sky darkened, clouds boiling unnaturally. Lightning struck down, not at Nova, but at Galileo. The mage barely raised his staff before the bolt hit, his body covered in fire. He screamed once, then crumpled, his staff destroyed, turned into dust.
"James!" Col yelled, axe up, charging like a bull.
But James was faster, another strike, precise, punching through Col's chest mid-swing. The big man gasped, axe dropping as he clutched the hole, eyes wide in shock. He hit his knees, then his face. Then gone.
