"Not… yet…!"
I gritted my teeth and shouted, forcing my arms to hold steady.
The edges of the mirror began to glow, warping slightly under the heat, but it was still holding—just barely.
"Come on, just a little more…!"
Summoning every ounce of strength left in my body, I shifted my weight and tilted the mirror ever so slightly.
The reflected beam began to move—slowly, steadily—following the mirror's angle.
ZEEENG—!
The laser cut across the chamber like a blazing blade. I could hear metal sizzling, stone cracking.
And then—
BANG!
A massive explosion rocked the entire basement, shaking the walls and sending waves of dust through the air.
The heat vanished.
The vibration stopped.
And all that followed was silence.
My breathing came out ragged, my arms numb and scorched.
Then—
THUD!
The sound of something enormous collapsing echoed through the chamber.
Panting, I lowered the mirror and peeked over its edge.
