The Beast lowered itself again, muscles swelling further as another wave of red vapor rolled off its body. Its hind leg twitched once, but the instability did not slow it enough to make the next charge safe. The creature was still deadly, perhaps deadlier than before because the cracking rune seemed to make every surge more violent. Kael could keep dodging. He could conserve just enough energy, use light defensively, and wait until the Beast's own power broke it.
He looked at the blue bar again.
Then at the glowing runes beneath the Beast's hide.
Then at his gauntlets.
"You know what," Kael muttered, "screw being passive. At least now."
He slammed both wrists together.
