Raven pushed himself off the scorched floor, ribs screaming. His fingers twitched, chain tightening instinctively—just enough to hide the tremble. The recoil hadn't just rattled his stance. It had cracked something deeper.
Rookie mistake.
He wasn't out yet. And he wasn't alone.
He reached into his belt pouch and pulled a vial free—slim, black-glassed, the contents pulsing faintly blue. He popped the cork with his thumb and downed it in one go.
It burned. Not the comforting warmth of health, but the stinging reminder that he'd slipped.
HUD text flashed across the corner of his vision:
[Healing Potion – Tier II Consumed]
+450 HP Restored Over 3s
Minor Stability Boost: Recoil Resistance +10% for 10s
Raven lowered the bottle and exhaled sharply.
The ground shook.
Seneschal was already there—fast, rooted, immovable. The ironbark knight stepped between Raven and the advancing Arvax with shield raised, bracing for impact.
