Liora's blue flames advanced toward Klein, but Feng, in an act of pure loyalty, threw himself in front of his leader. His red cobra was used to directly intercept the attack's trajectory, absorbing the impact first with its body.
The collision was devastating. The cobra writhed in agony as the flames consumed its magical essence, a sharp shriek escaping its throat before vanishing in a burst of reddish light. The remaining flames also slightly burned the now beastless tamer, who fainted.
"Feng!" exclaimed Klein, shocked by his companion's sacrifice.
Taking advantage of the momentary confusion, Astor directed his rhinoceros in a vengeful charge against Liora. The Ashenway, exhausted by her last attack, barely managed to execute another spatial jump, avoiding the worst of the attack but receiving a glancing impact that made her stagger when she reappeared.
