The blood-red claw was almost upon Tanner when a golden light sliced through the air, dazzling and unrelenting. The fiery attack disintegrated instantly, shards of its malevolence scattering harmlessly before vanishing into thin air. A shockwave rippled outward, stirring the dust and quieting the battlefield.
Tanner stumbled mid-flight, his blazing aura flickering as he caught his balance. His gaze darted to the source of the light. There, standing like an unshakable monument, was Captain Cole, his golden aura casting a serene yet commanding glow. The captain's expression was calm but resolute, his mere presence silencing the chaos.
Myria, the crimson-haired demon, blinked in stunned disbelief. For a brief moment, the edges of her confidence frayed. Yet she quickly straightened, brushing the air as though the attack's failure were a mere inconvenience. "Well," she said, her tone carefully measured, "that's unexpected."