Blood spikes erupted from the ground beneath one of the lions, impaling it instantly. The beast roared in agony before its body melted into mist.
Serena gasped. "That one was an illusion!"
The remaining two pounced at the same time—one from the left, one from above.
Asher grinned. "Then let's see if these are real."
He vanished just before the attacks landed.
—WHOOSH!
Reappearing above the airborne lion, Asher drove his knee into its back, sending it crashing down into the poison-soaked earth.
But the moment it landed—
—SQUELCH.
Blood tendrils burst from the ground, coiling around its limbs like living chains.
The lion struggled, thrashing violently, but Asher raised his hand.
—CRACK.
The blood tendrils tightened mercilessly, shattering the lion's bones in a sickening crunch.
Serena winced. "That one was real!"