Essence Monster (Part 25)

'What...? Again...?'

Those were the only two words that flashed through Adam's mind, watching as the limbs of the Phantoms that seconds ago were still alive flew off to the sides. 

The flames of battle burned in their eyes, some defending Adam and some about to capture him, but they were all Phantoms doing their jobs. They were human beings first, with a purpose, desires, and dreams.

Now... There was nothing left of them, they didn't even have time to realize what had happened because the lightning strike was so fast that even Adam's reflexes, enhanced by his artifact, didn't have time to work.

"What the fuck..." Tirana muttered in a shaky voice, looking at the remains of her comrades. About a third of all the Dark Phantoms that had come to her aid had just died. However, the squad that stood in for Adam died in its entirety.