"These things *don't die!*" Selene growled, yanking her blades free.
Darian gritted his teeth, finally managing to shove his opponent back. "Aim for the joints! Break them apart!"
Mara's staff flared, a burst of fire erupting around her. The flames licked across the creatures' bodies, and their screeches echoed through the air—a sound like splintering glass.
One of the creatures lunged for Wei Lin again, faster this time, closing the distance in a heartbeat. She fell back, landing hard on the ground, the Codex tumbling from her grasp.
"*Lin!*" Mara shouted.
The creature's claw swiped down. In a burst of panic, Wei Lin threw up her hands—and the Codex responded.
A shockwave burst outward, blasting the creature off its feet. It slammed into the ground several yards away, unmoving. Wei Lin stared at her hands, breathless, the Codex now glowing faintly beside her.