The Conqueror.
With one final push, Aric concentrated on the flickering afterimages around Aszer. He didn't need to fully control them—just enough to create an opening.
As Aszer charged, Aric altered a single thread.
The Martial King's foot caught an invisible snag in the earth, just enough to throw off his momentum. His spear faltered, the strike losing its deadly precision for just a heartbeat.
And in that heartbeat, Aric struck.
His sword, forgotten until now, flashed forward with blinding speed. It wasn't a powerful strike—it didn't need to be. The tip of the blade found its mark, slipping through the tiniest gap in Aszer's defenses, stabbing into his arm.
In that moment, aric poured the chaotic mix of energy into Aszer.
The energy rushed from the sword into the king's body like a flood breaching a dam, wild and uncontrollable.
Aszer's spear, poised for another strike, suddenly shattered in his hands, crumbling like ash carried on the wind.