Chapter 164.2 - The Attack

Irina exhaled slowly, her body steadying as she forced the chaos out of her mind. Smoke swirled around her, debris clattering to the floor, but her focus remained unshaken. She was an Emberheart, heir to one of the strongest families in the world. She had faced danger before—and survived.

This was no different.

Her hazel eyes sharpened as she pushed herself up, her stance steady. Astron was already in front of her, his daggers drawn in a reverse grip, their edges gleaming faintly even in the dim, smoke-filled gallery. His disguise had vanished, revealing his striking purple eyes, glowing faintly with mana. It was a startling contrast to his usual calm demeanor, his aura now charged with quiet intensity.

Irina tried to summon her own mana, reaching for the familiar flames that always answered her call. Nothing. Her connection to her core felt distant, suppressed.

"They've laid out mana suppression fields," she murmured, her voice low and measured.