Forged Destiny [Book 1: Ch. 14]

Melanie laughed, having caught Yang's fist in the palm of one hand.

Yang's eyes – now lilac – widened, and she was completely unprepared for the claws that came in from her right.

Crocea Mors held against them as I stepped between the two, but the force behind the strike was enough to lift me off my feet. My back hit Yang and carried her with me, and the two of us crashed to the ground some distance away.

"D-Damn it," Yang growled. "How the hell is a Rogue that strong?"

"High Level?" I coughed.

"No difference… they're supposed to be high Dex and Agi," she said, "Strength isn't a core stat for them – they shouldn't be able to lift us both up, or block a punch like that. Not unless they were stronger than the teachers themselves!"

Pain shot through my shoulder as I staggered to my feet and helped Yang up.

—Forged Destiny [Book 1: Ch. 14]