Forged Destiny [Book 9: Ch. 13]

Beyond it, I could just make out Salem above her Grimm beetle.

The very light around her dimmed.

"No!" I yelled, pushing out of Yang's hands and lunging forward. My hands struck the Ironwood root and I yelled, "Purify Object!"

The beam of black light struck the wall. Thin tendrils shone through, blinding me despite it being made of what looked like black light. The gate buckled and tensed but the attack faded out. The structure held. The people roared their approval.

Light dimmed around Salem again but this time the shot went high, missing the walls entirely.

"The CCT!" Yang screamed.

Ironwood. If she couldn't get me, she was going for Ironwood. With no time to waste and no hope of making it back, I took a chance and put my hands back on the root. "Purify Object!"

Black light washed over the shape of the CCT in the distance. It was all the way on the other side of Vale, literally the furthest point imaginable from where we were. I held my breath, as did everyone there. If the CCT fell, the Constructs fell, and with it the breach they were holding. The tall metallic spire represented more than anyone could imagine.

Salem's attack struck.

I knew it had worked because I felt the spellburn rush back into my hands. I gritted my teeth and rode out the sensation that had by now become all too familiar. The tower stood. The CCT gleamed on, even after Salem's attack had washed away.

"How?" Yang asked.

"It's all connected," I explained, slumping against the root and laughing. "It's all one object. One structure. The CCT is the trunk and this is a root. I purify the object itself. It doesn't matter if it's a bit here or the CCT over there. As long as it's connected, it counts."

"If Ironwood could do this to all the gates, or the walls…" Yang trailed off.

I nodded. If he could produce enough Ironwood for all of that, then I could, from a central location, cast Purify Object on the walls of Vale. All of them. The entire city. Surrounded by cheering and euphoric Heroes and Soldiers, I felt the stirrings of hope within me.

—Forged Destiny [Book 9: Ch. 13]