Forged Destiny [Book 9: Ch. 19, Ch. 20]

Salem roared. Her hands linked above her and black light split into being between her palms. Not once stopping her furious scream, she brought her hands down, both pointed directly at me. A beam of purest black pierced forward.

Now or never. It occurred to me for a second my hypothesis hadn't really been tested.

Well, I wouldn't have to worry about it if I was wrong. Crocea Mors slid into a lunge, the tip aimed directly into the beam of dark light. I braced myself, one foot back bent, ready. At the last possible second, I yelled out and thrust into the attack.

It was like stabbing a tidal wave.

The attack forced me back and I would have fallen if not for my bracing. Ruby had been hurled back by the force of it and I couldn't allow that. Bracing with my shoulder, I growled and pushed into the attack, forcing my left foot to slide forward. My hands were shaking, sword wavering in the air before me.

No more. No more failing. I'd learned from my mistakes.

It was time to finish this.

Wrapping my fingers around those of my right hand, I twisted, turning Crocea Mors like a key – or like I was twisting a knife into someone. The blade became hot and heavy. With an angry "Rargh!" I swept it down and to the left. Salem's attack splashed into the building, destroying brick and mortar and at least twenty Grimm in its path.

I stood, panting, smoking, sword tipped down toward the ground.

Her attack was diverted.

Heaving, I brought Crocea Mors back up in front of me. The blade shimmered with dark light that stood out in the red glow from burning buildings. It flickered and warped, bursting with power just waiting to be unleashed.

"What are you?" Salem hissed. "You can't be human."

—Forged Destiny [Book 9: Ch. 19]



Salem stood and pointed her hand toward me.

"Kill him!"

The first Grimm to come close died, cut in twain by a sword that left behind a trail of black, crackling energy. There was so little resistance that I stepped through with the swing, pivoted and slashed horizontally, cutting three more down in a single swing. There was no time to stop and marvel at that thanks to the legions more that came crashing down.

She didn't want to come close. The sword, her magic or just the fact I could use the `Seal` Rune to cancel her attacks out had her sending her forces at me from a distance.

—Forged Destiny [Book 9: Ch. 20]