Forged Destiny [Book 9: Ch. 20]

"Salem! We're not done here!"

"You're right. We're not." She turned with a sigh. "Left alive, you'll only prove a bother down the line. Very well, Jaune. I shall end your miserable existence before I depart."

She couldn't use portals.

I didn't know where the realisation came from, but it was obvious thinking back. Portals were our way of travelling because we couldn't do so otherwise, but for a creature that was literally interplanar and was summoned by others, she would never have need of such an ability. It also explained why she had to go through our walls and not just over them. Salem had no escape other than to walk or ride out of Vale.

There wasn't much more time to think as a black beam rushed in toward me. I got Crocea Mors up in time.

Agony.

I slammed back into and through a wall, smoking and choking for air. Why? Why hadn't it blocked the attack? Crocea Mors was still glowing, but she'd done nothing to protect me. I groaned and pushed up on one arm, looking out the wall as Salem prepared another blast with my name on it.

—Forged Destiny [Book 9: Ch. 20]