Forged Destiny [Book 9: Ch. 22]

Salem gasped and tried to move back, only to falter as the Ironwood root pushed down on her.

Jaune dropped under her guard and fell to one knee, sweeping his silver blade at the monster's stomach like a hero from legend. The blade caught black cloth and ripped through, cutting through skin with an audible slice of a cleaver through meat.

Salem shrieked in fury and brought her knee up, snapping the blade with one well-placed strike and tossing the Ironwood root to the side.

—Forged Destiny [Book 9: Ch. 22]