But before she could counterattack, Constantin intervened. A fresh wave of energy swept through the clearing, hurling both Roman and Nereva backward. Roman crashed into a pile of debris, the air knocked from his lungs, while Nereva, more agile, landed on her tentacles, skimming the ground like a spider across its web.
"Constantin," Roman gasped, struggling to catch his breath. "I'm not your enemy. I want the same thing you do—protection. But we can't do it by hiding. The Empire, the world... they won't stop. They'll come here, sooner or later."
Constantin clenched his jaw, his red eyes locked onto Roman. "You think I don't know that?" he growled, his voice trembling with barely contained rage. "You think I haven't seen what's coming? The flames, the screams, the end of everything?"
He stepped forward, and the aura around him thickened, making the air nearly suffocating. "I've seen the future. And trust me, there are no heroes in this story. No victories. Only blood and ashes."
