"Oops. How am I supposed to test the next one if you're falling apart after a single hit?"
I glanced at the crumpled puppet, waiting to see if it would get back up.
When it didn't move right away, I sighed.
"I should've picked a stronger one."
Still, the result was better than I expected. And that gave me an idea.
I reached inward, drawing more Essence from my core.
As soon as it left, I channeled it toward the spinning purple sphere.
The sphere's glow deepened, shifting into a darker, richer hue. The sphere expanded slightly, its rotation growing tighter, more compact. The pressure around it thickened, making the air hum with energy.
I kept my focus locked onto it.
Then, slowly, the puppet pushed itself up. The red glow in its eyes reignited, and in the next instant, it charged straight at me.
I narrowed my gaze. The green sphere had delivered both erosion and impact, two layers of destruction working together. But I wasn't done testing yet.
