The third time I revived, I changed my tactics.
Instead of running, I used Igni's Time Manipulation ability to "speed up" my personal time. It functioned like a buff, accelerating cognitive processes and making the world appear in slow motion.
I kept my gaze firmly locked onto all four enemies. Not a single twitch escaped my notice.
Then I saw it—the blob to the left moved.
It wasn't a dramatic motion. It barely qualified as movement.
Just a faint tremor. A jiggle.
And yet, even within this slowed-down world, a transparent, formless "mass" surged toward me like a bullet.
Dodging? Probably impossible.
By the time I even flinched, it would've already pierced me clean through.
So, within my enhanced perception, I did the only thing I could—constructed a shield.
Layer upon layer of barriers appeared, stacked between me and the incoming attack. Over a thousand razor-thin defenses angled just right, arranged like a leaf spring.
