Malum clapped. "Get ready, Riven! I come again!"
And just like before, he disappeared, but this time Riven was ready. Spartacus leaped to his front like a shield of flesh, aura poured down their connection.
His sword glowed red so much that it seemed to lengthen into a spear. He whirled and twirled it. Riven turned his back and stood back to back with Spartacus.
"No matter which way you come, we'll catch you!" Riven shouted.
He heard a raspy laugh all around. It didn't come from one place and seemed to surround him from all locations at the same time.
"Oh Riven, how little you know!"
And then Malum made his appearance. He appeared directly in front of Spartacus.
Spartacus waved his spear-sword, but it only hit the afterimage that Malum left behind.
Malum reached out and gripped Spartacus's right hand by the elbow, then twisted sharply, bending it the wrong way so it wouldn't lift even as he tried to lift it.
