He didn't just dodge; he stepped into the wolf’s attack, a tiny, almost imperceptible shift that put him directly inside the arc of its claws, positioning himself perfectly for a counter-strike.
The world seemed to return to normal speed for a brief moment as his will surged. He brought his new hand, imbued with the crushing density of his reformed bones and the latent power of his crimson energy, upward in a swift, brutal strike. He didn't aim for the head or the body. He aimed for the brightest emerald node on the wolf’s chest, directly over its heart.
His palm connected with a sickening thud. A wave of crimson energy exploded from his hand, not outward, but inward, burrowing into the wolf’s body like a spear. The beast let out a choked, desperate yelp, a sound of agony and surprise th
