He stepped sideways.
[Ignition Burst]
[Mana: 70 / 112]
He timed it just ahead of its reload.
The explosion hit under the cannon-mount. Forced a tilt. It fired mid-stagger and the shot clipped the ceiling.
Varik's voice again. "You see now. That's what I wanted. Disruption before commitment."
Lucen rolled one shoulder. "You could just say 'good job.'"
"You haven't earned it yet."
The crawler bot started beeping. Countdown tone.
Lucen didn't waste time.
[Cataclysm Vector]
[Mana: 10 / 112]
The dome crashed down with elemental force. Fire. Ice. Electric arcs. All compressed. All aimed downward.
The turret vanished under it.
Steam. Screech. Silence.
Lucen breathed in once.
[Recovery: 2.1/sec → Mana: 12.1 / 112]
He turned, coat still trailing smoke, to face the glass wall.
Varik didn't look impressed. Just thoughtful.
"Not bad," he said. "But you lean too hard on heavy spells. You don't pace for endurance. That'll kill you before a real opponent does."
