Ling Yue pulled her left hand from the western link.
Guang Ming felt the loss at once. “Hold your position!”
“No.” She pressed her palm to the release plate. “My disciples are not fuel for your war.”
Her nine frost swords fell quiet. The western node opened.
“Let go in order,” she told her fighters. “Do not fight the current.”
One by one, her elders released their links. The pressure on their side dropped. Several fell to their knees, but they could breathe.
Austin moved the captured blade closer to the pit. “North next.”
Wu Nian looked at his monks. Their shield was cracking. Holding the node would protect no one.
