Varnak slammed the butt of his halberd into the stone with a thunderous crack. The artifact embedded in his chestplate pulsed, a dull, deep red glow that spread like veins across his armor. His muscles bulged, already massive frame swelling larger.
The air around him rippled with sudden pressure. Stone beneath his feet cracked and cratered as the ground buckled under the sudden surge of mana.
Ben's eyes narrowed, the artifact was different than the one he hes seen, even by Nephirid standards. Then Varnak vanished.
BOOM!
He reappeared mid-swing. The halberd tore through air, a blur of red light. Ben ducked, but the shockwave struck anyway, sending him skidding back as a chunk of the arena wall exploded behind him.
"Good," Ben muttered, shaking the dust from his shoulders. "Now you're worth my time."
Varnak charged. Each step cratered the ground. He struck from above, Ben rolled under.
