The shard protruded from Vaelor's eye, and blood began to stream down his face like crimson tears.
Kael stumbled to his feet, preparing himself.
But Magnus didn't react. He simply reached up and pulled the shard out of his eye, tossing it to the ground.
His pupil was gone now, only the blue iris left. The white of the eye quickly became tainted with a bright red.
Then his body began to glow.
Kael recognized that glow.
It was the same glow as when he'd lost control over the gem that time in the forest. When he was completely helpless to its power.
Magnus seemed to be more in control, but it also could have been a self defense mechanism. His skin began to fracture, light bleeding from the cracks.
His shards pulsed violently. Once. Then twice. Then a third time. Each pulse came quicker than the last, and each pulse grew louder, as if it were ramping up.
Magnus began to laugh. "It's time we go nuclear."
Kael didn't wait.
He turned to run.
It was already too late.
