He'd said he didn't want to use his mana if he could help it, but the monster hadn't even reacted when Lloyd's knife had sliced into it. Blood splattered, scattering flecks of darkness across Lloyd's clothes, maybe on his face, too, but he barely registered it. His mind was on the verge of panic. Al was going to be dragged into that darkness!

In a split second, he threw away his first instinct to slam the thing with Beast. Beast had exhausted him when he'd used it on the front door three nights ago, and he couldn't afford to be exhausted. Not now! But maybe something weaker, that didn't need as much mana from him.

His mana raced down his arm as he focused it almost without conscious thought. Even before it reached his dagger, he was moving, aiming another strike at the monster's arm in a technique he'd done so many times it was almost second nature to him. Mana and light streaked through the air as he hurled it with his blade, a shockwave already forming.

"Demon Fang!"

Let's see how you like mana point blank!