Amid the smoke and dust from the explosion, the vines dragged the Silver-Eyed One backward until he slammed heavily into the massive trunk of the Corpse Tree. Then he collapsed there without moving, quietly watching the smoke settle.
The enormous canopy overhead swayed uneasily, while the thunderous blast echoed continuously through the chamber. The Mercury humanoid emerged from the smoke and dust, seemingly completely unaffected by the Steam Bomb's explosion.
Within the glowing Silver Mist conjured by the illusion came the sounds of bells and steam whistles. Brilliant Moonlight flew out from the mist, and the Mercury humanoid raised its arm—
Clang!
With a teeth-grating sound, the Mercury humanoid's right arm was split halfway through. But as the Silver Moon vanished, it swiftly restored itself.
It stood where it was and opened its mouth. As the wind rose, it rapidly sucked the Silver Mist conjured by the illusion into its mouth.
Seeing the illusion about to fail, Shade waved his hand and sent out another flash of Silver Light, then stepped back as the candle in his hand ignited once more. But the Mercury humanoid seemed able to see Shade and charged straight at him.
It apparently had little skill with spells. It raised its right arm high, and the Mercury writhed and reshaped itself into a longsword that slashed down at Shade.
Without thinking, Shade turned the silver radiance at his fingertips into a blade. He raised his hand in a clean block, sending the broken Mercury sword spinning away. Shade looked at his own hand in surprise, never expecting this still-incomplete Thaumaturgy to possess such power.
Under the Silver-Eyed One's control, the Mercury within the humanoid's body flowed, and its right arm slowly regenerated. Shade immediately swung his right hand toward its head.
"Chaotic Time Blade!"
Its gleaming