Shawn twisted and unleashed a crescent slash.
A vast net of lightning instantly materialized around him, enclosing him like a nest of electric light and leaving no gaps in his defenses.
The net was densely woven from purple lightning threads. A violet glow flowed between them, with twisting arcs leaping from strand to strand, mysterious and magnificent.
It looked like a protective enclosure, but this spell was no defensive charm. The net rapidly expanded outward.
The charging birds and beasts collided head-on with it, yet there was no violent impact or thunderous explosion.
As though transparent, the net glided effortlessly through the running, leaping transfigured animals, as if nothing had happened.
But a moment later, after the animals had taken only a few more steps, they began to fall apart, breaking into chunks with smooth, clean cuts. Purple light still danced across the severed surfaces.
Hundreds of fragments hurtled forward under their own momentum, rapidly dissolving into ash beneath that shimmering light.
The spectators' mounting excitement turned to horror. What a strange, devastating spell.
Then they saw the spells flying toward Shawn right behind the animals.
As though guided by an intelligent program, the net flashed repeatedly with purple light at each impending point of impact, its lightning threads drawing closer and weaving more densely together.
When the spells struck the net, violent tremors finally erupted, flames surging and electric arcs crackling.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
"Bzzzt! Bzzzt! Bzzzt!"
After a grating screech that set everyone's teeth on edge, every spell was blocked.
The lightning net continued to expand outward.
Kenneth and the others had been hoping the transfigured animals could take Shawn out. Even if they were blocked, the students handling Transfiguration would keep producing more, sending wave after wave into the fray.
They had never expected Shawn to have