Whack!

Wukong's white gauntlet struck Karin. However, not a single shard of light fell from her body! Her body dissolved into a pile of sand instead! 

Sand Puppet!

She had learned this spell following her death at Diak's hands. When hit by a fatal attack, Sand Puppet would replace her body with one made of sand, and would take that attack in her place. 

'Good thing I learned it!'

Karin popped out of the sand pile that the Sand Puppet had left behind. Soren immediately cast Acceleration Gate. 

"Karin, get out of there now!"

Karin passed through the purple ring, and ran as fast as she could to avoid Wukong's next attack. However, that attack never came. Wukong had hid himself in the cloud once more! Thus, Karin had lived to fight another day.

A short while later...

Wukong's cloud began to expand.

"Wind magic!" Isher yelled urgently.

The mages picked themselves up, and called upon the wind once more. Karin created another sandstorm.

However, they were off balance now. It was only natural. The female mage, who'd been most proficient in wind magic, had been killed.

Wukong had acted cleverly. He had been willing to take some hits for a few brief...