Stryfe had just about had the boy's mind, had busted through the last shield when suddenly he felt a second mental energy reinforcing them and at the same time was blasted by the full power of a psimeter.

He let go for only a moment, but it was enough: once free the boy battered him and for a moment Stryfe thought he was dead, but finally the attack stopped and Stryfe emerged: injured, bruised and with his armor largely broken and falling off but still alive and ready to finish this.

He haltingly reached out with his teke and grabbed the sword that had been knocked out of his hand.