'Fighting Verhen alone is definitely easier, but if our duel goes on for too long, the two Lessers will recover their strength and kill my soldiers!' M'Rael's analysis was spot on.
Ajatar had assumed his physical form again and was now able to recover from the wounds and exhaustion caused by the Spirit Fusion.
As for Faluel, not only was she drinking barrels of nutrients from five mouths, but she was also channeling the power from the Hands into the Royal Fortress armor to replenish the Life Maelstrom faster than usual.
M'Rael, instead, was still quite shaky from the Dread Flames, and even with the Immortal Body array from the Heart of the tower, he had yet to fully recover. There was something wrong with him, as if the tower had suddenly shifted down one gear.