They moved faster—
—but so did it.
The entity didn't hesitate this time. The instant they advanced as one, its form fractured outward into motion, limbs elongating, splitting, reforming mid-strike as it met them head-on.
The battlefield vanished.
Not literally—
—but in practice.
There was no more distance.
No more space to think.
Only collision.
Neo's blade met the entity's arm again, but this time the impact slid instead of clashed. The crystal surface shifted at the point of contact, redistributing force, redirecting his strike just enough to throw off his balance.
"Adjusting vectors!" Ti shouted.
"Yeah, I see that!" Neo snapped, pivoting into a follow-up swing.
Beatrix filled the gap instantly.
Where Neo's attack was deflected, hers connected—her glowing blade biting into one of the existing fractures. Light flared against ice, pushing back against the entity's shifting density.
For a moment—
It held.
Then the entity's core pulsed—
And its body hardened.
