SHIKK!!!
BANG! BANG!!
A gashing wound across Bronx's body, an involuntary reflex by Volvo, reciprocated by the Sniper's cuts firing back, the damage sustained into metal, shooting through his arms and striking at one of his Cores to trigger a reaction. To his surprise, Volvo allowed it, whilst the Core flashed, parrying the shot and storing it into his wound, letting it fire back as its own makeshift barrel, pushing Bronx back and forcing him to endure both styles. As the two took their time to recover, with Volvo setting up one of his cores to force his way out of the illusion, and Bronx taking out the bullet lodged in his body, Koina would take her own notes between the two. On one side, the Cores act as their own, albeit smaller, style of magic. Each core must have a synergy with one another, but in exchange, it allows the user to carry that style of magic by activating them, taking in whatever traits were available to the core itself and letting it spread across the body. So far, she was able to see Crow, Wyvern, and Hawk. One acts as a way to enhance his speed and reaction time, the second his durability, and the third his offense through his claw-like talons. She was even able to see the fourth Core, the Owl, handle the illusion by taking in the respective spell, switching it, enhancing the Giant's senses and allowing him to utilize Contract Magic, assuming it is a single use before returning back Owl.
On the other side, Bronx's style forces him to keep the pressure going. Every bullet he shoots, no matter if it is a graze or a deep hit, will inevitably trigger the magic. Every injury he sustains would become a new barrel to fire back. Regardless if they play it safe or go all out, Bronx will always keep shooting. An order he's following to a fault. She does notice, however, that blunt force trauma is the only type of injury he cannot work around. By being forced to injure himself through such cuts or shots, it would generate him the firepower to keep going. If such was hit with a simple punch or kick, so long as that attack doesn't leave a visible wound, it won't trigger the set-up. In a way, Koina was learning on both sides, using her own dagger to act as the adaptation Volvo was using, while also hardening her own body like how Bronx was doing to endure the hits. "He's not gonna be using his Final Gambit either, is he...? If I were a betting woman, that Gambit most likely has something to do with one of his bullets. If he tried to fire an explosive round, everyone would take notice. If he tries to fire those Contract stuff, he'd most likely be giving up his own soul. Either way... he'd be forced to kill himself if he wished to even the odds." She'd mumble, remembering the small information she gathered when she was an outcast against the warring Kingdoms during her time away.
Before she was able to think any further, both went at it again, with the claws quickly harnessing the Contract Magic left behind. "He's pushing it...!" She'd say to herself, watching Volvo get onto one of the walls and jumping off from it. Bronx, in response, would parry the attack, swatting it back with his weapon, letting him use it as a pole to lift himself up and launch a high kick against his chin, stunting him, landing a cross-up with his legs to put him back down on the ground as he'd try to take aim and fire back. Once again, he has a clear visual on his chest, his heart exposed, ready to fire and take such a life.
BANG!!!
Blood dribbled down, as the Sniper's eyes widened. Amidst his opportunity, the small glint left behind took center stage, a beam of light firing right into his own body, straight through his abdomen, barely cutting into his stomach. He'd cough up such sanguine as he was pushed back down, forced to roll once Volvo got up and aimed a heavy slam into the ground. What was that attack? There was no reports found regarding a laser, let alone one that came from outside his vision. He'd try to see where the attack came from, but all he found was stone, as he was forced to roll again, another slam down as the Wyvern core was set up, increasing the durability between the claws and his arms, letting even a simple swing cave in a building's side. He was running low on options again, yet he needs time. He'd try to raise his gun and fire into the Giant's face, hoping to strike at him and land another Contract.
BANG!!
There it was again. Another shot, now across his chest, toying with his body as it missed his lung. He coughed up blood once again, falling to his knees, struggling to breathe properly with the injuries. Volvo remained cautious, yet also surprised. Such surprise lets Bronx know that someone was being involved with the fight, interrupting it. Trying to bring down the Sniper in such efforts. His wounds quickly metallized and shot back, three bullets to push the Giant back, tanking and pushing the ammunition aside, as Bronx got back onto his feet. He'd take a deep breath, trying to concentrate as the lumbering Giant closed in. Every time he shot his gun, it was always met with a shot back to his own body. He closed his eyes, taking in the area, as he raised his weapon. "It's hiding from me... It's waiting." He'd think to himself. Without another word, he pulled his trigger. He could hear something was shifting around. Subtle, but just audible enough to pick up. It was attacking in silence, ensuring he wouldn't get the jump on it.
BANG!!
Third time was the charm, as Bronx moved out of the way, angling his barrel's metal to catch the light beam and refract it, letting the laser cut through Volvo's fingers, watching three quickly drop down. Wincing and reeling back, The Giant watched as one of his hands was only left with his thumb and index. "I knew it. Someone is here watching us." The Sniper called out, yet the Giant raised his other hand.
"Let it. If it tries to intervene any more, we will know where it came from. I will say, I didn't expect you to catch the laser and fire it at me in your place..." He'd grunt, as his core began to crack, the Hawk's being unable to endure the same pain.
"Training tends to help you know when the next attack is coming. I'm a Sniper. It's my job to know what the area is before I take my shot." A Callous reply, but an accurate one nonetheless. His eyes were more stern now, as he'd try to see who was the shooter interrupting their battle.