Meng Nian surged forward, catching the mutant before it could shred through the survivors. His hand clamped onto its arm, black veins of energy spreading from his palm like rot.
"Kreeeeee!!"
The beast shrieked, thrashing as its obsidian hide corroded, metal-hard flesh crumbling to ash beneath his grip.
"Keep them moving!" Meng Nian barked, voice raw with strain. "I'll hold the line!"
The creature's body collapsed inward, its own strength dissolving against his decay.
But two more leapt over its dying form, jaws gaping.
"Not today!" Yu Song's voice cracked like a whip. His eyes flashed unnaturally bright, a shimmer pulsing through the air. The mutants faltered mid-lunge, their movements jerky, confused, as if their minds were suddenly wrapped in chains.
They staggered, shrieking in discord, slamming their heads against the walls as Yu Song clenched his fists tighter.
"Move them! Go, go!" Qingran shouted again, dragging Shiyue into the arms of another fighter.
