Black ichor hit the water and hissed. The hum under the stream stuttered, then dropped an octave. Whatever was waking up didn't like being hurt.
Kyle didn't wait. The hands were still rising, more fingers than joints should allow, reaching for him, for Elara, for the pulsing fruit above. The planet's red veins throbbed once in his peripheral vision, like Kraken itself was watching.
[Shadow Energy: 1000/1000,] Snow reported, clipped and fast. [Demon Energy: 2500/2500. Sixty seconds before that thing fully surfaces. Make it count.]
"Copy," Kyle breathed. He shifted his weight, planting his left foot and letting the Abyssal Talon Manifest take over his right. Shadow poured down the limb, reshaping the Aegis-V boot into a clawed, jagged thing. The air around it bent, heavier. +50% defense on the leg. +15% movement speed baseline. He'd need both.
