The stones were flying.
Each impact rang like a broken bell in Dylan's flesh. The first caught him at the temple, the crack of bone against rock echoing through his skull. His vision reeled, a black veil dropped, but before he could even blink, a second stone slammed into his ribs, sending him staggering back with a strangled groan.
There was no time. Not a second to catch his breath, not a heartbeat to let his stigma react. Julius didn't wait. Julius didn't let anything slip.
Another volley came, sharp and precise. The first shattered his forearm raised in defense, bone snapping like a twig. The next tore into his shoulder, ripping flesh and blood in a muffled explosion. A third smashed into his thigh, nearly nailing him to the ground. Dylan wavered, but did not fall.
He wanted to scream, but the air was gone. He wanted to regenerate, but Julius gave him no escape.
"Faster, boy!" growled the colossus, his voice drowned by the murderous whistle of stone.
