"Cough, kaughff..."
Gray coughed blood onto the stone as he held his chest in pain-
"Fuck..."
His ribs felt cracked, his back torn, but his eyes… his eyes glowed sharper than ever.
He spat to the side and forced himself to his feet.
"...Shut up. Screaming won't kill it."
GRAAHHH!
The monster roared, claws slamming down where he had stood.
BOOM!
The ground split, and in that instant, Gray's body blurred as he swapped places with a loose stone on the floor, reappearing several steps away.
"Listen." His voice came rough but sharp.
"We're not killing this thing with brute force. It's too tough. We break it down piece by piece, by using its damn dumbness against itself."
"Then tell us what to do!" Claire staggered closer, flames flickering at her arms.
"Claire, focus on its eyes. Blind it, keep it wild. Don't stop burning."
She clenched her fists, nodding.
"Got it."
Gray turned to Selina, who was already clutching Mira's shoulder, water magic weaving faintly around them.
