As Eldric's words settled into Jekyll's thoughts, he did not wait.
He sent signals out hard and fast, bargaining with Craftsworth Peak and Contractcrown Alp for whatever they could spare that would end an eldritch without leaving a doorway open for it to crawl back through.
Terms, prices, favors owed. He stacked them in his head while his boots stayed planted on the broken summit of Ledgegrove Bazaar.
Below the rim of ice and nails, the Aberrant stared at the people around it with sympathy and indignation, as if the pain made it more certain it was human.
"Who is controlling all of you?" it demanded. "Why do you keep fighting me?"
Silent Severance did not answer. Blows rained down on its hide anyway.
Physical body cultivators took turns, fists slamming the same spot, over and over, until thunderous booms rolled across the peak.
Each impact left a dent in metal like muscle, a shallow bruise that did not heal.
