Kikaru's boots struck Yui Raki's shoulder with the force of a falling anvil.
She didn't aim for center mass. She aimed to break his collarbone. The golden orb at her chest detonated in a blinding flash of plasma-light, superheating the air in the B-Block security hub the exact second she made contact.
The impact cracked the polished tile beneath Yui's feet, sending a shockwave of pulverized ceramic outward.
But the bone didn't break.
The violet energy lining Yui's sleek black tech suit flared, absorbing the kinetic force of her drop. He grunted, his knees buckling an inch under the added weight, but he didn't collapse. He twisted his torso, bringing his armored forearm up to catch Kikaru's shin before she could launch a secondary strike.
"A rat in the ceiling," Yui muttered, his voice cold and annoyed.
He shoved upward, throwing Kikaru off balance.
Up in the narrow ventilation duct, Elias didn't have time to watch the fight.
