The monster moved, but not toward Kenneth, through him.
It twisted its massive frame with terrifying speed, its limb cutting through the space he had occupied a second ago, the air cracking from the force alone.
"Spread out!" Kenneth shouted.
They did. Instinctively and just in time. The limb slammed into the ground where they'd been standing, the impact sending a shockwave through the road, cracking asphalt and kicking up debris that stung against their skin.
"Frontline, hold it!" Kenneth called.
Fae and Yoosung stepped in. There was no more hesitation now as Fae's spear flashed forward, not to pierce, but to redirect. She caught the creature's next strike at an angle, her feet skidding back as the force traveled through her arms.
"Yoosung, now!"
Yoosung moved in sync, his blade carving upward in a defensive arc, deflecting the follow-up strike just enough to keep it from crushing them both.
"Jesus—!" he hissed, teeth clenched. "This thing hits like a truck!"
