The moment it looked away
Dante moved.
Not forward.
Not back.
Sideways.
A step that didn't follow logic, didn't follow prediction, didn't follow anything the figure had been optimizing against.
It reacted
But late.
Just enough.
Dante closed the distance and drove his hand forward, not aiming for impact, not aiming for force
Aiming for disruption.
Contact.
The second he touched it
Everything snapped.
The space twisted violently, folding in on itself like it couldn't decide which version of reality to obey.
The figure's head snapped back toward him, gaze sharpening instantly.
"You exploit distraction," it said.
Dante's voice dropped.
"I exploit opportunity."
The pressure surged.
Hard.
Trying to push him back, correct the imbalance, erase the advantage he'd forced into existence.
He held.
Barely.
The girl's voice came through again, stronger now, breaking through the warped space. "We're still here!"
