Edrin had run out of comparisons.
This wasn't like the others.
This wasn't something to confuse.
This wasn't something to outthink.
This was something that simply—
Didn't stop.
"…Okay," he muttered, watching the armored figure step forward again. "It's still not slowing down."
"Because it doesn't need to," Lyra said.
"I don't like that answer anymore."
Ronan rolled his shoulders, grinning despite the blood at the corner of his mouth. "Then we hit it harder."
"We already tried that!"
"Then we hit it again."
Kael didn't argue.
He moved first.
Fast.
Precise.
A strike aimed at the joint of the armored figure's shoulder—
The blade connected—
A sharp, ringing impact echoed—
But the armor held.
Not even a dent.
The figure didn't flinch.
It struck back immediately.
Kael deflected—
But the force pushed him back several steps.
Edrin winced.
"…Okay, that's not working."
"No," Lyra said. "It isn't."
The figure advanced again.
Steady.
Unstoppable.
Edrin felt it now—
Not pressure.
Not control.
Just… weight.
"…It's overwhelming everything," he said.
"Yes," Kael replied.
Edrin frowned.
"…Then we stop trying to match it."
Ronan glanced at him. "What does that mean?"
Edrin pointed at the armored figure.
"…It wins every direct clash."
"Yes."
"It doesn't care about magic."
"Yes."
"It doesn't care about skill."
"…Yes."
Edrin exhaled.
"…So we don't fight it like that."
Ronan grinned.
"…Now you're talking."
The figure lunged again—
Fast—
Heavy—
Edrin moved—
Barely—
A stumble—
A fall—
He rolled out of the way as the blade crashed into the ground.
The impact shook the plain again.
Edrin scrambled to his feet.
"…Okay, still very deadly!"
Lyra stepped in—
Magic flaring—
Not to attack—
But to bind—
The air around the figure tightened—
Slowed it—
Just slightly.
"Now!" she shouted.
Ronan charged—
Not head-on—
He circled—
Striking from the side—
Then backing away—
Not clashing—
Harassing.
Kael followed—
Precise—
Targeting movement—
Not strength.
The figure turned—
Adjusting—
Trying to keep them in front—
But for the first time—
It had to move differently.
Edrin blinked.
"…Wait."
A pause.
"…It's reacting."
"Yes," Lyra said.
"Not because it's learning."
"Because it has to."
Edrin nodded slowly.
"…It can't ignore us if we don't fight it directly."
Ronan laughed. "Now you're thinking."
"I thought we weren't doing that!"
"Not overthinking!"
The figure swung—
Wide—
Trying to catch both Ronan and Kael—
They moved—
Not blocking—
Not clashing—
Just avoiding—
Letting the attack pass.
Edrin's eyes widened.
"…It's wasting effort."
"Yes," Kael said.
Edrin smiled nervously.
"…Okay."
A breath.
"…I like this plan more."
The figure adjusted—
Faster now—
Trying to shorten its movements—
More efficient—
Less wasted motion.
Lyra stepped in again—
Magic striking—
Not to damage—
But to disrupt—
Forcing it to move again.
Edrin stepped forward.
"…It doesn't like that."
"No," Lyra said.
"It prefers direct fights."
Edrin nodded.
"…Then we don't give it one."
The figure lunged again—
Targeting Edrin—
Of course.
"…Why is it always me?!" he shouted.
"Because you're annoying!" Ronan replied.
"That's not helpful!"
Edrin moved—
A stumble—
A twist—
A near fall—
The strike missed—
But the ground shattered beside him.
He flinched.
"…Okay, still terrifying!"
But he didn't stop.
He moved again—
Not away—
Around.
Keeping distance.
Keeping it turning.
Keeping it moving.
The others followed.
No direct clashes.
No heavy strikes.
Just movement.
Pressure.
Disruption.
The figure slowed—
Just slightly.
Edrin saw it.
"…It's getting frustrated."
"Yes," Kael said.
"That's new."
The armored figure raised its blade again—
But this time—
There was a delay.
A fraction.
Small.
But real.
Edrin pointed.
"…There!"
Ronan charged—
Full force—
This time—
The strike landed clean.
A heavy impact—
The figure staggered.
Just one step.
But it moved.
Edrin's eyes widened.
"…We moved it!"
"Yes," Lyra said.
Edrin nodded.
"…Okay."
A breath.
"…It can be pushed."
Kael stepped in—
Precise—
Targeting the same point—
Another hit—
The figure staggered again.
More this time.
The ground cracked beneath it.
Edrin felt something shift.
Not in the figure.
In the fight.
"…It's not unbreakable," he said.
"No," Kael replied.
"It just hasn't been challenged the right way."
Edrin smiled faintly.
"…Good."
The figure roared—
A deep, metallic sound—
And charged again—
More aggressive—
Less controlled.
Edrin stepped forward.
"…New rule."
Ronan grinned. "Go on."
Edrin tightened his grip.
"…We don't try to break it."
A pause.
"…We make it break itself."
The armored figure swung—
Hard—
Desperate—
Edrin moved—
Barely—
The strike hit the ground—
Too hard—
Too committed—
The impact cracked deeper than before—
The ground beneath the figure shifted—
Unstable—
It faltered.
Just enough.
Kael moved—
Ronan followed—
Lyra struck—
The pressure built—
The cracks spread—
This time—
Not just in the ground.
In the armor.
A faint line appeared across its chest.
Edrin blinked.
"…That's new."
The figure staggered.
Just slightly.
But enough.
Edrin exhaled.
"…Okay."
A small, nervous smile appeared.
"…Now we're getting somewhere."