Vincent understood the black powder a heartbeat too late.
"You want the fall to light it," he said, voice tight with panic under the anger. "You think when we hit, the heat and force will do the rest."
Elias had no air for an answer. He used the last clean second instead. The can opener bit into the bright seam under Vincent's ribs. Elias cranked hard. The point tore through softened armor and dragged across something underneath that was not stone. Vincent's grip spasmed.
Yui came through the portal's second opening from the side, one leg extended and the remaining gauntlet dead on his arm. Junjio had not just pulled Elias down. He had given Yui an angle. Yui's heel smashed into Vincent's face.
Vincent spun away from Elias and hit the pool deck first. Stone burst under him. Broken tile jumped. The impact carved a crater into the already ruined resort floor and sent dirty water slapping against the pool walls.
