Chrono's eyes stayed locked on the creature as it tore into the fading flames.
"…We don't fight it head-on."
Rina rolled her shoulder, flames already forming.
"Then hurry up and say the plan."
Nia narrowed her eyes.
"Blind… reacts to heat."
Chrono nodded once.
"Rina—keep it distracted."
He glanced at Carl.
"Stay alert. If it charges, slow it down."
Carl didn't respond immediately.
"…Yeah."
A beat too late.
Chrono noticed.
But there wasn't time.
Rina fired the first shot.
A fireball burst across the chamber.
Then another.
The creature reacted instantly—
But not like before.
It paused.
Head twitching.
Then—
It moved sideways.
Fast.
Straight toward Rina.
"—!"
She barely dodged, the impact cracking the ground where she stood. A sharp cut opened along her forearm from flying debris.
"Tch—!"
"Don't stay in one place!" Chrono snapped.
Another flame lit up the chamber.
Then another.
The creature began moving erratically—
Switching targets faster.
Adapting.
Carl stepped forward.
A bit late.
He tried to intercept—
But his timing was off.
The creature's limb slammed into him—
Sending him skidding back across the floor.
He didn't brace properly.
Didn't react in time.
"…!"
He hit a pillar hard, dropping to one knee.
For a moment—
He didn't move.
"Carl?" Nia called out.
No response.
His eyes were open—
But unfocused.
Like he wasn't fully there.
The creature turned.
Locked onto Nia.
"Shit—!"
She tried to move—
But its claw grazed her side.
A deep cut formed instantly.
She stumbled back, breath catching.
Chrono's expression tightened.
'What is he doing…'
"Rina—more flames!"
This time—
No hesitation.
A larger burst of fire exploded across the chamber.
The creature screeched—
Distracted again.
Chrono moved.
Fast.
Nia followed, slightly slower now.
They split.
Opposite sides.
The creature hesitated—
Trying to track both.
Chrono pushed forward.
Jumped—
But mid-air—
It reacted again.
A wing slammed into him.
"—!"
He crashed hard into the ground, the impact knocking the air out of him.
For a second—
Everything blurred.
The creature lunged.
Straight for him.
Carl was still kneeling.
Still… not moving.
"…Carl!"
No response.
Chrono's eyes snapped open.
'Move—!'
At the last second—
Rina stepped in.
A burst of flame collided with the creature's face—
Forcing it back.
"Don't die on me, idiot!" she snapped.
Chrono pushed himself up, breathing uneven.
"Carl—get up!"
That finally broke it.
Carl flinched slightly.
Like he'd just woken up.
"…Huh—?"
Too late.
Chrono didn't wait.
"Rina—full burst!"
A massive fireball lit up the chamber.
Blinding.
The creature thrashed.
Chrono moved through the light.
Ignoring the pain.
Ignoring everything.
He reached its back.
Saw it.
That faint glowing line.
His blade drove in.
Deep.
The creature screamed—
Convulsing violently—
But still didn't fall.
"Carl—!"
This time—
Carl moved.
Late.
But he moved.
He stepped in—
And drove his blade upward—
Through its throat.
A clean hit.
The creature froze.
Then collapsed.
A heavy crash echoed through the chamber.
Silence.
Rina lowered her hand, breathing hard.
"…The hell was that…"
Nia held her side, wincing.
"…That wasn't E+…"
Chrono stood still for a second.
Breathing uneven.
Then—
He moved.
Straight toward Carl.
Before anyone could react—
His hand grabbed Carl's collar—
And—
Thud.
His fist drove straight into Carl's face.
Carl's head snapped to the side as he hit the ground.
Silence.
Rina blinked.
"…Damn."
Carl didn't get up immediately.
Blood trickled slightly from his lip.
His eyes still unfocused.
Chrono stood over him, expression cold.
"Hey."
His voice was low.
Controlled.
"I don't give a shit if your father died."
A pause.
"Zone out on me again—"
His grip tightened.
"Or even think about slowing us down…"
His eyes sharpened.
"…and I'll put you down myself."
The air turned heavy.
Nia stepped forward instantly, her sword sliding out with a sharp sound.
"Chrono."
Her voice was calm—
But firm.
"Let him go."
Chrono didn't look at her.
Nia's eyes narrowed slightly.
"He pulled through in the end."
Chrono let out a short breath.
A humorless one.
"At the end?"
He finally glanced at her.
"This entire fight could've gone clean—"
His gaze flicked back to Carl.
"—if he wasn't somewhere else in his head."
Carl's hand tightened slightly against the ground.
But he still didn't speak.
Rina crossed her arms, watching the scene.
"…He's got a point."
Nia frowned.
"Not helping."
Chrono released Carl's collar, letting him drop back.
He stepped away.
For a moment—
No one spoke.
Carl slowly pushed himself up.
Wiping the blood from his lip.
Still silent.
But his grip on his weapon—
Was tighter now.
Behind them—
A soft click echoed.
The door unlocked.