Rooley, still leaning against a pillar for support, blood caked on his face and his back screaming in agony, met those gold eyes and spoke through the summoning link.
"Don't hit him head on. His absorption works on direct kinetic force. Grab him. Pin him. Then crush. Slow pressure. No impact. No shockwave. Just gradual force that his ability can't register as an attack."
The fox held his gaze for a moment. Then it turned back to the student.
The Astral Zenith student's grin faltered. Something about the way the fox was looking at him had changed. Less like a predator eyeing prey. More like a craftsman examining a problem.
The fox moved.
It simply stepped forward and placed one paw on the student's shoulder gently. Almost delicate.
The student laughed nervously. "What's that going to—"
The paw closed.
