Four fists slammed shut around the descending blade before Hajin could reach the gorilla's throat.
"Oh, come on—!"
He wrenched the edge clear and fed mana into StarGuard, anchoring the field before both forearms as four fists struck. The defense drove inward until his teeth clicked, and he skidded twelve paces back, the sword shaking in his grip.
The gorilla tore free of the loose Chain while he scrambled to find his footing.
"Shit, shit, okay, that one stung," he wheezed, flexing his fingers around the hilt.
Loccy hoisted her hammer toward the knees that already betrayed the charge, "Master, stop catching every fist, let me break the legs first!"
Juna snagged the edge of her sleeve before she could charge into the recovering monster's reach.
"Wait for the opening," she growled, hauling her back beside Cassie's barrier without losing the flank, "running under four arms won't improve it, rabbit brain."
"I'm not a rabbit!"
"Then stop hopping."
