The shift in strategy was immediate.
Instead of responding to each attack individually, Jovian moved first, forcing the pace instead of following it, Vital Mirage surging forward with a level of aggression it hadn't shown before.
The distortions reacted, but this time, they were the ones adjusting, trying to maintain the structure that had given them control.
"Don't hold back," Jovian said, his voice steady but sharper now.
Alaric stepped forward without hesitation, Golden Cavalier anchoring the space around them, disrupting the alignment just enough to create instability in the pattern beneath their feet.
Lucien followed, Midnight Sontana moving with precise intent, targeting the intersections of the ground pattern rather than the distortions themselves, cutting into the structure instead of the symptoms.
Iggy caught on instantly.
"Burn the lines," he said, Phantom Ember flaring outward as controlled bursts of heat struck the ground, distorting the carefully constructed layout.
For the first time since entering the square—
The system faltered.
The distortions hesitated.
Not long.
But long enough.
"That's it," Jovian said, already moving again.
Vital Mirage struck the central figure directly, not testing, not probing, but forcing a reaction.
The figure responded, but its movements weren't as clean as before.
Because the structure supporting it was no longer stable.
The ground pattern flickered, sections breaking apart under the combined pressure of their attacks.
Lucien's voice cut through the chaos. "It's all connected. The more we break, the weaker it gets."
Jovian didn't need confirmation.
He could feel it.
The figure was still fast.
Still dangerous.
But no longer perfect.
And that was enough.
"End it," he said.
Because for the first time—
They weren't inside the trap anymore.
They were tearing it apart.