The pressure didn't ease.
It sharpened.
Voss no longer needed to choose between direct combat and control. He was doing both now, seamlessly.
That was the problem.
Jovian stepped in again, Vital Mirage striking fast and precise. The blow connected with Obsidian Fang, but the impact didn't carry the same weight as before.
Something had changed.
"…He's distributing the force," Jovian realized.
Lucien nodded from the side, Midnight Sontana weaving carefully through the tightening space. "Not just blocking. Redirecting everything."
Another clash.
This time, the counter came faster.
Jovian barely avoided it.
Behind him, Iggy tried to break through the outer field again, but Phantom Ember was forced back by overlapping lines that cut off his advance before he could commit.
"Still can't get close!" Iggy snapped.
Alaric didn't respond immediately. He was watching Voss closely.
"…He's dividing us," he said.
That was it.
Even while fighting Jovian directly, Voss was controlling everyone else. Keeping them separated. Managing distance.
Jovian exhaled slowly.
"So we stop letting him," he said.
Vital Mirage moved again, this time not to attack—but to shift position.
Not forward.
Sideways.
Breaking the angle Voss had been maintaining.
For the first time in several exchanges—
The pattern broke.
Only slightly.
But enough for Lucien to slip in closer.
Midnight Sontana struck from the blind side.
The hit landed.
Not strong—but clean.
Voss turned his head slightly.
"…Better," he said.
That was the only acknowledgment they got.
And somehow—
That made it worse.