Neo saw the next cut coming an instant before it reached Marika.
Max had already fallen, but the boss had not given the room even a heartbeat to mourn him. One of the six blades was already arcing down toward the place where Marika still knelt, blood on her face, blood on her hands, Max's blood soaking into her clothes while her mind lagged somewhere far behind the fight.
Neo did not think.
Beast Strength flooded into his legs so hard it felt like fire being driven through bone. He kicked off the floor and shot forward like something launched from a siege weapon, crossed the distance in a blur, and caught Marika around the waist just as the swords came down.
The boss carved through empty air.
