Hajin coughed, a thick glob of blood spilling past his lips and dripping down his chin as he looked at the spike still protruding from his chest.
The pain hit a moment later, sharp and deep, his breathing turning labored and his vision swimming in a way that made it clear this was not a wound he could just shake off.
'Of course,' he thought, a bitter taste filling his mouth that had nothing to do with the blood, 'I let my guard down because it looked like it was done. Stupid.'
He grabbed the spike with both hands, his jaw clenching as he prepared to pull it out, but before he could, Juna's voice cut through the chaos, distant but sharp with panic, "Master!"
"I'm fine," he muttered, though the words came out wet and thin.
Before the worm could make another move, Helen vanished.
