Hajin stared up at Cessy while his exhausted mind struggled to process her request.
His body barely possessed enough strength left to lift either of his arms.
Blood dried on his lips while he worked through the arithmetic of her request.
The boss circled above them through the static, patient now that its prey had stopped running.
"You can do that absorbing thing with your chain again, right?" Cessy asked, tilting her head as if she had just remembered an ordinary favor.
Her question dragged his thoughts back to the Beast King's dungeon, where two presences had watched from the dark.
Cessy and her quiet partner had seen the Chain drink mana that day, so they had clearly never forgotten it.
Before he could answer, the air above them split with a deafening crack.
The boss emerged from the static while driving a condensed spear straight toward their heads.
Cessy did not flinch, though her left hand caught Hajin by the collar.
