"Julian! Fall back on defense! New plan!" Celestia's voice, honed by command, sliced through the maelstrom of conflicting energies.
She didn't wait for a reply. With a burst of Phantom Step, she became a silver blur, intercepting a lance of silent energy from the Stillborn King meant for Clarissa's barrier. Her silverthreads lashed out, not to cut, but to deflect and disperse, weaving a frantic, glittering net of interference.
Understanding flashed in Julian's eyes—the calculative part of him instantly recognizing the shift in his team's formation from desperate support to active intervention. He gave a curt, almost imperceptible nod, trusting their judgement.
"Explain!" he gritted out, maintaining his Extract skill but dialing down its intensity, turning it from a grappling hook into a taut line.
