The dust of the ridge had barely settled before Vane hit the floor of the basin. He did not land with a heavy crash. He absorbed the impact through his knees, his star-steel spear held in a tight, diagonal guard. Beside him, Ashe landed with a predatory crouch. Her tekko kagi scraped against the stone, sparking as her oni mana flared in anticipation. Valerica and Isole stood behind them. They formed a wall of cold, calculated intent.
The noble squads from the Blue and Red towers were frozen. They had been kiting the Rank 4 Guardian Construct for nearly twenty minutes. They were tired. Their mana pools were depleted. Seeing four students in standard academy gray enter the fray was a shock their exhausted minds could not immediately process.
