A powerful upward strike caused the entire chamber to rumble as dirt and stone fell, the ceiling dislodged by another strike from the whip-sword. Away from the collapse, Aiv glanced over to Isabelle, once again collapsing under the strain of sin-weapon she used. Too far. Too soon. The three-eyed one still had yet to do anything. Dwyn had ran off. Ezain was shocked, paralyzed by the turn of events. Solomon was beset by another one of those beasts. The anchor-wielder had plunged into the ruins to grab at desiccated weaponry and rubble instead. And Orpheus remained unmoving.

[i]Click[/i]

Too fast. Within the span of seconds, that handcannon was already loaded, sealing off his own options too. For something so familiar, it got back into operation too fast, and within that split-second, Aiv made his decision.

[b]“Stay down, Orph!”[/b]

Within the corner of his eye, anchorman was moving, rushing towards the ghoul with the firearm, and with that, Aiv moved. No longer encumbered by the writhing pillar, the white-haired youth dove to the side as powder flashed and the cannon roared. Another flash of pain shook his body, another graze from the very edge of the concussive blast that tore the back of his robe and bloodied the flesh beneath. It burned, seared, but H E   S T I L L   B R E A T H E D.

Rolling up, Aiv hissed ferally as another flash of pain raced up his spine while his body rocked against the hard stone floor, before he rushed towards the side of the cannon-bearer, intent on double-teaming that bastard ghoul with the former anchor-wielder.