"If you continue forward, you're going to die," Vale assured Bruce, letting himself slump against the wall once again. "Zelriane, Rajaka, Adarine, you've prepared yourselves well enough to at least stand some semblance of a chance against them. But stopping the only one who matters, the patriarch of this would-be family of interlopers, that's nonsensical. You and your friends are walking towards an assured death-" Vale's speech grew quicker for a moment before he coughed up more blood. He rose one of his hands towards the newly created hole over his solar plexus and felt the viscous liquid still oozing out of the wound. He wasn't clotting naturally anymore. Vale took a deep, wheezing breath and exhaled heavily.