The chunk of concrete that Selma launches skyward intercepts the ball of darkness racing toward the tower with a spectacular detonation. The concussive force released when the two meet is visible in the air, a distorted plume of darkness as the stone is erased from existence. The tower, for the moment, is safe. 

It affords Crystal time to start hauling wounded soldiers down to the bottom of the structure, the operators likewise making a hasty exit after giving the order to evacuate. The husk of the observation room is soon cleared out, flickering monitors and beeping displays left behind as the crew moves to the street below. 

And while she does Rivka takes up position, two sharps cracks of her rifle echoing out in the wake of the earlier detonation. The first red streak connects with the tall Void’s center mass, and the second with the arm half-raised to defend itself. The force of those two impacts are enough to sheer the spindly creature near in half; it’s right arm and shoulder are torn from its body in a splatter of black mist, vanishing abruptly into thin air. 

The second volley, Selma’s next round of debris, is less destructive. Still, the makeshift projectiles find their mark with enough force to send the Void flying. It tumbles backward, vanishing over the side of the building.

It’s not immediately clear if the monster is gone, but the answer comes soon enough. It’s only a minute later that the Void appears on the street below, lurching into view of the Crystal, Chie, and the officers gathered at the base of the tower. The empty space where it used to have an arm has already regrown a vestigial sort of appendage, a long and whip-like span of darkness that’s swiftly growing back into the long limb it possessed before.

The more intact of the two appendages is raised toward the group of soldiers and Ars Magi across the street, and this time it conjures more than one of those explosive spheres. They come in a volley of three, each launched at alarming speed across the intervening space and toward the small cluster of individuals in front of the tower. 

The Void’s hand rises again to begin conjuring more in their wake, another two spheres half-formed in front of it before something--someone--stops it. 

The first girl emerges like a blonde bolt of lighting, leaping into sight from an alleyway near the Void. Electricity crackles around her metal-clad fingers, discharging in a brilliant flash of light when her fist slams into the explosive-hurling foe. The force of the blow is enough to take the Void off its feet, it’s tall frame tumbling across the street. 

It comes to a stop a few feet away before it begins to rise once again, pushing itself to its feet.

“Aoife!” Calls the lightning Ars Magi, “Go!”