[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/EzQI717.png[/img][/center]
Sweat beaded on his forehead, each breath sucking in more of the heat that surged out from the monstrosity before him. His eyes twitched at the sting, but so long as he wanted to maintain a [i]tempting[/i] distance with the liondog, Xuan-Yu remained within the radius of its surging heat. But in the corner of his vision, Faye’s angular form stalked the beast that chased after him, so in turn, Xuan-Yu prepared for her attack. One step smaller, bringing him in tantalizing range of the Warped, causing it too to pause just in time for…

The spear met its mark, opening up the previous wound further. The monster turned in its rage, exposing its back legs to Xuan-Yu again. His right leg coiled, scarlet flexors brimming with explosive might. Accumulated force released to the thunder of a human bullet, the Deathstalker chassis a black blur as it shot past the liondog’s uninjured side, catching Grendel by the chest in that same powerful leap.

And with that, the two Frame Pilots were far gone, Faye being summarily smashed through a half-dozen oni before they skid to a stop atop the gore of the Warped. As for the liondog? Perhaps it would be immediate, or perhaps it would be after a few seconds, but Xuan-Yu was not the type to leave a duel without a parting gift: soon enough, its [i]other[/i] hindleg would be feeling just a little bit worse for wear.

He flicked the scalding blood off his blade, shook out his sore arm, then winked at Faye.

[b]“I’ll cool off now. Consider a shower before the debrief, yes?”[/b]

And with that, Xuan-Yu dissolved into the background once more.