Blood splattered and it wasn't the mage's. Chunji could almost feel a curse leave his lips as Alto started to slump before the mage with the remains of his longsword held in his hand. Whatever happened, it was clear that Alto was at an advantage. Without essence, an unbroken blade, and now bleeding, the chances of victory seemed minuscule for the Professor.

Chunji's eyes flitted over towards the horned man as he began charging towards the frontline. If he joined the fight, Iraleth and Rio would be crushed under his strength. They were already struggling with the discount foreteller; if the brute were to join, then their defenses would crumble. It left Chunji with little more than desperation.

Help Iraleth and Rio? There was little that could be done. He'd had an idea on how to deal with the flesh pile, but it was a massive gamble that Chunji wasn't sure he could commit to. Additionally, the brute could easily crush him. A rough cough reminded Chunji on what was currently happening inside his body.

Help Alto? Chunji couldn't expend any essence due to the ring, and his sword would fall the same fate as Alto's longsword. If anything, he might get in the way of Alto finding a way to defeat the mage.

Yet, both options ended with the same solution that Chunji had come up with. Gulping, Chunji drew his sword and slit the palm of his hand against it. If he had access to his essence, he'd like to spend it to bond his blood to his blade, but that wasn't possible. His cursed blood stained his family's ceremonial sword. The patterns become embellished under the blood of its wielder. His blood, almost alive, slowly encroached up the hilt to touch his hand. A faint hiss could be heard in the dark recesses of Chunji's mind as he took a deep breath. He had to help the Professor.

He needed to have faith in his classmates. Although there was no camaraderie, they proved to be capable time and time again. He needed to trust them in order to play his part. Chunji's eyes narrowed at the mage's direction.

There was a chance he could pierce the mage's personal barrier with his bloodied sword, but what would happen if the result happened again? He'd just be stuck like Alto. That meant he had to target somewhere different. He'd take a page out of Otis and Iraleth's book. 

Doing his best, he ran up and intercepted an attack from the mage. His sword clashed against the man's sword-staff. "I'm afraid that the Professor's is off limits," Chunji chided as he pushed back against the man's staff. The plan was clear: he was going to curse the man's staff with his blood. For every contact made with his sword, bits of his fresh blood would begin to taint the mage's weapon. Vine-like plants would entangle and sap the essence of the weapon and the wielder if they continued to hold it.

Though it was clear that Chunji wasn't in top condition. The withdrawal of essence was soon kicking in, and it was suffocating to fight under. A grievous hit would be inevitable, but if that were the case, it would be another opportunity. Chunji turned his body to protect his vitals as his foe landed a hit on him. There wasn't even a wince, but a cold acceptance of what was to come next. "Get a load of this," Chunji stumbled and whipped his body around. Blood was splattered all over the man as the separated, animated blood was surging toward the mage.