"Spread out!" Jin yelled. He drew both of his swords in one swift motion—snap-clack!—the sound echoing through the cracked stone walls of the arena.
But his command came a moment too late.
One of the students—a young swordsman—froze on the spot. His eyes widened in fear as the monstrous Ironback stormed forward.
The beast didn't slow down. With a brutal charge, it slammed its massive, armored shoulder into the frozen student like a battering ram.
"AHHHH—!!"
The student was launched into the air and crashed hard into a pile of broken stone near the wall. Dust exploded from the impact. His sword clattered uselessly across the floor.
Veyla screamed when he was knocked off by the beast.
Jin's eyes flared. "I said spread out!" he shouted again, but this time his voice held more frustration than anger. It wasn't that he was mad—he was scared for them.
"You freeze like that again, and you'll die! MOVE!"
The rest of the team finally reacted.
