Rea's blade sang through the air again and again, its arc cutting down swarms of dragonflies that buzzed too close to the cannon. Sparks of their fragmented wings scattered like shards of glass, but more kept coming, drawn to the weapon's glow. His breathing grew heavier, yet his strikes never faltered.
Behind him, Cindy pressed herself against the steel plating, one hand clutching her side where fresh blood seeped through bandages. Her other hand held her gun loosely, trembling, though she barely had the strength to lift it. For now, all she could do was survive in Rea's shadow.
Belle remained steady despite the chaos, her rifle snapping with sharp, controlled bursts. Each shot found its mark, capung after capung spiraling lifelessly to the ground. Her precision was the thin thread keeping the monsters from overwhelming them.
