"To defeat a monster, you must understand its nature. And then, you must become something worse."
Richard's thoughts scrambled for answers, a frantic torrent of data and tactical analysis, as he dodged and counterattacked. The Prometheus X-19, usually an extension of his will, felt sluggish against Mainu's new, terrifying speed. The Dragon's dark obsidian scales, now pulsating with malicious purple energy, were harder than he thought. Every psionic punch, every focused blast from the Prometheus, seemed to destabilize and dissipate when it came in contact with that chaos energy. It was like trying to punch smoke, but smoke that hit back with the force of a supernova.
