Hail and dreadful fire shot forth from the Harrow's staff, slithering about like a snake before thrashing the floor beneath its feet. So tight was the space between that both Rena and Alia were forced to use their Psionic talents to evade the flames. With no end in sight to the onslaught, one of them formulated a plan.
"Get me in." Alia's heels glowed with purple zeal as she skid across the floor.
Her last-second maneuvers had begun to charge her Psionic energy and had been stowed away for a later attack. But without close proximity to her foe, it would be all for naught. Fortunately for the pair, they both had a variety of means to close the distance.
Alia grabbed Rena by the hand before dissapearing into a shimmer of light. The Harrow could see enough of them, of course, but took a moment to launch a hail of small projectiles at their exact location, allowing the girls a few steps closer. Rena emerged from the shimmer to use her own talent, transforming her and Alia's bodies into a translucent form.
Both techniques had given them a significant stride, and by the time the abilities faded, Alia was close enough to unleash her attack. A rift appeared behind the dancer, and from it came a giant skeletal hand of sorts, following her exact movement as she balled up her own puny fist. The Harrow seemed genuinely suprised to see such a technique from Alia, and nearly lost its footing as the massive appendage slammed into it.
Recognizing her as more of a keystone and less of a nuisance, the Harrow detached its staff into a whip, using its thorned segments to latch onto Alia and sling her across the arena. She came crashing down onto the rocky floor and made not a sound as her body went limp. Rena would have fallen into despair if not for the Harrow's expression as it turned to face her.
Its face was chipped.
"When you're gone," Rena spoke with resolve. "I'll find him. My son. None of you can stop me."
The Harrow reached out with its spindly hands, pulling Rena to its clutches with an invisible grasp. But to its bewilderment, she didn't seem all that afraid. Something had reassured her despite Alia's incompacitation.
A girlish warcry came from above, causing the Harrow's face to lurch upwards as it poised for battle. "Surprise, Mothafuka!"
Lila swooped down with her right foot encased in a blue field of light, her momentum amplified by a swing of Ivy's staff. The force brought on by her impact splintered the floor of the arena and caused the Harrow to fly backwards. It regained its footing gracefully enough, however, and stretched out its hand as a challenge.
"Bet ya didn't see that one cummin!" Lila huffed with a smile.
Her allies gathered around her, each girl falling out of the sky with elegance and determination. Togethor, they were the team of four prodigies Yrix had entrusted. But more importantly, they were all Psions.
"It is not the only method of attaining power in this universe," Yrix explained both within and outside the dream, as if feeling the need to add her opinion to the situation. "But it is my chosen path."
Rena fell to the floor rather harmlessly, her body shielded by a series of angular shapes projected by Ivy. She panted for a moment before mustering a grin on her face. At last, there was a sense of confidence in the air.
"Lila." Rena reached out with her mind.
"It ain't just me." Lila put her fists up in an attempt to match the same level of presentation as her comrades, who each seemed to possess their own style.
Lunae hugged her crook and took a more supportive stance with an uneasy expression. Ivy's legs were spread apart more aggressively as she held both her baton and staff at her side, her face haughty and agitated. And as for Sonera, she had taken a collected stance with her body angled to the side as she pointed her radiant sword at the Harrow with a steely glare.
"This town ain't big enough fer the two of us." Lila continued. "Now leave Rena alone, you freaky asshole."
Even with her spunky attitude, Lila was a bit disturbed by the Harrow's appearance. Its very existence seemed fake and artificial, like it was never really born or alive. With no name and no face, it represented all the dread she had felt alongside Yrix.
But with all the terrifying prospects of being a Psion, there was still power. Yrix had given them the chance to defend themselves. And the girls would gladly take it.
A standoff ensued, as both sides waited to make a move. Rena took the chance to hobble her way over to Lila, where she stood at her side. Alia remained unconscious, but ironically safe, as the Harrow paid her no mind.
Finally, Lila squinted before blinking towards the Harrow, holding her gifted weapon in hand. She appeared behind the creature, firing a volley into its backside in a bid to catch its attention. But the creature paid no mind.
It dashed away.
Ivy and Sonera reacted as quickly as they could, blocking a low swipe from the Harrow's staff as they stepped back. Lunae remained ready for any possible opening, gracefully flipping over a long, spindly leg as it came hurtling towards her face. The fighters engaged in a long and frenzied dance, each displaying their own skill as warriors of the dream.
But the Harrow, for all its speed, had significant mass on its side, using its body to collide with Lila as she blinked towards it. The sharp heel on the end of its feet swung upwards, catching a plunging strike from Sonera before throwing her aside. And with its staff still in hand, it cast another volley of projectiles towards Ivy, forcing her to dive out of the way.
"Shit." Rena's mind raced. "Isn't it phased by any of this?"
Apparently not.