Die. Respawn. Repeat.

All three of us are ready to fight. I feel it like a charge in the air, and I'm not the only one; the Concept-Bound senses it, too. Phylus stills, and there's suddenly a note in his voice that sounds a lot like concern.

"Something is different," he says, half-musing the words. Talking to himself, for some reason. "I can delay no longer."

That's all the warning we get.

The ropes that Ahkelios brought in—I don't know what they are, but those things are strong. They actually hold him back for about half a second, which is more warning than we would have had otherwise; they flare to an eye-searing brightness as Phylus brings everything he has to bear against it.

They shatter and the devices generating them burst into flames and smoke, but it's more than enough time for Guard to get in front of Ahkelios and I, burning with the Breath of Life. The field of green glows bright as it deflects the sudden near-solid dark blue that crashes against us.

Novi huddles in the center where it's safest. I'm closest to the edge—dark-blue Firmament brushes against my finger, just for a fraction of a second as it leaves the protective grasp of Guard's aura. That's enough for it to burn straight through my skin and down to the bone like it's concentrated acid.

Very good thing Guard got in the way of that. When it dissipates, Phylus's eyes widen slightly, like he's both surprised and annoyed that all four of us are still there. He doesn't waste time talking like I expect him to, though.

Instead, he attacks. He's faster than before. Three solid spikes, Bound with Regret, aimed directly at our throats; Guard's aura won't deflect something physical like that.

So I Evolve faster than I ever have before.