Eokimo coughed, dust filling his lungs. He wiped sweat from his forehead and blinked at the chaos around him.
The Ruin Guardian was still standing — cracked, bruised, and glowing red along the fissures — but far from defeated.
"Alright," he muttered, flexing his hands. "Think, Eokimo… think."
Rye was already moving. Calm, collected, like he had done this a hundred times.
"Spread out," Rye ordered. "We can't let it focus on one person."
Dagan grunted and lunged again, spear aimed at the creature's leg.
Lira flicked her coin . It twirled through the air, leaving a faint trail of light before smashing into the guardian's shoulder. A chunk of stone flew off.
Sen… well, Sen just stood there, smirking slightly. Then his hand pressed on the ground, and the plaza floor beneath the Guardian cracked into spikes, jolting the massive creature backward.
Eokimo's stomach twisted. Everyone had their skills, moving with purpose.
And him?
"…Absorption," he muttered under his breath. "This is the only thing I can do right now."
He closed his eyes, focusing on the last fallen rubble of the Guardian's arm that Dagan had broken. A faint golden glow appeared around his hands.
This… is it?
A soft pulse ran through him. A small text floated in front of his eyes:
[Skill Activated: Absorption (F)]
You absorbed the residual energy of a Trial Creature.
Stat Increase: +1 Strength, +1 Agility
Mana: +3
Eokimo blinked. "…Okay, that's something."
He exhaled slowly. "At least I'm not completely useless."
The Guardian roared and raised its arms again. Dust and debris flew like a mini sandstorm.
Eokimo rolled behind a broken pillar, narrowly avoiding a sweep that could have flattened him.
"Gah!" he yelled, smacking the pillar with his palm. "Okay… I need a plan."
Then he noticed it — a small crack near its chest. The one Lira's coin had started.
"…Maybe I can… combine the damage."
He frowned. Combine was still locked, but he tested a small experiment anyway. He stretched out both hands, trying to merge the residual energy he had absorbed from the first weak point.
A faint spark connected the energies.
"…Wait — it's working?!"
The Guardian roared, sensing the interference. Its arm swung down violently.
Eokimo rolled forward, nearly hitting Rye's back. "Sorry!" he shouted, earning a sharp glare.
"Focus!" Rye barked.
Eokimo got up, brushing dust off, and gritted his teeth. "…Okay, let's do this."
He concentrated, linking the small absorbed energies into a faint golden chain. A tiny crack appeared along the Guardian's chest, widening slightly.
"Not bad… " he muttered, almost proud.
Dagan lunged again, spear flashing. Lira's coin struck another weak point. Sen lifted the ground, forcing the Guardian to stumble backward.
And for the first time, Eokimo saw the cracks connecting together, forming a visible pattern.
If I just… keep linking them…
He focused harder, a faint smile forming despite the situation. "I think… I'm getting it!"
The Guardian roared in frustration, swinging both arms in a furious attack.
"Everyone, back!" Rye shouted.
They scattered just in time. Dust filled the air.
Eokimo stumbled, breath heavy, but he couldn't stop staring at the faint golden lines spreading across the Guardian's body.
This… this could actually work.
The thought made him grin — for a split second.
"…Maybe I'm actually contributing for once," he whispered.
Then a huge chunk of debris fell right in front of him. He jumped back, landing awkwardly on his butt.
"…Or maybe not," he muttered.
The Guardian roared again, and the trial was far from over.