Vanguard
Good grief. He thought as Erica proceeded to launch the beast back. It was only a blur, but quite the lively one. Did their combined hits that could easily shatter stone have no effect on the creature? In a split second, the blur almost seemed to morph.
It was because of his experience that he could act. Of course, his body was not infallible, there were limitations to his movement. No matter how you looked at it, his motions could not outclass the faster of beings. In a direct confrontation, he would not overwhelm such a creature with speed. One could even call him disadvantaged.
However, the years of experience ingrained in his being had taught him well, the memories of battle long ago still etched in his soul. As long as he could observe the phenomenon, he would not be overtaken by his subconscious. Left, right, above, below. No matter the speed or power, as long as it was visible he would understand and react accordingly. Simply put, his experience and skill would close the gap.
With a mighty stomp the earth cracked below him, and without pause Vanguard delivered a relentless circling motion, kicking the ground away mercilessly to flip the shattered ruble and make a tide of earth rise like a wall. It wasn't much, but it gave him a few split seconds of time to avoid the acid as it melted through the earth. But suddenly, he felt something.
A vibration.
For a second, his eyes opened wide in surprise and he kicked at the remnants of the stone barrier just as the hydra clashed against it, delivering a flurry of earth shattering blows not only on the beast but on the ground itself, kicking himself away to increase the distance. Was he retreating? No. As he dashed back, he also held his palm in front of him as if to command a halt.
"Wait." He said calmly, and these words for one held far more weight than any he had addressed to the beast prior. Regardless of the answer, he slipped his revealed to be metallic hand in his pocket and reached for something.
