The smoke cleared out, revealing Stoneclaw.
Stoneclaw stood hunched in the middle of the blast zone.
His arms trembled.
His rock claws were shattered, broken at the forearm.
Deep red cuts lined his hands, blood dripping steadily to the cracked pavement below.
He clenched his jaw. "Damn it…"
He looked up, breathing hard, eyes tracking the direction Blast had fled.
"I let him get away…"
Stoneclaw took a staggering step forward, dragging his foot slightly.
His chest ached, ribs likely bruised from the pressure of the explosion.
But he didn't stop.
He limped toward the alley's exit, muttering through gritted teeth.
"Not done. Not yet."
He pushed on, hand against the wall to steady himself.
"You're not walking away from this. I'm still here."
---
Blast ran a full sprint across the area.
He sped through the wreckage of CE-3.
His breath coming in short gasps, panic rising in his chest.
"Where the hell is Blunt?"
He muttered, glancing over his shoulder.
