Taro descended in free fall, but Ren wasn't satisfied with that...
He captured him in mid-flight and pulled to increase his falling speed, directing him head-first toward the ground with brutal force.
The impact would have knocked any normal opponent unconscious, but Taro had an ace up his sleeve.
Just before his head struck the ground, he channeled his beetle's elemental control, instantly softening the earth. His head and part of his torso sank into the modified terrain, considerably cushioning the impact.
"Ingenious!" exclaimed Min from the stands, impressed by his friend's adaptation.
But Taro didn't stop there. While partially buried, his mineral armor began to transform rapidly, sharp spikes emerging from its surface in all directions like a defensive hedgehog. The crystalline protrusions glinted in the arena light, forming a deadly barrier around his body.
