Baek barely had time to take a step forward before a bolt of lightning ripped through the air—slamming directly into his torso.
CRACK!
The impact sent him skidding backward, his boots carving deep trenches into the dirt. Electricity snapped and sparked around him, the built-in tasers covering his skin reacting wildly to the external charge.
"Tch—!"
Baek gritted his teeth, his body convulsing for a brief moment before he forced it still. Steam curled off his skin, a faint burnt smell in the air.
Joon stepped forward, his arm still crackling with residual lightning. His voice was steady, but edged with urgency.
"Areum, listen to me."
Areum flinched, eyes flicking between Baek and Joon.
"I know you don't want to kill him. I get it. But you need to stop thinking like that. This guy isn't fighting to beat us—he's fighting to kill us."
He pushed his hand forward—another bolt arced toward Seok, forcing him back another few feet.
Baek's snarl cut through the chaos.
