Growth Under Pressure
The level of skill that Clark possessed was nothing compared to the minimal movements that the earth gargoyle needed to use to beat him. Every single large attack from Clark was countered with the least amount of energy. The smallest skill.
Crim had become increasingly angry. The fact that he was being slapped back as if he was nothing was playing directly against the dragon essence within his body. It was an insult to all dragons that his body could be sliced up by the earth spikes over and over leaving the slime core exposed and weak.
"Have you been sitting and playing with your emotions this whole time? How will you rise up and beat a fly if you can't even leave a scratch on a more powerful beast than you?" the increasing taunts from Alexander were causing Clark to get more and more worked up. He had never been treated in such a way.