Moving back
John shrugged, wiping sweat from his brow, blood still trickling down his leg. "It's not like I enjoy collecting powers," he said, his voice hoarse. "But when you're in the middle of a fight like that, you use what you've got."
Ty's brow furrowed. He crossed his arms, the weight of everything hanging in the air. "But why go through all that trouble? You could've broken him down piece by piece—why go for the skull? Seems like you went through too much just for one hit."
John gave a half-smile, wincing as he adjusted his stance. "It wasn't just one hit, Ty. His body—his inward skill—it made him tough. Like a damn fortress. Breaking him down slowly would've taken forever. I saw it when we started. The second I made him panic, he tightened up. His own body locked up with that Blood Iron Body ability. So I had to make him sweat, get him out of his rhythm."