Hakate hadn't been wrong when he said they were running on limited energy.
Caleb could see it clearly now—the more they tapped into the card's power, the more their stamina dwindled. Naya's ice spikes were growing smaller, slower, and less precise.
Even Julia, though still ferocious, was beginning to lose some of her edge. Her movements, once sharp and seamless, were starting to show signs of fatigue.
Still, Caleb felt a flicker of relief. They were holding their ground, and the clones they faced weren't doing much better.
In fact, the clone Julia fought didn't last long enough to capitalize on her slowing pace. Her blows were savage—each strike fiercer than the last—until the clone collapsed, unable to move.
As for Caleb, his momentary distraction hadn't been an oversight—it had been part of the plan.
He had deliberately drawn Hakate closer, lowering his own guard to bait him in.
Closer.
Close enough to unleash the ability he'd been saving—Absolute Freeze.
