Page 3190

The next shift came suddenly enough that Hector barely had time to sense it. Through all the smoke and chaos and ear-splitting explosions, the change in Banda Toro's aura was almost lost on him.

No more curiosity. Just anger. But in a professional way, somehow. Respectfully furious, perhaps.

The next flurry of attacks were nothing like the last ones. They came from all sides, multiples jaws and slashing claws flying at him at once. And too fast. No way to get out unscathed, even as Hector saw them coming a split second before.

"Kabura!" said Hector.

The Amir-10 responded. In an instant, it was as tall as he was and wider. It completely covered his left side as he flung himself out of the coming onslaught's path.

But it was also thinner now, too. Multiple claws dug into it, leaving streaks and poking holes large enough to see through. It did its job, though. For his left side, at least.

His right side took all the slashing and tearing with nothing more than his iron armor for protection. The Raptor's fangs tore through that like tissue and drew a geyser of blood out of Hector.

A long, streaking trail of red followed Hector as he pushed himself to fly faster, but it wasn't just smoke this time. The blood wasn't stopping, he saw. A third of his torso was missing, and his right arm was shredded and twitching.

He still had feeling in it, though. Boy, did he still have feeling in it. He probably would've screamed in agony if he wasn't concentrating so hard on not getting killed.

Because Banda was pursuing. Another heat laser came for him. He sensed it in time to block it with the shield, but the Amir-10 was still thinner and needed time to regenerate. Fire poured through the holes, widening some of them and melting chunks of his armor.

He kept flying, just focusing on not getting disoriented. He'd been forced to let up his attack in order to get away, but he still knew where Banda was. The Scarf and aura together made it obvious. Plus, Banda wasn't as smoky as before. The guy had solidified more of himself, which thankfully made it easier to--

There were three of him now.

Hector sensed it just as a cluster of red spears flew toward him. He managed to avoid them, but they exploded and sent him veering off his intended course.