The Stone Layer's crushing pressure — applied through the armored forearm against the wall's face — compressing the wall from the inside rather than relying on it as a barrier, the stone folding inward from Cyrus's side.
The wall collapsed toward Klin.
Klin jumped back.
The falling stone cleared his position by two feet — the collapse landing in the space he had just left.
Cyrus advanced through the collapsed wall debris — stone armor on his body, the Stone Layer active, his approach carrying the specific density of someone whose torso and arms were encased in several inches of solid rock.
Klin fired a Crimson Lance at center mass.
The Lance hit the stone armor on Cyrus's chest.
It pierced the outer surface — the compression force driving the narrow fire spear into the stone armor.
Four inches.
The armor was eight inches thick at the chest.
Four inches of penetration. The Lance stopping at the armor's midpoint.
Cyrus kept advancing.
