Ren was too fast.
He connected a precise punch to the face of the nearest boy.
Vern fell unconscious, his centaur vanishing from the impact.
But the victory was brief.
Hector, seeing his companion fall, roared with fury. He instantly canceled the minotaur's struggle against the beetle and fused with the beam of light that was his beast, his body transforming into a smaller human version with several features of the creature.
He launched himself at Ren, who had barely landed after his attack on Vern.
"I've got you!" he shouted, his transformed fist heading directly toward Ren's side.
The blow connected with a loud crack. Hector smiled, sure of his victory, until he noticed Ren's expression as he rotated. There was no pain, only calm. And then…
Hector was surprised, as he looked at his own fist.
Ren's hydra had also returned to his body in a flash of light just in time, fully fused, covering his torso with diamond-like armor.
