The Scourge caught up to Ragnarok while the Cie'th tumbled from the throw, lashing at it, and it skitters to a stop some ways away. For the first time since the encounter began, there was a sluggishness to the monster: an extra second getting its feet under it, visible effort pushing itself up. For a quiet, still moment, it stooped, head hung low.

But suddenly it tensed and coiled before rearing back and throwing its arms wide, screaming at the sky. The black portions of Ragnarok's hide flashed and turned crystalline and roared again, at Pen and her battle party this time. The beast's tail whipped in a savage arc behind it ripping up a shower of earth; then it spun, hands tearing newly exposed rock and pitching the stone as if it were small.