Zero had to admit, he was grateful that Harpuia didn't cry out from the pain. It would've been that much harder to stay focused with the sound of screams echoing in his head, bringing old nightmares to the surface. For that reason, his gaze had been fixed on his own hand, the impact site. The last thing he needed was for his eyes to wander upwards to find Harpuia's face etched with pain in the middle of all this.

He pulled his fingers out in one quick jerk, unplugging the holes in Harpuia's chest as a result. As blood began to flow from the wound, Zero drew back into his stance and fired an uncharged Z-Knuckle strike at the same area. Then another, and another - rapid-fire hits, like the ramming of a piston, weakening the structure of the guardian's chest plate and repeatedly hammering Harpuia against the wall. The cracks deepened and spread as the armour was battered into a concave shape - one more solid blow would rip it to pieces.

Zero pulled back to charge, leaving Harpuia that three second window to catch his figurative breath - or to call out to him to stop, if he was having second thoughts. But when the blond glanced up to meet Harpuia's eyes, he did not expect to see that expression awaiting him. Huh...?