“They think it’s because Magic Knight Crash knew two Teacher thralls, once. One escaped, the other was in Teacher’s employ.”

“Okay,” I said. I still wanted to think it was a consequence for sketchy behavior.

“She had spear extension and other stuff,” I said, keeping my aim on the new, unnamed Titan while watching the Titanified Mystic Magic Impaler enduring massive explosions, chunks being taken out of her.

“Um, yeah. Her weapon had weird rules for if she swung it, thrusted, or kept it still.”

“Got it,” I said. I noted those praying mantis limbs.

The Nemean Titan was trying to get closer to her, but physical barriers were being used to slow him down. He was close enough that capes couldn’t get behind her, and had to stick to the flanks and front of her. He seemed a lot more passive than before.

The Ophion Titan was mostly protecting Titan Fortuna, who had slowed down. Here and there, she deflected something incoming, or grabbed a master minion.

“They’ve been letting those acquainted with the people who crack name the Titans we end up with,” Kenzie reported. “Super Magic Dream Parade says they want to name her Titaness Amenonuhoko.”

I laughed despite myself, surprising a few people who were flying nearby, Aunt Sarah included. A short, surprised bit of amusement. Almost unhinged.

“Tell me there’s a short form for that.”

“Looking it up and… no.”

“What does it mean?” I asked. My gun beeped. Battery low.

“Jeweled spear of god or something.”

“Impaler Titan it is,” I said. “Sorry, as much as I want to respect the name her team offered… they have to make everything such a pain in the ass.”

“The application says they wanted to make her name special, so it stands out.”

“Okay,” I said. “Okay. Right.”

“What’s that beeping?”

“My gun. I’m running out, the extra batteries are out in the middle of nowhere.”

“I’ll talk to people,” Kenzie said. “See about getting you a portal. We can have a team swap out the battery.”

“And fix the gun?” I asked. “It’s falling to pieces on me. If there are any tinkers on standby.”

The housing was torn and tearing even as I fired.

“That’ll take a bit, but there’s lots of tinkers standing around and wishing they could help.”

“Great,” I said, injecting false positivity into my tone.

A streak of blue marked a single laser fired by Legend. Unlike the raw barrage he’d fired earlier, this was a narrow, thin bolt that was bright enough to see from a mile away.

The Impaler Titan was already there, acting. One of its rod-like limbs, column-like, reached out, and space distorted beyond it.

Legend’s laser hit that distorted column, and flashed out. It lasted for a quarter second, but in that quarter-second, the laser raked across our defensive lines.

Her network was operating with the benefit of her power.