In the end, Kratos simply could not get there fast enough, and as he watched Sora slam Tsurugi into the ground, a familiar wave of panic overcame him--not because he was worried about Tsurugi, but because suddenly, time was rewinding. Breakfast earlier had caused him to recall that regrettable incident outside Altessa's house; the scene unfolding before his eyes now was doing much the same, except the memory this time was far more disturbing.

He knew well how that memory resolved, too, had even experienced her manner of death for himself, but in the moment, his flashback-induced panic became so world-shattering and frenzied that all he could think about was the possibility of Lloy--Tsurugi dying and the need, the absolute need to stop the monster - it was no longer "An"--"Sora" - at all costs. And those two combined proved potent enough to overcome the last of his self-imposed restraints, so that when Kratos finally collided with the two, it was not with the intent to simply subdue, but to destroy.

The approach was even simpler than his previous, carefully avoided two-step attack: a powerful thrust aimed to pierce through the upper back, fueled by the singular desire to save Tsurugi at any cost.