Cael was caught off guard by Xeno closing the gap so suddenly, but quick reflexes allowed him to quickly backstep, jumping out of the rather short blade's reach. As he backstepped, he simultaneously raised a pillar of earth beneath his airborne opponent, which shot upwards, aiming towards where Xeno would it rose to match his altitude. As Xeno was airborne, changing direction or stopping momentum to avoid the earthen uppercut would be... difficult, to say the least.