Vernon ducks under the arrow, narrowly dodging certain death. However, the gauntlets do connect, causing massive damage to the first five layers of the suit, just shy of the titanium layer, puncturing in multiple places. Vernon manages to gather himself enough to deliver a point-blank charged shot to Rhys's chest; which would at least produce enough force to make Rhys lose hit footing, if not sending him a couple of feet back. Luckily for Rhys, it wasn't a plasma shot. Vernon then quickly follows his defense up with an attack, transforming his cannon back into a gauntlet. Grabbing the hilt of his sword, he charges forward, fingering something just above the opening of the sheathe.