Going downward didn't work, so Xavier launched himself sideways on a blast of fire, angling it in the general direction of the enemy archers (though he didn't really expect it to hit them, just throw off their aim). Skidding into a sort of armed sprinter's stance, he threw himself at the gnolls he had just moved away from, a slicing blade of flames followed up closely by a physical blade driven by both arms. The cut on his shoulder had made him aware that these gnolls wouldn't fall to simple tactics, but he was not overly concerned. He fought with a primarily two-handed grip anyway.