Free Web NovelChapter 14: A Bigger Threat (cont’d)
’How does he know?’ Me must be from her world. The same race which had driven the dragons out of their world.
I filed it away, knowing he was trying to get under her skin.
Well, it failed badly. The forest stayed still. Aria didn’t reply or rage out. freewebnøvel.coɱ
But I knew the guilt she was carrying.
I exhaled.
"You’re a fool to think that would get to her." I stepped from behind the tree into the open, walking up to the man with careful steps. "You clearly don’t know her enough. Even if you insult her dear queen, she won’t rush at you, only after you repeat such an action."
"Hmph, have a death wish?" He then pointed a finger gun at me. "Just a single one of my arrows is enough to kill you."
"You sure?" Titled my head.
He launched a single arrow at me — thin and faster than the rest, heading for my forehead. I didn’t hesitate, taking the opportunity. I launched all the attacks I had absorbed, multiple arrows launched at him in an explosion of light.
As I predicted, he stretched his arm, sending his attacks to counter my strike. His mana clashed with mine, as sparks flew from the collision. This was my time to get closer.
"Aria, now!" I barked.
Directly above it all, she floated in the sky, looking down at the scene play out. The ashes began to move — they gathered together in a massive wave, rushing with the arrows he couldn’t counter in time. The huge wave of ashes crashed onto him, burying him under a mountain of ash.
I rushed towards the pile, reinforcing myself with mana. A reinforced layer over my skin.
Not yet — Aria wasn’t done.
"Reverse-craft." She screamed the spell, and it all changed. The passive mana the ashes emitted, dull grey — it all changed, the color shifted red, it formed and melted.
I skidded to a stop, just at the edge of stepping on the ashes.
What I witnessed next was her innate magic. The ashes fully turned into molten red, hot, boiling with intensity.
"Take cover." I muttered to myself, and backed away from the ashes.
The boil climbed up, a mountain of molten magma washed down on the man. ’He can’t survive that — this is victory,’ I thought.
Boom. A massive light burst out, spreading the attack away in a massive wall of magma.
"It’s alright, I like a tough opponent anyway." The man stood, whole. However, some magma had gotten him — his clothes were partially burnt, from his arm up to his chest.
It was bad news. I couldn’t run towards the man while taking damage — a stronger mana attack requires more time to adapt to. In other words, the damage that could be caused while adapting could kill before fully adapting.
But something in me couldn’t shake the feeling we were thinking the same. If our reasoning was aligned, I could run through the magma, with Aria making sure it wouldn’t hurt me. I’d rush to the man — that way he wouldn’t expect me at all. It was a gamble of trust.
But one thing was sure — I wasn’t dying today. And pretty sure the queen’s fanatic wouldn’t let that happen either.
The magma flushed toward me with a hot wind. I readied myself, regulating the mana flowing through me.
[Adapt.]
[Absorb]
[Dragon scale (active)]
Then I took off with force, leaving a crater behind. My foot drummed against the earth as I charged, each of my abilities active and prepared.
I crossed my arms, pushed through the wall of mana. On contact I felt the intense heat burning at my skin — it didn’t change at first, but I wasn’t backing down. I shut my eyes, advancing forward.
All suddenly, there wasn’t a burning heat or a huge wall of magma around. The air was clouded with ashes — I smirked and charged further through the path she had created.
’We’re taking the win.’ I blurred, pushing my body to my limit.
The man was looking into the sky, sending strikes at Aria in the air. By the time he noticed, it was already too late.
"Surprised?" I buried my fist into his ribs, breaking bones, crushing deeper. He choked, coughed blood, staining his garment.
I launched him up to Aria. A huge pillar of ashes formed in the sky — it slammed into the bastard, returning back to the ground. I leaped, grabbed him, forcefully slamming him to the ground with explosive force. The ground dented, cracks snaked out.
I followed up with blows, hooking him to the ground, punching him. Surely his vision flashed white multiple times.
"Fight back. What, are you playing dead now?"
He fought back, grabbing my neck, squeezing hard. I did the same, stopping my raining blows. But his strength was superior and I had just given him a chance to show it. He rolled over, pinning me down.
Big mistake. Aria swooped in — a blast of magma flung him away like a rag doll, slamming into a tree trunk. Our coordination was perfect.
Crack.
I followed up with blows, a right hook, then a jab. Swinging him back to Aria — she kicked him in his spine, sending him reeling back.
My hands were throbbing with pain, barely able to keep them fisted.
"I can’t... stop... now." I forced a step forward, caught him in the air, then slammed him to the ground. Lastly, I slammed my head into his. And he remained motionless, his body battered, blood pooling below his skull.
I panted heavily, my knees gave up — mana exhaustion, the bones. My body had reached its limit.
Aria darted to my side, supporting me. "Are you okay?"
I nodded. "I’m fine."
"Good to know..."
I leaned into her embrace — it was harder holding myself up. Aria welcomingly pulled me closer in her warm embrace. "You did your best, Amor." Gently she combed my hair. I was relaxing... that I’ll admit.
"Now then, let’s take off his mask."
