Chapter 398: Gluttony
Minutes- no, maybe only seconds had passed, though for Naira, it felt like an eternity.
In that short time, she learned that the outsiders were nothing like the stories her people whispered by firelight. Reckless, greedy, and cruel... The Pale Ones who stole the world’s blessings for themselves. But these ones fought like heroes straight out of the old songs.
Every clash of steel and roar of magic left her trembling, but not from fear anymore... She was awed.
The cat-eared woman hurled blazing suns from her palms. The others fought with equal fury: one girl unleashed projectiles glowing with blue light, another’s stormy blade and spells wreaked havoc, and yet another conjured radiant barriers to block attacks that should’ve crushed bones.
And still, despite all of it, the skin-walkers pressed harder.
Naira’s eyes darted to the man holding the line. He was a giant of a human with armor so thick it looked like a wall to her. His shield was enormous, broad enough to cover a tent, and when it slammed into the ground, the impact sent cracks spidering through the dirt.
She knew one thing for sure: if that thing ever fell on her, she’d be nothing but a red smear in the mud.
Even with that massive bulwark, the man was being forced back step by step. Claws raked at him from every side; every impact rang like thunder. Behind him, the pink-haired girl raised her hands once again to conjure a strange, transparent barrier.
But Naira could see the strain on their faces. Blood. Bruises. Sweat.
They were being pushed to their limits.
And then, he moved.
The one who’d first drawn her attention.