Chapter 353: The Battle over the Superweapon
"What are you doing here?" Matiavel sounded more irritated than angry, and his eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Have I seen you before?"
"Possibly." Kai wasn't about to take one of the great powers of Rosemount lightly - he'd already gotten out Omilaena's syringe and now injected it into one arm. The power coursing through his veins couldn't compare to the adrenaline from facing the demon standing calmly in the chamber.
"Whatever that was, it isn't going to work," Matiavel told him mildly. "You're dead as soon as I decide you are, but if you tell me who sent you I'll make it painless."
"I'm more interested in knowing why you came here," Kai said. "Do you need the weapon that much?"
Matiavel's eyes narrowed and an instant later a flame shot across the chamber.
Kai was already gone, Thunderbird's Wings taking him to the opposite side. Even at such speeds, he wasn't that far ahead of the deadly flame. His back was prickling but there was no time to think about that, because he already needed to dodge away from further attacks.
Clearly Matiavel wasn't a fool who would be astonished by someone dodging his attacks: he'd met many opponents who guessed that evasion was the only counter to his unstoppable flames. So he began shooting them more rapidly, guessing where Kai would move and sending flames ahead of him. In a matter of seconds Kai was nearly overwhelmed, barely staying ahead, unable to think, unable to plan.
When he launched himself across the room again, he saw the flame in his path and knew he couldn't reverse directions fast enough to avoid hitting it. He desperately tried to focus on a defensive half-phase like he'd been taught, hoping it would be enough for him to survive - except something abruptly jerked him to a halt.
Enormous wings had sprouted from his back, crackling like the Thunderbird's but formed from dark leathery skin. They weren't just ornamental, either: as soon as he emerged, he felt them grasp the air and move him more quickly. When he next exploded across the room, he was ahead of Matiavel again, having gained himself a new edge.