Depthless Hunger

With all the destruction around him, Kai had been barely keeping up with a speed half-phase. That was the only reason he noticed immediately when the obelisks harmed Graveylin and had time to see Matiavel launch his attack. He was already moving on instinct, his own claw swinging as he desperately sought his own destruction phase.

Even a fully powered Tyrant's Claw, charged with all of his knowledge of phases, only managed to shunt the ominous flame aside. It sailed just past the elven elder, instead striking a building behind her and consuming it in silent flames.

Matiavel's eyes flickered to him in slight annoyance, but he wasn't foolish enough to take his attention off the real threat. He was already preparing to launch another flame toward Graveylin to finish her off while the obelisks pinned her in place. It might have worked, too, if Omilaena hadn't appeared at the side of the crater and unleashed a thicker column of smoke than he'd ever seen before.

Powerful as he was, Matiavel was offensively focused, so he couldn't simply ignore such potent poison. He dodged back and launched another flame, this one too quick for Kai to deflect. Only another Thunderbird arrow loosed by Yonto managed to knock it aside.

Kai hadn't been idle during that exchange: he'd leapt closer and unleashed Baleful Breath again. It poured from his new jaws, roiling over the entire bottom of the crater. Between the smoke and the fire, Matiavel had no choice but to evade again, leaping up to a large piece of rubble. For just a moment, they had one of the great powers of Rosemount on the back foot.

One of the elves leapt from above, trying to take advantage of his distraction, and one of the whispering ghostly flames caught her and she burned without even a scream.

When Matiavel counter-attacked it was catastrophic, unleashing flames against every single threat. Kai was best able to dodge with his wings carrying him into the air, but he saw the others barely leap aside. One of the flames got through to Graveylin and she managed to raise a hand, releasing a glorious light that caught the flame and managed to push it back. But as the tongue of flame faded, she dropped to one knee, clearly drained by the effort.

Directly attacking wouldn't work, and they couldn't sustain this for long. Eventually one of Matiavel's attacks would kill Graveylin and then they would be in trouble, if the elves didn't flee altogether. Kai prowled closer, gathering strength and waiting for the perfect moment.

He caught a glimpse of Zae Zin Nim, apparently fleeing from the crater. No, that didn't make any sense... he realized a second before the others. The small cultivator leapt at the obelisks surrounding Graveylin and began tearing them apart with her bare hands. With each one that she smashed, the elven elder stood a little taller and her presence grew stronger.