Chapter 14: Firefang’s Fury III
Frank’s eyes locked onto the Queen’s movements, not tracking where she was, but anticipating where she would go next. It wasn’t random; it was hunting. Waves of heat radiated from her, but beneath the chaos, her rhythm emerged. Three steps, pivot, then flame. Two strikes, then reposition. The sacs along her abdomen pulsed brighter before each major attack—she needed a cooling cycle.
He tightened his grip on the Mercurial Cut, feeling sweat slick between his fingers.
"The vents!" he called out, his voice rougher than he intended. "She cools after big bursts!"
Mik glanced his way, daggers glinting as he circled. The Queen pivoted, her attention divided among the threats. Tace caught Frank’s eye, offering a sharp nod in acknowledgment.
Garna staggered forward, her armor half-melted across her chest, blood seeping down one arm. She leaned on her greatsword for support, teeth gritted, eyes fixed on the Queen.
The Queen screeched again.
This time, Frank was ready. He turned his focus inward, shutting out the sound’s harsh edges. His boots slid back an inch, but his mind remained sharp.
She reared up, her flame sacs pulsing faster.
An attack was coming.
"Bait the burst!" Frank shouted. "Hard left—"
The Queen’s thorax expanded, heat building from within. Tace and Garna shifted in tandem, drawing the Queen’s attention toward the chamber’s eastern edge. Mik vanished from sight. Auri released her third-to-last arrow, aiming not for the Queen’s body but for one of her flame sacs.