Chapter 33: Rage
The leader wiped the blood from his lips, his fury boiling over. He slammed his foot against the ground. More roots burst upward, lashing toward Liora like hungry snakes.
Liora leaped back, dodging the first strike, but the roots kept coming. They twisted and coiled, aiming for her limbs. She ducked, rolled, and slashed at them with her rusty dagger, but it seemed to have no effect on the situation. The more roots she cut, the more came at her like serpents wanting to strangle her.
Liora soon realized that she was falling behind.
The man was stronger than she had thought. His control over his ability was terrifying. His roots moved like an extension of his body, striking from all angles. Liora gritted her teeth. She had to stay ahead.
But she wasn’t fast enough.
A thick root shot up from beneath her and wrapped around her ankle. Before she could react, it yanked her off her feet. She slammed onto the hard concrete. Air rushed from her lungs as she felt blood dripping from her head.
Another set of roots surged forward. They coiled around her arms, pinning them above her head. More wrapped around her legs, tightening like iron chains. Sharp thorns scraped against her skin. Warm blood trickled down her arms and ankles. The sting made her wince.
She struggled, twisting her body, but the grip was merciless. The roots dug deeper, biting into her flesh. Her breath came in sharp gasps as pain laced through her body.
The leader stepped forward, his eyes filled with smug amusement. "If you had behaved properly, I might have treated you better, but it seems you wanted to be rough?" He mocked her with his yellow teeth. The double meaning in his words was clear as day, which only made Liora grit her teeth in anger.