Chapter 224: Event Horizon
“Sister Luc-Hau?” The Elite High Priestess and Champion of the Yucatan settlement calmly addressed the battered Deathstalker, not bothering to wait for her ally to recover. She slowly pointed at the fleeing Cloud Dancer, watching her skip through the air toward the still growing Colossus. “You take care of that one.” She ordered impassively. “Brother Lom-Hau can deal with the other three, even without the support of Brother Sip-Hau.”
“...But I want to taste the death of this one.” The Deathstalker grumbled as she picked herself up off the ground.
Sierra had interfered at the perfect time, ambushing the Deathstalker when she least expected it, doing some damage, then moving to safety. Unlike her previous fight with a High Priest, the Cloud Dancer wasn’t trapped in a cage with limited avenues of retreat. She could be at least as much of a menace as the Deathstalker on the open temple with her exceptional mobility.
Dry blood stained the assassin’s face and her greasy hair was matted together, but the expression hidden beneath painted a picture of barely contained frustration. For as beaten as she appeared, Coop respected the fact that her movement ability and deadly attacks kept her dangerous. However, when it came to defenses, she was clearly the most fragile of the remaining High Priests.
“He has already figured you out.” The Elite High Priestess observed. “I will handle him. Just do as you’re told.”
“Yes, Mother.” The Deathstalker muttered indignantly, wiping fresh blood from her upper lip, adding a smear to her stained cheek as she conceded to the more senior Cultist.
The assassin shot a complicated look at Coop who had already hopped back to his own feet before the pair reorganized themselves. Coop’s ethereal spear was manifesting in his hand while he squinted back at the Deathstalker. He had no obligation to listen to the orders of the senior Priestess. It couldn’t be more obvious that he was making plans to aid the Jaguar Elites by continuing to engage the assassin. As much as he wanted to target the highest level of the High Priests, the others kept revealing themselves to be more important targets in the moment. In this case, he smelled weakness.
The Deathstalker vanished, and he watched for one of her swirling gateways to appear near where Sierra had drifted to support her companions. In a way, the assassin’s movement skill was similar to his mistjumps. The Deathstalker would be momentarily predictable as she arrived at the destination of her teleport. Coop expected to take advantage of that fact.
“Now, now, my dear.” The Elite High Priestess hummed at Coop, stepping forward through his thick knee-level Fog of War, drawing his attention back to her. “You have already proven to be far more trouble than you’re worth. It is time for you to be properly punished.” She cracked a small smile for the first time as she threatened him.
She threw both of her arms straight out from her sides, palms up, gesticulating with the most dramatic movements she had displayed since his arrival. Her singular sphere shot toward her chest as she focused her power. Coop felt what remained of his incomplete Fog of War split in half, parted down the middle with the Elite High Priestess at the center. The gap grew wider and wider until his low-lying domain was erased from existence with nary a flicker of resistance.
He grunted as he swiveled back toward her, anticipating something he would need to deal with before he moved on. The Deathstalker would have to wait before they finished their business.
Darkness emanated in front of the enemy Champion’s form. Coop frowned at the development. He had appreciated that the Elite High Priestess was mostly staying out of the fights, but it seemed as though the deferment was over.