Chapter 44: Room and board
"I've never seen a card-ability like that," Irwin muttered.
He gazed at the tall, heavily armored man with spiky golden hair who was charging the portals at the head of a group of other warriors. The pale Galubs were focus-firing on him, but each time one of the blue crackling balls hit the warrior, a shell of light appeared, absorbing the ball. Perhaps more importantly, the warrior's massive two-handed sword began glowing brighter each time this happened.
"It's a-" Daubutim began just as the warrior swiped his sword in a long arc at the demons.
Whatever Daubutim wanted to say was lost in the thunderous crackling of the wave of lightning that swept away from the edge of the blade. It rippled and crackled through what remained of the pale-skinned Galubs, or whatever they were.
Irwin wiped the spots from his eyes and saw that the other guards had slowed down. He wondered if they were as much in awe of what had happened or were staring like him at the many dozens of blackened, twitching bodies before the portals.
Whatever the guards must think, a few moments later, two groups of six rangers in leather armor, two with large cat-like pets, ran up from behind the guards. They had bags on their backs and weapons in hand, but thats where the similarities ended. One group was made up of heavily armored, large weapon-wielding warriors, with the lead person having a giant gleaming bird on his shoulder. Those with the cats were also in this group, but both stopped before the golden-haired man. After a few moments, they took something from him, then jumped through the two portals, disappearing in a flash.
"It's a lightning absorption retaliation skill," Daubutim said softly. "It's a rare card. My father has a similar one, though he projects balls of lightning from his shield when he uses it."
A rare battle card, Irwin thought, staring wide-eyed at the warrior.
He'd seen rare-cards, or at least their outlining or after-effects before, but never a true battle card. All he knew of those were stories and rumors about the rangers and guards around the capital or near the peninsula wall that Bronwyn told him.
The yellow-haired leader had stabbed his sword into the ground, lightning still crackling along its edge occasionally.
It's a bit like my fire body. I wonder if there's a fire version? It would be great if I could absorb heat to keep myself warm, Irwin thought as he imagined absorbing heat. Wait, didn't his flame allow him to absorb heat and grow? It was only temporary, but perhaps he could somehow use that? He had to combine his cards into one, afterall! What if he combined the heat absorption with his Coperion Body? He'd have to ask Ambraz.
"They've spotted us. Stay calm, and don't forget who you are, Orwin," Daubutim said, laying heavy emphasis on his new semi-fake name. "Ambraz, stay hidden away."