Chapter 134: Tiny Helpers
As the Winged Imp stomped to the wooden gate, the others spread out to create a corridor.
Now what, Irwin thought.
He looked back and shared a worried look with Ignalia, who was trying to convey something with her eyes. He had no idea what but did know that it wasn't anything like, all is good, don't worry. The pale Imp that moved beside her still had a dagger to her throat.
Should he make his move now? He hesitated for a moment, then began following the Imp. There was no guarantee that he would be fast enough, which meant that if he had to fight, he could just as well move after seeing what was inside.
Still, as he closed in on the gate, he felt his worry grow. Perhaps he shouldn't go in? He had no idea what type of creature had spoken, but its influence was obvious. With a few words, it had seemed to repel whatever was wrong with the other Imps.
If it's an Imp, my flame can kill it, he thought. He had no reason to believe anything else.
Squaring his shoulders, he moved through the throng of Imps that were giggling and chattering in their own language. A single look showed that whatever had cleared up the addled minds of the Pale and Winged Imps had no effect on them. They were still as crazy as ever.
Stepping through the gate, Irwin stopped, his foot a fraction from the ground.
A large portal hovered in the center, almost completely tainted red by the swirl of chaotic lightning that erupted from its edges. Sitting beside it was an enormous Brutal Imp. The air around it was hazy with heat waves, causing everything near it to seem blurry. From within the dull haze, two pitch-black eyes stared back at him. An unmoving, groaning figure lay on the ground a few feet away. One of its arms was bent oddly, and bones stuck out of parts of its legs.
The other Brutal Imp, Irwin thought, recognizing the groaning figure.
Swallowing as he saw the brutal wounds that covered it, he looked at the second Brutal Imp. There was barely any comparison between it and the smaller one in terms of size and sheer intimidation. Besides that, it had nearly the same color as Yogog, and worse, something he'd never seen in an Imp. Intelligence radiating from its eyes.
Keeping a tight lock on his cards, he pulled his eyes from it and quickly looked around the camp for any of the captives. It was a mess, with wood lying everywhere, most splintered and broken. A set of cages stood to the far end, filled with the other monstrous creatures. It was just like the Viridian scout had said.