11-60. Hollow Victory
The wind whistled in Elijah’s ears as he rocketed toward the vespiran. For the briefest of instants, the creature didn’t react. Then, his eyes widened. That moment of surprise was the only opening Elijah needed, and the Verdant Fang sank deep into the thing’s chest. Elijah kicked free, spinning into a backflip as he ripped the blade of his scythe from the creature’s torso.
He landed only a second before he was showered in ichor.
The vespiran still hadn’t moved.
He hadn’t cried out. Aside from that brief widening of his arrogant eyes, he hadn’t reacted in any way. Then, suddenly, he let out a full-throated laugh. Elijah’s grip tightened on the Verdant Fang.
“Is that the extent of your power, little dragon?” he chuckled, his free hand rising to the wound. It was already closing. “I admit that you are stronger than most of your level. But you are still a mere ascendent. You are a gnat buzzing around –”
“Oh, shut up.”
“What?”
“You heard me, you overgrown insect. You want to fight? Let’s fight. You think you can kill me? Good fucking luck. But before this is done, I’m going to wipe that haughty expression off your face.”
With every word, the vespiran’s face turned pinker until his complexion nearly matched its carapace. Only then did he growl, “Insolent lizard.” He stepped forward, his wings fluttering. “You will regret your words.”
“Maybe. Probably not, though.”
Then, the wasp-man launched himself at Elijah. His spear glistened with ethera, and a blanket of energy surrounded him in a variation of Charge. He moved almost too fast for Elijah to track.
But he didn’t move faster than the speed of thought.
Elijah activated a hundred-charge Child of Fire.
| Child of Fire
| Feed your flamewrought body via Heart of Fire, increasing all physical attributes. Potency of enhancement dependent on number of charges of Heart of Fire. Duration determined by Core cultivation. Current: 32 seconds. Only usable under the effects of Shape of the Master (or its direct evolutions). Cooldown: 9 days.
|