Chapter 108: Starry Knight
With a violent snap of its mandibles, the knight tore nearly halfway through the clone’s torso, before slamming him against the wall. Nesha stepped back, seemingly about to run away, when Percy stopped her.
“DON’T!” he yelled, not leaving room for debate.
Putting aside whether they could outrun the creature, they couldn’t risk diving back into the sea of bugs behind them. The knight could easily set the whole colony off!
No, there was only one way out, and it was past the beast!
The monster lunged towards them, its pillar-like legs punching craters in their wake, the rocky protrusions sticking out of the tunnel’s surfaces barely hindering its advance.
Out of time, Percy swung his right hand, launching the Parting Gift. A faint distortion passed through the air, spinning towards the bug. He’d poured everything in the attack, not leaving even a drop behind for Soul Vision. He’d have used Circulation too if he had a few more seconds.
KREEEEEE!!!
The bug let out an otherworldly screech – even louder than before – as the invisible sickle found its mark, landing between its eyes. Percy counted his lucky stars that the narrow tunnel had robbed the knight of its greatest strength – its agility. He assumed he’d have never managed to hit it outdoors. Not if it was any faster than the soldiers, just as they were quicker than the workers.
Missing a step, the monster stumbled on the ground, though its momentum continued to carry it forward at a dangerous speed. Thinking on his feet, Percy shoved Nesha against the wall, leaping towards the opposite one himself, hoping they’d fit in the gaps by the bug’s sides.