Book 5: Chapter 31 — Mantis Plateau
Tony will adapt forms as needed, Tony reassured him. Tony believes in Noah!
The three hunters spread out with the teamwork expected of creatures that had hunted together for decades, maybe centuries, given how time worked in Death Valley.
The level 578 took the center. The other two flanked wide, creating a triangular kill zone with Noah at its heart. Their eyes stayed fixed on Noah.
Noah bared his fangs. "Nice try." Eight Arcane Spectres burst out from him in a flash of silver light, three each heading for the two flanking mantises while the last two joined him in rushing the leader. “Who’s the outnumbered one now?”
The first mantis struck without much warning. One moment it was twenty feet away, perfectly still. The next it was a blur, its scythe-arm descending toward Noah's skull with enough force to split stone. The attack was so fast that he barely registered it, just a flash of hostile intent and then violence.
[Arcane Step]!
Noah appeared behind the creature, his Runeforged blade already moving in an arc that should have opened its back from shoulder to hip. But the mantis had seemingly sensed the teleport.Its other scythe-arm swept backward in a blur, forcing Noah to abandon his attack and throw his blade up in a desperate block.
The impact nearly tore his weapon from his grip.
Strength flooded through the parry. Noah's arms sang with pain, his shoulders straining against the force. These things hit with siege-weapon force.The mantis pressed its advantage immediately, both scythe-arms working together in a devastating assault that forced Noah back step by step.