Chapter 254: Battle of Attrition
The two inquisitors circled me slowly, warily even. The older woman, Veera, held a one-handed longsword in both hands, her white cloak flapping in the breeze generated by her aura. The other, Aqua, was barehanded, channeling some mysterious magical technique. Watery mana coiled about her fists in strange cycles, promising effects far greater than a simple punch in her attacks.
Snarls and screams ripped through the air from the other side of the street where Fable battled the other inquisitors. It wasn’t so much a battle as a slaughter, but the white-cloaked men fought tenaciously, refusing to die easily. Their fight was a parallel of my own, save it was the inquisitors trying to survive. A strange, bloody competition for survival, both fights hinged on the success of the other.
"Now!" Veera cried.
Taking advantage of my momentary distraction and focus on the other battle, the two inquisitors lunged forward. Veera’s sword swept forward, leading her charge with another blast of light. At the same time, Aqua struck, lashing out with one hand. A wave of water curled from her fingers, striking toward me like a sinewy serpent.
"Reflection!" I cried, thrusting my hands out in either direction.
A transparent, mirror-like wave distorted the air, forming a hemispherical curve around me. The chant for reflection created a flat plane, capable of defending one direction at once, but a few simple adjustments in the runes allowed for far greater coverage.
The two attacks struck the Reflection, causing dozens of hairline cracks to spiderweb across the warped surface. Sweat rolled down my brow and I sucked in a breath, fighting to control the rising ties of mana threatening to overwhelm my spell. Both magical techniques held fourth-level power, and trying to turn them both with a single third-circle spell was practically suicide.
"Foolish filthblood," Veera spat, a cruel smile spread across her face. "Your god is dead, and soon, your taint will-"
She trailed off, eyes widening, as the Reflection stabilized. Their magical techniques dissolved into mana, flowing into the wavering barrier, causing it to blaze with power. A second later, the familiar chime rang out, and the gathered mana exploded.