Chapter 25: Sudden Attack!
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[Ding! Warning! Warning! Host be careful. Danger ahead!]
A boulder at the tree line lurched upright. Bronze eyes burned in the gloom. Granite plates slide over sinew as the adult Stoneclad Raptor unfolded all four limbs. Beside it, a second silhouette shook off bracken needles, bigger, the mate. They had stalked through the entire day of ridges, masking their mana beneath earth-element hides until now, Few hundred metres from the tower.
Zephyr's shout ripped the hush. "FENNA... RAPTORS!"
The nearest beast launched, dust and stone spraying from its kick. Zephyr rolled aside as talons slammed into frozen turf where he'd knelt. The second raptor sprinted past him, straight for the door.
Inside, Star jerked awake, wings flaring. Fenna vaulted to her feet as tower stones shuddered under the monster's charge.
Zephyr drew a short iron knife he'd sleeved beneath his cloak. "First real fight," he thought, no controlled arena, no instructors with whistles. Only teeth and luck.
"Command Link: Spark Wing!" The blood bound order lashed across the beast bond.
Star burst through the doorway, a streak of violet fire, slashing the raptor's flank. Sparks off granite scales skittered like comets. The beast bellowed, hiding undented but balance broken. Fenna hurled a clay vial; it shattered on the raptor's shoulder, half the hide frosting white, half igniting in blue flame. The creature screeched, steam wreathing its head.