Elevation of Mana Chapter 50 Woods Battle

I pulled myself to the far right as a wave of energy slammed into the ground pulping the short vegetation and leaving an indent where it landed.  The power seethed and buckles spreading like water over the dirt as it flowed, missing me by inches.

I didn't have time for worrying about the others, for now I had to fight.  I shot forth twin lances, fire so hot that it turned the very air into plasma, brilliant streaks pulsing across the sky.  If they landed they would be fatal, sure as anything, but Rindal intercepted them with another wave of power.

We circled like two predators, each looking for an opening in the others defenses.  He had height on me, and raw strength, but he was sloppy, a like a giant swinging a club at a wasp.  Either could kill the other, if only we could connect.

I also had the double-edged sword of time on my side.  Backup was coming to aid me, but if they would be fodder or something to turn the tide remained to be seen.  If I could wait him out long enough, I might win by default, perhaps one of the hunters could even make him see reason.

Rindal on the other hand had his own plan, he wanted me dead.  I had to admit, that as far as simple, achievable plans, this one was pretty damn good.  Who knew how it would go for him if he managed it, but he really might.

Another dodge and a bolt from Rindal shattered a tree as wide as I was tall, the ancient giant beginning to tumble down.  It took little effort from me to alter it's path, sending it careening towards the young man who'd felled it, hoping to slow him.

Rindal barely even blinked at the tree, turning it into splinters that he sent in my direction like a wind of needles.  The gook creaked and screamed as it was ripped and imparted with direction, an angry gale of death.

“Stand still coward!” he screamed as I dodged behind another tree, adding a weak shield to keep any excess debris from tearing me apart.

“No, I don't think I will,” I replied before launching myself upwards, a mix o magic and quick hands pulling me from the ground.

It wasn't a moment too soon either, as his next attack obliterated the trunk of the tree.  I moved as fast as I could, seeming to flow up the wooden growth like water.  He was strong, but he wasn't thinking, and I could use that to my advantage.

“Ha!  Got him!” he declared a moment before I sprang out onto a still moving branch, more bolts of burning heat shooting out from my hands.

I fired a half-dozen in the span of a second, several dissolved against his protections, two missed as he finally had to dodge or take the shot, one more grazed the side of his face just barely, leaving a burning, scalding line deep in his cheek.

He dropped his offense entirely for a moment as a plan began to form in my mind.  I threw out more and more of the bolts, most  of lesser power.  I let some bounce off his shielding, while others began to land in the vegetation all around us.  As I did I ran, trying to pull myself far from the limb I was standing on, after all soon it too would meet the ground.

He began to get lower to the ground, too much of his power being focused on protection, while I rose.  Maybe I couldn't fly, but I could well leap from tree to tree, minimizing my use of power while setting everything around us ablaze.

Be it from a forge or one of our many kilns fire was my strongest ally.  Day in and out I practiced with it, I knew it, I could wield it with the lightest touch, or the fiercest edge.  Perhaps I could not match his might, but I would use my weapon to it's highest level, pulling it and encouraging it as it flowed around.

With practiced ease I drew away the moisture, fanning the heat higher and higher.  The fire responded like an old friend, leaping upwards as my enemy fell.  He began to cough and sputter as he got lower and lower, and then I heard a roar.

Rindal released a wave of wind, managing to call it not through knowledge but through will alone.  It was a mistake, as it just fanned the flames higher.

“I'm going to kill you, I'm going to kill you and that little bitch of yours!” The sound resonated through me, and for the first time in the fight, I felt something.

“Burn,” I declared, letting it too resonate

The heat leapt forward surrounding him in the inferno.  A ball of burning fire pulled itself around him, the wind keeping the flames from touching, but keeping them growing.  Bit by bit the sphere of flame grew.

“NO MORE!”  With a wave my orb shattered, showering the forest in embers and heat.

Rindal stood there in the middle of the forest, a small circle of ice around him.  My own shields had barely held, and the forest around was now aflame.  I was breathing hard, trying to think of where to go now.

My opponent looked horrible, stumbling from magic use with black veins now covering his skin.  While he'd managed to push my spell back he looked like he would fall any second.  His eyes turned towards me flashing like his aura, which was sputtering now.

“You, what did...”

I didn't let him finish.  He'd threatened those I cared about, and now had nothing I cared to hear.  With a swipe I sent a blade of pure force forward, right at his throat.  There was a short gasp, and a spray of red, and he fell, the useless lump from atop his head falling to the side as his body spurted more blood, staining the little ice circle crimson.

The branch I was on began to waver under me as my legs gave way, my own body done.  I tried to slow myself as I fell, only to feel warm hands snatch me from the air, catching me before the darkness could take me.

The last thing I could see were the gathering hunters.  Larus had caught me, while father looked around in seeming shock at the destruction.  Knowing that they could take charge now I let myself fall asleep.

When I returned to the world I was not alone.  There were many, many people were gathered around, all of them looked afraid and alarmed, and it was clear to see why.  Though darkness had fallen in the distance there was red light.  There was even billowing smoke from what had to be a forest fire.  Elaya was gone, as was my father.

Nearby Isha had a group around her sweat pouring down her face as she sung, creating water which she sprayed all around the village.  I tried to rise to go to her side, but found that I was still weak, tired from the battle.

I could see Cala off to the side, and noticed that she wasn't alone.  All around her were unhappy looking men and women, keeping her from anything near, the children were also separated out, getting a mighty talking to by one of their fathers.

When it was noticed that I'd stirred I was joined by several of the hunters, notably those not associated with either my family, or too closely with Larus.

“Stay where you are, and do nothing.  Elaya has questions, but for now you are to remain in place,” one of them declared, visibly nervous.

He knew I was strong, they all did.  They all also knew that without another potent person here to stop me there really wasn't much they could do if I decided to just go crazy.  I settled down through, nodding to him.  I too had questions, ones that I wanted to see answered.