Chapter 153: The Trap is Sprung

*I can't just keep dancing around these guys. Little hits might be a bit deadly but if Skye heals them, I'm not sure I can keep up. One against three is a bit much and I'm sure Dusk has to be on his way.*

"Grace need a plan here" said Kat hoping the fire around her would by her some time.

Looking over at the elf she could see her pressed up against a wall facing Kutruph and Eva. "Well, I know their archer is just behind me, but I can't get over the wall without exposing myself. Neither can he of course. We are at a bit of a stale mate"

*Well that's just great.* "Now Kat, why not come out and fight us. Surely hiding away in your little hellscape can't be honourable" said Kutruph

"I think your mistaken if you believe I care about honour" said Kat

The draconian shrugged as if this was the expected answer but Kat caught a glint of sadness in Eva's eyes. *Hang on Eva, isn't that a little cheap? It's three against one, why would it be honourable to leave my only advantage.*

Kat shook her head and glanced around hoping to have missed something that might help. Nope, same old empty courtyard. She did miss something though, as a dagger came flying in from her side. Kat's tail lashed out at it though, causing it to clatter to the ground.

Kat's eyes turned to face the attack to find Skye with a big smile "What, can't blame a girl for trying can you?"

Kat rolled her eyes "Trying to bait me with honour while attack three on one is a little cheap"

"Well, your powers hardly allow for conventional tactics. I'd say you were cheating if I didn't know how much stronger Thyme is then all of us" said Skye

Kat wanted to argue the point but… *Skye's kind of right. I do seem to be much better of then the others.*

Kat looked around hoping for an opening but found none. Skye was well out of reach and off to her side. Kutruph looked ready to jump in and defend as needed so that was out. Eva had her feet ready to charge but sword in front ready to block if necessary.

*So can I just sit in here and wait? I mean, statistically speaking as long as I hold all of these guys up here my team has a better chance to win.* Kat felt a twinge of complaint within her energy.

*Um…* trying to find the source was quickly apparent. Stalling the group here was not in Grace's best interest. It wasn't so strong that Kat was certain to break the contract with her current plan, but it was thin ice.

*Ok… well, that's fine, I like Grace, it's been fun hanging out with her. Let's try for something else.* Kat dug her hands into the ice and ripped two large chunks out. The fires stayed firmly attached and she looked between her attackers for a moment before hurling them both at Skye.

The healer reacted instantly, dropping straight to the ground and letting the ice fly over head. Kat wasn't going to let that be the end of it though as she dashed out of the fire towards the downed opponent.

Kutruph wasn't the defender for nothing though as he dashed in to halt Kat's charge. She swings her flaming fists down at the draconian, who raised his shoulder to take the brunt of it on his large pauldrons.

Kat only got one attack in before she felt the need to dodge. Luckily, she did, because a wind blade left deep gash in the stone where she was just standing. Kutruph didn't get out unscathed though. He was breathing heavily, and head to crane his neck to the side to avoid his now blazing pauldron.

Skye clicked her tongue as she stood up, but stayed low, and behind Kutruph's large figure keeping herself mostly from Kat's sight. Not Graces though, as the elf let loose a three arrow volley towards the healer.

Kutruph moved to the other side taking all three on the back of the hand before tossing them away. Kat tried to move in to attack Skye but had to stop as Eva brought her sword down in Kat's path.

Suddenly, Kat felt her hair stand on end. "Grace GET OUT!" she screamed.

The elf reacted instantly, sprinting for the nearby doorway. Good thing she did, as just as left the courtyard a massive sigil lit up the ground. Lines connected to all the arrows that had been fired so far lit up. Thick lines of mana traced the paths between them, forming the largest sigil Kat had yet seen.

Kat's eyes went wide as she felt the power it held, and then a moment later was a blinding flash of light and then all she could see was a dark blue wall. Kat tried to move, but felt her hands were bound. Kat circled demonic energy throughout her body and tried to move but found it still impossible to move.

Except… now her ears could pick up something.

"Do we chase the elf?" asked Kutruph

"No, I don't think so. Making sure that Kat has been taken out by the spell is more important" said Skye

"How could she survive this" said Kutruph "Well, I'm sure Thyme will have saved her, but she'd be out of the contest"

"No" said Skye with finality "I know Dusk had to use all his mana for this, and I know it can kill any monster close to our level. But you haven't seen the things I have. That woman walked. WALKED across the red dessert like it was nothing

"Then, when we were attacked by some giant worm, she led the thing on a merry chase, with sand flying everywhere. And let's not forget that time she held onto that orb when it was so hot it could melt stone.

"No, we do this right. Take her out" said Skye

Kat could here a rustle as presumable Kutruph shrugged, and then a ringing sound, like metal on metal.

"Ah, boss, I think we might have a problem" said Kutruph

Skye sighed "Yeah I can see that. Shit."

"Do we trust this to hold her?" asked Kutruph

*Well I sure wouldn't.* Kat poured the energy into her tail. It tended to come through when she needed it. Trying to flick the end with as much force as possible Kat felt something shift.

"I sure as hell don't" said Kutruph

Kat heard a slicing sound and a crack. Trying to move her tail around again she found then end was moving much more freely. Charging it with even more energy, Kat brought it to bear against the ice, cutting down on it towards her legs.

The structure groaned and whined, as ice was compressed even further by Kat as she started to free her legs. Once a little bit of room was made though, it was already over. Ka tensed her leg and kicked out, sending a wave of cracks through the structure. Freeing her other leg.

"Get back" shouted Skye

Kat kicked out with her other leg and felt something giving way. Kat wrenched herself sideways. A horrible screeching sound rang out and then another crack and her legs came free, ice falling from her body…

Her lower body that was. *Ah shit.* "Hahahaha" laughed Kutruph "Seems she's not quite as strong as you think"

Kat wanted to retort, but with her head still trapped in the ice and her vision taken up solely by blue, she couldn't see or speak to Kutruph to tell him off.

Kat stomped her feet and turned to face the voice, hoping she was mostly right. "Ooh, looks like the missy is somewhat upset. Ha, come on charge at me" said Kutruph

"Now wait just a minute Kutruph" started Skye

But Kat was already taking his advice. Charging straight for the sound, Kat channelled her flame out of her hands and let it seep into the ice. To the outside, it now looked like a purple fireball was barrelling straight towards them

"Ah shit" mumbled Kutruph as he dodged to the side. Kat heard and tried to follow but got tripped up on the ground, missing the chance and stumbling forward. *Ok I really need to free my eyes.*

Kat brought up her tail and started to hack at the ice around her head hoping to free herself in the same way but found it wasn't yielding quite as much as she'd like.

"Ooh, seems like your still a bit stuck there lass" said Kutruph

"Hmm, I think the wings and tail might have thrown the spell off. It isn't meant for things with extra appendages, Dusk has that other spell for monsters" said Skye.

Kat wasn't making much progress when she heard something going for her tail. Moving it out of the way she heard a thunk, as something, presumably Eva's sword, bounced off the ice surrounding her head.