Chapter 194: Phantomblade Redux

Chapter 194: Phantomblade Redux

Watching from the Shadow Realm, Vir let the wolves make the first move. There were several good reasons for doing so. For one, the wolves had far more experience fighting monsters in this realm. Theyd know the Phantomblades strengths and weaknesses and would use optimal strategies to defeat it.

At least, they were likely to be better than anything Vir could come up with blind.

With Virs arms and legs extending outside the shadows, time passed at half its normal pace. He wondered if the pack leader would wonder where hed gone, but the wolf simply took up position next to his disembodied limbs, without even the slightest discomfort at the bizarre sight.

Be a little surprised! Neel wouldve run around in shock, Vir thought, missing his dear friend. But this was no time for distracting thoughts. He cleared his mind and refocused on the battle.

Ashanis Ashfire wolves didnt attack immediately. They surrounded their prey, but not evenly. One approached from the front. The rest positioned themselves at its flank and its rear.

Of course, Vir thought. It only has eyes up front. Its back must be a blind spot. Still, I bet it has a way of detecting enemies behind it.

Itd be too great a weakness otherwise.

The wolves pounced, Blinking toward the Phantomblade. Had time not been moving so slow, Vir would have lost sight of them. Even as it was, he struggled to monitor all four. Struggled, but still managed.

Despite the slowed time, Vir heard the dozen Phantomblade spikes before he saw them. Only the wolves sudden dodges clued him in, and he only spotted the spikes when they impacted the nearby buildings, clanging against invulnerable Imperium creation.Updated from novelb(i)n.c(o)m

Vir watched as the wolves swiped at the Phantomblade with their claws, darting erratically to avoid its devastating spikes.

So thats its defense, Vir thought, observing the absolute barrage of spikes being shot in every direction. And thats their strategy.

The spikes regenerated nearly as quickly as they fired. Nearly, but not quite. The wolves were whittling down its reserve of ammunition.

A dangerous game, with the sheer number of spikes the Phantomblade possessed. The black Ashfire that burned off the wolves grew even more pronounced as they sucked prana into themselves at an astonishing rate. No matter how close the spikes got, they avoided them all.

Vir knew hed be unable to do the same. Whatever sixth sense the wolves used to keep themselves safe, he didnt have.

He had to make a decision. Should he wait until the wolves successfully depleted the Phantomblades ammunition? Even then, the beast could generate more. Itd just be less of a barrage and more of a rainhardly better.

The Phantomblade suddenly turned, facing the wolves whod attacked it with impunity. They reacted, but not fast enough.

Spikes dug through their prana armor, and somethe glancing blowsbounced harmlessly off. Not all were so lucky.

Two wolves took blades to their chest and flank, gouging into their hides.

The beasts whimpered, retreating from battle, and the leader that had been standing next to Vir sprung into action.

The wolf Blinked toward the Phantomblade, taking a swipe at the one place that wasnt covered in deadly spikesits head. The approach was so deadly, few beasts would dare; hundreds of spikes pointed forward, impaling the few fools who tried.

That ones got some guts, Vir reflected. Hes also going to die.

That was, of course, only if Vir did nothing. The question waswhat?

Back in the Human Realm, Vir had fired his Prana Blade at the Phantomblades belly, ripping it open. This beast had no such weakness. A single glance through its own shadow showed that its underside was also covered in spikes.

The spikes acted both as a hard natural armor and an offensive weapon. Even if Vir found a way to keep himself safe from the projectiles, he worried Prana Blade might not get through, even with its recent upgrades.

Hed need Blade Launch, and to safely channel the energy for that Talent, Vir would have to put a good portion of his body outside the shadow. His upper half, at least.

There wasnt nearly enough space. Even if there was, doing so could very well earn him a barrage of spikes to the face.

Vir resurfaced out of a shadow closer to the fight, though not close enough that he couldnt escape. The tall buildings dark shadows afforded many exits to flee from.

As much as he only wanted to surface half his body, he was forced to emerge entirely. His body lacked the prana to sustain multiple Blade Launch activations, which meant hed be forced to rely on the ground. And right now, the only place he could pull prana from without destroying his Prana Armor layer was through the soles of his feet.

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Still, they worked around him, guiding the Phantomblade up to the mounds steepest slope.

The leader yipped, and the biggest wolf of the pack darted in.

Vir fired Katar Launch one after another, distracting the beast with the other wolves, who darted in and away, swiping, biting, and howling.

The Phantomblade grew agitated, and once again, missed the wolf that bounded for it.

The wolfs head collided with the Phantomblades, leaving it dazed for a moment.

Another followed right behind it, doing the same.

Then a third, fourth, and finally the leader itself.

The Phantomblade lurched back.

Ordinarily, the action would simply have put more weight on its hind legs. Except, it currently stood on a slope. A steep slope.

The beast lurched back, its forelegs leaving the ground involuntarily. Panic took it, and it flailed wildly.

The wolves were relentless, Blinking at the beast, headbutting it again and again. Only their prana armor kept their skulls from caving under the onslaught.

The Phantomblades panic only made it stand higher, putting more weight on its hind legs, bringing its forelegs higher off the ground.

Its spike barrage ceased.

Almost there!

It wasnt enough. But Vir was ready.

He Blinked up to the top of the mound, then ran, and Blinked again, though he refrained from headbutting the creature. Vir couldnt say if hed survive such an impact.

There was a better way.

Somersaulting midair, using Haste to guide his actions.

His legs extended and hit the beasts stubby head with all the force of his full momentum.

Vir wasnt done.

Sucking prana through his heelsthrough the Phantomblades bodyVir Blinked away.

He blasted off with such tremendous force; the Phantomblade didnt merely fall. Its heavy body whipped back, its scales slamming the debris as it fell, limbs flailing uselessly.

Spikes flew in all directions. Even the big ones ricocheted off random surfaces, forcing the wolves to Blink to safety. But the force of a few spikes wasnt nearly enough to turn the turtle-like beast over.

Vir motioned for the wolves to stay back. Even flipped upside down, the Phantomblade still had hundreds of spikes on its belly. Spikes that could impale any one of them.

So instead, Vir stood atop the mound and rained pranic chakrams on the beast, one after another.

The first one gouged into the Phantomblades Prana Armor. The second defeated it. The third tore its hide, and the fourth finally ripped it.

The Ashfire wolves took care of the rest, clawing into the wound, gouging into it, eliciting wails of pain from the doomed beast.

Vir threw his chakram into the wound and ended its suffering.

The wolves formed up around him, and Vir could swear they regarded him with a new look. One of approval. Of respect.

Nice work, everyone, Vir met their gazes, breathing heavily. Now, lets reap our reward.