Book 3: Chapter 68: Combo

Book 3: Chapter 68: Combo

Torrents of chi poured through me, the flow only increasing as time dragged on. A full quarter of my significant reserves were drained each second, and if left to my own devices, I’d have been completely drained in moments. But I wasn’t alone. The world’s chi assisted, bubbling up from deep beneath me, only to travel through my cores on its way back down to the network below.

Despite the amount traveling through Maria being only a fraction of what passed through me, it wasn’t any less taxing on her. Tension radiated from her, her jaw clenched and shoulders hunched. I realized I was doing the same thing. I squeezed her hand to get her attention, then forced myself to relax. She followed suit, releasing a small breath and easing the tension in her coiled muscles.

Considering there was a battle playing out in our mind’s eye, it was no small feat.

Since the enemy force had arrived in their blazing orb of misguided glory, Maria and I had been watching, the network beneath us somehow relaying sights, sounds, and to my great dismay, smells. I could have done without the latter, because the king’s corrupted chi had the aroma of a love child from the unholy pairing of a septic tank and a fish left to rot in the sun. In short, the homie smelled like absolute shi—

Maria sent me a mental nudge, telling me off for getting distracted.

Sorry, I sent back, returning my attention to the battle.

The actions and competency of the defense force made my heart sing; Borks’s arrival, Claws and Cinnamon’s combo meteor attack, and the kindness shown to the alchemists and the royal family, people who had done terribly by most of the congregation. It made an immense sense of gratitude for my pals pour from me, joining the chi draining down into the network below.

It took me a moment to understand why Roger and Barry were stalling. They likely knew as well as I did that the attacking force didn’t stand a chance against the combined might of the defenders. It was definitely a conscious choice, though—one that, I realized, was communicated to the others by holding two fingers down. They were stalling for my arrival, which now that I considered it, was the smartest move with the information they had access to.

When the identity of Lizard Wizard was discovered, I felt a little miffed. I’d been hoping for a dramatic reveal, but the king’s madness seemed too advanced to allow for fun hijinks. A smile came to my face as I recalled how our names had fooled him for so long. But my enjoyment evaporated when Roger revealed how he knew the weird little bird man. Sadness flowed from Maria, as did a desire to go to him. Sharon was at the rear of the field, and our omniscient point-of-view let us see the heartbreak wrought across her face. She, too, wanted to comfort him.

When the front lines finally launched toward each other, it was a welcome distraction from Roger’s emotional devastation—even if the charge only lasted for the length of a single step.

Unlike everyone on the field, Maria and I had been well aware of Lemon and the other tree-spirit’s preparations, so we weren’t at all surprised when the ground burst apart. They had been gathering power down there the entire time, a vast web of roots stretching out to gather the world’s essence. My two wooden friends blasted it out over the battle, forcing most of the king’s nauseating essence back toward him and his deranged followers.

When Barry and Roger bellowed in tandem for the counterattack to begin, a shiver ran through me. As one, the defenders flew forward, going on the offensive. I had a sense of everyone’s power, and if we were only counting the humans, the enemy forces might have had the advantage.

But that didn’t account for the immense strength of all my animal pals, who were first off the line.

Private Pistachio, as stoic as ever, channeled power into the hinges of his mighty clackers. Corporal Claws, wreathed in lightning and donning her trademark smirk, rocketed toward the handlers. Sergeant Snips, with blue chi jetting from her joints, prepared to unleash the first of a barrage of aura-blades. Bumblebro and Queen Bee, who had gone unnoticed thus far by the enemy forces, darted from under Roger’s collar, their wings droning and compound eyes locked on two of the bird-like cultivators. Pelly and Bill spiraled down from above, picking up speed with each rotation. Borks, still recovering from his earlier expenditure, got to his feet. Cinnamon dashed toward him, and despite his exhaustion, he opened up a portal. The other side was behind the king, and as she flew for the hole in space, she was already winding up a devastating roundhouse kick. Roots shot up from beneath the enemy, coiling back and preparing to strike.

It all happened in slow motion, my enhanced awareness letting me see even the smallest of details. So I was able to witness the very moment their power was ripped from their very grasps. Simultaneously, their cores opened up, the chi held within pouring down into the network that my essence was also flowing into.

Somehow, the king also felt it. His eyes and grin turned vicious as those that were flying through the air lost momentum. His hands were a blur as they extended before him, the fire chi held within already flaring out. It would wash over my friends in less than a second, and with their power being sucked away, I wasn’t sure they’d come out unscathed. Even the soothing chi that Lemon helped exude was gone, its power draining into the ground instead.

I jumped to my feet, preparing to leap away as I started forcing the floodgates of my core closed. I had to go there. I had to save them. I—

Trust! the echoes of my friends’ souls called to me through the bond. Trust! Trust! Trust!

This was going to be interesting.

***

As Deklan glanced back at the almost-comatose Teddy, he was beyond glad that he and his brother had brought the cart. The bear had collapsed out of nowhere, seemingly unable to move of his own accord.

They were almost back at Tropica. Even if they hadn’t been able to feel the mix of chi coming from just east, the gods-damned fireball that consumed a mountain ahead was a pretty good indicator. The moment Teddy had collapsed, the brothers had leaped into action, lifting him up onto the cart. As a result, something within Deklan’s core had buzzed. It was mirrored in Dom’s, the twins experiencing something they’d only felt once before.

Last time, they’d been attacked. Ambushed by Nathan. Their cores had resonated with the desire to protect each other and the life they’d found, but the world’s power had fled before their breakthrough could take place. They’d been defenseless as a result, and if not for the intervention of Snips, Claws, and Borks, they’d likely have lost their lives. This time, something felt different. What about putting Teddy on the cart had felt so... right?

They were at the base of the flaming mountain now, still trailing the dirt path made by the enemy’s passage. What trees hadn’t been destroyed were singed and smoking, their greenery not enough to completely fight off the explosion’s heat. The air was steamy as they started climbing the hillside, moisture having been expelled from the earth. The sickly chi hit them like a sledgehammer, making both brothers miss a step. They stumbled, holding onto the cart’s handles for balance.

A moment later, a cool breeze flowed over the mountain’s destroyed peak. It brought the world’s essence with it, and a warmth washed over Deklan’s body that was nothing like the corrupted chi. Though it was also brought heat with it, it was comforting, making him feel like he was lounging in the afternoon sun.

Deklan would have loved to sit in that moment, to embrace the coziness and forget all about the battle he could feel taking place. Before he could say no to that impulse, the battle came to him. A man flew from the forest, screeching like an owl as he rocketed toward Deklan. Corrupted essence streamed from his arms and trailed behind him, the mere touch of it causing trunks to wither and die. That alone made it clear that in their current state, the brothers had absolutely no chance.

Deklan reached for his core, trying to embrace the world’s chi as had happened before. Dom did the same, the twins aware of each other as they searched for the meaning that would facilitate their breakthrough. It had to do with them. The life they had found. A profound desire to protect it had caused the chi to rush in the last time. They both felt that now. Yet the world’s power wouldn’t come to them.

Time crawled to a stop as the crazed man flew. His gaze flicked to the side, and at the last possible second, he swooped to the left. Like a bird in flight, his arms redirected his passage right past the brothers and toward Teddy, who was still only half conscious.

If the man were to strike him...

Both Deklan and Dom spun, tried to get in the way and shield Teddy in time. But the enemy’s speed increased, air hissing as his outstretched limbs tore through it. Deklan extended a hand toward Teddy, trying to reach him despite knowing it was too far. The breeze flowing by slowed then paused, halting in mid air. Small bubbles of chi rose from the ground, each drop further muting the nauseating essence surrounding them.

Deklan gritted his teeth and he lunged further. Dom was right beside him, one hand raised and fingers grasping. They’d never make it. But Deklan didn’t care. It didn’t matter that he wasn’t strong enough. It didn’t matter that he lacked the power to defend his furry friend. Teddy was defenseless, and Deklan needed to protect him...

With only moments before the enemy cultivator hammered into Teddy, the world answered, and Chi rushed into the brothers’ cores faster than either of them could comprehend. It swelled there, pressing against their abdomens as it condensed. Deklan knew how this was supposed to go. After the power exploded out of them, they’d be rendered unconscious for a short time as their bodies and minds adjusted. That, too, was unacceptable.

Sickly essence extended from the assailant as he flew headfirst for Teddy’s undefended back, now only centimeters away. The excess chi poured from the brothers. It scattered in every direction, assaulting Deklan’s awareness. His vision already failing, he gathered his will and harnessed the fleeing essence. Dom did the same, and both knowing what to do, they shot it toward Teddy. Rather than hit him, the chi molded to his body, forming a thin layer of prismatic light.

The cart exploded in a cloud of splinters, ice, and chunks of fish as the man flew into Teddy.

Before the carnage settled, Deklan was falling backwards, his vision going black.