Chapter 90

Chapter 90

----------

The form of the demon-lost-deity hybrid pressed down towards Neleh, trying to force her on her knees. The elongated head came closer and took an exaggerated sniff. You look and smell different, but you will not fool my senses. You look weak. What happened to your imperious attitude? I so liked the darkness you showed back then. The demon sang in a voice that went from an eerie high pitch down to a low growl and back. Updated from novelbIn.(c)om

Neleh managed to stay on her feet and gave a small forced laugh. I might look weak, but unlike you thats just the appearance. How are your brothers? Are the little bastards still as useless as before? Such a shame what happened with the Lord of Plagues.

Well see who is weak. The demon suddenly switched all his strength to toss Neleh sideways away from the crumbling cliff and disappeared.

Neleh barely managed to bring her spear to block the attack from the demon as it suddenly appeared behind her. She might have blocked the attack but the force still tossed her up towards the tree line. This is not going according to plan at all. Neleh thought grimly as golden wings of fire appeared behind her to break her momentum, while she took the form of a flame seraph. Fine, if you want to make this a contest of speed, then you will have it.

The demon made another swift attack towards her, but this time Neleh was able to follow it and deflect it properly with her spear. Despite that it was obvious that the demon was still much faster than her, as the demon made another attack from another angle which she had to block straight on and was sent sliding again.

With speed like that, you want to compete with me? The demons mocking laughter echoed as it again disappeared.

As it came lunging at Neleh from behind, she replied calmly. Why, yes I do. As she ducked under the attack of the demons upper right hand and sliced off the demons lower right hand. The demon made a predictable counter attack with both of its left hands. Neleh used the instant movement from her light spirit to move further back than she wouldve been able to do normally. As she spun around, the demons claws grazing at her wings, she tried to use the momentum to stab at the demons now unprotected side, but only found air.

Her instincts screaming danger, Neleh moved straight upwards using all the speed the light spirit could grant her, barely avoiding the wide swing of the demons claws that shredded the afterimage that Nelehs quick movement had left behind. Purely on reflex Neleh had swung her weapon downwards, the blade at the end cutting off the remaining right arm of the demon. Both of them landed a small distance from one another. Neleh made a small tsk with her tongue, as she saw the demon already finishing with regenerating the arm she had lobbed off earlier. You were holding back before. Bad boy. Neleh said as if scolding a child.

So were you. We both know that surprise is the biggest advantage in a battle of speed. The demon replied with a small giggle.

Youre not entirely wrong, but youre not right either. Let me show the downside of the kind of speed youre using. Neleh said while closing her eyes almost completely, and spreading her senses around her.

The demons voice had turned into a roaring laughter. Then show me birdy. Show me your superiority. Unlike the other two, I dont really care about revenge. I only want a fight that excites me. So far this has not excited me nearly enough.

The demon once again dashed at her, but this time Neleh avoided it by just a thread, by leaning to the side, while also delivering a large gash on the demons side. The demon tried an immediate counter, but was suddenly facing multiple orbs of pure white fire flying at it. The demon gave a dismissive scoff. You hope to hit me with something like this? Hopeless! It said, while avoiding the orbs of fire with a similarly small margin just to mock Neleh.

Neleh gave an evil smile and snapped her fingers with lightning speed, which caused the orbs of fire to explode all around the demon, turning the whole area into a furnace of flame and ash. Everything around the two burned in seconds, but Neleh was immune to the flame. Her clothes werent, but she quickly replaced them with others made of living flame. Suddenly the demon appeared from among the flames, once again striking towards the seemingly unprotected back of Neleh. Thanks for making it nice and warm. The demon said, almost certain that its strike would land. The fire was hurting it, but not enough to kill.

To its shock, Neleh managed to angle her spear without even looking its way, so that the demons strike harmlessly slid off target along the spears length, while Neleh tilted to the side and swung a pure white sword with her other hand, severing the demons leg. She had to pay a price of her own though, as the demons tail struck her clean in the stomach sending her flying.

Neleh had managed to use her holy power to defend against most of the force of the attack, but she still had a small trickle of blood running down from the side of her mouth. She could heal that of course, while the demon tried to do the same with its leg. Well now, I finally managed to wound you. Youre slipping birdy. The demon said gloating a bit, although its face was twisted in a slight frown.

Fully within expectations. We did better that I thought. Apparently it was a good idea to keep our little surprise a secret as long as we did. We caught the enemy completely by surprise and managed to cut their battle potential down at the knees. Estelar made his report, while reading the latest reports on casualties.

What are the odds that the other enemies didnt find out about them? Lysanthir asked.

Normally Id say pretty good. We blocked any magical communications by the enemy Harbingers, who are most likely the only forces of the different lost-deities to actually communicate with each other. The problem is that Im pretty sure the Prince of Pleasure let its brothers know. Whether they decide to share that information is a mystery, but we should assume they did. Neleh replied, finally emerging from the tent.

Well have to expect countermeasures in the future then. Lysanthir replied, somewhat redundantly.

Well then, keep enough forces here to deal with the remaining enemy forces, and emphasize the scouts. We dont want any of this filth to remain in our forests. We should start moving the others towards the demon continent. We should rendezvous with Sinestras forces and move to intercept the enemy coming from the faerie lands. The ships are too big to fit through the arches, so send them first, preferably escorted by the gryphon riders. We wouldnt want the ships to get intercepted over the ocean by something they cant handle. Neleh outlined.

Thats kind of a danger isnt it? I mean, you can travel almost anywhere almost instantly, but if one of the lost-deities intercepts our ships while over the ocean, then we have a problem. Elendil pointed out.

Which is why I have to go with them. Neleh said turning to the guards nearby. Gather the Legion. Those not remaining behind to guard the palace will want to join us on the ships.

Yes, your majesty. The guard replied, leaving to fulfill his duty.

Khali, whats your current status? Neleh asked, making a magical connection with her.

Getting closer, but running into some trouble. Did you already finish your part? I think I felt some of the ripples from the battle all the way here. Khali replied, sounding a little distracted.

Yes, we had some luck on our side, though the Prince of Pleasure managed to make things harder than I expected. Are you fighting at the moment? Neleh asked suddenly. She was hoping the distraction was fighting because she had another idea what might distract Khali like this.

A little bit yes. Unlike you, Im not patient enough to stand aside while my minions do all the work. I have to get in a bit of action myself. Also youre just rusty. Shame on you for having trouble dealing with a weakling deity like that! Khali replied

Well I admit to being rusty. This is what happens when you dont fight proper opponents for a while. Something the prince said bothers me though. I think we might have more trouble coming. It might be a good idea to let Gabriel know that the Enemy might be coming our way after all.

Well thats bad news. Now get your sweet little butt over here so you can help me when the Changer of Ways appears. Fighting the Great Sorcerer at my current state might be a bit iffy. I need you to keep some of the most egregious magic at bay. Khali replied with a small grunt, clearly just killing another enemy.

Alright, Ill help you, you big wimp. You wouldve liked fighting the prince. He wouldve been more your style. Neleh replied with the mocking humor clear in her voice.

Ill show you a wimp. Its not my fault I was born so much later than you. Ill take the next one by myself. Khali said, while Neleh wasnt sure who she was trying to convince.