I think about using my Regeneration Gland, but dismiss the idea. It’s too early in the assault. I need to save it for a more desperate situation. Maybe if I can get some Biomass to eat…
As the flame dissipates, it seems as if the Guard is ready for their counterattack.
42. Gateway
Having regrouped, the queen’s Royal Guard have positioned themselves to strike together. Weapons drawn, they form a row ten across, and as one stab forward with their swords. Instantly, ten beams of sword light flash through the air, impacting against the mercenaries and knocking them off their feet. With the constant force of the Gravity Spear dragging at their feet they can’t possibly brace themselves against this strike.
Three mercs slip and that’s all it takes as they ‘fall’ toward their own leader, the enormous great sword wielding warrior.
Chance!
With the front line in sudden disarray, I activate my Infused Mandibles, feeding my Gravitational Mana into them at a furious pace. The warriors might be struggling right now, but those two mages at the back have maintained their footing. Thankfully the kerfuffle at the front has pulled their eyes away from my magnificence, so I have an opening!
I don’t know how these guys are able to block spells, but that is something I surely want to learn. I mean, it makes sense that mages would be able to defend themselves against hostile magic, otherwise a magical battle would always be decided by whoever managed to cast first. I just hope the technique doesn’t rely on their staves and is something I can achieve in my mind. Perhaps the neglected External Mana Manipulation skill holds a clue?
With no eyes on me, I stealthily scuttle to the left, circling around the mercs and maintaining a twenty-metre distance. Soon, I reach a point where the two enemy mages are lined up, fire mage in front, wind mage behind, their elemental shields flickering with power.
The fire mage recovers from his distraction and turns back to me, eyes flicking about until he sees my position, not to mention my brightly glowing purple mandibles! He tries to shout a warning as he thrusts his staff in my direction but it’s too late.
YOINK!
As my mandibles flare with power, the fire mage flinches instinctively, lowering his stance to a defensive posture. Very alert these guys, I have to give them credit.
His wariness does him little good when his ally slams directly into his back.
BOOM!
As the two shields, one of swiftly rotating air and the other of Mana fuelled flame collide, the air erupts with a wave of heat and fire climbs into the sky. The two mages, caught completely by surprise, don’t have time to react before their elemental shields begin to shred each other, the fierce wind merging with flame and shooting out amongst their allies.
The mercenaries, grouped together and off-balance, are licked by searing tongues of flame borne on sharp winds from behind. Their voices begin to take on a note of panic as the situation spirals out of their control.
Now is the time!
Leaping forth, I Dash toward the flailing mercs.
My XP! Come to me!
If I’m going to fight here, then I’m going to get my reward for it, dammit! There is no chance the Queen’s Guard will leave these traitors alive. If they have to die, I may as well gain something from it!
After a few seconds, the mages take control of themselves and shut off their shield spells before staggering back to their feet. Just in time to see the monstrous ant rushing at them with its jaws wide and alight with power.
Shattering Bite!
CRUNCH! CRUNCH! CRUNCH!
Not willing to give them a moment of respite, I snap down on them three times in rapid succession. The ethereal jaws crush the two mages together and they slump to the ground, reeling from the strike.
[Shattering Bite (III) has reached Level 3.]
Finish them!
First on one, then on the other, I shower them with Piercing Chomps as they weakly try to fend me off with their staves. The traditional weakness of mages in close quarters seems to hold plenty true in this world, as their feeble efforts are unable to shake me off.
[You have defeated a Level 36 Human Fire Mage Apprentice.]
[You have defeated a Level 34 Human Wind Mage Apprentice.]
[You have gained XP.]
[You have reached Level 14. One Skill Point awarded.]
Nice!
Oh crap!
Just as I congratulate myself for the successful elimination of those threatening mages, the mercenary leader charges at me, massive blade poised overhead to strike.
Dodge!
Diamond Carapace or no, I do not want to take that thing head-on!
CRASH!
The blade smashes into the stones with tremendous force, sending shards of rock flying everywhere and pinging off my carapace.
Phew!
Not wanting to draw too much heat, I hit the ground running and put some distance between me and the mercs. The rest of the Queen’s Guard closes in, continuing to launch attacks.
Since my business district is facing the right way anyhow…
POW! POW! POW! POW!
Tilting my head slightly for a clear rear view, I shower the enemy with my Restrictive Acid, giving the bulky leader two shots since he seems a little too eager to move at the moment.
I stop construction on the Gravity Domain spell I’d been working on and let it dissolve within me. It doesn’t look as if I’ll be needing it right now. A massive gate is ahead sitting astride the street, blocking our way through the wall and into the inner keep.
I mean, a wall doesn’t do squat to keep me out, but it still serves to slow down these humans.
Seeing our target up ahead, I start to pull Mana out of my Gravitation Mana Gland and compress it into the fearsome Gravity Bomb. It’ll take a minute or two to charge up this sucker, so I may as well start now.
The mercenaries have fallen into an ever more hopeless position. Assaulted from the front, shot at from behind, and with their two support mages dead they have no chance of fighting their way out against the furious queen’s Royal Guard. Knowing they’re dead already, the mercenaries throw caution to the wind. Finally free of my Gravity Spear, they are able to unleash their skills to the fullest, desperately attempting to take some soldiers down with them.
I figured a few would try and surrender, but I guess not.
With the two sides battling to the death and pulling out all of their strength, I scuttle to the side, into the shadows, and look for an opportunity as I continue to charge my bomb. If I can sneak myself a little XP then I will, but I’ve done more work than all of these soldiers combined so far, I’m not about to stick my neck in for the cause.
As they finally begin to fall, a few of the mercenaries break and run, trying to dash into nearby buildings or down side streets and hopefully keep their lives. One unfortunate sap happens to flee into the little alley where I’ve tucked myself.
HALLO!
Shattering Bite!
[You have defeated a Level 38 Human Swordsman.]
[You have gained XP.]
Letting the body drop to the ground, I consider the option of… well… eating him.
I mean… I was a human before, for quite some time.
It’s not cannibalism since I’m not human now!
But… hmmm.
Checking my HP, there’s not too much missing, and I still have my Regeneration Gland topped off and ready to go. I don’t think I need to push myself too hard here.