Chapter 56 Hummingbird
Chapter 56 Hummingbird
Rylan stood at the end of the path, heart beating like the wings of a hummingbird and sweat dripping down his forehead and soaking the fabric of his clothes. It had been a while he'd been this nervous and if he was being honest with himself, he hated it. He hated the uncertainty, hated not knowing if the plan he'd ask someone to risk his life for was going to work and most of all, he hated his lack of trust in his own abilities, the very abilities in which the success of this plan hinged on. With the ambush he was sure because they'd had time to iron out every single detail and look over every possible outcome, every single party was clear on the task they'd been assigned and had been assigned those parts because it best suited them, but this…this hail Mary of a plan, was nothing more than a rushed concoction of ideas that bordered on wishful thinking.
Rylan had a theory about an attack that could be made using the Mothlight, gathering it's energy into a point could create a release powerful enough to eviscerate the skin of a level one, but it was a baseless theory, he'd never tried it or done anything of that nature but still he'd wagered all their lives on it. The plan although simply bared unfathomable amount of risk, Dravy was to lead all the beast down this small path, which would force them to align in a line and chase after him then when they were close enough he'd let out the power he'd been gathering and kill them all with a single shot, he couldn't miss a single one because he was willing to bet that doing something of that nature would drain every bit of stamina out of him and Dravy would be in no shape to fight of the remains. And if the theory was wrong then the rest of the squad could make a run for it while the beast tore him apart, it was a fool's plan but the only one they had.
He wiped away his damp palms on his cloth and turned back to face the path before, he felt a gentle tremble beneath his feet, his heart skipped, they were close, he assumed a ready stance and clasped his palms together as he closed his eyes and focused on the flow of his Arkana, the familiar sensation filled him, gentle and relaxing, he could feel the worry within him melting away as he handed over control to his Arkana, the heat was present but it no longer burned him, it no longer felt like a torture device but now like the warmth of a sauna.
\[Mothlight activated\]
He opened up his eyes and the world no longer looked like what it was a few seconds ago, it was more vibrant, colors were brighter, sounds were louder, the chill of the wind was kinder and the Arkana of every creature around could he felt without him trying. He could see his stamina gradually declining but in his current euphoric state it was hard to care, all he could focus on was his joint palms and the lit markings that swirled around the surface of his skin.
He felt Dravy, approaching fast, the vibrations of the ground getting louder and louder until he could finally see him, a horrified look plastered on his face as he ran, out of breath and soaked with his own sweat and behind him were the most horrific looking beast Rylan had ever seen, all running, jaws wide and hands swinging to reach Dravy but he was just a little bit faster, that wouldn't last for long, He was gradually slowing down and they were closing in but the second his eyes met with Rylan's glowing one's, a rush of adrenaline shot through him and his legs lost their weakness, he ran faster, faster than before, this was the last stretch, all he needed to do was make it to Rylan, he'd have done his part and the rest would be up to him, his heel hit the ground and out of nowhere a crocodile like beast the size of a small car burst through the side of the path, through the trees and straight at Dravy, jaws wide and teeth ready. Timed slowed as Dravy realized he could do nothing in his current position, he couldn't stop because the beast behind him would immediately catch up and because of his perfectly the crocodile beast had timed its thrust, death was certain. Memories flashed through his mind and a smile forced its way onto his lips, he didn't want to die but at least he died serving his squad. He closed his eyes and accepted his fate but through the dark blur of his closed eyes he saw a flash followed by a tug, he opened his eyes and stared at the veiled sky, he was in the air, a strong hand was wrapped around his waist and as he twisted to see who it belonged to, he saw Rylan, Mothlight active and eyes fixed on the beast down below them.
“What happened to the plan?!” Dravy asked aloud but Rylan didn't answer, he couldn't answer, He'd fucked up the plan. In this state, instinct had a larger hand on the controls than rational thought, so the second he saw Dravy about to be bitten in half, his body acted before his mind could even weigh the repercussions and before he knew it they were in the sky.
“If I let you down from this height, would you live?” Rylan asked with that calm spiritual tone that accompanied the Mothlight.
Dravy looked down at the trees, they were so high up in the sky that the trees could fit in his palm. Truth be told, he didn't know, but that didn't matter, he wouldn't be the burden that caused them to fail twice so He looked at Rylan and said. “Yes.”
Rylan didn't turn as he said. “Survive.”
Dravy felt the release of Rylan's hand and he began to free fall, twisting his head, he could see Rylan as he landed back, immediately the beast charged at him but Rylan didn't move, why?, the plan was fucked, the beast were no longer in an arranged line so what exactly was the plan. Rylan began to take small steps back as they came closer and closer till he was sprinting backwards with his body still facing the beast, Dravy realized what Rylan was trying to do, they were no longer in a line, so a single point attack would be ineffective but the single point attack would have stretched a long way so if he exchanged the length for breadth he'd be able to—one breath, one second and it was over, all Dravy did was blink and he'd missed it. All that remained was charred still burning earth and Rylan as he fell backwards, unconscious.
\[Unique scenario Completed\]