Chapter 51 TRIAL BY VEPUS
Xyra completely agreed with the demon right now. She really hadn't been thinking too clearly when coming out this way. She had even purposely left the barrier, wanting to get even further away. She had simply assumed that nothing would attack her, and if, by the off chance that something did, she had been sure that she'd be ready. Her blade was special, and with that knowledge had come overconfidence. She really hadn't been prepared for this.
"Scream again, woman," demanded the demon. "I love that sound." Its thick, black hand began squeezing, completely cutting off her air. Her eyes instantly widened, and she began choking, trying to bring air in but to no avail. Nothing was working. The demon's grip was too strong. She raised her arms and began clawing at it with what nails she had, but it didn't seem fazed in the least. Prying its hand away was also impossible. This monster was far stronger than she was.
She could feel her strength draining from her tired body. She couldn't take this pain anymore. Her lungs were on fire, and a lot of her limbs hurt. Slowly her grip on the demon's hand loosened, and her arms fell back to her sides, hanging uselessly. She closed her eyes, no longer able to keep them open. Darkness was gripping at the corners of her mind, pulling her into a blissful numbness. Why did I have to leave camp? Why did I walk past the barrier? I'm so stupid…
Before she could fall into unconsciousness, something bright streaked by. The pressure of the demon's hand was gone, and she found herself falling. She landed on her feet but quickly fell to her hands and knees. She was gasping, air now filling her tired, flaming lungs. It hurt, but at the same time it felt so good. She didn't even care how this had all happened right now. She was just thankful that she was back on the ground.
"Xyra!" called a rather familiar, concerned-sounding voice. She raised her head and glanced back, watching as Magnus ran over to her. His jade eyes were heavy with worry. "Are you alright?"
"I will be," she told him before coughing. She reached up and grabbed her neck, massaging it a bit since it had started to hurt. She watched as Magnus studied her for a moment. He really did seem concerned, but there was anger in his eyes. She wasn't sure if it was supposed to be directed at her or not, but she didn't care right now. She was just happy to still be among the living.
"A sorcerer," spoke the demon, drawing their attention. Despite Magnus's spell, the creature seemed untouched. "This will be interesting." It whipped its arm towards him, but it only hit the barrier he had set up around himself and Xyra. However, the demon wasn't fazed by this at all. It just tried again and again, using both arms and a few tentacles. When Magnus saw what its body could do, his eyes widened a bit.
"A vepus," he said, his voice giving off just the slightest sign of fear. Haven't fought one of these in a long time…or alone for that matter. Hope he's not too fast.
Magnus kept his barrier up as best he could, but since he had already set one up around their camp, this one was considerably weaker. Just from the thrashing limbs of the vepus, his barrier was cracking. Not too much time left. He had to do something fast, so he prepared himself for what he knew was coming. We're close to the barrier. If I can just get Xyra there, maybe I can get rid of this thing.
"Xyra," he whispered to her. "When this barrier breaks, I'm going to cast a lightning spell. I want you to run and get behind the barrier."
"Then what about you?" she questioned.
"I'm going to kill this thing."
"Why not escape? Why do you have to fight it?" She was never going to understand hunters. They enjoyed the thrill of demon hunting far too much for any normal person to comprehend. What kind of pleasure could someone truly get from killing something like this?
"I'm a hunter," he answered with a smirk. "It's my job. Vepuses are dangerous. It could probably break right through the barrier I set up around camp. It has to die."
With a few more impacts of the demon's arms and tentacles, the barrier finally shattered. In an instant, Magnus cast his lightning spell, sending off a blinding light in the demon's direction. It cried out in annoyance, backing away a bit.
"Xyra, now!" Magnus shouted. She didn't need to be told twice. She got to her feet and took off, getting as far away as she could. The second she felt herself pass through the barrier, she stopped and turned around. She really hadn't been far from it at all. She could still see Magnus and the demon. They were only a few yards away from her. She watched intensely as the light died down. Good luck, Magnus.
The demon growled a bit at the sorcerer, but he didn't let it get to him. He was really scared though. This was the second time he had encountered a creature like this, and the first had nearly killed him. Only with the help of a friend had he been able to destroy the creature. Let's pray this one isn't as strong…or that I got stronger.
The creature wasted no time with words as it brought its huge arm down towards him. He dodged quickly and then had to move again. When he was in mid-jump, a tentacle came towards him. Luckily, he managed to twist his body in midair, going into a backflip without the use of his hands. He landed gently, knowing he was going to have to move again. All the while, he began to think of his options. The best would be a dark magic spell since they were finishing spells. Anything else wouldn't be very effective. This thing could regenerate easily since it didn't have a definite body.
Magnus began going over his library of spells, hoping to think of something as he kept dodging, always escaping in the nick of time. There's got to be one I can use on it. Maybe something with two elements…like a Viribus…that will work.
The second he dodged the most recent swipe of the vepus' hand, he stopped and raised his right arm, ready to cast his spell. However, right before he could cast it, one of the monster's long black tentacles wrapped around his arm. Magnus's eyes widened in disbelief, filling with fear as he turned towards his opponent. There was a smirk on its face.
"I was waiting for you to try," he hissed angrily. "I needed to find out which arm you used to channel. Thanks for giving me my answer."
Without another word, the tentacle tightened severely, crushing Magnus's arm. He screamed as he felt the bone snap in about three different places. Pain shot through his entire body, blocking out all rational thought from his mind. He only knew of the ache and how desperately he wanted to escape it.
From behind the barrier, Xyra was watching the scene play out. When she heard Magnus scream and saw his arm break, her eyes widened. She felt sick suddenly, not wanting to watch this. The sorcerer was in a great deal of pain.
"Magnus!" she called out in worry, hoping that she could somehow snap him back to attention. He wasn't doing anything to get himself out of this predicament. He still had his left arm. He could still cast something. "Magnus! Do something!"
After the pain left a bit, Magnus's eyes turned to the demon. He was finally able to focus. He quickly raised his left arm and placed his hand on the tentacle. Closing his eyes and preparing himself for pain, he cast a lightning spell. The electricity traveled through the tentacle and into the demon, but because he was connected, a good portion shocked him as well.
The second the creature let go of him, he jumped back, putting a great deal of distance between them. He did his best to ignore his right arm, which hung sickeningly limp at his side. He couldn't do anything about it. Healing magic only worked on open flesh wounds. It couldn't repair bones.
When it finally recovered, the vepus began to laugh. Its soft chuckle became a cruel chortle as it looked over the sorcerer. Something was apparently funny about what had just happened. However, Magnus found nothing amusing. He just glared at the demon, waiting for it to stop.
"Casting a spell so recklessly," it laughed. "Guess you're the 'all or nothing' type, eh? Suppose I'm gonna have to crush your other arm too."
"Just try it," Magnus threatened. He raised his arm, aiming his palm at the demon, his fingers bent so that his hand resembled a claw. His jade eyes narrowed threateningly, and the demon just laughed again.
"No spell you cast is going to work." It raised its tentacle again. "Give up, boy. Your dominant arm is broken. You're too weak."
"I never said that was my dominant," he stated slowly, watching as the tiniest pinch of fear played in the eyes of his prey. His hand slowly began to glow, and the vepus froze in place. "… Viribus."
The second that word left his lips, hundreds of tiny spears of a dark yellow light began to shoot from his palm and fingers. He had to really dig his feet in the ground to keep the force of the spell from sending him backwards. He cringed a bit as the radiating magic put pressure on his entire body, but he would persevere. He had to destroy this thing.
Each spear completely dissolved whatever it touched, and each one found its place in the vepus' body. The spears came so fast that it didn't have time to regenerate. Holes were being opened all over its form, and there was nothing it could do to stop it. It cried out in pain as its arms were destroyed, its legs disappeared, and its chest filled with gaping holes. Soon enough, its entire body, everything but the dying echo of its cry, was gone.
Magnus quickly ended the spell, dropping his arm to his side. He was exhausted now, the pain had not yet subsided in his arm. He was panting a bit from casting such a large spell when he had been in a worn out state to begin with. It was over though. They were safe for now. He allowed himself the pleasure of falling to his knees, his legs no longer able to keep him up. He probably would have fallen further if he wasn't constantly aware of his broken arm. Hitting the ground would hurt a lot.
"Magnus!" he heard Xyra call out, and she was soon at his side. She got down next to him, worry etched on her face.
"Hey Xyra," he greeted with a weak smile. "Are you alright?"
"Worry about yourself for a change," she demanded. "Your arm…can you fix it?"
"No." He placed his hand over his shoulder, trying to keep his arm steady as he got back to his feet. Moving still hurts though. "I'll just have to let it heal the old-fashioned way."
"… I'm sorry," she whispered. He just gave her a puzzled look, but she refused to meet his eyes. "I shouldn't have left the barrier. I was… I just…"
"No need to explain yourself," he stated with a smile. "Let's head back to camp. I'm sure Darren and Astrid are worried about us."
Xyra didn't say anything, only nodded. She began to walk with Magnus as they slipped back through the barrier into the safe part of the forest. They walked in complete silence, both thinking about what they were going to say when they got back to camp. Darren was going to go ballistic and then ask why he wasn't invited to the fight. Astrid would be all over Magnus in a second. That thought quickly made Xyra wish she didn't have to go back to camp. She was starting to feel sick again.
A weight was suddenly placed on her shoulder as Magnus set his left arm there. He was leaning slightly against her. Startled, she glanced over at him. There was a smile on his face.
"Sorry," he told her. "I know you're probably hurt too, but could you help me just a bit? My legs keep shaking."
"It's fine," she answered. "I don't mind." She placed an arm around his waist for support, being careful of his injured arm. This wasn't the first time she had to do something like this. True, she wasn't strong enough to be a full support, but if he could keep walking, she could at least balance him out. She could do this for him since he had risked so much coming to save her. He always seemed to do that.
"Hey Magnus?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks for coming for me."
"… You're welcome."