Bannon clutched his stomach, muttered a strange phrase, and straightened with a chilling laugh.

  When his eyes found the Beetlelords, two short beams of energy shot into them, leaving behind nothing but ash. No smoke. No scream. One moment they stood there, breathing and brave. The next, they were gone. Burned out of existence.

  With alacrity, I cycled through my potions and found a speed booster, then downed it, letting the rush overflow me and take control.

  Sparks circled around me and let off her missiles, hitting their targets but doing no damage.

  Time slowed to a crawl, and the next flash that Bannon called down struck empty space. Moving like the wind, I summoned my sword and hacked at his limbs, trying desperately to land a strike.

  But Bannon warped into a corner before my blade could bite, his irritating laughter echoing in my ears.

  Nefa, moving like the wind, was there in an instant, Nightbringer

  Flesh Scrapper

  Nefa and I met eyes, both amazed and disgusted at the turn of events.

  He strode forward. “You two bore me,” he said. “Thinking I would let you land a killing blow that easily?”

  More lightning strikes. All from above. None of them found flesh.

  “The same goes for you, too, Bannon,” I fired back, dodging his magical assault. “If you plan to kill us, you will have to do more than toss around pretty light tricks,” I gasped.

  I cycled through my potions, grabbed the last speed booster, and appeared right in front of him, landing a fist square into his jaw.

  [-2984]

  Bannon’s body slammed into the wall, then tumbled onto the bed, knocking the divider over with a crash. My battle fairy hit him with a volley of missiles, each blast stronger than the last thanks to her leveling up.

  [-976]

  [-887]

  [-851]

  The Illicit Power Necklace thumped against my chest, its weight humming with raw energy. I felt powerful, like a god among mortals, as Sparks unleashed screeching missile after screeching missile, the explosions shaking the room around his broken body.

  Leaping onto his body, my fists hammered down again and again.

  To the head, [-2333]

  The side of his neck, [-2000]

  A fist landing to his abdomen, [-2113]

  His chest, [-1988]

  With tremendous force, I hopped off the bed and stood over him, ready to summon Havoc Maker and land the killing blow, when Nefa followed with Nightbringer’s ability, a burst of fire roaring across the room and setting the bed—and Bannon—ablaze.

  A critical mistake.

  “Just what I needed,” he said, crawling from the flames and waving his arms in wide circles. “More light,” he roared.

  Disbelief surged through me at what I was seeing. A spectacle straight from a movie. An image I would never be able to forget.

  A man consumed by flames, fire dripping onto the stone floor, laughing through the inferno.

  Another dizzying flash followed, then a boom that sucked the sound of crackling, burning clothes from the room.

  His body bent and wavered, absorbing and refracting the blast of fire, twisting and feeding on it. When he had swallowed enough heat, the orange glow wrapped around him, engulfing his frame until he resembled some misshapen creature pulled and stretched at the seams.

  His mouth spread unnaturally wide, and he let out a roar. His body split into pieces of light that shimmered like a disco ball. Sparkles and dots of color bathed the room in a luminous glow. Just when I thought it was over, the light exploded, forcing Nefa and me to shield our eyes.

  When I opened them, five perfect copies of Bannon stepped forward, each grinning with the same cruel delight.

  “Now, we play for real,” the voices merged and bounced around the room.

  Then came the assault. Blasts fired from every direction. Light so hot the air shimmered. So many blasts that escaping them was almost impossible.

  [0:32]

  The timer counted down, the speed boost ticking toward zero.

  Nefa flipped and somersaulted between blasts of light, hurling her spinning scythe. It sliced through images of Bannon that flickered, reformed, then sent another bolt of lightning.

  “You can’t escape my blasts forever,” the voices shouted in unison. “One of them will end you.”

  “Nefa,” I yelled, running around the room. “I think I have an idea.”

  She landed on one knee and switched to Nightbringer, deflecting a ray aimed straight at her. “What are you telling me for?” she grunted, blocking more blasts. “Do it before one of these psychotic bastards lands a finisher.”

  [0:19]

  While Bannon split himself into pieces, I noticed something he must have hoped neither of us would catch. A small affectation meant to make him look more menacing. Something you might see on a politician trying too hard, a drag queen owning the stage, or a wrestler playing a character.

  Ducking behind overturned furniture, I put on the Vision Goggles and peered at him. Beams came at me, forcing me to roll out of the way before I raised the goggles and got a look at their faces.

  Letting the goggles fade, I saw it.

  This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

  One image smeared in eye makeup.

  That had to be the real one.

  I looked at Nefa as she spun past an arc of light. “Go after the one with the eye makeup and give him everything you’ve got.”

  Her eyes widened, then narrowed. “You’re right.”

  “Focus on the mirages, Sparks, while Nefa and I focus our attacks on the real Bannon.”

  [0:11]

  The battle fairy’s tiny face scrunched up, and missiles flew in every direction, disrupting the clones before they could hit us with bolts of lightning.

  A quick slide put me beneath Bannon’s guard while Nefa vaulted over him, her kick smashing into his chest and planting him against the wall.

  Rising, I switched weapons to Dark Tusk and flicked the blade into his thigh before yanking it free and hurling it back toward his chest.

  Warping aside, Bannon tried to escape but was caught by one of Sparks’s missiles.

  [Stunned]

  “Perfect!” Nefa shouted, darting forward and slashing him across the chest.

  [0:05]

  Using what little time remained, I blinked behind him with Havoc Maker raised and swept the blade sideways, taking his head clean off.

  The clones fizzled out.

  His head hit the floor, eyeliner-stained eyes staring back at me.

  Anger lifted my foot, and a sense of finality brought it down with such force that the eyes shot across the room.

  Sparks looked at me, sending an emotion through our bond that hit deep, something close to satisfaction.

  A fat, glowing orb and a chest dropped to the floor with a heavy thud, signaling victory. The chest stayed where it fell, while the orb rushed into me, flooding the party with XP and leveling us up two times all at once.

  Nefa walked over, her hard soles tapping a slow rhythm against the concrete.

  “So,” she said, stepping beside me, “Linuux’s henchman has fallen to us, and now, so shall he.” She equipped her seven-foot scythe and leaned on it, smirking. “Where to next, Lamont?”

  “We wait for Cashius to return,” I said, glancing around at the wreckage we’d made. “Then we head to his lair.” I nodded toward the fallen chest. “But first, let’s see what Bannon left us.”

  A light kick, and the chest creaked open, slow and dramatic. Inside lay our reward for taking down such an enemy.

  Sparks zipped in the moment she saw what was inside.

  “What’s that, little lady?” I asked as she lifted out a bandanna, a black vest, a puffed-out mini skirt fit for a princess, and a pair of what looked like black Timberlands.

  Battle Fairy Armor 2.0 — Rare — Level 5

  

  

  To see the joy on her face made the entire fight feel worth it, as if we’d just completed a proper raid and earned every bit of the loot.

  Now, time to open the menu.

  The translucent interface shimmered before my eyes, greeting me. Navigating to the Character Screen, I equipped her with the new gear, making sure to add the bandanna.

  Her wings lifted her body into the air before freezing for a second, a small hiccup in the system. Then she reappeared in full black armor, bandanna wrapped around her head, whipping around me in a frantic loop as if seconds from bursting with excitement.

  “Are you happy?” Nefa asked. “Do you enjoy your gear?” she smiled.

  Sparks healed us, not completely, but enough to notice.

  “Why, thank you for that, little lady,” I said, feeling the fatigue and soreness melt from my body.

  Going back to the Character Screen, I leveled up and added the four extra stat points to Strength, Speed, Perception, and Knowledge.

  Level 37

  HP: 18,500

  MP: 1,500

  Strength: 87 [+26]

  Stamina: 43

  Magic: 61

  Vitality: 47

  Defense: 72 [+26]

  Perception: 42

  Speed: 47

  Wisdom: 39

  Knowledge: 39

  Next, I dug through the loot and found a few more buffs, six HP potions and forty thousand gold, enough to buy solid gear and restock our food supplies the next time we hit a shop.

  Speaking of food, I pulled out some jerky and passed it around, the smoky flavor kicking up our health and vitality with every bite.

  Also inside the chest was a gem, one meant for weapon slots. I zoomed in and read the description:

  Tsunami Cry — Uncommon — Level 33

  

  

  Grinning, I instantly slotted the gem into Havoc Maker, replacing the Meditation Stone.

  The moment I did, that icy calm I’d carried vanished, a bit of a bummer. But in its place, a cascade of liquid shimmered up the length of the blade.

  No matter how hard I tried to shake it off, the water clung in place, glinting like living glass.

  Nefa congratulated me on the find, while Sparks looped in circles around my head before landing on my shoulder, wings humming like applause.

  Cashius came barging into the room, wheezing and clutching his chest.

  “Your mother is in Linuux’s inner sanctum, Nefa. But if you want to save her, we must hurry, the ceremony is almost upon us.”

  He bent over, out of breath.

  “What ceremony?” I asked.

  “The one Bannon was supposed to begin in the morning.” He straightened, struggling to catch his breath. “The Antmarshalls found out who killed their commander and told Linuux everything. Now he plans to launch an assault on the Flish’ar. To do it, every hostage here must be killed so he can feed on their essence. As we speak, the Ants are marching those poor souls to their deaths.”

  Nefa’s face twisted in pain. “Are you sure it’s my mother, Cashius?”

  “No one else here has those purple eyes you two share,” he said grimly. “If only the Beetlelords hadn’t told the Antmarshalls that we killed their commander. They were about to bring her out of the room with Linuux when everything fell apart.”

  Nefa bent her legs, ready to take off with that otherworldly speed of hers, but I grabbed her arm.

  “Don’t run off and get yourself killed. We don’t even know where Linuux’s inner sanctum is,” I said. “We have to use our heads. Now tell me, do the Antmarshalls know anything about the deal we struck with the Beetles?”

  “No,” Cashius answered. “When the Beetlelord fella let it slip that we killed their Commander, they marched off and went to Linuux immediately.”

  That gave us something to work with.

  “When we run into the Beetlelords, we tell them it’s time,” I said. “Maybe they’ll fight the Antmarshalls long enough for us to take down Linuux and save everyone. Now let’s get going.”

  Disappointment spread across my face as I pulled up the map and saw it malfunctioning, which sucked, because without it, I couldn’t tell when an enemy would approach.

  Shaking my head, we left the room and followed Cashius through a maze of twisting corridors until we reached a heavy stone door.

  In front of it stood two Antmarshalls, their antennae stiff and twitching toward the sky. They were forming a line with prisoners Linuux had held hostage over the years.

  When Nefa spotted a familiar face among them, she called out, but the Antmarshalls had already recognized us.

  My arms flexed as I switched to my bow and dropped them both with clean shots. Gold and orbs burst from their bodies, rushing toward me in a familiar surge of light.

  Nefa called her friend again, but he didn’t respond. He just kept shuffling in line while more people filled in behind him, his eyes vacant and unfocused.

  A smile radiated as she grabbed his shoulder and spun him around. “Maltrese,” she said. “Can you hear me?”

  A blank stare was all she got in return, a thin line of drool slipping from his half-open mouth.

  After slipping around him, Nefa tested the door ahead, only to find it sealed shut.

  “I don’t know why my abilities aren’t snapping them out of the mind fog,” she said as she looked back at me. “It’s almost like being this close to that damned dragon isn’t helping at all.”

  The urge to make sure she was okay gripped me, and I stepped forward, offering a hug. But to my surprise, she brushed me off with a smug remark.

  “Not now, Lamont.”

  That hurt, but who could blame her? Nefa wasn’t like the regular girls I dated back home. No, she was a warrior. A protector of her people against monsters I couldn’t even fathom. A hug wasn’t what she needed right now. She needed strength.

  “Nefa, we’re gonna stop all this nonsense and kill that white lizard,” I said, grabbing her hand. “This I promise.”

  She smiled. “Thanks for saying that.”

  The hallway stretched endlessly, the captives moving in eerie rhythm, running to take their place in line, then standing still, eyes empty.

  Only one thing could be behind that door.

  The chamber where these poor souls would have their life drained, their essence fed to Linuux.

  Far down the corridor, more Antmarshalls appeared, spears in hand, their shrill voices echoing as they charged toward us, hurling curses that made the air seem to shake.

  Cashius moved out of the way.

  “After you take care of them, we must leave this infernal line and get to Linuux’s chambers,” he said urgently.

  “Where are the Beetlelords when you need them?” I muttered. “But forget it. Cashius is correct, Nefa. After these Antmarshalls die, we go to Linuux’s chambers and put an end to this mind-controlled shit once and forever.”

  A simple nod sent us on our way.