Chapter 172: A Divine Touch [2] (1/2)
”You well enough to be on your feet?”
Abron said, pulling Ju Feng's gaze away from the tunnel.
”I'm fine.”
Ju Feng said. He assessed his injuries. He'd taken a blow to the head from a yaoguai's club, and there was a faint ringing in his ears from all the noise in the cavern, but the pain from the yaomo's arcane mystical arts was gone, leaving only a slight tremor in his hands. Ju Feng clenched a fist, closed his eyes, and took several breaths to calm his racing heartbeat. The chamber reeked of blood.
”Godsdamn dismal way to fight.”
Abron said. He cast his gaze over the battlefield—looking for Orban, Ju Feng surmised. Father and son separated soon after the battle began. Though Abron hadn't mentioned him, Ju Feng could tell by the way the Yellowhorn patriarch clutched his axe that his thoughts were with his son.
”There are dozens of us here and in the cavern to the south, and others who've fallen back with the wounded down the side passages. Obrin could be with them.”
Ju Feng said assuredly.
”He won't fall back, not unless he's unconscious and they're dragging his body away from the fight.”
Abron said, glancing at Ju Feng.
”Here they come!”
The shout came from the front lines. Ju Feng looked up to see yaoguai and yaoling swarming across the cavern. In response, a chorus of battle cries deafened Ju Feng as the dwarves surged up from their stone trenches.
Abron stood, opened his arms, and cried out as he performed his mystical arts.
”Give me your strength, Soul Forger. Father of the deep places and sacred stone, give me aid!”
Massive stones the dwarves had piled up as protection rose suddenly in the air and hovered ominously over the battlefield. Abron took a step forward, and the stones moved with him.
The attacking slaves saw the floating stones and staggered, breaking their charge. Behind them, the yaomo hissed and screamed in Undercommon, sending out webs of black lightning to prod them. They charged ahead, not so frenzied now, instead moving hesitantly, and let the dwarves slam into their lines in a crush of steel.
With a grim smile, Abron took another step forward. He swayed on his feet. He's weak, and it's taking all his concentration to maintain the activated arts, Ju Feng realized. He stood and took up a protective stance ahead and slightly to the right of Abron.
”I'm here. Mind your arts. I won't let them touch you.”
As he watched, one of the oldest dwarves came and slid his silver ring onto the Abron's smallest finger. From its appearance, Ju Feng could guess what it was for. To enhance power and arts. Using it was a risk, but if Ju Feng was right about what Abron was about to do with his conjured arts, it would give the dwarves an advantage.