Chapter 228: Devoured (2/2)
To the soldiers on the walls, it seemed like the creature had simply exploded. One minute, it was focused on consuming its most recent victim, much to their horror and despair, the next, it had been reduced to a fine red mist in a violent display of raw power.
Howling whirlwinds ripped through the surrounding landscape, tearing up the earth and venting their rage on the few remaining chunks of the monster. In less than a second, they reached the walls of the city, and it was all the observing soldiers could do to hold on as a veritable storm of agitated air washed over them.
Forced to lay flat, they covered their heads and waited as the windstorm passed them by. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the winds had abated to the point that they could raise their heads and witness the aftermath. What they found was astounding.
The plain before the wall had been painted crimson with the liquidized viscera of the monster. It stretched for nearly a half kilometer in a loose circle around a single point. There, floating a few meters above the ground, was the victorious Dragonknight, untouched by the gore that surrounded him. After a few moments, he sunk back down to the ground.
A stunned and awestruck silence reigned on the walls, with the defense forces too overwhelmed from the sudden reversal to do much more than stare with mouths hung open in disbelief. Among them, however, were a handful of individuals that were a bit more used to Mike's antics.
”Damn it. How many times is he going to make me go through this kind of thing?” Sera complained to Tal while doing her best to wipe away the tears that had started pouring down her face.
The elf only replied with a sympathetic pat on the shoulder, not fully ready to speak herself. When Mike had been caught, she'd feared that his luck had finally run out. For a moment, she really began to believe that he'd picked a fight he couldn't win. The realization left her cold, and not even the surge of relief she'd felt at his survival was quite enough to dispel her disquiet.
She was engaging in some introspection, hoping to figure out what was still bothering her, when a shout from one of the soldiers snapped her out of it.
”It's moving!”
They looked on in horror as the blood and viscera that now coated the plain began to quiver and move. It flowed back towards Mike, and only a quick application of Air Magic saved him from being subsumed in the crimson tide. He jump back a good five meters, and watched as the fluid coalesced into a sphere, before compressing itself down into a shape.
Flecks of dried blood began falling from the figure, eventually revealing a humanoid form, about three meters in height. From their vantage, they could tell that it resembled nothing so much as a muscular and hairless man, with one minor difference. The bulbous protrusion that served as its head was completely smooth and devoid of any discernible features.
Looking at the creature, a wave of dread spread through Tal and she realized that, not only was the monster not dead, but that it had turned into something even more deadly than its previous form. With his previous display of power, it wouldn't be surprising for Mike to be low on mana at this point. Now, he had to face the newly improved monster alone.
Or did he?
A plan began to take shape in her mind. One that could potentially turn things around, but she would need some help to accomplish it. Looking around, she spotted Brenden and Lily. The pair had just finished taking down one of the last flesh blobs, and were now watching the events on the plain.
Tal grabbed Sera and began pulling her in their direction.
”Wait! What are you doing?” The Oracle asked, confused.
”Need everyone.” She didn't have time to explain. ”Have to help.”
”But...No, I see what you mean. Let's go.” Sera replied, before taking the lead herself. Evidently, she'd guessed Tal's intention.
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[What is this, a JRPG? Why in the hell does this thing have multiple forms?] Mike complained to himself as he appraised the creature once more, not really expecting anything of use.
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Agony
Age: Varies
Race: Awakened Abomination
Class: Awakened Abomination
Title: The All-Consuming
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[Great. Of course it had to pull off something crazy like evolving into a new race at the last second. Hardly seems fair...although, I guess I'm not one to talk.]
He checked his mana reserves, and found that he was at roughly sixty percent, which was a lot better than he'd expected. Whatever force that decided to channel its energy through him had evidently put forth the majority of the effort required to create that destructive windstorm.
He focused his attention on the monster, feeling slightly unnerved by its complete lack of facial features. It was tall and hulking, looking a bit like a power lifter who had more than doubled in size in all directions. Its bulging muscles and throbbing veins aside, it had a strangely shabby appearances, as if it were a statue that the sculptor had not yet added details to.
As he was observing it, the roughly formed blob that served as its head turned towards him, and a wave of intense hostility bore down on him as it began to charge.