Book 3: Chapter 132 (1/2)
Grimmy slapped his paw down, crushing a red man wielding a wooden weapon. The man disappeared underneath the black scales, and a red puddle oozed out from between Grimmy’s claws. Silent screams rang through the air as a group of red people threw down their weapons and scattered, running through the multiple exits leading out of the room. Grimmy grinned and licked his lips before sweeping his gaze over his surroundings. He was in a circular room with a massive, rectangular, stone altar in the center. A chandelier hung from the ceiling, glowing with a white light. Five archways, each large enough to accommodate Grimmy’s size, led into and out of the room. The floor was made of marble, and red patterns that looked like entwining snakes decorated each tile.
Grimmy chuckled and walked up to the altar, leaving behind bloody pawprints with each step. He pushed aside the stone block with his tail, revealing a deep pit underneath. He peered inside and exhaled out a small flame to light up the interior. Within the pit, there was a crater with a layer of dried bloodstains covering it. “Interesting concept,” Grimmy said and nodded, the flames no longer leaving his mouth. He covered the pit with the altar and patted it a few times, wedging it firmly into place. “Not as good as the Fountain of Youth, but not too shabby.”
An explosion rang out, and Grimmy flinched.
“Stop running!” a voice roared out, shaking the chandelier in the room. Bits of rock and dust fell from the ceiling, sprinkling down like snow. Grimmy turned around, and a familiar face greeted him.
“Grimmy!” Lindyss shouted. Her wings flapped, and she twisted to the side, narrowly avoiding an icicle that was larger than her body. It flew through the air and struck Grimmy’s paw, piercing it. “Help!”
Grimmy blinked and ripped the icicle out of his paw, blood spurting out like a fountain. He brought his paw close to his face and blew fire over the bleeding hole, cauterizing the wound. His eyes narrowed, and he sucked in a deep breath. Lindyss eyes widened, and she forced her wings to their limits, flapping them as fast as a hummingbird’s. She zoomed through the passage and curved to the left. Not even a second later, a jet of black flames surged past her, blistering her skin and setting her clothes on fire from the heat alone. She smacked herself with an ice-covered palm, putting out the flames and crashed to the ground, tumbling a few times as her wings disappeared. Her chest heaved up and down as she panted for breath, sweat running down the sides of her face.
A loud yelp rang out of the archway that Grimmy breathed fire into. “Black flames!? I was being civilized and only used a simple icicle, but if that’s the way you want to play…!”
Lindyss tilted her head to the side, making eye contact with Erin. “Can you turn me into a mushroom?”
“No mana,” Erin said. “You should keep running.”
Sharda emerged from the archway, wiping at the black flames burning on her face. Her eyes widened and her paws froze mid-swipe. “Grimmoldesser!”
Grimmy blinked. “Oh. It’s you.”
Sharda wrinkled her snout. “What are you doing in my territory?”
“Just visiting,” Grimmy said with a grin. “Is that a problem?”
“Have you forgotten our deal?” Sharda asked, baring her teeth.
Grimmy shrugged. “When I came here, you weren’t around, so I figured I could make myself at home and let you know when you came back,” he said. He nodded. “By the way, I’m here to visit your territory.”
Sharda’s eyes narrowed. “Your servant harmed my granddaughter.” She pointed at Lindyss. “I demand her life.”
Grimmy sidled over, plopping himself between Sharda and Lindyss. “Nope. Sorry.”
Sharda grumbled as she took a step back and sat on her haunches. She flicked away a black fireball that fell onto her shoulder. “It was worth a shot,” she said. “But my granddaughter tells me you threw her into a portal filled with shadows. Care to explain before I decide on your punishment?”