Chapter 32

Note: Thanks to Alex for beta reading this!

Ms. Trueno shouted at the raiju again as the beast burst out of the webbing and lunged for Leo. Despite the fact he was made of fire, the lightning wolf still wanted his blood. The teacher wouldn’t let her favorite student be hurt at all.

Her passionate cry punched the lightning wolf, throwing the beast down. Ms. Trueno hissed in delight. She was enjoying these new powers of hers. They were something amazing. Something that she reveled in possessing.

She wasn’t helpless here. She wouldn’t be victimized as a thunder sprite. She had power.

The lightning wolf fired a breath of lightning at Leo as the beast gained her feet.

Ms. Trueno gasped in alarm, hating herself for her moment of gloating. But Leo was ready.

“Hammer concusses, let the might of Lord Ishkur deafen!”

The air warped before the lightning wolf. A sonic hammer slammed into the beast and slammed it hard in the head. The wolf staggered from the blow while Leo sidestepped the lightning blast. It crashed into the wall behind him.

Ms. Trueno drew in another breath.

The air crackled from the lightning bolt’s passage, tingling over my skin.

Unfazed, I chanted, “From above it falls, let the ice of Lord Anshar crush!”

The stunned raiju didn’t have a chance to dodge Frozen Fall. A large chunk of ice slammed down on her head. She collapsed and vanished in a burst of golden light. I let out a relieved breath. Two arachnes dead.

Too high a price for one monster girl.

But she was down. The city was almost mine. The halflings almost saved.

Halia sprang at the burning treant, Blessed Blade buzzing and shining with light.

Lady Sherida’s blessing animated the paladin’s limbs. The Lady of Light had blessed Halia. Her black hair flowed behind her as she closed the distance. The treant saw her. Snarling in pain, thick roots clubbed at Halia.

Her sword hummed as it slashed through the first then the second. The severed ends tumbled past her head. She jumped over a tripping attack. Fire burned to the side, the three surviving salamanders breathing their hot fire.

Halia landed and lunged.

Her sword rammed through the chest of the monster girl. The treant’s branches rustled in the air above her head. Halia swiped to the right, cutting through flesh and out the side. An arm spilled to the ground.

The treant staggered back. The branches rustled and whipped at Halia.

Her sword was faster.

She cut off the treant’s head. The monster girl had a look of abject terror frozen on her face before she vanished in a burst of golden light. Halia panted, confused by that look. Terror. What did she have to be afraid of? She’ll be reborn. She’s not dead.

Halia glanced across the meeting hall. Lord Leo burned, but not from the enemy. The flames around him snuffed out. Three arachnes dropped from the ceiling. Ms. Trueno stood by him. He glanced across the room.

Their eyes met. He nodded.

She returned it. They had won.

“Is the city secure?” Leo asked, his voice ringing through all their minds.

“It is, big bro!” Garnet answered. “Kweh, heh, heh, the city is yours! The evacuation is well underway! We won, big bro! We won! Kweh, heh, heh, heh, heh!”

Leo shook his head while Halia couldn’t help but smile. The salamanders burst into laughter as they gathered around Halia. There were smiles on Engana’s, Malvada’s, and Horca’s faces. Their burning wings fluttered behind them.

“Where do you need help with the evacuation?” asked Lord Leo.

“North and south,” Garnet answered. “East and west are pretty well done.”