Chapter 40

Note: Thanks to Alex for beta reading this!

Lana Fulmine fired her lightning at Sulanga Stormfury. The enemy dungeon builder soared up at her, using Wind magic to fly. His body burned with the Flamebody spell. He’ll have Static Aura, too.

She already built her next attack when he vanished in a burst of electricity.

Her lightning blast swept through where he had been. Lana Fulmine gasped. Shock rippled through her. He had just vanished. She didn’t understand how he could do that. Her head whipped around, searching the skies before her.

“A gout of flame,” chanted behind her, “let the breath of Lord Gibil burn!”

She barely had a chance to whirl around to see Sulanga floating behind her before the fire bursting from him engulfed her body. She screamed in agony as she blazed like a torch. Her skin cracked and peeled. Everything was orange.

Then the pain vanished.

“Shhh,” the motherly voice of Souleen hushed, hugging Lana Fulmine’s soul as she floated in the Void.

“How did he get behind me?” Lana wailed as sleep fell on her. The lullaby of rest that the Soul of the Void Crystal hummed dragged down Lana into waiting sleep.

Would she wake up this time?

Mrs. Zoe Baldwin stood ready at the gate. The howls of the werewolves were so loud. They were right outside, ready to break through the gates and rampage through the city. Her toes flexed, ready to grow into roots and seize the enemy.

Flames roared above. Lana Fulmine screamed.

Everyone looked up to see Sulanga Stormfury flying in the air above them, his flesh made of fire. He stared down at the monster girls. A dagger of ice shot up at him, thrown by Crystal. He dove for the ground, the attack flying over him.

He hurtled for them.

Mrs. Baldwin prepared her roots as he swooped out of his dive and landed with grace before her. His flaming gaze locked on the gates. The dryad sent her roots growing. She would not let this bastard anywhere near her son.

They surged at him and struck an aura of static protection. Sparks crackled. Her roots sizzled. Pain shot through them. She stumbled back and hit the window. The other monster girls turned to attack him as he thrust out his hand at her.

“Wind blows, let the might of Lord Anu slash!” he roared.

The wind slashed at her, the air compressed to white. The blade struck Mrs. Baldwin across the torso and slammed into the building behind her. She gasped as she fell to the ground in two pieces, the cut so clean, there wasn’t even pain.

The world vanished from Mrs. Baldwin.

“NOOOOO!” Crystal shouted and threw another dagger as her mother’s body split into two and fell to the ground.

The dagger hit the flaming body and melted.

Fire roared from the salamanders. Engana, Malvada, and Horca bathed the dungeon builder in their flames. He vanished beneath their fury while the basilisks rushed up to close the distance to petrify him. But his voice rose from the inferno, crying out with such power.

“Howl and rage, let the winds of Lord Anu gust!”

From the fire, a mighty wind slammed forward and struck the basilisks. They were both flung back. Mastab struck Morana, blowing her over before she could shriek. She landed on her face, her mist spilling over her.