The Music Speaks

The creature raises one of its claws, ready to bring it down on Camille who has yet to recover from the shock.

“Camille!!!”

‘Damn it! I don’t have the time to figure this out, I need to act!!’

I cannot waste another second. My aegis, already formed and hovering nearby, shoots toward Camille, as fast as I can possibly make it travel. In a split second, it inserts itself between her and the beast. I had hoped that would be enough to stop its killing blow, but it doesn’t seem like that’ll be the case. Cracks begin to form as soon as my aegis comes into contact with the creature's natural weapons.

‘Sh*t!! I need to get her out of there!’

I can’t cross this distance nearly as fast as my aegis. Nonetheless, I send pureflow to my legs and push off the ground with all my might. Sweat begins to form on my forehead as I notice the cracks on my shield multiplying and threatening to invade all of its surface. With every splinter that the clashes create, my heart races faster and I grit my teeth harder.

“Damn it!! Someone get her out of there!! Wake up you all!!” My voice rips through the battlefield.

I’m not sure if my shout knocked some sense into the others, but all I can do is keep running and hope that, if no one else reacts, I make it in time. The only thing that stands between the red-haired girl and certain death is my aegis, and that won’t be the case for much longer. Camille is still reeling from the mental shock of losing her arm.

Even from where I am, I can see the terror etched across her face, and I can hear the pain in her every cry. A pool of blood spreads beneath her, pouring from the gaping wound on her chest and the place where her arm used to be. How she’s still conscious - I have no idea.

‘Sh*t sh*t sh*t, just a bit more, I’m almost there…!!’

My legs begin to burn as I force more pureflow into them.

*crack*

Inevitably, the creature’s claw pierces through my aegis. Its surface breaks apart with a shuddering sound. Now unhindered, the bone spear closes in on Camille with every moment. In no more than an instant, she’s going to die.

“NOOO!!”

Suddenly, however, Camille, barely conscious, firmly grasps the bloody stump where her arm used to be and her eyes lock onto the beast with burning determination. “I-I’m not done yet damn it!!”

From the ground surrounding her, a bright red, beautiful flower sprouts. From it, yellowish spores are released in a strong burst toward the creature. The moment happens at such speed that I barely have time to process it. Inevitably, the beast inhales the strange spores, and for a moment, it finally seems to slow down. Its sword-like protrusion which had been digging through my shield comes to a halt, and it enters a momentary daze.

*boom*

The air splits beside me and a strong gust of wind throws me off balance. Tearing through the sound barrier, Zora appears next to Camille. The purple haired girl does not waste a single moment. As soon as she arrives, she lifts the petite woman and cradles her in her arms.

“I don’t understand what’s happenin’ but I got ya red-hair!”

With another sonic boom, she returns to her spot, still holding onto Camille. Fortunately, it seems the creature is still in a daze. I take this chance to retreat now that Camille is safe.

“What the hell’s goin’ on!!” Zora shouts, her eyes full of confusion.

Before I can answer, Camille coughs a mouthful of blood. Her complexion is dangerously pale and the light in her eyes seems to be slowly dissipating. All she can manage are short, ragged gasps and a gaze that seems to fight off the creeping darkness.

“I-I don’t know, but we can’t worry about that right now!” I blurt out. “Camille needs help, immediately!!”

From the skies a voice resonates, seething with rage. “WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!!” Ugo shouts, before exploding into flames and plunging downward, heading straight for the attacker.

“Ugo, no! Come back here!!” I shout, but he doesn’t listen.

The creature shakes its head, regaining its lucidity. It snarls with annoyance as it dispels the effects of the spores. In anger, it cuts apart the plant that had been producing them in a dozen pieces, even stomping on the fallen petals, causing cracks to form onto the surface of the frozen lake. Then, it turns its crazed eyes toward the rapidly approaching Ugo, a disgusting grin forming on its jaws.

“HOW DARE YOU HURT THEM! I’LL HAVE YOUR HEAD FOR THIS!”

Ugo raises his sharpsong in the air, ready to bring it down with terrible might. I don’t know if it’s because it senses danger from the flames, but in a strangely intelligent fashion, the creature evades the head-on charge, stepping slightly to the side. Ugo’s sharpsong slices through nothing but air, flying past the creature’s body.

Before he can recover, the creature’s characteristic bone plating grows on its right leg, and it kicks Ugo’s side with terrifying might. A deafening crack resonates, and he is sent flying at a frightening speed. His body smashes into a nearby tree, and he slumps into unconsciousness.

“We…ak…” The creature’s voice rings mocking as it turns its predatory gaze toward the rest of us.

Perhaps if this was me from the past, I might have lost it right there and then. But now, I’m different, much different. Instead of letting fear cloud my judgment, I have the tools to master it, to harness it. I’m afraid, yes, but I see the situation clearly. I’m composed.

“Sophia, stop its movements with your ice the best you can, now!!” I bark, my voice sharp. “ Zora, get both Ray and Camille out of harm’s way and get Alex…or maybe even Feyrin to attend to them!” I tell them before the creature resumes its assault.

“Roger that!” Zora shouts.

She places both Ray and Camille near the edge of the lake, hidden from view, and then darts off to find Alex.

I do not hear anything from Sophia, though, despite her standing right next to me. Confused, I turn to her, and I immediately understand the problem. She’s frozen, but not by ice, but rather by fear.

“Sophia!!” I shout.

She doesn't reply.

‘I don’t have time for this!’

I grit my teeth and slap her across the face. Her head jerks sideways and her eyes blink, unfocused. She slowly brings her hand up to her now reddened cheek and her attention finally shifts to me.

“Wake up damn it!!” I firmly grip both of her shoulders and stare deep into her eyes. “We need you, so get a hold of yourself!!”

Finally, a sense of recognition lights up in her eyes. “What…?Yeah… yes!! I’m here!I” Her voice quivers at first, but soon becomes firm and resolute. “l’ll stop this thing if it’s the last thing I do!!” She assures me.

I let her go, and watch as she gathers her focus. Immediately, Ice pillars begin to take form. Bending and exploding from the ground at all angles, they surround the creature and trap it into a makeshift prison. Once it seems immobilized, I finally speak to our hidden allies.

“Feyrin, shoot this thing, now!”

As if he was only waiting for my signal, a deep red arrow whistles past me, heading straight for the beast. Regrettably though, showcasing its unbelievable physical prowess, the beast first frees itself from the ice as if breaking through brittle glass, and catches the arrow out of the air with a single hand.

‘That’s not all it can do…!’

Blood tentacles erupt from the arrow and wrap themselves around the beast. They slither across its arms, to then ensnare themselves around its massive body, immobilizing it once more.

“Get out of the way!!!” A voice booms from behind me.

Talyndra, riding her rhino, which seems to have recovered from this morning’s battle, charges at the creature, full throttle. From where I stand, it appears she intends to crash into it at full speed, using the sheer size and weight of her tamed [echoed] to cause damage. Before the impact can happen, she jumps off, landing near Sophia and I. The rhino collides with the creature, sending tremors through the ground and causing a cloud of dust to be raised, obscuring the aftermath.

In the next moment, three more figures appear on our side of the battlefield. Feyrin, Sylvia, and Ivana have all joined the fight.