Ashes of Love and War - TodoMomo

||Chapter 16 ~ Part 1||

'Shit.'

There was a whistling sound by his ear. Shouto flung himself to the side as white magic darted past his head. It hit the dirt with a loud crack, splaying pebbles and dried twigs into the air.

He stumbled and caught his footing, then took off running again. He made it a few meters when something flickered to his right.

Shouto braced himself and twisted, bringing Endeavor up as a large stymphalian slammed into him.

It was like being hit by a giant boulder. There was a high-pitched ring as Endeavor struck against crystallized structures. Sharp pain ran up his arms. Shouto hissed. He dug his sandals into the dry dirt to keep himself from flying backwards and into the unconscious pirates as the creature loomed over him.

The monster was bigger than a regular stymphalian and more humanoid. Its face still appeared bird-like with a giant beak and slit black eyes, but its body was that of a man with dark wings sprouting from its back. And it had magic.

A Teppodama Hassaishu.

A crackling sounded from the stymphalian; dark magic coated its body as crystals broke through its human-like skin.

It stepped forward, pushing against Endeavor. Its bronze beak inched closer to Shouto's face. His arms shook as he strained against the stymphalian's greater weight.

From downwind, the smoke and ash from the brush fire blew against Shouto's back. Magic sparked in his veins, reacting to the heat and filling him with a tingling sensation. Shouto didn't pause as he called on it.

Red flames flared along Shouto's left arm. The Teppodama Hassaishu jumped back, narrowly avoiding being singed by the fire.

Shouto tsked and canceled his magic.

It wasn't enough. He still wasn't fully recovered. The stymphalian's attack the night before had opened a small hole in the barrier keeping his power at bay but it was too small to be useful in battle. If only he were stronger he'd have been healed by now and been able to defeat these monsters easily. Shouto tightened his hands around Endeavor's hilt.

Around him, the stymphalian formed a loose semicircle, seeming to reassess the situation. Whatever unease they felt, Shouto knew it wouldn't last long. As soon as the monsters realized he couldn't command his magic, they'd attack again.

He inhaled through his nose and adjusted his stance. The smoke and ash from the fire stung his lungs, but he ignored the heat as he tried to formulate a plan.

Without his magic and not knowing what these Minotaur-esque creatures' powers were, the best option was for Shouto to draw the Teppodama Hassaishu off and fight them one-on-one. It would take precious time from departing after Yaoyorozu, but it was the only way.

His heart pounded, but Shouto didn't have time to think. Time was up. One of the Teppodama Hassaishu broke from the group and barreled towards him. Its arms rotated faster and faster as if they were on an axle. Shouto flung himself to the right. There was an open section between the monsters, and he darted for it.

The Teppodama Hassaishu screeched and rushed after him. The sound of their wings beating frantically against the air closed in on him. At the last second, Shouto faked his step.

The stymphalian's rotating arms flung past him and slammed into a large boulder. Its fists connected with a sickening crunch, splattering rock into the air as if the stone were made of glass.

Shouto didn't pause to think about what would have happened if he had been hit. He stepped forward. The creature turned and swung its arms down. Shouto lunged.