Fun Fact: Aside from arcani, pyrite and sulphur are almost equally as valuable due to their impressive ability to store enough arcani to power an apartment within a mere two cubic centimetres. However, wands made of these materials are relatively uncommon due to the high cost of manipulating such a magically sensitive material.
~ ~ ~
"Die, monster! Die-"
A Guardian choked, blood spilling from his mouth as a large claw gouged through his chest. His head was snapped off with a sickening crunch, and the rifle slipped from his lifeless fingers. The ground shook as the abomination lumbered towards the cowering herd of people.
It staggered to the side, crashing into the wall as something huge slammed into it from nowhere. The elephant bellowed once more before shrinking back into a man.
"Get out of here, my homies!" Nero shouted desperately. The people quickly obeyed, except for a girl who was still frozen in fear.
"Parthena, move!" He gestured wildly towards her, but a flash of movement caught his attention a moment too late. A giant arm caught his torso, flinging him away.
Brown fur sprouted all over the meta's body in mid-air, and a large bear landed in his place. It released a paralysing roar, and charged towards the abomination. The animal mauled its foe relentlessly, but it had little effect on the monster's tough hide. The bear got on all fours again.
With nothing more than a small woosh, a rhinoceros sprung forth and gored the abomination. It trumpeted with effort, trying to push its opponent back. The monster seized the three-tonne animal in response and tossed it at the girl cowering in the corner.
A sparrow slammed into her, chirping weakly as it dropped onto her palms. Parthena screamed as she narrowly avoided a claw flung in her direction. The bird leapt out of her hands and transformed into a gorilla this time. It picked her up and hopped away frantically-
The abomination sent both of them flying.
Nero tumbled onto the floor, dazed by the hit. He crawled forward as he desperately tried to bring himself back to his feet. His breaths got more desperate; the abomination was closing in on him.
A blue beam of light flew dangerously close to the man, grazing the monster's side. It turned around and shrieked at the shooter instead.
"I'm not afraid... I'm not afraid..." Parthena muttered to herself as she fumbled with the rifle and fired off another blast. It struck the ceiling this time, and the abomination began to charge towards her.
"I'm gonna be a hero like him... I will be!" the girl yelled aggressively, missing yet another shot at the approaching monster.
She gritted her teeth in determination, struggling to control the weapon's powerful recoil as she fired more blasts. "C'mon... Hit that thing, you stupid gun..."
An energy blast finally struck the abomination squarely in the chest, causing it to stumble. The girl yelped in delight and fired again at the writhing monster. A familiar figure caught her attention from the side, and her eyes brightened with hope. Her hero had arrived just in the nick of time too. Parthena giggled in giddy delight. This couldn't get any better-
She gasped, dropping the rifle onto the floor.
"NOOO!" The cry seemed distant as blood rushed towards her ears.
Parthena's body flopped limply as the abomination swung its tail, tossing the girl away carelessly. She wheezed, clutching the gaping hole in her chest where the monster had impaled her.
Through blurred vision, Parthena watched the boy leap towards the abomination, punching holes in its slimy body. His screams were primal, almost beastly sounding. But she knew he was no monster. He was her hero.
YOU ARE READING
The Harbinger's Children (Guardians Of The Arcane Chronicles Vol. 2)
FantasyThe Sequel to Guardians Of The Arcane Chronicles is here! After the abdication of its former president and the truth revealed about the origins of their world, Sirius City is thrown into even further chaos. But even now, sinister forces plot to chal...
