"Huh? Where am I?", said Stephen's voice, his body was still fast asleep but he was having a deep dream.
Stephen's body was in a pitch black environment as it floated around weightlessly, there was no ground, no trees, no team and no lizard.
"What's happening? Guys?! Can you hear me?!", he yelled, but all he heard were his own echoes.
"Perfect! I'm in some weird spell shit. I can more than guarantee that stupid fat lizard put me here. Now how the fuck do I get out?", he muttered to himself in hopelessness.
He looked around but all he saw was darkness, his eyes showed him nothing as he begun to frown. He just floated there weightlessly in emptiness. Suddenly, however, the space around him started to fade into some place.
"The hell? What's this now?", he said as ground formed beneath his feet and structures erected in front of his eyes.
"Wait, I know this place, it's the king's palace in Sylvanora!", he yelled as he recognised the gates at the castle. "What's this supposed to mean now? Am I having a fucking vision? Am I seeing the town presently? I told Trent this trip was a bad idea!", he said as he walked towards the door. He pressed his hands against it, but his body just passed through.
"Oh, cool, I'm a spirit now.", he said as he looked at his hands. He walked into the kingdom as he saw King Omair perched on his royal seat with Dane the knight at his right.
"King-o? Hello?", he yelled, but no response came.
Suddenly the doors behind him opened, and in walked his friends.
"Emma! Trent! Gavin! Ann! Oh thank God you're all here!", he said as he ran towards them.
Their bodies passed right through him as they went to talk to the king.
"Huh? Oh wait, spirit stuff, nevermind.", he said as he stomped the floor.
"My king, we've come from a successful trip! We bring you the jewels of Pyrothos!", said Trent as he opened a massive crate, filled with the finest of all gemstones.
"We won?! Holy crap we won!", he yelled as he walked towards the chest. He tried gripping it but his hands would pass through.
"I fucking hate being a spirit!", he yelled as he again stomped the floor.
"Very good, my children! I must say, I had my doubts about you, but you've proven to be a great asset to this kingdom.", Omair said as he walked up to the four to congratulate them.
"Wait, if this is a vision, then where am I?", he asked himself as he couldn't find any sign of an imp.
"Where's that annoying imp you had?", the king asked.
"Oh, him? I think he drifted into the volcano when we were trying to fetch the gold. Don't worry, we actually had a more peaceful time without him on the way back.", said Emma with a strong voice.
"I can see that, he truly is just useless. He's always the first to be smacked down by a monster, and he's always the most arrogant somehow. I'm glad you got rid of him, it'd be a shame for him to have a share in all this gold.", the king said as he put the coins in his hand.
"A shame?! What?!", cried Stephen angrily.
"I'm glad he's gone, you know? It's so much better without him.", said Trent as he turned around to face Stephen.
"What?! How can you say that?!", he yelled back at Trent.
Trent came walking towards Stephen as he got on his knees to match his stature.
"You really think we need you? What do you bring to the group, eh? We're always out there trying to save your ass because you can't take care of yourself!", said Trent as he glared at him.
"You don't mean that! This isn't you, Trent! Whoever is casting this spell, stop now or I swear, I'll burn ya!", he said yelling into the walls of the kingdom.
"There is no spell, Stephen.", Emma said as she walked near him, "What you're seeing is a world that is happy without you. Honestly tell me, what good have you done?"
"What good?! Who saved your asses from the Aquillith?!", Stephen asked angrily.
"We did. I'm the one who caught it in the eye. Gavin is the one who halted it. Emma is the one who enchanted the arrows. Ann is the one who impaled it.", said Trent as he raised an eyebrow, "All you did was get yourself tossed around like the stupid fool you are.", he ended.
"What?! No! Emma, tell him he's being stupid! I was next to your bedside the whole time you were unconscious! You go ahead, tell him!", he yelled louder and louder.
"You really think I wouldn't have recovered if you weren't there? All you did was a meaningless gesture, you imp, my health wasn't affected by it at all!", she grinned at him.
"No... No, you don't mean that!", he cried at her.
"She's right, Stephen.", Ann said as she too now walked near him, "We always do everything. That lizard is not on our tails anymore because of us, we stopped it with every last drop of energy we had. What did you do? You just got yourself caught in the first few seconds. Now we have to waste our potions regenerating your ass while they could be saved for better things!", she ended yelling.
"Ann, you too?!", Stephen cried breaking down.
"Oh, and what was that about helping the Aquillith? You mean you helped when you decided to give up midway? You helped when you were the first to jump into gold but blamed the outcome on me? You helped when you pissed off the fish?", said Trent getting angrier.
"Stop it! All of you, stop! Please, stop!", Stephen cried again as he curled into a ball on the ground of the castle.
"Why should we? Because it isn't nice or because it isn't true?", asked Gavin's voice as he stood with the three.
"You're just a ridiculous imp, Stephen. Your existence doesn't matter to us, nor does it to anyone. You sleep around with any woman you can lay eyes on, you're the first one to abandon your friends for money, you're always the first one to step into danger.", said Ann repeatedly.
"No! No! No! I matter, ok?! I matter!", he yelled as he tried punching them, but his hands didn't make contact.
"You matter? Did you matter when you summoned that snake on accident that bit Gavin? Did you matter when you angered the king? Did you matter when you lost in seconds to the knight? When have you mattered, Stephen?", asked Ann as she pushed him.
The ground beneath him slipped, the kingdom transformed and the entire environment was blank again. Stephen stood in front of the team in a black space as tears left control of his eyes.
"You don't matter.", the four said collectively, "Not to us, not to anyone. You're just a worthless comic with nothing to do in life. Look at yourself! Listen to yourself! An annoying, self centred bastard who would sell his friends for money! You were the first one to jump into that crate! You influenced us all to come on this suicidal mission! It's your fault, Stephen, it's all your fault. All you can do is fail, all you can do is make those around you miserable. You don't matter!", the four said together, as their bodies too vanished.
Stephen just stayed afloat in the emptiness of blank space as his eyes dried up from all the bawling. Nothing he could think or say would make himself feel better about this. Somehow he'd convinced himself that everything the four said was true. Suddenly a white flash appeared, a strong blinding light that ran it's away at Stephen.
"The fuck is this now?!", he yelled as the light came closer and closer.
"Ahh!", he yelled as he was knocked awake in the real world.
"Stephen!", Ann cried as she hugged him, "I don't say this a lot, but I'm glad you're awake!"
"Stephen, are you okay?", said Emma placing his head on her chest.
"Yes, I'm fine.", he said drawing his forehead back.
"What's the matter, Steve? Normally you love physical contact.", said Ann in a deep voice.
"It's nothing. Just let me know what happened.", he responded. His voice was much less jolly than it used to be.
"Well, we were fleeing from that lizard thing, Trent got caught in the crossfire, now we're waiting his awakening.", said Emma as she placed her hand on Trent's forehead.
Stephen nodded as he sat down next to Gavin, looking at the ground.
"Stephen, are you sure you're okay?", asked a concerned Ann.
"Yes, I'm fine. Let's just look after Trent at the moment, thats what's required.", he said as he massaged Trent's forehead.
"Ahh!", Trent yelled as he too woke up. "The fuck was that?!" he yelled.
"Trent! Oh my god, bestie!", Ann squealed hugging him, "You're okay!"
"I won't be if you keep squeezing, off me!", he said shaking her.
"Trent, we thought we'd lost you two.", Emma said gripping his hand.
"Never.", he said as he kissed her cheek.
Everyone collected around a fire as they waited the two to heal back to their full health.
"So you guys burnt the thing? That's sick.", said Trent as he sipped on some hot medicine Emma had whipped up.
"Well, Emma did most of the work.", said Ann holding Emma's arm,
"Well, if it weren't for you we never would've known that thing's weakness.", said Emma kissing her cheek.
"And Gavin carried you two the whole time.", said Ann again.
"Yes, yes, everybody helped but me!", said Stephen under his breath.
"Dude?! What's the deal with you today?", Ann asked punching his shoulder, she was confused because Stephen was down all of a sudden.
"It's nothing, ok? Shouldn't we be working on a plan to take that thing down instead of discussing past shit?", he said getting up.
"Alright, enough of this, what's your deal?!", Emma cried at him.
"Emms, he's got a point. We do need a plan to take that thing down.", Trent said as he weakly stood up.
"Fine, let's use that book to take that bitch out first. This discussion isn't over just yet, though, Stephen.", Emma followed Trent as she glared at Stephen.
The five again collected near the fire as they gazed at the book trying to find a creature that matched the lizard.
"Lushwshisper, it's name is.", said Trent as he spotted it. "My book reads that it was built by the forefathers to protect the people of Floriana. Apparently it can perfectly camouflage itself into the vibrant trees of Floriana, can regenerate it's body using the leaves and can attract prey using its nectar scent. It does infact say here that it cannot do these things outside Floriana, so Ann was infact right.", he said as he closed the book.
"I often am!", Ann said brushing her shoulders.
"The way I see it, this thing has no real weakness. We can't go inside Floriana and expect to win, it'll eat us in minutes. Much like the Aquillith, we need to get that cunt out it's hiding hole. Once it's outside Floriana, Stephen will torch it.", said Trent boldly.
"You sure you wouldn't rather have Emma use her fire?", Stephen said looking at the ground.
"No, your fire is more direct, her's is too broad. Yours is perfect for a precise shot, Emma's might set the whole garden ablaze.", Trent said as he rotated the barrel on his pistol.
"Yeah, well I'll find a way to fuck it up. Let Emma do it.", he said as he faced the other way.
"Alright, that's it! Talk now! The fuck is going on with you?!", Emma yelled spinning him around by his shoulder.
"I've told you before, it's nothing. Its just that I fucked up with the Aquillith pretty good, I might do the same here.", Stephen said as he withdrew his shoulder from Emma's hand.
"Stephen, I get that you're doubting yourself, but you have to understand that Emma can't do this. We risk a ton of collateral if she does it, please help us out.", Trent said as he kneeled.
"Fine. Don't be surprised if the plan flops.", he said as he walked away.
"Something is up with him.", Ann said as she held Trent's hand.
"Hey, Trent, does the book say anything about the lizard's mouth?", asked Emma opening his book.
"Well, let's see." he said as he speed read the page, "Why yes. It does say here that it's mouth produces a mist that can have hallucinogenic effects, different to different species. That's odd, I didn't feel a thing.", said Trent confused.
"Maybe humans don't feel much? Maybe imps experience something that brings them down from their jolly attitude? Perhaps a nightmare?", said Emma as she looked Trent in the eye.
"Possibly. You can ask the imp if you want, but you know he's not going to say anything. We'll look into this later, Emms, right now we need to stay focused on the lizard.", he said as he sat on a forest log that Gavin had uprooted to make a bench. "We leave for Floriana again, tomorrow. Tonight we discuss our plan then kill that bitch.", he ended.
"Amen to that.", Ann said as they all collected to discuss methods of mythic slaying.
They slept a good enough sleep that night, except for Stephen, he was still shook from all the horrible things he'd seen. Emma could sense the sorrow radiating from him, but whenever she'd ask him he'd tell her that all was fine. Morning cracked as the five got up and were on their feet back to Floriana.
"Everybody remember the plan?", asked Emma as she walked ahead.
"Yes.", everyone responded except for Stephen.
They walked till the trees begun to grow more green, they knew they were getting close to the lizard.
"Hey, Trent," said Stephen approaching Trent, "did you see something when you were asleep?"
"No, I literally just felt nothing. It's almost as if I missed a few hours then just woke up, with a little chest pain ofcourse.", he responded. "Why do you ask? Did you?", he then asked.
"No, I read about it in the book. Just asking if you did.", Stephen said.
"Stephen, I'm not an idiot. I know you're going through something, and I also understand why you don't want to share it.", Trent said putting his hand on Stephen's shoulder.
"You do?", Stephen asked confused.
"Yes, when I was a child-", Trent was about to console Stephen but just then they heard a rustling of leaves.
"Alright! Everybody, it's here! On your best game, full energy!", Emma said as her eyes purpled.
Ann pulled out her bow, Gavin pulled out his Crush, Trent reloaded his pistol and Stephen chanted his favourite spells. The same rustling was again heard, this time closer.
"Remember, we can't see it as long as it's hidden. Wait for it to strike, then kick it's ass.", said Emma pointing her hands into empty air.
Another rustling was heard, this time however, it was accompanied by the lizard smashing into Gavin.
"Ahh!", he screamed as the lizard crushed his body. It opened its filthy mouth to let out the scent.
"Trent, your plan, now!", said Emma as Trent stepped forward.
He reached his right hand into his bag and pulled out another long nosed pistol, this one however, had a flint at the end. Instead of putting a pellet inside the barrel as he always does, he put in plain gunpowder with a special pouch filled with stones.
"Hey, ugly!", he yelled attracting the thing's attention.
"Kiss this!" he said as he pulled the trigger. The gunpowder created a small explosion that was amplified several folds by the flint, sending out a stream of fire at the Lushwshisper. The creature squealed as it let go of Gavin, trying to hide it's body from the flames. Trent kept it locked at the nose of the pistol as he pulled the trigger mercilessly, releasing a strong flurry of blaze.
"Emma, do your thing!", cried Ann as she pulled out an arrow and shot it at the Lushwshisper. Emma enchanted the arrow midair as it poked through the Lushwshisper, it let out a squeal.
"Gavin! Now, take this!", Trent yelled as he threw the fire pistol at Gavin.
Gavin caught the pistol and pulled out his Crush, he put some oil on it as he lit his sledge on fire.
"Oi, cunt!", Gavin yelled as he leaped at great speeds, smashing the Lushwshisper with his firey mace, setting it up in flames.
Ann then sent out a flurry of enchanted arrows with Emma's help as they one by one kept impaling it's soft spots, while Gavin mercilessly smashed the thing's face with his Crush, setting it ablaze. Stephen, however, just stood there as he replayed what he had heard in his dreams. Everything he feared was coming to life, everybody was contributing but him.
"Hey, dumbass! Do your thing, quick!", yelled Emma.
"It doesn't matter, Emma, you guys have control of the situation, just as you always do.", Stephen said kicking a rock.
"Stephen, don't be stupid! That thing will eventually recognise a pattern and will lash out at us! It's very aggressive, we need to draw it out of the forest as fast as we can!", she yelled midway her spells.
"Do you not hear me? You don't need me to do that. You guys can do everything I can and more. Just take that thing down so we can leave for the mountains.", he said sitting down.
Emma had given up consoling him, she focused again on enchanting Ann's arrows.
"Trent, that imp isn't doing anything! Got any backup plans?", asked Emma angrily.
"As a matter of fact, yes. Stop harming it precisely in five minutes, we let it rage as it chases us, then we draw it out the forest.", he said.
The team continued setting it on fire, it regenerated, then caught fire again. This went on for a few minutes until Trent signalled them to stop. The Lushwshisper hit the floor with a thud as it tried putting out the flames.
"Towards the North! Go!", he yelled as they all ran afoot.
The lizard eventually got up and followed, chasing them at great speeds for it was really pissed off. It hid itself in the background so it couldn't be seen as it drifted alongside the five.
"When it comes out the gardens, even for a second, torch it! Stephen, if you're still going to be a jerk, Gavin, smash it!", Trent yelled panting.
No response came from Stephen's end. The exit to the forest was starting to appear as a glowing light towards the North. The exit was marked by two very tall trees arched to form a door, that would directly guide them to the foothills of The Narrow Arc, a simple gateway to the mountains of Pyrothos.
"Once we're out, we fire!", yelled Emma as the exit came closer and closer.
They nearly walked at the entrance of the exit, but then, the rustling was heard again. The Lushwshisper dropped from up above with a thud as it landed on the doorway to the exit. It snarled an angry sound at the five as scent filled the room.
"Fuck! It can still regenerate here. Someone needs to draw it's attention so we can make it through." yelled Trent as he shot a few pellets.
Gavin jumped at it with his firey sledge, but the Lushwshisper isn't one to be fooled twice. It once again disguised itself into the backgrounds of Floriana, it's greatest strength. Gavin smashed the forest floor, but saw no sign of the creature. A vine then leapt out from the shadows as it caught Gavin by the neck, strangling him.
"Gavin!", yelled Emma as she threw a few purple spikes at the vine, but they bounced off.
The vine took Gavin as it looped a tree, hanging him from it! He struggled to breath as the vine got tighter and tighter. Ann shot an arrow that Emma enchanted, it hurt the Lushwshisper's vine but it refused to let go. It screeched and cried but didn't let go of Gavin. Eventually the Troll passed out from lack of air.
"Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!", cried Trent, "Our main man is down! Emma!!", he yelled again.
"You want my magic again?! Trent, I don't know if I can!", she yelled as she tried shooting more purple spikes.
"If you don't, we're all lizard fodder!", he yelled as he tried torching it, but it just refused to move until Gavin was dead.
"Fine.", she said as she sighed under her breath. "Mother, please watch over me.", she sighed again as she muttered a spell. Her hair begun flying into the air and her eyes changed from purple to red, her hands caught flames as the temperature of the forest rose.
"Fires Of Pyrothos, obey my command!", she yelled as she pointed her hands in the direction of the Lushwshisper.
A strong stream of pure fire rushed itself into the lizard's face as it smashed against it's leafy eyes, burning them bad. The lizard finally let go. This time, however, it didn't cry in agony, rather it slowly pushed against the flames as it tried to get near Emma.
"Stay back!", she yelled as her flames angered. The flames grew brighter, hotter and wider.
"Emma! Dial it down!", yelled Ann, the temperature was becoming unbearable.
"nnn... Can't!", she yelled trying to withdraw the flames, but they were just too much for her to handle. She feared this would happen, a spell she hadn't muttered for years wouldn't be so easy to recall, she tried to contain the flames but their glow was too much.
"Everyone, take shelter!", Trent cried as he hid behind a tree. Stephen hid behind another tree opposite to Trent, while Gavin and Ann tried making a run for the bushes. Just then, however, the flames grew too strong. The fire in Emma's hand broke free as it spread itself across all directions creating a burst of flames. The flames caught Gavin and Ann before they jumped in the bushes, knocking them out. The flames let out a bright circle as they spread themselves, setting ablaze the whole forest. The Lushwshisper burnt, it regenerated, then burnt again, while the vegetation around it grew more damaged. Strong squeals were heard from its terrible mouth. Emma collapsed to the floor after the flames had pulled all life from her body.
"Fuck! Stephen, can you hear me?", Trent yelled from the right of the Lushwshisper, hidden behind a tree which had kept him from catching up in flames.
"Yes. I hid behind a tree too. Just as I always do.", Stephen said as he eyed the whole destruction.
"Alright, I'd love to hear your stupid pity story, but right now I need you.", he said as he pulled out his flame pistol.
"No, you don't. No-one does. You've got your flame thing, that's good enough.", he said in despair.
"Stephen, I know I'm not the most comforting, but that shit is going to wake up in three to four minutes at best. Either tell me what's going on, or watch us all travel through the digestive system of a mythic.", he yelled getting annoyed.
Stephen sighed and slowed down his breath, he recalled the events as tears left his eyes.
"The dream showed me my place, Trent. It showed me that this team is far better with my absence. I'm the one who got caught by the Lushwshisper, I'm the one who got knocked out fighting the Aquillith, I'm the one who angered the fishes, and I'm the one who produced the snake that bit Gavin.", he said gathering courage.
"Your worst fear is being useless?", Trent asked.
"Yes. As far as my thoughts go, its my reality.", he answered.
"Stephen, I'm a human amongst you mages. I can't chant spells, I can't lift boulders, I can't summon fire, I can't even use a fucking bow properly! Don't you think I feel the same?", he yelled.
"Do you?", Stephen asked humbly.
"Every second, you idiot. Don't you think I feel useless when Gavin runs up a tree with his bare hands? When Emma makes medicine my mind can't explain? When Ann shoots a creature from miles behind? When you summon a firestorm by a mere word?!", he yelled.
"Wait, me?", Stephen said as he came out from the trees. "You're actually jealous of me?!"
"Never thought I'd say this, but yes! You can say any word backwards and make it a reality! That's a great power to have, you jackass. This team needs you, you're our fallback plan, you're our main frontliner. Yes, you're incredibly annoying, but without you Gavin couldn't take collateral, Emma couldn't chant elementals, Ann couldn't stay out of her head, and I would never have left Sylvanora to spark back my parent's lost glory.", he said coming out of the trees himself. "Everyone feels useless, Stephen. How do you think Emma will feel when we tell her she fried Gavin and Ann in the collateral? How do you think Gavin will feel when we tell him he was choked by a fucking leaf reptile?"
"Trent, but you guys have done everything by yourselves so far, all I've done is be a burden.", he said repeatedly.
"You saved us all when the Aquillith leapt out of water, even you know your string is strong than Emma's, without you the Aquillith would never have come out of the waters, and without you we'd never be breathing. If you want to cut down on the stupidity and be more serious, go for it, but do you really want to stop helping your friends because imaginary crooks showed you you're not good enough? Do you prioritise a fucking spell over your own best friend? If that's the case, then fine, go. I'll take care of this myself.", he said as he turned to the lizard, it had started getting up on it's feet.
"Wow, that is quite the guilt trip.", Stephen said chuckling.
"Stephen, I need you, we need you. So I'll say it in human, in elvish, in impish, in any language you want me to, but I need you. So please do something right now, or we won't be able to win this.", he said as he looked Stephen in the eye.
Stephen just stood there, motionless, he had begun processing the two events together as his imp brain tried telling him what to do. Just then a strong vine again leapt into the forest air as it smacked both of them on their feet.
"It's weak, but it's up again!" Trent said grunting. "It's you and me, Stev-o! Either we take it down, or die trying!", he yelled as he shot some pellets.
The vine then wrapped itself around Trent's legs as it pulled him towards the lizard. The lizard caught Trent as it pushed him to the ground with its legs, snarling at it.
"Off me!", he yelled shooting his flames, but the lizard stayed intact. It opened it's mouth the let out the same mist.
"Stephen, make up your mind! Now or never! Please!", he yelled as he covered his nose.
"I... I... matter. I matter! I fucking matter you stupid lizard-punk! I matter!", he yelled as he looked at the lizard, more serious than he was ever going to be. He quickly ran afoot towards the thing with his small imp legs, propelling himself at great speeds as he launched himself on it's back, gripping it by the head.
"You want to let out your mist? First taste this! Emalf!" he yelled as a strong flame shot itself at the lizard's head. It squealed as it shook Stephen off, who landed with a thud.
"Emalf!" he yelled again as a fire sent the lizard flying across the forest.
He picked up Trent with his imp hands. "You look awful.", he said giggling.
"Shut up.", Trent replied hugging him.
The war wasn't over though, the Lushwshisper stood up again as it dusted off the flames and let out the vine again.
"Stephen, you're really good at messing things up. How about we stick to that theme?", Trent said as he looked at Stephen.
"You got it. Send it!", he yelled.
Trent picked him up as he tossed him towards the vine. The vine wrapped around Stephen's torso as it pulled him towards it's mouth.
"Want to taste me? Taste this! Ekips!" he yelled as yellow spikes shot themselves at the lizard's eye. It squealed a little as it dropped Stephen on the floor. "Trent!", he yelled.
Trent then ran towards the lizard with great speeds. The lizard saw him coming as it too, made it's way near him, letting go of Stephen. Trent slid under the lizard's belly as he torched the whole underside as he pulled the trigger mid-slide. Coming out of the other end of the lizard, he gripped onto it's tail, torching it even more. The lizard screamed a horrible sound as it whacked it's tail on the floor, smacking Trent against the forest wall.
"nnn... Stephen...", Trent said, dazed.
"You dare hurt my friends?!", Stephen yelled running towards it.
Once again the vine was sent out, Stephen grabbed onto it as it pulled him towards the lizard's mouth. As the mouth grew closer, Stephen chanted a spell that let loose the vine and jumped onto the lizard face midair. He latched onto it's horrible mouth as he began torching it's eyes. The lizard squealed as it sent out the same mist again.
"No more! Epor Lacitsym!" he yelled as a yellow misty rope surrounded the lizard's mouth, snapping it shut. Stephen got on the lizard's back, catching it by the scales while it tried shaking him off. He crawled his way to the lizard's back as he caught the tail.
"Now take home this! Rewop lluf!" he yelled as a yellow mist sent the lizard flying towards the gates of the forest. Stephen fell off the lizard as he landed beside Trent.
"Oi! Oi! Wake up!", he said shaking Trent, but he was unconscious. He then saw Trent's prototype poking out his bag. Picking it up he said, "This thing is sweet. Let's check it out!" as he put a few pellets in the barrel.
The Lushwshisper weakly got up as Stephen shot multiple pellets at its way, knocking it closer to the exit.
"Take this, punk!", he yelled repeatedly as a flurry of pellets smashed into the lizard's belly, pushing it further aback. The lizard squealed and struggled but the push was much too great. Many pellets were shot as the lizard went more and more behind, but eventually the barrel gave out from all the force and the prototype snapped.
"Oops. Trent's going to kill me for this.", he said as he pushed the prototype back in the bag.
The lizard was just at the entrance of the exit as it weakly stood up. No more tricks were up Stephen's sleeve, all he had to himself were his own instincts and a heavy lizard infront of him.
"Let's take this on for real now! Me and you, bitch!", he yelled as he ran towards it.
The lizard again shot it's vine, this time it was much too weak, Stephen elegantly slid under it(a trick he'd learnt from Dane the knight) as he placed himself underneath the lizard's belly.
"Emalf!" he said again as a fire geyser erupted from underneath the lizard, pushing it out the gates of the forest, as it landed with a thud on a rocky platform that marked the entrance to the Arc.
"You've got no more tricks here, cunt.", said Stephen as he stepped out the forest gate himself.
The lizard snarled at him again as it rammed it's body head first in his direction.
"Uh-oh! Emalf!", he yelled again, a strong blaze left his fingertips pushing the lizard back, however the lizard pushed against the flames to it's best as it begun melting. Eventually, though, it managed to power through the blast as it smashed Stephen with its strong head sending him flying. He smashed into one of the trees that made the gate and landed on the ground, drowsy. Half the lizard's body was torched, all that was left were it's two front legs, half a face and a pile of leaves for a torso. It dragged it's body along a path as leaves tore off, trying to get close enough to let out it's mist. Stephen just lay there, dazed, gripping his shoulder as he tried recollecting his strength. The lizard dragged itself even more and was almost upon Stephen now, as it opened it's mouth letting out a strong mist that led itself to Stephen. The imp just stared, for he was much too weary, as a stream of pink came it's way towards himself. The mist came closer and closer and was about to go inside his mouth, but just then it stopped, a strong gust of wind pulled it away and evaporated it. The Lushwshisper looked confused and it scanned it's whereabouts, but nothing was seen. Soon a bright blue beam came dazzling across the winds of The Narrow Arc as it caught the Lushwshisper in the face, smashing it to the ground. The Lushwshisper took a few deep breaths while it tried to stay alive, but eventually it's body gave out and it burst open into leaves. Stephen's eyes closed shut as he fell unconscious, he didn't even have the energy to wonder where the beam came from.
"Sleep, my child, you've earned it.", came a voice of a person infront of him.
The team were pulled out from the forest by the person and were laid on the floor of the Narrow Arc.
