Number 100 Red Nova Sorcerer

Chapter 15: Nevermelting Fire Eggs

The pit of soft ground stretches on for an eternity or more. I can tell Nova is getting tired from this; his eyes show the fatigue he feels. We have been flying forward for the entire day and half the night. We cannot afford to stop because the ground cannot support our weight.

I look over to my brother. "Nova, I can take over if you want," I hiss.

My brother shakes his head. "I have energy left; I will get us across this."

I frown. "Are you sure?"

He nods.

A sigh escapes my lips. "Very well, then."

Crimson joins into the conversation. "When we land on the other side or when you get too tired, one of us can take over while you rest."

I know he cannot last until the end, though. I can sense his energy levels, and they are dangerously low. He could last a few more hours before he falls, and when that time comes, I will take over. My entire being is made of energy and some kind of gooey substance, from which I can make anything. I inherited that from Mother. I can just make something that will get us across. The only reason I haven't done that is because Nova refuses my help.

Those last hours pass. To my surprise, we reach the ground before my brother collapses from exhaustion. Crimson gives us the signal to rest; I help my brother lean against a rock pillar that somehow made itself on there. Actually, these pillars are all over, which must mean something important, right? My brother is about to fall asleep on my shoulder when a sudden shaking wakes him up. My head snaps up and whips around to face the source of the noise.

Crimson, who has been pacing around nonstop for danger, scans the area in a quick sweep. He beckons us to stand, and stand we do. Nova leans on me for support, his dragon hanging limp in his hands.

We follow Crimson to a cave for shelter, but the only problem is that the cave is much too far. The thing that shook the ground could get us before we even make it half the distance to reach the cave! The flame ninja seems to realize this because he starts running. I quickly put Nova on my back and follow just as quickly. I heard a Number 12 could be hard to catch up with, so the thing about him being slower ever since the incident may just be very true. Father never really talked about it much.

Our pace is not fast enough. A large flame golem stomps down in front of us; the both of us nearly lose our balance due to the fatness of his foot clashing with the ground. The built-up pressure under the surface along with the force of the foot helps the magma rise up and ooze out from its resting place.

"C...Crimson...?" Nova gasps. "Wh-what is that...?"

Crimson readies his katana with glaring eyes. "A lava golem," he says. "The both of you remain behind me, but look for an opening to go ahead to the cave."

I nod and hide behind a thick, chunky pillar of rock. There, at last, my brother sleeps.

~.Crimson.~

With my katana in front of me now, I stare down the golem. I know that coating my weapon with regular flames will do nothing against the beast, but it will only enhance his. Nova's powers would be the best choice, but with his energy out, that is not an option. Black Mist needs to protect his brother, so I have to be responsible for taking care of this one.

Without saying a word, I jump up as high as my legs can propel me, slashing down at the golem's face place with quick, shallow cuts. I stay in the air with the help of solid air pockets, from which I can propel myself forward to deliver the cuts. I cannot afford to make big attacks because of the massive, thick, chunky hands that come down at me. Its movements are slow, too slow to hit me, but once it makes contact with something, the debris flies everywhere! Thank goodness my king and prince are hidden!