Tyranny: Onwards

Chapter 111- Scorpio?

The Scorpion's shattering hiss breaks rocks from above which plummet down to the boughs of gravity, luckily we all manage to avoid injury and I slice to Genesis's side immediately along with Phoenix. Beastly as it is, the creature stamps its feet which dig firmly into the beneath stone over and over; but Phoenix keep his lively flame lit.

"Let's go!" Phoenix tugs on my arm desperately; however, my feet are pinned and nailed, I will not go, I will not evade this.

"We'll just be putting the others in danger, it's night! It can probably be outside the tunnels now!" I plead the case and he pauses, starring at me before gathering his wits and smiling.

"Then fight we will." The doom is mounting, but not overcoming. I've been in far worse situations before.

I grin and look to Genesis who is more than ready, I quickly unravel the black cloth from around Kol and grip the handle. Nothing changes or feels different for now. With hope as my guide and need to protect as my strength, I lunge straight at it. Closer and closer, then I dodge swiftly to the right, find the wall, jump, kick off of it while twisting to angle myself properly.

The sword hits the beasts shell with sparks and a clang, I see to my right the tail beginning to move in defense and shove away. When I stand where I started Phoenix lights a wall of fire behind us, which causes no harm to us as he can also call it to die.

A new light makes it easier to maneuver, and it doesn't seem that the scorpion is willing to surrender anytime soon, too loyal to protecting its territory. Now I can see that Genesis is searching for weakness beneath it and Phoenix is a top it.

"Try to disable the tail! I don't want to imagine its poison!" He calls and I nod, striking off the stone and to the right once more, I believe Phoenix is getting to its eyes in an attempt to put a finger in them each. On my way I hold the sword out a little to try and see if the legs can be removed, but the blade simply skims off of them in revolt.

I spot the tails base and it is flailing around, now the beast move and scurries about trying to smash Genesis below. Once there, I inspect the base to find multiple breaks in the armor where there appears to be slivers of open flesh. So in my confidence and surety, the blades weight and my strength using all my muscles meets the mark; however, the effect is less than hoped, it only provided a small paper cut wound.

If only I knew how to work this sword myself without relying on the key and harness a power like that once again...

That's when the key grows warmer and warmer, I feel like it's burning my chest, yet am aware I must allow it in order to save Phoenix and Genesis from poisons. The smoldering fires of the Key in my blood travel to my right shoulder and then swift down my arm, through each fingertip and into the sword. Kol receives the power and energy, my adrenaline pounds in my ears and throbs my head, my heart races and I hear every movement and feel the air with each motion.

Again, a mixed red-black light bursts from the sword and I clench my teeth to stop a scream from escaping, the sharp pain almost forces me to the ground but I fight hard through it all, pain again shackles me to gravity and somehow time feels objectified. And of course the voices rouse and screech in my ears, I cannot feel my heart or whether it exists, and I begin to wonder of it.

This time I do not give to a darkness but my vision blurs and ears are deafened by a squeal before it all resets instantaneously to sharper eyes and ears as a darkness brews beneath my mind waiting with voices reaching from its depths.

As last time, I have an instinct that directs my eyes while letting me still have full control, or at least false the feeling of such. The Morpho butterfly appears and disappears in a second, if it was not a mere translation of sorts in my mind.

As a lit torch I proceed, with the sharp and sturdy red lines connecting the Key to Kol from each fingertip with gold flecks among the red of a shade you might call to be my own blood trapped in its skin case. It radiates heat and I lift the feather light sword in my new might, slicing the air and dimensions it might hold, and so with one mere stroke the tail thuds away and black blood pours, the creature yelps miserably in utter rage.

To lift a grief from Genesis I take no longer to remove the legs from one side, and having seen her scamper from beneath and phoenix leap off and away, I release the blade to remove the head at once. After the defeat Phoenix claps and is skipping about with the sudden excitement after far too long without much action.

I must admit to even myself I was glad for a fight but quite honestly wish it had been more of a challenge. Leaning down, I take the black cloth and string to re-wrap the weapon in hand but find I do not want to release it, like you don't want to drop a glass plate on tile.

"Great job Claire! That was pretty epic!" He does some imitations of me and we both praise Genesis who goes wild in the new recognition.

"Oh, also, I thought maybe we could air or earth bend down into the valley?" I suggest and Phoenix lights up further, as a fire given fresh fuel.

"Of course! Aegis will be upset with himself for not thinking of it himself." Phoenix chuckles, clearly playing the scene through in his mind, and I must admit it seems like it could be quite entertaining.