Chapter 19: Chapter Nineteen: Death’s Priest

My aura glowed with blue light, contrasting against the green light from the two monsters and surrounding walls. The spider-like monsters stared at me with glowing green eyes, as if studying me. Their cannons remained trained on me, but they hadn’t fired yet. Their bodies shifted, almost like real spiders, trying to either scan, or size me up. I wasn’t going to give them the time, or the pleasure.

My hands blurred up as channeled 5% of my power into each one.

Water Energy Bolts: 30%

I turned to my side and pointed a hand at each one. With a thought, blue energy appeared before my palms and blasted out.

The corridor was blasted with azure light. One energy bolt slammed into a skeletal face hoisted up by thin, mechanical neck. Its head exploded as the body shuddered and weaved. Its cannon went off, but the thing lost its aim, the energy bolt striking a rune covered wall.

The other one shifted its thin, angled body to the side, my bolt missing its head, but striking a joint on its segmented leg. The energy blasted the leg in half as the thing’s cannon went off.

I shifted to the side, in an attempt to dodge it. The energy bolt glanced off my aura and living energy from my body arced into it.

Water Aura: 50%

I ducked low, and shot my entire body at it. The cannon shifted its aim, ready to fire. My hand clamped onto it and pushed it away, the cannon going off and blasting the nearby wall.

I heard the first one moving around like a dying insect. My fingers clamped onto the back cannon and pulled. Metal strained before the cannon came off in a shower of green sparks.

A leg swiped at me as I threw the cannon aside. It struck my aura, pushing to try and cut me.

Water Aura: 49%

The monster thing was strong, but not strong enough. I grabbed at the leg and snapped it with one hand. I then burst forward, slamming my entire body into it and crashing into a wall. I took hold and began tearing it apart, throwing pieces over my shoulders. Whatever it was, stopped functioning as the light died in its eyes.

When I let go, it fell to the floor in a mangled heap.

Clanking and clicks touched my sensitive hearing. I spun around to find many more pods dethatching from the walls and hitting the corridor floor.

Shit.

I burst forward at tremendous speed, flying and turning along corridors. More black pods began to unfurl. At the speed I was flying, I flew over dozens and dozens of these things. I didn’t have time to fight them all. I had to stop the pyramid from firing again, or this mission was sunk. I wasn’t sure Urth had enough power and resources to fight this thing and I wasn’t about to let them find out.

I flew along one alien corridor after the other. The pyramid was massive and I had no idea what I was looking for.

An energy bolt shot past me, followed by another.

I glanced back to see those spider things scuttling along, trying to catch up. Back cannons aimed and fired. I swerved and spun to avoid them. I flew around a corner and halted in the air.

Four of those things aimed and fired. I darted down another corridor as energy blasts singed walls. The pulse along the walls began to quicken. I had less than a minute to find anything to stop the pyramid from firing again.

I flew along a wide, empty corridor. At the end was a closed door. Two pods detached from the walls and hit the ground.

In a blink, I was on them. My fist slammed into one before its legs could unfold. The second was half ready when my fist shattered its center. I stood up and looked at what looked like door. It was covered in runes. A flash of light caused me to dart to the side. An energy bolts slammed into the wall as I turned around.

A seething group of those spider things were at the other end of the corridor, and approaching fast.

Instinct took over as I flew in an arc, and threw all my might into my shoulder. I slammed into the door, and cracks spider-ed out. I flew back and drew back my fist. I launched at it again as plasma bolts struck the door. My knuckles struck dead center, and the door shattered as it caved in.

I flew into the massive chamber, and my eyes widened.

The chamber was cathedral sized. It had a stone path that led through the middle of the chamber. On either side were pools glowing, green liquid. The walls were covered in what looked like rune covered pipes. The chamber pointed toward the ceiling, like a pyramid within a pyramid.

At the end of the stone path, stood a raised dais. On it, was a rube covered throne and a skeletal being in what looked like a ceremonial robe. The robe itself was black, a pair of glowing green runes running down the front. The robe looked like the same flexible metallic fiber like the legion troops outside.

The skeletal face under the hood stared at me with unblinking, glowing green eyes. One boney metal hand rested on the throne’s arm rest. The other held a black staff with green runes.

The entire room pulsed with a rapid rhythm. The pyramid was going to fire again. I tried to comminate with Xull, with anyone, but I was greeted with silence.

I looked at the way I just came in. The spider things gathered, but didn’t come in. They craned their skeletal heads to see me, but nothing more.

I turned to, what looked like some general, or priest. It remained sitting as it didn’t bother to look at me, like I was less than an insect.

It was all I needed to make my move. I channeled every drop of my energy bolt power into my hands.

Water Energy Bolts: 0%

A ball of blue light appeared before my extended hands. I aimed it at the pipes covering one wall. Energy surged and blasted out in a thick beam.

The energy slammed into a green energy field, several feet before the actual wall, and pulsed out, waves of power rippling against me. I poured it on, trying to push out as much of my power as I could. Energy surged and curled from my beam and the shield. After a few long seconds, my beam died, and the wall was undamaged.

I floated back and turned to the legion priest on his throne. It was then when I had his gaze. His head was turned slightly, and his eyes bore into my very being. He looked ancient, like he was there to witness the very beginning of the universe being born, and I was a gnat, buzzing at his ear.

“Call off your attack and leave this system. Urth will not be invaded today,” I said firmly.

The priest didn’t move, or acknowledge me.

The room pulsed with lines of emerald light until everything was bright. Then it faded, cycling through the pulses again. My heart sank in my chest, knowing the pyramid fired again, and most likely took down another battleship. My comm was dead, and I was alone with what seemed like the leader of this legion.

I called up some of my stats.

Element: Water

1. Aura 49%
2. Elemental Weapon or Armor 60%
3. Energy Bolts 0%
4. Elemental manipulation 20%
5. Elemental Flare (X)
6. Unique Ability (X)
7. Unique Ability (X)
8. Unique Ability (X)

 

I still had a few tricks up my sleeves, and I had to make them count. I kept myself calm and collected. There wouldn’t be much time before the pyramid fired again.

The scuttle of the spider things caught my attention. I glanced over my shoulder to see the horde of thin metal monsters marching off.

I turned back to the priest as he continued to sit.

I blurred forward, appearing before him as I channeled 10% my power into elemental weapon power.

Water Elemental Weapon: 50%

A blue dagger appeared in my hand, but my fist was moving first, aiming for the priest’s jaw. There was a quick motion of blurs as time slowed to a snail’s pace.

The arcane staff blurred and the end slammed into my wrist. My aura blazed bright as energy bled and damaged it.

Water Aura: 39%

My left hand was still moving, driving my new dagger towards the priest’s side. A thin, metal hand blurred forward and caught my wrist, the glowing blade several inches from the priest’s robe.

The vice-like grip squeezed as my aura flared from damage.

Water Aura: 34%

I grunted as energies surged. I channeled 10% into my elemental armor.

Water Elemental Weapon: 40%

A spiked helmet instantly appeared over my head and I brought it down with the full force of my head and neck.

Energy exploded out from us the moment of contact. I was hurtled back about thirty feet before I took control and floated. I stared down at the priest as I saw, a small part of his boney cheekbone was dented. The priest glared at me, like I did something unholy by touching him.

If I can dent him, I can beat him.

I burst forward like a comet. The priest stood up from his chair and launched up at me. I channeled my power, 20% into a suit of armor, 20% into a staff. Blue armor covered my body as I flicked my wrist and released my dagger.

The priest stood up, his staff easily knocking away my dagger. I felt the dagger spin and slam into the energy field over the pools. It surged and exploded, leaving behind a tiny hole before it faded away.

I burst forward. The priest held his staff. We met and staffs clashed. Energy rippled as we both moved it sudden blurs. I couldn’t believe how fast he was, countering each strike like he had been studying fighting for centuries. His staff glowed with sickening green power as it slammed into my staff. Light exploded with each hit, as I tried to keep up.

I missed a strike with my staff, and paid for it with the priest’s staff striking my side so hard, I was thrown like a ragdoll.

You are reading story Mana Storm at novel35.com

My body hit the energy field before the wall and it surged with power. It blasted at my aura and armor like an enemy infection.

Water Aura: 20%

I pulled away as the priest remained before his throne. He seemed like he was unimpressed as he stood, but made no move to further fight me.

The room began to pulse again. The rhythm grew as it seemed it was getting ready to fire again.

“You’re strong,” I said.

The priest remained frozen.

I turned my back to him as I took the energy of my armor and staff. I pulled it together, all of it, and reshaped it into an immense spear. I pulled back and aimed the tip at the wall with the pipes.

“But you lack focus,” I grinned before darting forward with all of my strength, speed, and power.

The tip of my spear slammed into the energy barrier and it surged into arcs of green lightning. They blasted me as I calmed my entire spirit. Energy burned at me as I gritted my teeth, driving the spear into the field.

The priest lifted his staff and a thick green lightning bolt blasted out and struck my back. My body flared with electrical torment as I remained to task. I through my shoulders and my whole body into it, the spear penetrating by inches. My aura winked away and the pain dialed up to eleven. I roared, not deviating from what I set out to do. It didn’t matter if I survived, as long as these monsters were stopped, was a warrior end to this life.

The tip of the spear penetrated the shield and struck a pipe so hard, it shattered. I laughed and roared at the same time, my shoulder muscles bulging and burning as I pushed the spear sideways and slices through half a dozen of the arcane pipes.

Energy exploded and I was hurtled away, losing my elemental spear. I slammed into the metal path between the pools and bounced once. I slid to the edge. A few more inches and my head would be in the glowing liquid.

I fought through the dazzling pain and lifted my head to see the priest airborne, staff in hands. He floated over me with the end of his staff aiming for my head. I shifted my head as the end came down and cracked the floor. I turned and kicked hard, driving my heel into his ankle. The priest twisted as I burst up from the floor and grabbed him. Despite his power, he weighed like a feather in my hands. I spun into a whirlwind and threw him.

The priest flew backwards into the energy barrier and passed through it. His metal feet stabbed out and he delicately landed sidesways on a pair of pipes. He then launched at me with unblinking green eyes.

I burst forward, and when we were a foot from colliding into each other, my hand blurred out and caught his staff. Energy arced into my hand, cracking my very skin. I ignored it as I twisted my wrist so violently, the priest’s skeletal metal fingers snapped like twigs.

“It’s all about attacking the joints,” I grinned as I pulled the staff back like a javelin.

I saw that the priest could pass through the energy barrier, so I assumed, his staff could do the same. The priest floated back a few feet to resume his attack, when my arm shot forward and released the arcane staff.

The staff shot like a high-powered arrow, bypassing the energy field. The end of the staff hit one of the larger pipes and caved in a head-sized hole. Glowing liquid and power exploded out. Half the energy lines running along the walls winked out. I kept my grin as the priest was on me, his metal hand reforming into a fist and slamming it into my cheek.

Another punch slammed into my cheek. My hands went up, grabbing the metallic black robe and pulled. The priest tried to pummel me, but I had enough. I spun us around and shot our bodies down, slamming into the floor with all my might.

I lifted the priest up, ready to slam him down again, when metal fingers struck my throat. I didn’t need to breathe, but the act was enough to nearly collapse my throat. I tried to ignore it, when the priest took hold, rolled me to the side, and slammed my head into the energy barrier covering the glowing liquid.

Without any protection, my head flared against the power of the pyramid. Stars filled my gaze as I roared in pain. It overwhelmed me, not giving me a chance to think, or react. I tried to focus, to part the pain, but it surged over all my senses.

I blacked out.

My spirit fought on. My eyes opened as I felt myself being dragged across the floor. I barely lifted my head to see the priest pulling me by my left ankle. Everything hurt. I fought through the haze, trying to move. No good. I must have taken on mora damage than I thought. I didn’t know how long he had been dragging me, but it couldn’t have been that long.

 I lifted my head again to see an open archway. A starry sky was beyond it, and explosions flashing across along the heavens.

“Quinn! Quinn! I don’t know what you did, but were advancing!” Davin came through.

“Quinn, the Queen and the Rook are taking heavy damage. The enemy’s shield is weakening. We might be able to punch through. Evacuate the pyramid. I repeat, evacuate the pyramid,” Xull added.

I couldn’t string together any coherent thoughts. The next thing I knew, a metal hand grabbed me by the neck and lifted me up. The corridor turned, or was it me? I stared into the priest’s skull like features. I glanced down to see I was outside of the pyramid and hanging over its slanted surface.

“Good fight,” I said, but since there was no atmosphere, I think I just moved my lips.

The priest lifted his skeletal left hand. Fingers bent forward before it struck like a viper, over my heart.

Points of pain caused me to writhe in agony. Metal fingers vibrated, trying to burrow against my tough skin. Cracks were forming as the priest truly began to penetrate my chest, for what it seemed was for my heart.

“Enemy shield is down,” Xull communicated through my implant.

My mouth twisted in pain as the priest stared at me with unfeeling eyes. Metal fingers stabbed an inch into my chest, and I struggled like a fish on a line.

In the storm of pain, an eye opened up. Peace filled me as two hearts beat against mine. A celestial connection formed, and I touched nirvana.

An energy bolt slammed into the side of the priest’s hooded head, causing it to bed at an angle. The fingers buried in my chest, over my heart, relaxed. I relaxed with it, allowing my mind, spirit, and soul, falling to peace.

Elemental Flare unlocked. Elemental Flare at 20%.

The world took on a dreamy edge as I turned my head and enhanced my vision. On a distant, lunar ridge, I could barely see Hope as she aimed a long-range plasma rifle in my direction.

Hope pulled the trigger. A long plasma bolt blasted out of the barrel, crossed the distance, and struck the priest on the side of the head dead on again.

“You messed with the wrong group of friends,” I said, but no words came out in the vacuum of space.

I channeled all of my power into the water elemental flare. Power surged up from my heart before it exploded outwards.

A blue energy rippled and exploded. I felt it, but it didn’t damage me. Instead, the priest as blasted back, cracks snaking along his metal features and cloaks. I fell, striking the sloping hull of the pyramid and bounced.

I fell into a slide, barely pulling myself together as I slid directly into the lunar surface. Dust flew up and covered me. My body began to obey my commands, and I clawed my way up from the powdery dust.

I turned my head to see Davin leading the charge with damaged war drones following. Shoulder cannons fired. Rifles aimed and fired. Missiles launched and streaked through the air. Legion troopers were being cut down and blown apart right before my eyes.

High in space, two severely damaged battleship fired down plasma streams. I turned my head to see the black pyramid taking damage. It continued to fire small plasma cannons, but nothing more.

“Hope?” I communicated.

“It’s a long story, but we’re your back up,” Hope communicated back.

I smiled.

“Can’t wait to hear it.”

“I’m here too!” Nora nearly shouted.

“I know.”

“The Blue Leaf is here, behind the ridge and ready to pick you and Davin up. Can you get to us? We’ll give you cover,” Hope said.

I turned my head to find Davin, when a plasma cannon went off above me. Green energy blasted down as Davin unleashed his own energy stream at the pyramid. He was silently shouting, when the beam struck him dead on, slamming his entire body into the ground. A bloom of dust shot up and I couldn’t see him.

“Davin!” I shouted over communications.

I burst up from the surface and flew in his direction as plasma bolts filled the air.

“Quinn! The pyramid!” Hope alerted me.

I turned as I flew. The black pyramid shuddered, before energy and gray lunar dust billowed. A wave of dust struck me instantly and I tried to see through it. Slowly, the pyramid began to rise higher and higher off the lunar surface.

“Hope! Nora! Pick us u…” was all I managed.

A thicker wave of energy exploded from under the pyramid, blasting a crater and sending a shockwave so powerful, I was blasted upwards from the surface.

I tumbled, trying to pull myself together. Space and the moon spun in my gaze as gathered my strength and righted myself. I must have been several miles up. All I could do was stare, as the black pyramid rose higher and higher into the starry sky. It spun slowly as it reached its zenith. A hum only I could hear struck my senses.

The black pyramid shifted and shot toward Urth at an accelerated speed.

“Quinn, the pyramid will be in Urth’s atmosphere in twelve minutes,” Xull said.

“Dammit,” I said silently into the vacuum of space.

You can find story with these keywords: Mana Storm, Read Mana Storm, Mana Storm novel, Mana Storm book, Mana Storm story, Mana Storm full, Mana Storm Latest Chapter