Chương 92: A Full Team - 4

LANCE tore through the city by leaps and bounds. He ran so fast, he was sure he destroyed, by accident, of course, a few abandoned street carts. Not that he could help it, of course; his Martial Mastery was so high, as were his muscles, he was like an out-of-control bull when he threw caution to the wind and bum-rushed the street. He made great time in exiting the city. Once outside the city limits, he threw all concerns for the safety of others out the window and put all he had into confronting the new threat.

The crash site — easily identifiable by the huge gash it left in the countryside — spread for several dozen meters. At its center stood a gooey, bad smelling pod drenched in shadow slime. Whatever that was, it was clearly from the Horror. So, Lance didn't waste time in delivering unto the 'assemblage' a flurry of holy magic infused crossbow bolts. Each bolt struck home and slammed into the pod. The bad news was that the damage looked superficial at best.

"No matter," he grumbled.

"I will just have to hack it apart the old-fashioned way!" Lance charged the pod as he willed his weapon to become a holy-infused lance! He struck the pod deep and managed to penetrate its shell but before he could transform his weapon into a battleaxe and deliver some heavy blows, the pod's 'skin' expanded and ballooned as if a huge sum of air was suddenly sucked into it. It then twisted horribly and shot out limbs as if it were a baby bird emerging from its egg.

He tugged his lance free and prepared to fight the monster. From the pod-shell had emerged a violent, snapping head shaped vaguely like a turtle. It moved so fast, it actually tore out chunks of his fat and skin. He groaned from the pain and leapt backward, giving himself time to heal. Not for the first time, he thanked his lucky stars he was born with a healing factor, leagues beyond what anyone else had been blessed with at birth.

His body's recovery was helped by him squelching the wound, by applying pressure and a piece of cloth. He didn't know why, but it helped speed the process along. Lance gritted his teeth and focused on the enemy which was not coming in hot and charging him. He charged the turtle beast himself and willed his weapon, not into a battleaxe like before, but into his trusty pair of knuckle-dusters. He reared back for a mana-infused, holy punch, and punched the monster with every iota of his might!

The creature's head rippled inward and popped like a grotesque zit on some godly teenager's face. Gore splattered everywhere and drenched him in the process. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. Then, it was over. No more alerts, no more frantic rushing from area to area; the incursion ended after the three monsters were delivered from life. Not long after his engagement with the monster meteorites ended, did the others finish their engagements.

A couple of hours and everyone was back in the control chamber at Headquarters strategizing on what their next move was and how they would counter a threat from space they had no way of anticipating until the meteors were upon their panicked heads.

"Is there any magic we could use?" Penn Vic asked.

"Frank. Maybe you could look into the developments in fusion magic? Surely, there is something, some kind of really advanced incantation, that could tell us when a fast-moving object is hurdling in from space." Frank nodded.

"I can do that. I do not think it will prove fruitful, though I will try." No one was happy. Long faces graced their victorious hall. Lance felt much the same. A mechanical blare sounded.

"I could travel back to my homeland," Outlet said.

"Perhaps my father has scientists which could rig a device for us that we could send to space with teleportation magic? A device that lets us know when a meteorite is incoming?" Frank liked that idea.

"I like it! But... little meteroites hit the planet all the time. If you father did rig something up, it would need more magics to identify what meteroites to ignore and what ones to send notice about." Outlet did not seem pertubed by the challenge.

"This is something worth putting our minds to; I will go and ask my father now. Is there any objections?" No one rose a hand against Outlet's proposal.

"Very well," Frank said.

"Go well and stay as long as you need. Do not stay beyond when the situation calls for it, though. You still need training, Outlet. In fact, we all need training. I have noticed that these meteor monsters are getting stronger. We're able to handle them fine, now, but for how much longer? We need to function as a team and train as a team, and I think we will find that goal in the Oldest Complex."

"Didn't you say," Lance brought up.

"That the Oldest Complex's Guardian Constructs were getting too strong to be worth fighting?"

"Aye. I said that. Without your father lending a helping hand, I do not see any other road. It will be difficult, but it is the best route we have given our circumstances." Frank sighed. For the first time in years, Lance thought he saw the man act his age in that he seemed thoroughly middle-aged.

"As I said. This doesn't happen until Outlet returns from speaking with his father."

"Well... that sounds fine to me," Outlet confirmed.

"As to me, too," Lance added.

"Then we're in agreement. Wonderful. Outlet, go now with the blessing of your God," Frank said, returning to command mode.

"Since we're waiting on Outlet's father and if their contribution is possible, I think now would be a good time for the team to focus on their individual matters. Penn Vic — I would like to work with you on advancing your magics and to take you to Goodridge University. If any one of us is to grasp fusion magic, it will be you. Lance and Horn, what are your aims?"

"I will be on standby — to confront meteor monsters," Horn grunted. And he? Lance went with old reliable: "I am going to check in on my island. I have converts and dragons to think about..."