Chương 37: The Bluff

Enzo turned back to the fight. Kenzo was down on one knee, both hands gripping the snake's jaws. Upper and lower, fingers white with effort, arms braced wide, holding the mouth open as venom dripped from the fangs in thick, yellowish strings. Enzo reached out with his left hand.

"Telekinesis." The cane slid across the dirt and smacked into his palm. He planted it and started moving. The first pair of steps sent a familiar grinding through the joint. The second was worse. By the third, the pain had settled into the rhythm he knew too well, the one that said the cartilage was taking damage it wouldn't recover from. He kept going. Across the clearing, Kenzo's arms trembled. The snake pressed downward, the muscles along its neck flexing in waves. Kenzo's knee slid an inch in the dirt.

Then another. Step. Step. The joint suffered with every footfall, inflammation building on inflammation. Step. Step. Ligaments stretched under loads they weren't capable of carrying anymore. Step. Step. Four years of careful management, of calculated stairs and measured footfalls, burning away in his haste. He'd pushed the knee harder in the last two weeks than in the entire four years since the accident. He could feel the difference.

The grinding was deeper now, the instability worse, the moments where his leg failed more frequent. Each one chipped away at something that wouldn't grow back. The cost was a future Enzo problem. Failing Kenzo was a right now problem.

"Hold on, I'm coming." Kenzo growled through clenched teeth. The snake thrashed sideways, shoving him across the ground, trying to build the momentum to wrench free. Kenzo's fingers slipped on the lower jaw, found purchase again, and held. Enzo closed the distance. Fifteen feet. Ten. The snake's mouth gaped wide above Kenzo's head, the soft tissue of its throat exposed between the jaws his best friend was barely keeping apart. He raised his right hand. Aimed between the fangs. Over Kenzo's bald, sweaty head.

He'd get one shot. At this range, he couldn't really miss.

"Power Bolt." The spell snapped into existence. Mana pulled from his reserves. It pulsed as it grew. Brightened as it compressed. Kenzo grunted, now fighting to hold it as the snake tried to reverse direction. A second later, it fired. Into the snake's mouth, striking the soft, wet flesh further in. Then blood and skin and scales exploded from the back of the snake's neck. It hissed, rearing backward, twisting and coiling in on itself. It took him a heartbeat to realize that he had actually missed.

The brain or anything vital, at least, though the damage still looked serious. Kenzo climbed to his feet, breathing hard. He glanced in Sumi and Signe's direction, expression shifting to worry. Then he stepped forward, lowered himself, ready to charge again.

"Wait," Enzo said. The snake had coiled in on itself protectively. Its remaining eye was baleful. Peeking out from within the coils. The fight wasn't over, but they didn't have time. And maybe they didn't need to fight to the death now that it knew they were dangerous, too.

"I'm destroying the crystal. When we get out, grab Sumi and get her home. Don't wait for us."

"That thing will be out there with us. I ain't leaving you and Sig behind."

"Yes, you are." He raised his hand, pointing at the darkest purple spire that jutted from the middle of the crystalline structure. It was a pity. He really, really wanted the crystals.

"Bolt." The spell fired, his aim was accurate, and the spire exploded, sending shards arcing through the air. Then reality bent. It stretched left and right like a parallelogram made of putty, as the top and bottom ends rose to meet each other. Then it popped. Everything snapped back into focus. Enzo stumbled, but caught himself this time. The disorientation was weaker than when they entered. They were all back on the road, with the rock valley walls rising on either side. People began screaming behind him.

Enzo glanced over his shoulder. The people who'd been waiting were leaping to their feet, pointing at the snake, while others panicked. But between them were two children huddled together, looking around in confusion. A pair of adults rushed forward, grabbed the children, then raced after the others who were already fleeing. Kenzo was already sliding to a stop where Signe crouched over Sumi, keeping her arm raised. He scooped the small woman up, shared a look with Signe, glanced back at Enzo, then took off.

He triggered a Burst as he closed in on the snake, using it to launch himself past, then repeated it every time his foot landed until he disappeared over the rise. The snake twisted slowly, watching the big man depart. Then turned back to Signe, who had edged closer to Enzo. The snake uncoiled slowly, rising from its protective posture. Its remaining eye fixed on them, the pupil a vertical slit against dull gold.

Blood still seeped from the exit wound behind its skull, darkening the scales along its neck in a widening stain. Enzo raised his right hand. Index and middle fingers extended. The snake flinched. A visible, full-body contraction that rippled down its length. Then its rattle began. Low at first, building steadily, filling the valley with that deep, percussive vibration.

"Sin," Enzo said quietly.

"Raise your hand. Same as mine. Point at it." She gave him an odd look, but did as he asked. The snake hissed. Its coils twisted tighter, the massive body drawing inward, shielding itself. The rattle intensified. Neither side moved. Seconds stretched. The snake's eye flicked between them. Between two pointed hands that it had learned meant pain. Its head swayed left, then right, testing angles, looking for an opening that didn't involve crossing those invisible lines.

Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. Then it began to rise higher. Bolder. The rattling steadied into something more aggressive. Testing their nerves. Signe glanced at him.

"What are we doing, Enzo?"

"Bluffing." Enzo glanced over his shoulder. The crowd had retreated, but not all of them had fled entirely. A handful stood at the far end of the road, watching from what they probably hoped was a safe distance.

"I need you to point at the snake and start walking toward it," Enzo called out.

"Look as threatening as you can." Most of them stared at him as if he'd lost his mind. A man shook his head and took another step back. But two of them did it. A woman and a younger man. They started forward, faces tight with fear. The snake lowered itself, its head shifting left and right as its one good eye tracked the new threats and the pain their pointed fingers promised. The rattling faltered. Then the snake turned and surged toward the nearby valley wall.

Its massive body stretched, and flowed up the rock face with unexpected speed. It climbed without slowing, scales rasping against the rock, until it crested the top and disappeared. The silence lasted only a few seconds before the crowd of people began cheering. Enzo let himself drop to the ground, taking a seat in the middle of the road. His fingers trembled. His knee burned in a way that promised retribution.

"I can't believe that worked," Signe said, exhaling hard, and taking a seat beside him. She turned to him.

"What were you going to do if it didn't?" He sighed, stretching out his bad leg.

"Probably die." She scowled at him. He grinned.

"I'm kidding. I would have just kept firing. It was already hurting, and I don't think it survives two or three more hits."

"Then why not just kill it?"

"Because if I were wrong, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't survive one hit." Signe stared at him. Then she threw back her head and laughed.

"You're still such an idiot."

"Takes one to know one." He closed his eyes and allowed himself a moment of peace. He knew she was still watching him. What she wanted to ask. That she was just working up the courage to do it.

"Um, excuse me?" Enzo twisted around to look over his shoulder. The pair that had helped with the bluff were standing there. Others were gathering not far behind, including the two children the collapsing rift had ejected. They must have survived by hiding somewhere together. While their parents had tried to find a way to get them out. Or perhaps simply never came across the kids before stumbling upon the snake in their desperate search. Either was a tragedy.

"Hey, Aaron," Signe said.

"Thanks for the help. You too, Kelly." Aaron blushed.

"Oh. Uh. Thanks." He scratched his nose.

"Glad it helped." Kelly stepped closer. Voice low.

"The kids are wondering where their parents are. Did you…" Enzo shared a glance with Signe. She looked down. Silent. He looked behind Aaron and Kelly to where the kids were standing with the others. Given that they were all traveling together, they were likely extended family and friends.

"We did," Enzo said.

"I'm sorry. We were too late." Aaron's shoulders slumped. Kelly closed her eyes.

"Thanks for going in there anyway. You got the little ones out. They would have been grateful for that." Her eyes opened.

"And we're sorry your friend got hurt." Enzo nodded.

"She'll survive." He hoped.

"Sumi's tough."

"Are you still coming with us, Signe?" Aaron asked.

"No," Signe said.

"We're heading home. But you should avoid Mill Valley. There are gangs taking over the city. Stay on the highway until you reach the bridge." Aaron's eyes widened.

"Oh. Okay. I'll tell them." He started to leave, then turned back.

"It was, um, nice to meet you." Kelly nodded, then followed Aaron back to the group. Enzo smirked.

"Little Siggy is still breaking hearts everywhere she goes, huh?" Signe glared at him.

"Shut it." She stood up, then extended a hand.

"Let's get back. Unless little Enzo still needs naptime." He grabbed her hand and let her help him to his feet.

"I was five years old!"

"Still counts," she said, trying to hide a smile.

"Hurry up." A glint on the road caught his eye. One of the snake's scales, knocked loose during the fight, lay half-buried in the dirt. Dark, iridescent, about the size of his palm. He raised his hand.

"Telekinesis." The scale snapped into his fingers. It was heavier than it looked, warm to the touch, and when he turned it in the light, the surface shimmered faintly. Enzo tucked the scale and his cane into place, then walked the bike up the slope to where Signe was waiting. They mounted and began riding back toward town in silence. He used the time to review his notifications and status.

— Tier 0 Eater Eliminated (x3) → Bonus Mana Capacity Provided (+15) Mana Sense (Level 12) → Mana Sense (Level 13) Mana Absorption (Level 13) → Mana Absorption (Level 14) Mana Control (Level 11) → Mana Control (Level 12) Spell Forms (Level 11) → Spell Forms (Level 12) Attunement (Level 9) → Attunement (Level 11) Lock (Level 8) → Lock (Level 9) Bolt (Level 11) → Bolt (Level 13) Telekinesis (Level 8) → Telekinesis (Level 9) Pulse (Level 6) → Pulse (Level 7) — Spell Codified: Sword (Level 1) Type: Arcane Description: Creates a short blade of condensed mana with sharp edges.

— Status | Name: Lorenzo Locke | Class: Wizard (Tier 1) | Mana Perception: 23 meters | Spell Range: 14 meters | Mana Capacity: 505 (310 | 195) units Skills | Mana Sense (Level 13) [Mana Information Translation and Display] | Mana Control (Level 12) [Increased Range] | Mana Absorption (Level 14) [Increased Capacity] | Spell Forms (Level 12) [Geometric Replication] | Attunement (Level 11) | Enchanting (Level 6) Spells | Lock (Level 9) | Shield (Level 6) | Bolt (Level 13) | Spear (Level 5) | Telekinesis (Level 9) | Pulse (Level 7) | Analyze (Level 5) | Sword (Level 1) Techniques | None Schema | Barrier | Gather Mana — Enzo's eyebrows shot up.

That was a lot of level-ups. And more than a few oddities. He read through everything again, trying to keep his mind distracted and focused on something practical. It was now obvious that skill and spell levels increased through one of three ways. Grinding, using them under pressure, and by applying them through new or novel applications. He didn't know if there were limitations to any of the methods. Attunement skipping to level 11 without requiring a breakthrough was disappointing.

None of them knew what it did, and being forced to develop an adaptation for it might have explained the skill's purpose. Then there was the decreased mana bonus for killing Tier 0 Eaters. The inverse of what happened when they killed the more powerful Eater on the bridge. Perhaps tiers were the Guide's way of tracking power ceilings and forcing more powerful mages to hunt more powerful Eaters to continue reaping the rewards. The rift had been eye-opening.

Beasts were going to be a serious problem, right up there with the Eaters, but other than Sumi's life now hanging in the balance and having done what needed to be done, he'd enjoyed it. All of it. Enzo reached into his pocket and felt the sharp edges of the single piece of mana crystal he'd brought out of the rift. They would need more. For enchanting and experimentation. For consumption, too, if the Guide were to be believed. And it hadn't lied about anything yet, so he trusted it for now.

There was another reason, though. They needed to be cleared before Eaters found them and grew fat and powerful inside. Perhaps it was also necessary to keep the crystals out of the hands of people like Gus. There were many reasons for it, and none to avoid them. Except the risk of death. But that had never stopped him before. Enzo turned onto a different street, still following Signe. She'd always preferred to be out in front, even if he'd never understood why. Not that he minded.