Chapter 354 Timely Intervention (1/2)

I'm not a fan of magic fences at the best of times, but when I'm trying to break out of an encircling horde of thousands of monsters I really don't want to see one. So my first thought when I saw a wall of golden light appear in front of me was 'oh plops'.

Because it didn't take a genius to realise who was responsible for this sudden and inconvenient impediment. Sure enough, to either side of me, two Setsulah mage servants had appeared, seemingly from thin air.

Aren't you guys supposed to be somewhere else right now?! Why the heck are you here?!

My feet scrambled to halt my momentum as I tumbled forwards but ultimately I failed to stop in time.

BAM!

I slammed into the barrier of flowing light, the shock of the impact reverberating throughout my exo-skeleton. That frickin' hurt! But they stuffed up this time, the two mages are much closer than they were last time. I brushed off the impact and focused my eyes on the two of them. Robed and hooded as always, there was very little I could make out of their bodies, but they were close. Each not even ten metres from me.

I don't know if this is a trap or if they're just taking advantage of the situation, but I'll happily take another one of these guys down, even if it means having to ride the lightning again.

Das.h.!.+

Activating my dash skill I streak forward at high speed, my mandibles open wide, ready to rend and tear at the mage to my right. Before I chomp down a tingle from my antennae warns me something is coming. I slam on the brakes, my legs scrabbling to halt my momentum just as another barrier sprung into existence, s.h.i.+elding my target behind a protective wall of golden light.

Dammit!

What the heck is going on?!

Out the corner of my eyes I can see that two more of the mage slaves have appeared, their barriers joining together with the first just in front of the first two mages, protecting them from my wrath. I don't like this. Not one bit!

Indecision and uneasiness struck me in that moment. What should I do? Dig under? Run back? What if more of them are coming, or are already there? Will my acid break through?

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

Once again the air around me rumbled at the power of that voice and, in the back of my mind, I noted that the suffocating aura that rolled off Momma Croc grew stronger, ever so slightly. And then again.

She's coming!

Oh nonononononoNONONONO.

I'm NOT going down here like this!

I refuse to end my second life as Croca plops. Refuse! I'd rather be fed to a nest of claw-centipedes. I'd rather be melted down and eaten by an acid slug. Heck, I'd prefer to be chewed up by a stupid thorn lizard than get eaten by Garralos.h.!.+

I spun in place, expertly presenting my business district towards the first barrier.

POW! POW! POW! POW!

As I spun I unleashed my acid of perpetual prosperity which splashed into the barrier and adhered to it, sizzling as it began to eat away at the mana.

[Tiny! Get over here buddy!]

Unfortunately Tiny had been caught inside the barrier with me, so I called him to join me.

[Crinis! Any chance you can tenderise any of these mage slaves?!]

Since she'd been hanging back, Crinis hadn't been trapped with us, but she still had plenty of monsters to deal with, even if they were temporarily stunned for a moment.