Chapter 450 Spider to the fly (1/2)
Well, nards. This isn't ideal, not even close. Enemies below, enemies in front. With these new groups popping out of nowhere, my mind is starting to conjure stone faced hunters leaping out of the shadows in every direction, ready to drag me to the ground and peel of my carapace. It's not going to happen, I won't let it!
[We're in too deep now, they're all around us. We've no choice but to try and break through the middle. Crinis, stay on my back and help distract them. Tiny, try your best to follow and throw a little lightning to keep them off our trail. It's going to take a real effort to slip out of this one, but we can do it. Let's go!]
It's clear that these hunters are determined to get their rocky hands on me, even though I have no idea why. I can't afford to play nice anymore. I didn't want to get violent before in case it increased their desire to chase me, but it appears that was a waste of effort on my part. They were always going to come for me, I should have gone hard when there were only six.
To be fair though, it isn't as if I could have predicted a situation like this! More hunters appearing to try and track me down? It's inexplicable! It defies explanation! How could they possibly know what a magnificent specimen of a monster I am? They only caught a glimpse of me! Nevertheless, no more Mr Nice Anthony. I'm getting out of this encirclement and never turning back. They won't even smell me again!
[Go!]
As I holler out that command the three of us burst out with as much speed as we can, all pretence of stealth thrown away. We head toward the left, moving toward one of the groups sharply but away from the others just as quick. The reaction of the stone people is rapid and decisive. The group in front detects us in an instant and moves to intercept as the group below us rises through the coral branches to cut us off from below. The final group of the three circles around behind us and starts to climb, cutting us off from below.
You aren't the only ones who have ideas! Let's see what happens when we do this!
Flaring to brilliant life above my head the globe of flame makes a glorious reappearance, flooding the area with light and blessed heat. Quick as a thought I whip the ball of fire upward as I high as I can and pump it full of fire mana churned out by my main sub-mind. Like a miniature sun the fire roars, sending light deep into the vast ocean of shadow above, bringing warmth to a place that hasn't felt it since it was formed.
And the monsters hate it. Even as my mind starts to work on my next spell, the angry cries and roars of hundreds of monsters can be heard echoing down from above. This will bring any other hunter groups right to me, but I just have to chance it right now. A ma.s.sive swirl of chaos is going to be my best chance to escape and I'm going to make the biggest I possibly can to make it happen!
They're already coming, the hordes of fish and sea snakes and creatures that want to extinguish my flame and myself at the same time. As they pour down from above I can feel the shadows hesitate before they recommit to the chase. They're determined, I'll give them that.
But not as determined as me! Freedom beckons to me and I shall seek to leap into its welcoming arms, no matter the cost! My antennae forewarn me of the incoming sword light and my legs pulse with strength as I s.h.i.+ft my not inconsiderable weight to respond to the perceived threat.
CRUNCH.