Chapter 627 Short... and sharp (1/2)

With Crinis' announcement, my entire carapace tenses (metaphorically). It's time, I'm ready for action, my entire spirit is primed and filled with ire. These tin-people have hurt my family and now I'm going to give the pain back to them.

[Steady, Master. Control the mana.]

My ever faithful Crinis provides a timely warning and I check myself. My emotions had begun to get the better of me and my mana disguise was fluctuating. Cursing myself for my carelessness, I sink deep into the meditation Skill, pus.h.i.+ng my distractions away and sharpening my minds to their limit. No mistakes, no emotions.

My main mind runs a quick check of preparations. Gas mana construct is ready to go, my first spell already constructed and held in waiting. My legs are flexed, like coiled springs, ready to leap from the hiding place in half a second. All I need is the word.

[How long, Crinis?]

[They're coming. I don't think they sense me, or if they have they're pretending. I am ready to strike at any time, Master.]

[Wait for the rest of us.]

[Yes, Master.]

A tense silence.

I feel another mind intrude on my own.

[Fight?] Tiny asks.

[Almost.]

[Fight…] he responds, despondent.

[Just wait ten seconds you thick ape! Just how badly do you want to punch something?!]

He looks at me seriously, a thoughtful expression on his face as he considers my question. After a second he holds up ten fingers and nods solemnly.

[A ten. Is that out of ten?]

He nods again.

[So you reaaaaaally want to fight?]

Another nod.

[I have just one more question. Just a quick one. If I were to ask you the same question another time, do you think you'd ever, under any circ.u.mstances, give me an answer other than ten?]

A slight pause, then a slow headshake.

This idiot.

[They are slowing down. I think they sense something! Master!]

[Attack!] I send the mental roar at my pets as my legs fire and I rocket out of the hole.

Still fifty metres away stand five heavily armoured figures, their weapons up having sensed something was off about this stretch of tunnel. Too late!