Chapter 25 – The Sound of Water (3)

Chapter 25 – The Sound of Water (3)

Rowan moved forward, one shuffling step at a time. In one hand, he gripped a blade of glowing blue energy. But the other arm was limp, the bones shattered.

Next to him floated his second mana construct, drifting forward.

And so, he and the bloodspawn limped toward each other, both bleeding and maimed. As they grew near, Rowan raised his arm and spoke. “Bind.”

His chains sprang to life once more, empowered by all but the last of his mana. After all, what point was there in conserving it anymore? He could very well be dead in a few moments.

As the chains shot forward, steel links sliding towards the beast, so did the blade of mana floating alongside him.

It flew towards the creature’s neck, searching to enlarge the wound already there, and the beast raised its arm to block.

But Rowan twisted the projectile’s trajectory, curving it over the bloodspawn’s arm. It stabbed deep into the creature’s flesh, drawing an agonized screech.

[Mana Manipulation lvl 11 → Mana Manipulation lvl 12]

Then, his chains reached it, snaking around its body. They wrapped around its already existing wounds, grinding against them. And as the brute screamed ever louder, the chains squeezed, pushing into the bloodspawn’s exposed flesh.

But not all of the chains focused on inflicting pain. Some of them made their way to its hammer arm, winding around it and binding it to the beast’s body.

[Bind lvl 8 → Bind lvl 9]

So consumed by its own suffering, the creature almost didn’t notice him. Almost. A moment before he thrust another blade of mana into the beast’s legs, it tried to stop him.

But it was too late.

He thrust his blade deep into the humanoid’s knee before stepping away. With its hammer arm bound, it was forced to use its normal arm, which he easily dodged.

What ensued was an ugly, instinctual battle between a crippled Rowan and a bound and bleeding beast.

They struck at each other again and again, neither managing to do any meaningful damage with their sloppy blows.

But slowly, Rowan was whittling the creature down. Until, finally, it fell to one knee.

It tried to stand once more, but he was already upon it.

Rowan infused what faint traces of mana he had left into the blade in his hand, elongating it a few inches. Then, he thrust it upwards, into the beast’s neck, and then into its head.

[You have slain Fungal Bloodspawn – Level 8]

And, as his enemy fell to the ground, Rowan smiled. He wouldn’t die so easily. Not when there was still the slightest chance that Coco was still out there.

—

Rowan wandered through the winding tunnels, still following the sound of rushing water. But he was tired. His stats made it so he didn’t have to sleep quite as often, but he couldn’t remain awake forever.

And he hadn’t slept since he’d entered the bloodspawn’s territory. He didn’t know how long it’d been since he’d fought the massive bloodspawn, but most of his minor scratches and bruises were healed.

What wasn’t healed, however, was his left arm, still dangling limply at his side.

It was frustrating that he’d taken injuries during the fight, but it wasn’t like he could have just stayed back and bombarded it from afar; he just didn’t have enough mana for that.

Especially in their final engagement, he’d barely had enough to finish the beast off. If he’d stayed back, it would’ve taken too long, and he wouldn’t have been able to put enough mana into his chains or constructs to keep them active.

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After taking a few more steps, he couldn’t take it anymore. Lying down on a small patch of stone that was thankfully devoid of the bloody fungi, he took a small sip of water and closed his eyes.

—

Some time later, he woke with a yawn.

Slowly, he pushed himself to his feet. Surprisingly, no bloodspawn had stumbled upon him. After taking a moment to get his bearings, Rowan took inventory.