Chapter 1733 – Up Close and Personal

Graham had to admit, being up close to the monster was an intimidating sight. No matter how much his experience tried to tell him it was just an ant, that it should be something weak, its presence reminded him that simply wasn’t the case.

Taken by surprise, the creature had reacted with unreasonable speed to the appearance of the Penitent Lances. Even so, he had been pleased to see one strike home. They weren’t easy to conjure, and though his people would gladly pay the price, the War Bishop was reluctant to call upon them to do so unless it was strictly necessary.

Unlike many who were above them in the Church, he would not take them for granted.

Yet, he had hoped that single blow could prove to be significant, only to have his hopes completely dashed upon closing the distance with the monster. It towered over them, mandibles gnashing, tree-sized antennae sweeping through the air as it skittered with unreasonable speed and grace, not letting itself get bogged down.

Careful inspection told him the wound was already closing over, the carapace regrowing over the healed flesh beneath. He’d been told it healed quickly, but that was absurd!

Raising his sacral mace high, Graham gave voice to his overflowing faith.

“LET FLY THE WRATH OF YOUR FAITH!” he roared, then dived into the purple light that swirled around the monster.

In an instant, he could feel the weight pressing down on him, trying to drive him to his knees. He almost dropped his mace, so heavy his wrist ached with the pain of holding it.

Yet it wasn’t so easy to inflict magic upon those who had come to deliver judgement. Graham felt the furnace that burned within him, the flames fuelled by his belief and the Path upon which he walked. Into it, he fed his own life, burning his health with wild abandon.

His skin burned with power as light erupted from within him, driving back the magic of the monster and loosening its grip on him. All around him, he felt his brothers and sisters in Judgement do the same. Behind them, the four thousand soldiers of Green Mountain took up flanking positions, seeking to encircle the monster and firing upon it from a distance.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

With a swing of his mace, skill-light exploded from Graham and he brought it in a wide arc, swinging for the ant’s head.

Almost contemptuously, the ant parried the blow, flicking it away with its mandibles, dispersing the light with ease, but a dozen other blows rained down on it at once. To no avail. None were able to penetrate the ant’s carapace, and a moment later, the creature dashed, charging through them, light exploding from its mandibles.