29. Final Ember

Adolin was running as fast as he could. Somehow, Clay was in front of him, running even faster.

He wasn’t sure if it was adrenaline or if he had used more than one agility skill. But he was outrunning him, even with Small Boost cast.

Glancing over his shoulder, he sped up. Twenty-something big cats were chasing them. Their skin was metallic green. He still didn’t know their name. Clay hadn’t mentioned it. He was sure it wasn’t important now. Running. That was important.

Clay glanced over his shoulder and cursed. Again.

“You sure this will work?”

He felt like shrugging his shoulders, but he couldn’t. Not while running at full speed, this body could handle. The plan was simple. Even genius, perhaps. But their execution was lacking. And the cats were much stronger and faster than they expected.

They were close to the spot they were luring the cats to. Yeah. Luring.

“Almost there,” Clay shouted.

In front of them, a deep chasm split the earth in two. It was over twenty meters wide, and far deeper than he could measure. In some places, it was even wider.

“Please don’t let me drop.”

The chasm was less than twenty meters away now. Clay kept glancing back at him, a pleading expression on his face.

“Get ready,” Adolin said.

Five meters. Two. One.

“Jump.”

Clay screamed and jumped.

Adolin stopped and watched. He wasn’t going to make it. That much was obvious. He even messed up the jump, ruining what they had discussed. He would be three meters short.

“Fuck!” Clay screamed.

Ice Wall. That was the best solution he could come up with. He just needed to lengthen it a few meters so Clay could land on it. But he already used it, and the spell had already recognized it. That made him pause. Wrong time to think. But he wanted the level. Earth Wall, same as the Ice one, and he hadn’t used it yet. The problem was that he said he was an Ice and Water mage, but he had already used almost every element except water. Well… no time. Clay was about to fall to his death.

Earth Wall, he cast, muttering something, and jumped.

The earthen wall formed under Clay’s feet, and he landed on it, rolling to lessen the impact. Adolin landed behind him, using a burst of Levitate to soften the landing. They kept running, getting to the other side of the chasm.

Glancing behind him, the cats were already jumping after them. He had to wait for the perfect moment. When every single one of them was in the air.

Three heartbeats were all it took. He released the spell, and it dissolved into mana.

The big cats fell straight into the abyss. They did let out a meow on the way down. Well, not exactly that. It was more of a roar. Was there a difference? He didn’t think so.

Behind them—

A sharp crack.

Tails pierced into the ground.

One. Then another.

Claws bit into the edge of the chasm.

Then one climbed up.

Well, he wasn’t the strategist in his party. He acted more of a natural disaster. Aylinth dealt with all the planning. Well, Clay was going to have to do a lot of work. It was the perfect time for him to get some more training in. Other than running for his life. It would be a decent pace of change.

He glanced at him.

He was already in his stance, his sword drawn. His hands slightly shook, but his face was serious, focused. He did remind him of Valor. Well, just in his style and courage. Valor was a lot more stern than Clay. But they did have similarities between them. His hands also shook when he was faced with a strong opponent. But he always fought till the end; he never let his fear affect him.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Adolin stepped back behind him, ready to intervene if he had to. But other than that, he was going to watch a show. And then… get the reward chest.

Clay tightened his grip on the sword.

The creature charged toward him, its tail raised, ready to strike like a scorpion.

His eyes closed for a moment. Then they opened. His hands steadied, his mind focused on the enemy before him.

The creature was already in the air, closing the distance. Its tail poised to strike.

He moved.

Ducking under the creature, he dodged the tail by a hair’s breadth. His sword stabbed upward, cutting along the creature’s stomach. He dodged to the right as another tail whooshed past his head. Five of them were already out of the chasm. One was already down. Dying.