I stopped high in the sky, the drake seemingly ignoring my flight as it was busy with terrorizing the town. Looking down, I was just in time to catch the drake inhale, its body distorting from the air it was storing. It went from a somewhat sleek form to become thrice as thick and slightly round, and I saw the mana flow start glowing within its belly.
The breath attack, a rain of sickle wind, was released with a screech and the buildings started collapsing like dominoes. The immediate area around the drake was bare, winds that made twisters a joke devastating a chunk of the town.
Fifteen seconds. It took fifteen seconds for the breath attack to wind up and release. I suppose its scales gave it high enough defense, considering the slow buildup time.
Though, I couldn't talk about slow attacks, considering what I was going to do.
[Nori, we can go—]
But I already committed myself; it was too late.
"Haha… god, I hope this works."
I was going to try a new spell on the spot, with only theories to back it up. I was very likely to blow myself up, to be honest. But if it did work…
Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to calm. My racing heart slowed down, or maybe I just entered a state where the loud thumps were no longer noticeable.
Exhale. Inhale.
Opening my eyes, empty of unnecessary emotions and doubts, I started to calculate and manipulate, using everything I've learned so far.
A
With the manipulation of vectors, I formed a shell around my payload, to prevent it from prematurely setting itself off while also allowing enough oxygen to enter so the fire stayed ignited.
_Level Up!
I ignored the popup since I needed all my focus as I added more mana into the
Stack more. Five times wasn't enough.
_Level Up!
_Level Up!
My ears started ringing by the tenth time I stacked the spell.
Eleven.
Thirteen.
Fifteen.
I closed my eyes as my vision doubled—not like I could see anything with those popups in the way anyway—pretty sure I burst something from the sudden splitting headache and the taste of blood on my lips.
A nosebleed? I spent a moment criticizing the cliche while still somehow managing to hold the magic bomb.
[Nori! The drake noticed the buildup of energy from your casting!]
Shit!
I opened my eyes but all I saw was a wall of Level Up notifications as I continued to stack more mana into my spell. 'Orientate and guide me!'
[Fifteen degrees right and thirty-one degrees down! 500— 400 meters and closing.]
Too close! The spell was closed and sent off like a bullet.
*BOOM!*
What hearing I did have went with the concussive force and the drake's wail. The shield collapsed like wet tissue paper and I think my ribs cracked as the force swatted me like a bug. I lost control of my flight ability and was sent spinning from the blast.
… I can't believe I'm still alive, though I'm not sure for how much longer. I was having trouble breathing and I wasn't sure if it was because of the oxygen being consumed by the spell or my ribs.
[Nori! The wind drake is still alive!]
Of course. Of course, it was.
I was able to see again, most likely 37 dismissing the notifications in my stead. Looking toward the ground, as the blast had just sent me higher into the atmosphere, I ignored the fact I was free-falling and pulled on my available mana.
This time, I only formed the
I stared the ugly lizard in the face as I continued to pile mana onto the bomb that was falling with me, off to my left.
Oh, look, it was going to use its breath attack on me. Perfect.
Ten seconds and it opened its maw for that last pull of air. At the same time, I sent the bomb right into the drake's open mouth, the creature inhaling it.
I strained a little, keeping connected to the construct, ignoring as a Level Up notification appeared and disappeared in the same half-beat.
Ignite it.
As soon as the drake closed its jaws so it can convert the mana into its breath attack, I released the hold I kept on the shell.
"Bang," I mouthed with a smirk.
The explosion was gigantic. I was only able to see part of the giant flying lizard's body collapsing in on itself as it blew up before I was engulfed in flames and gore.
Haha… what was this?
I watched my HP drain only to refresh from a Level Up. Like an endless loop.
[Nori, you did it!]
Yeah, uh-huh.
[We survived!] the AI sounded disbelieving. Same, 37, same.
I coughed weakly, mostly because there wasn't really air for me to breathe in at the moment, and that was definitely at least cracked ribs. With the adrenaline rush over with, I was beginning to feel the pain from the blast of my first attack.
[… Nori, we're still falling.]
Mentally trying to regain my ability of flight, I felt like I was fumbling in the dark. It was like trying to grab a cup right in front of me and missing every time. Oh, I think I definitely busted something in my brain; it was amazing I managed to successfully create that second bomb.
[Nori!]
'Sorry, Thirty-Seven, I… don't think… I can…'
[I will not let your efforts go to waste. I'll make sure we survive this, Nori!]
…
…