"Give that back!" I called out to Lari as she pranced about the deck of the airship. In her hands, both mine and Einervaene's hats. Beside me, Einervaene. Who was also annoyed at Lari taking her hat.
"Yeah! Ayi-chira! Please, this isn't funny, we have more important things to do!" Einervaene said in an effort to plead with the blue-haired woman. She had been doing this a lot lately, Lari, that is. She keeps doing stuff to get me near Einervaene. And, frankly, it worried me a little.
Did this have to do with what she told me in the bathroom...? I really wish it wasn't because I just did not want to confront it. Because, frankly, I was very paranoid about how that would play out. Would rejecting her spiral out of control...?
I did not know. And I did not know why Lari had just stopped either. It's like she was suddenly bothered by something. So, I guess my hat can wait for the moment.
"La-" I began to say before something very hot slammed into me. Forcing me through the airship and air until I stopped in the ground. Ground that had suddenly became molten and burnt. And I screamed in pain as I properly registered the flaming fist in my gut.
"SHIT!" I yelled out before I groaned in pain. One of my claws soon tearing off my mask so I could look at whoever attacked me. A glare quickly forming as this disinterested looking creature suddenly became curious.
"You are alive?" It asked me in a haughty tone as I recovered from the punch it gave me. My eyes flinching away the entire time as the heat I was in was unbearable. How hot was this thing!? God of Fire, please remove your blessing on this thing!
"YOU WON'T BE!" I yelled out in anger at the creature before I recklessly charged at it. Slamming my bulk into its near-equal one and just coming to a halt. Panicking as I was then picked up and tossed away. Stinging sensations all over my body along with distinct handprints.
"HAHAHAHAHA! You stupid... Human...?" It initially laughed out maniacally before it came to a stop to look at my face. A short-lived expression of confusion appearing on its face before it shook its head. Meanwhile, I was looking about trying to figure out what to do. I couldn't beat this thing in a fight! To say nothing of the heat!
"Lari!?" I then called out in panic as I turned away from the creature idiotically. Staring up at the airship in disbelief as I saw it disappear. Blasts of green surrounding it as one side burned brightly. I needed to get back up there.
But, I don't think I would be right now as I had just been smacked into the ground. A faceful of dirt before I was forced to eat it when a set of talons grabbed me and pushed. And as my arms flailed about in an effort to get myself out. I was let go off, more of that laughter filling my ears shortly after.
"You're pathetic, creature." I was told before I was kicked into a mountain. My breath having been lost in the way there. Let alone when I rolled down it after smashing into it. So I was just left coughing when it was all over.
I couldn't fight this thing... I needed to get out of here... Let Lari deal with it... Her water magic would make us win.
"Don't follow!" I called out to it before I ran off. Jumping as fast as I could between mountains in an effort to lose it. Yet, even that would not work and it just sped into me as I travelled across the valley. Those long, curved horns just barely missing the opportunity to stab me as it hit me again.
"I'm going to kill you!" It told me before it roared fire towards me. Fire I just could not get out of the way of in time. So I covered my body with my arms like a scared child. Screaming in pain as the fire rolled over me and cooked me.
At least, until I brought up some kind of barrier with my magic that directed it around me. Hysterical laughter being my response from then on as the barrier went away. Laughter that quickly died off when the fires went away. Leaving me a somewhat clear view of my attacker.
"So you aren't as pitiful as presumed... Eugh, I hate that about humans and the lesser species. Always hiding your power and restraining it..." It muttered in annoyance before its right claw lit up with fire. And I was left somewhat enlightened, now that I focused somewhat. It became clear to me, this was all the power it had... And I was hiding mine...
"Noted..." I responded with as I backed away. Urging my body to let out magic as the ground behind me became rougher and bumpier. A soot-black mountainside soon pressing up against my back. Indicating to me very clearly that I needed to fight or run...
And just before it leapt at me to take another swipe at me, I brought forth my trusted magic. A long pole of magic I could hopefully use as a weapon to hit this thing with. I could avoid the burns and potentially kill it or something! But that laughter was unnerving...
Was it not enough!? Was it just going to break like it did when I played around with Lari!? No! It won't because I was not playing around this time!
"Waionr grant me strength..." I quietly said just before I moved to fight this creature.