Zed's eyes bulged out of their sockets, his grip on the Vampire Blade faltering, teetering on the edge of slipping from his grasp.
His cloak billowed wildly in the air, flapping as though starving for more conflict, a fervent predator hungrily lusting for the gigantic beetle it targeted.
'Let me at it!'
The shrill insistence of a child's voice echoed in his mind, seeping into his consciousness with an urgency that was almost palpable.
"Huh…"
This unexpected turn of events took Zed by surprise, leaving him slightly bewildered. His initial plan had been to throw himself into a desperate battle, utilizing his scarce spores and his Vampire constitution to scrape by. But now, it seemed, this newcomer—his cloak—was eager to be thrust into the fray, an unexpected player clamoring to join the game.
"Be my guest, then."
A lopsided grin tugged at the corners of Zed's mouth as he unfastened the cloak with one hand.
