A jolt of pain sliced through Zephyr's back, causing his body to freeze, his back arching as his arms flailed from the shock. He collapsed face-first into the ground, barely registering what had happened before sensing someone else's presence behind him.
Zephyr barely rolled to the side before a sword stabbed the ground where his head had been. The sound of the steel vibrated beside him, and he looked up to see his opponent. He couldn't process who it was before he was on his feet, backing away from Ace Chance's attacks.
He was a force to be reckoned with!
Zephyr struggled to deflect each of the enforcer's swords, stumbling back as each lethal strike kept going beyond his range, almost cutting Zephyr's throat in one swift move. Ace Chance was ruthless in his attack without a bead of sweat on his features or a strand of hair out of place. While he had a cool demeanour, Zephyr was panting and fighting for his life!
He was sick of these enforcers!
He was sick of almost dying!
He was sick of being weak.
Zephyr tried to go on the offensive, dodging and spinning to swipe his blade against Ace's back, but he was too quick! He was only human! Ace blocked Zephyr's sword and sliced with his other.
"Ugh!" The sword sliced across his shoulder.
It was no use! Ace was too strong and skilful!
The enforcer pushed his sword back, flipped over the top of Zephyr, crossed his blades and swiped. Zephyr wasn't quick enough. He couldn't block the blow. Was this it? He was about to beheaded-
The swords missed, merely grazing the back of his neck as the ground violently rumbled and Ace lost his balance.
Zephyr leapt forward as the ground exploded. Dirt burst around them like a downpour as a gigantic elongated monster rose like a stem in the ground before crashing to the side, screeching as its pincers snapped at the air. It was a worm-like creature.
Its skin stretched and contracted as it shook what was presumably the head.
Ace finally fell down from above, manoeuvring to use the tip of his sword on the ground and flipping over it, and landing gracefully. By the time he looked for his opponent, the Slinktail, who shouldn't have outrun him so quickly, was gone like smoke in the wind.
Left in its place was this Wormtail creature.
Hidden in the trees again, panting, Zephyr was held up by Fig. She slammed him into the tree trunk. "You're becoming a real hassle, you know."
Zephyr leaned his head back, needing a moment to gain his breath.
"Where are the others?" He asked while scanning the woods below, where Ace was now fighting the weird creature by himself.
Beyond that, the fighting was almost over. The fae, who were ruthless in their attacks, was no might against the hunters' guns and the specialised netting they used to keep them trapped to the ground. Half of the demons were bodies on the ground, killed by fae and humans. The others were in the midst of fighting or unconscious, being cuffed.
"They're further ahead. Garzon wants to go to Shadowmere. Maz is against it. He wants to go to either Howlers Hills or Wormley," Fig explained.
"Why are you here instead of being with them?" Zephyr asked. It wasn't to save his ass, for sure.
Fig smirked cruelly. "Because Tez wandered this way."
Wandered? Since when did he do something against Garzon's orders?
Zephyr frowned. "So?"
Fig stepped closer, flicking her turquoise braided hair over her shoulder. "Aren't you frustrated losing to everyone all the time? Don't you want to level up? Become a Draegorth?"
Zephyr's gaze flicked between hers. Why did it look like she held all the answers in her hands?
"I know how. I know the secret to becoming a Draegorht quicker. The easiest way…" Fig continued. "You could become a Draegorth as quickly as tomorrow." She clicked her fingers, watching his expression excitedly.
She sounded like a salesman trying to upsell something impossible. Still, it intrigued him.
"What do you want?" He got straight to the point.
If this was new knowledge or something that would help him, then Fig wouldn't give it away for free.
Her eyes crinkled. "I want your trust."
"My trust?" Zephyr narrowed his eyes. "That's it?" Not buying it at all.
"You're smart… I want to work with someone who is not an imbecile, someone who could make a difference-"
"Then you're looking at the wrong man, sweetheart. I'm only in this for myself, just like you."
Fig grinned again, her smile broadening like she didn't hear what he just said. "Exactly…"
The worm creature screeched again, and the Slinktails stopped their conversation to stare at it.
Ace was on top of the creature, his swords stabbed in its head and multiple wounds to its body.
"We need to get out of here," Zephyr said, pushing offthe tree trunk but Fig remained still, unconcerned.
"I'm in the opposite direction… Zephyr…"She locked eyes with him. "To become a Draegorth, you need to kill one. I'm hunting Tez down now… Garzon is further ahead…"
"You're shitting me," Zephyr snapped, scoffing. "And why wouldn't I track down Tez or Maz? Or is this all a part of your plan?"His blade pressed against her throat. "You know who I'd rather kill… But you're Garzon's girl… "
"I was never his," she spat. "Kill either one, but we both know whose the better choice… Kill Garzon, and it'd be a favour to me as well… Don't, and he'll come after us for killing his comrades."
Zephyr tilted his head to the side. "Who says we'd land a single blow on them?"
He might have trained hard to reach this point, but they were still powerful. Fighting, no, surviving Ace's attacks was already a challenge.
Fig smirked. "There was nothing stating we cannot use a little… help."
"What do you mean?"
"Poison… Garzon and Tez are both under it's influence…" So Garzon really was her target all along.
To be frank, even if this scheme didn't mean he levelled up to a Draegorth, Garzon wouldn't be a problem anymore.
Fig shrugged in answer and added. "This is the opportune moment to attack. Use this chaos to your advantage. Or don't. Either way, I'm levelling up."
She turned away from him but before she could leap off the branch, Zephyr said darkly, "Just know that if this is all a ruse of yours, I will find you and kill you."
Fig kept her back to the Slinktail. "I wouldn't expect anything less." She said unconcerned, and leapt from the tree before Zephyr could ask any more questions. "See you in Wormley!"
How the fuck was he going to fight Garzon with this open wound on his back among the others the Spymaster created?
He glanced in the direction Ace was heading where most of the Slinktails and fae were now being subdued. It was simple really. He'd somehow make it work so if he ever faced those pricks again, he'd be ready.