Chương 112: Delay

Hello All, Work has been heavy these past weeks, and I'm not happy with what I've written. I'm going to have to delay the chapter another week. Apologies for the letdown. In order for RR to allow the post, I've had to copy and paste the text of an old chapter below. Please ignore it. There was too much magic running in him, and it wouldn't survive another movement like that. Skin began to split apart as he felt his body unable to contain the dense concentration of magic inside of him.

It was a credit to his skill that he was still functional. All of a sudden, Cal could see clearly again. He had made it past the clouds. This had to be good enough. He wasn't alone up here, and soon dozens of clones joined him. They covered every angle, trapping him in a formation the shape of a sphere. It seemed he was not the only one making a big move. He watched them raise their weapons and zip forward. Cal only diverted enough attention to ensure none were angling for his head. He still needed that.

Taking a deep breath, Cal regretted it immediately as he felt his lungs pop one after another. It was a good thing they weren't required right now. His knowledge of sound magic was narrow, but there were one or two things he knew how to do well. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. Cal forced his arms wide apart, tendons straining under the pressure. He reached deep within, grasping at the well of magic inside him, readying it to power a single, decisive manifestation.

He was pushed forward as a blade tore through his shell and emerged from his abdomen. Others soon joined it. He did not allow them to distract him, and he wove the magic carefully, layering it far beyond what anyone might have thought possible. Satisfied, there was only one thing left to do. With multiple weapons pierced through his body, Cal clapped. The blowing wind, the buzzing electricity, his labored breath—all ceased to exist for a single moment as the world itself stuttered.

The air rippled, shuddering as an invisible wave of sound surged in every direction. Copies burst, offering as little resistance as the clouds did to the crashing shockwave. It tore through the night sky, dashing away everything in sight and leaving only two figures. They hung there, illuminated by the twinkling stars above, as reality tried to pull itself together. With the excess magic expelled, Cal's body was already healing, knitting itself together with impressive urgency.

Sadly, he did not have the luxury of waiting for a full recovery. He picked his head up, seeing William had also been forced onto his back by the blast. In an instant, he was above the still-conscious yet dazed man. He cupped his hands together, raising them overhead.

"Grace?" William choked out, blood dribbling from his mouth. No. Cal. He brought his hands down on the man's chest, the shimmer of his shell visible as it took the impact. William was launched downward, streaking like a meteor to the ground. It wasn't enough for Cal, and he caught up to the man, hammering him with a barrage of punches. Each one pushed him away, only for Cal to close the distance and deliver another.