My attention snapped to the creature, who dared to weaponize such a taboo word. The wind fluttered, yet even the cool breeze could not wash away the heat that rushed into my face.
"What the fuck you say to me, you little shit?!" I roared, kicking Mikangleo aside without so much as looking at the man.
"Nibba?"
That would be the last word that rodent would ever utter. I turned to face him and spotted his confusion sprout into panic. Having a six-foot, fox god appear in front of you in a heartbeat would make me panic, too, had I not been said god. It was difficult to punch the creature, so I decided to punt the little rodent like a professional punter in the NFL.
The Kick-Rat's eyes bulged out of its sockets as it rocketed towards the hill that we came from. I half expected the creature to roll up it from the force of my kick, but it was just as satisfying witnessing it bounce back against. I assumed being a creature of the Grotto, he'd have more durability than Mikangleo, so I didn't let up.
I focused my mana, willing-no, commanding it to grab the nearby roots to do my bidding. They erupted from the ground, despite being at least fifty yards away from me. The roots snapped and crackled as they ensnared the Kick-Rat by his waist and lifted him into the air. The roots rose well over twenty feet into the air before mimicking a death drop in an amusement park.
"Where I'm from, we'd use poison to rid your disgusting kind from our homes, Rodent. I think Gravity would do the trick as well!"
The impact from the Kick-Rat's drop kick up dirt and thunderous impact wiggled my ears. My heart fluttered at the sight, and my tail began wagging uncontrollably. A grin appeared on my face as a dastardly thought appeared in my mind.
'Don't let up. Rats of his size are formidable creatures, yet even New Yorkian rats need to breathe!'
"Vine Bind: Burial!" I barked.
While my eyesight couldn't pierce the dark dust cloud, I did know he was in there. That is all that matters for this attack to transpire; the vines would wrap around him like an anaconda and drag that bastard to the deepest bowels of hell. If you were to ask me, then I'd say he belongs there anyway. I could detect the subtle cracking of the earth and sharp squeals from the rat.
'Ah! This is music to my ears. Move over Eye of the Tiger and Lacrimosa Requiem, this might be my favorite new song.'
The squealing stopped, and with the dust cloud settled, I was able to see my handiwork. I began to approach, grateful to have people that slur-spewing rodent in its place, when I felt was wave of weakness rush over me. It was akin to vertigo, taking my breath away momentarily. My body screamed, and then I took notice; it was my instincts.
My instincts dictated that I should move to my left, and I did. The reason was revealed, and it shouldn't have dropped my jaw, but it did. Out of the ground where I once stood, the Kick-Rat emerged. His claws were enlarged, and the once waist-high creature was bulked up.
"Nibba!" He bellowed as the dirt shot out from around him.
His beady eyes narrowed once they locked with my narrowed ones. To say that he was bigger would be an understatement; my previous Kick-Rat friend was reminiscent of a Capybara in demeanor, but his aura was different now. I think staring down the sun would be a wiser investment of your time. and possibly safer. His tail was longer, well over eight feet in length.
Those small teeth were wider, but still blunted. I would think they'd give beavers a run for their money. However, the features that gave me more pause were the ardvark-like claws and the kangaroo feet on this bastard. Long gone was the cute and cuddly Kick-Rat from before; this bastard was evolved by whatever sick God in this world, and I thank my god for it.
"Nibba, Nibba?!" he bellowed, but I scoffed at his reply.
"Trying to enter my weight class, huh? It's a shame that despite their new length, those claws are too short to box with-"
The Kick-Rat launched himself at me, and I narrowly reacted. Claws sank into my forearm, tearing a large gash across my shoulder. Pain soared through from the impact, even if I had dodged to his right. I was lucky, I will admit that. If I were even a second slower, my entire shoulder would've been detachable.
'This speed...this aggression!'
For the second time today, I found myself backpedaling. The Kick-Rat launched himself like a wild beast, slashing those monstrous claws at me. Our size difference went into his favor, being just small enough for me to have difficulty punching his lights out. With punching offering little opportunity, I turned to kicking.
'Now!'
With his speed, it made things difficult, but he was a sloppy beast, and sloppy beasts get their skulls kicked in. He learned that lesson the hard way after I leaped over his head to get behind him. My boots drove into the top of his head as gravity brought my weight down. I stumbled forward, but quickly regained my balance.
"Foot dive!" I chanted after the impact slammed him to the ground.
He landed on his back, stunned, and that granted me an opportunity. I hardened my glare at the pinned creature, and willed the roots underneath us to spring from the ground and ensnare him. The Kick-Rat squeaked in surprise, even though he shouldn't have.
"Eternal Bind Root, dumbass!" I mocked, laughing at his misfortune. "Enjoy the ride!"
My ears twitched as the roots snapped and quickly extended in the air. This time, the roots traveled fifteen feet in the air. It wasn't as high as the previous, but what happened next didn't require it. As soon as he reached the apex, I crouched down and launched myself into the air to meet him there.
"It's not often I get to do this, so try not to die easily!" I called as I foot dove the Kick-Rat back into the ground.
The impact cratered it, snapping the roots that bound him upon impact. I would imagine that broke a few ribs, but I was not done. While I removed my feet from his chest, I remained standing over him. With a sinister grin, my fists rained down on his chest, one after another.
'Fifteen, sixteen, ah, screw it!'
My hand shot forward, grabbing the Kick-Rat by his throat. He was heavier than I anticipated, but I was no weakling. I lifted the bastard by his neck and stared into his flickering, beady eyes.
"What did you expect to happen? Foxes eat rats." I declared.
"Nibba... Nibba Nibba?" he responded, a smirk appeared on his rat face.
"You think I need magic to fight you? Ballsy, little fella, aren't you?"
I tightened my grip and threw him several feet in front of me. His taunt offended me, and the fact that he had enough courage to taunt me irked me. With a swipe of my hand, I commanded the damaged roots to take life once more. My mana pumped, dragging the roots to bind the recovering Kick-Rat.
"I don't need magic, but I'm going to use it. I'm going to use it in a way that prolongs your suffering because you wanted to talk shit to me. You think that you are a tough guy because you've gotten bigger?! You were there when I beat that Kongarillo's ass, so what makes you think you are qualified to go toe-to-toe with me?" I asked as the roots dragged the creature into the air.
The Kick-Rat flailed against the restraints, since he knew what would happen next. He slowly crept from five feet to ten feet, and the higher he went, the more he flailed. It was a glorious sight.
'Struggle for me. Let's see if you look down your nose at me after this one.'
I began laughing again, inexplicably, and I had to reel myself in. I stopped for a moment as my instincts pulled on the ends of my mind. My head tilted, and I focused... 'Mikangleo? Claire? Claire'.
My body turned to face her, and sure enough, the woman had pulled herself to her feet. Her blonde hair was tinged with crimson, no doubt, the blood from her bloody nose. She looked to her left and her right before finding her rapier.
'Is she serious? She is clearly a dumb blonde.'
A snicker escaped from my lips as I commanded my mana to manifest the roots near her feet. She yelped as the roots wrapped around her leg and yanked her to the ground. It was a soft thud in the grass, but it would hurt nonetheless.
"C'mon over," I ordered, and the roots began dragging the woman in my direction.
"No! Let me go! Damn you, Mark!" She hissed.
Claire grunted while clawing at the grass and dirt. When she arrived in spitting distance, I commanded the vines to raise her in the air while she fought. I decided to grab Mikangleo with my roots just in case.
He was out of commission from my previous beatdown, but seeing the Kick-Rat's transformation made me realize that he might have a trump card, too. I can't allow that to spoil my fun, so I had the roots wrap around his legs like a cocoon and dangle him.
'Sine was right. Magic is easy to lord over when you have the talent for it. Those without the talent end up like these three. I suppose the gap between Mana Manipulation and Mana Command is as wide as Fawkes mentioned.'
"Whoa, is that the language of a noblewoman?" I asked, chuckling. I turned to the Kick-Rat for confirmation. A smile plastered on my face.
"Nibba. Nibba Nibba? Nibba!"
My smile vanished, and I pointed at the cursed rodent. My expression stiffened as I commanded his roots to drag him higher into the air. I stopped when he reached twenty-five feet into the air. The thick roots twisted together and became what could be considered a pole.
"You have quite the mouth on you, Rat! You fought valiantly, splendid even..." I said, clapping congruously, "If we were children. I expected more from you. You two, Claire. This is a world of incredible magic and impressive monsters. Where Gods reign supreme and those with power seize their moments. Cy of Torcorant was among those people, a snake and a plagiarist, who ended up biting the hand that fed him."
"Cy of Tocorant? What does a man from the Book of Cyto have to do with anything?" Claire inquired. "Is it because you're envious? Your-"
"Shut your fuckin mouth when I'm talkin' to you!" I snapped.
I commanded the roots to cover her mouth, stopping whatever bullshit she had in mind to say. The roots cracked, and the woman was lowered and readjusted so that she could look me in my eyes properly.
"Envy?! I took him in and showed him the ropes. I taunt him on what it means to have power and how to use it to better the situation of my citizens! To build and protect, and what did I get for my troubles?"
"Nibba."
"I'm not crazy, I'm not insane! What the hell do you know anyway?" I shouted, turning to face the Kick-Rat. "You lived in a dungeon, likely in fear of creatures like the Lynx. A creature, I spearheaded the death of! I killed it, Rat! That was me! It was I who raised the bar for what it means to be great, and it should've been me who paved this new era! An era that did not drag foxkin, and hunt Kitsunes like their wild beasts!"
'Kill them! They do not understand! They do not understand! Make them understand! No! A world of your creation was denied to you. It was stolen by another, and they taunt you for it. They think you're insane! Look at their expression!'
The eyes of the noblewoman and the Kick-Rat were tinted with confusion. They didn't understand what I was saying. It was as if I were speaking another language to them. That pissed me off!
"Nibba?"
'It's your fault, Marktavious. The Kitsune were hunted by your techniques by the elves, while the beasts of the dungeons lord over them! What kind of a man, no, A hero would allow himself to be mocked and ridiculed by their sneers?! No!'
My head began to pound, and the air itself became tinged with the taste of blood. It was sickly, yet the taste gradually became sweet.
'A man who shaped history mocked because he was displaced in time? I suppose had he been good enough, he would've been given credit! That's not true!'
My chest began to clench, and my left eye began to pulsate with pain. I covered it with my hand as saliva began frothing from my mouth. My blood became cold, then warmed drastically. That change brought a shock throughout my body that dropped me to my knees. I grunted as my head flooded with my desires.
"Nibba?!"
"Shut up!" I growled as I tried and failed to stand.
The air became stale with each breath, causing me to cough without reservation.
"I'm being poisoned?!"
My gaze shot to Claire, and the woman's hateful glare met it.
'Yes. She is the one responsible. We know it to be true! That's false! Not true at all!'
She has to be the one responsible! She's a mage, not telling what kind of spells she has beyond wind magic! I clenched my chest with my right hand and willed myself to stand. Gravity resisted my desires, and I commanded the air to fill my lungs with new inhalations.
"Nibba! Nibba Nibba Nibba?!"
"Enough, Rat!" I roared, clenching my right hand.
The roots began cracking, moving to entangle the creature in unshakeable tightness. I was going to suffocate the bastard.
'Do it! Finish the damned rat, and then take down the rest! Wait! Wait! Do not wait! Take him down! Take them all down! Show them that you mean business! That you are, who you say you are!'
"Nibb- Please wait!"