Behind Lana, she could hear screams. While many were unable to maintain their balance, Dobin encased his feet in earth and created pillars on each side to hold onto. Bonnie and Sil used telekinesis to push off the ground a bit and hover. Duff stabbed the ground with his sai and held on. Lana used spikes with her armor. Shalt transformed his feet into spikes. Caser used his claws.
It seemed like an eternity but was only 30 seconds. The first thing that could be seen about 60 feet from Lana, Dobin and Rene and 45 feet from the rest who remained where they were while Lana and Rene went to check on Dobin, was the tip of a trident.
As the rock fell away, a humanoid head emerged. As it continued to rise, the body appeared insect-like with armored segments. It stood on two legs that had three segments instead of 2. The upper thigh was highly muscular the next segment bent backwards while the third segment bent forward into a 4-toed foot with long claws.
The arms wielding the trident were long and thin with a humanoid hand wrapped firmly around the staff of the weapon. The back had a spiky spine that would resemble the mane of a zebra as it stood straight up but with razor-sharp spikes. The tail was also segmented and armored and 20-feet long.
Lana could see the tail could be used as an effective whip but with the way the segments appeared, she doubted it would be as useful as her own whip. The segments didn't look quite as bendy as her vines.
The beast was closer to her friends than her. She knew there were strong people there, able to see how many were still standing after the rumbling, but she could also see this was legendary tier. None had fought a beast of this level before.
Sil had helped kill the demon-tier on the hunt with Quinn but he was holding his promise to observe unless needed.
Lana started running toward the beast as she drew her sword. She touched something that felt like a pin-prick which ignited a massive pain like electric shock to race through her body. At the same time, a voice rang out in her head. Her mother's. Her hair turned forest green. She wanted to collapse in the pain but she willed herself to push through it.
Behind her, Dobin did collapse in experiencing her pain.
Lana screamed as she ran. Those who didn't know, thought it was a battle cry. Shalt, Duff and Biff were getting ready to go in for an attack. Lana started using her gymnastics techniques, flips and jumps, to get airborne. She aimed to finish this fight before it began.
The whipper lifted its tail and swung toward Shalt who was the first to get within range. Lana flipped then jumped once more as the tail was getting ready to impact Shalt but the tail got knocked aside as Lana used it as a launching pad. After a few more flips in the air, she landed on the shoulders and stabbed the sword through the head but she followed through.
With the sword in the middle of the head, she swung herself forward and slid down, creating a huge slice from the middle of the head, down the front of its face, and down the front of its body. She dropped ten feet once she ran out of body due to its 30-foot height. When she hit the ground, she rolled to the side and the whipper fell to the ground.
Lana's new green hair glistened in the bright desert sun. Her hair was now flanked by pointy ears. She knelt on the ground with her head bent forward and stayed there. Dobin could still feel her pain. Everyone was dumbfounded about what had just happened.
Lana could hear the whisperings behind her. The concern. The speculation. She was still in immense pain but her mind was reviewing what her mother's voice had said.
Only my DNA may unlock the sword. Otherwise there would be death. Unlocking evolution. Evolution beginning. You are now of the Fey of Nordash. Embrace your heritage.
Sil couldn't keep his eyes off her and started walking toward her. Dobin picked himself up and did the same. Shalt was close to her but had lost balance when dodging the tail and needed to pick himself back up.
She heard the others approaching, "Stay back!"
Dobin and Sil were now right next to Shalt. They both looked at each other and were determined to ignore her command out of concern. Shalt fell in step behind them.
Sil knelt down at one side of her, Dobin on the other. Shalt stood behind her.
Lana's voice was strained, "it hurts so much…"
"Talk to me Butterfly, what's going on?"
Dobin added, "what's this pain?"
Lana tried to explain as best she could. "It appears the sword was made by our mother. I hit a button when I pulled it out that pricked me… It drew out my blood. Look at the sword. There is still some blood there. It's …. Green…" She took a deep breath, "Shalt, is that you behind me? I smell three different species."
"Yes, please. Tell me what I can do... How can I help?"
"First," Lana sliced her finger a small bit, "Does my blood still smell edible?"
Shalt inhaled then slowly exhaled. "No." He paused briefly, "I will need a new source."
Dobin and Sil both looked at each other sharply.
Lana nodded, not surprised. The cut on her finger quickly healed itself.
"Shalt, I need you to lead the others back to the trees. We didn't get far so it should only take an hour. Put up the shelter and wait for us."
Shalt nodded, "as you wish." He looked at the other two men before turning around with intense concern. If he had not been wearing his glasses, they would have seen his glowing eyes.
Lana could feel the conflict within Caser, something she was never fully in touch with before. He wanted to keep the babies safe but Lana was obviously in some kind of trouble. In the end, he decided to follow Shalt and the others and get the babies out of this dangerous desert.
Lana stayed silent. She kept one hand on her sword hilt while the other had snaked out and grabbed Sil's hand firmly. He noticed her skin had a bit of a green tinge to it and was …shiny. Her grip was also tighter. She had gotten stronger.
When she felt they had gone a good distance, "Dobin, the image the tree shared of mom…. She was hurt and suffering terribly. She had these… wounds. On her back. I didn't say anything because I was trying to figure out what they were. After seeing Alex yesterday and what I've experienced just now…. I. I think I know. I think they were wings. I think she had wings and they were cut from her."
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