Chapter 64: Tud’or and Lan’ka Steps In
Splash!
Ka’z remained on one knee, both trembling hands planted against the blood soaked earth as another mouthful of blood spilled from between his lips and splashed beneath him. Every breath came in ragged gasps that burned his lungs, his chest rising and falling violently as the metallic scent of blood filled his nose. His vision blurred around the edges and his heartbeat pounded so loudly inside his ears that it drowned out the screams echoing across the battlefield.
The lightning coursing through his body refused to fade. Blue arcs danced between the gaps of his scales, forcing his muscles into violent spasms every few seconds. His fingers twitched uncontrollably, his legs no longer answered him and even opening his mouth required tremendous effort. The lingering paralysis from Grash’s lightning magic had robbed him of the ability to fight back.
’I’m going to die.’
For the first time since arriving in Athedal, genuine terror settled inside Ka’z’s heart. His healing spell meant nothing if he couldn’t even lift a hand or say a word to cast it properly. His body simply refused to obey him.
Heavy footsteps approached before finally stopping a short distance away.
Grash looked down at the wounded child in silence, his sharp eyes studying him carefully. The killing intent that had filled his gaze moments ago slowly gave way to something closer to curiosity.
"You are familiar with the Language of Power," Grash finally said, his voice calm yet heavy. "Even more familiar than myself."
His eyes lingered on Ka’z’s trembling figure.
"Every spell you have used has been activated through spoken words alone. I spent years learning how to pronounce only a handful of Words of Power correctly. Yet you speak them as though they are your native tongue."
For the first time since this battle began, Grash hesitated.
Such knowledge was priceless.
A child capable of speaking the Language of Power so fluently was worth far more alive than dead.
After several silent seconds, he reached his decision.
"Tie him up. Stuff his mouth shut. We’re taking this one home."
His cold eyes never left Ka’z.
"Understood."
Lucy immediately nodded while slinging her bow across her back before dismounting her tiger striped boar. Brox, Poh and Tal followed soon after while Rudor remained mounted behind them, his crimson hood concealing whatever expression lay beneath.
Satisfied, Grash turned around without another glance and calmly resumed walking toward the cave entrance as though everything had already been decided.
Swoosh!
A sudden blur shot out from the nearby bushes. Every goblin instinctively flinched.
Before anyone could react, Ru’k burst across the battlefield almost flat against the ground, sliding over the dirt with impossible speed as though the earth itself had become polished ice beneath his feet.
"What?!"
Lucy gasped.
Ru’k never slowed.
He reached Ka’z in an instant, hooked both arms beneath him and lifted the injured kobold onto his shoulder in one fluid movement before continuing forward without losing momentum.
"Wind Magic: Wind Steps!"
Wind gathered beneath his feet and exploded behind him.
His speed doubled instantly.
Ka’z weakly opened one eye, a bitter smile appearing despite the blood running down his chin.
’This bastard... He really invented another way to run away.’
Only then did Ka’z remember. Ru’k’s hunting party had never returned to the colony. They must have heard the battle from deeper inside the forest and rushed over immediately.
Lucy recovered first. Her bow was already back in her hands and she smoothly drew an arrow and pulled the string taut, her sharp eyes locking onto Ru’k’s retreating back.
Before she could release it, a silver streak flashed through the corner of her vision.
Clang!
Tal instinctively drew his sword and swatted an incoming arrow out of the air before it reached Lucy.
Everyone turned simultaneously.
Standing between the trees were four kobold hunters with bows already drawn, arrows aimed directly at the goblins. Their bodies trembled with fear, yet none of them lowered their weapons.
"More rats?"
Lucy frowned.
"Get out of here, Ru’k!"
"Save Ka’z!"
The hunters shouted at the top of their lungs while rapidly loosing another volley of arrows.
Ru’k never looked back. His only focus was the forest ahead.
Once inside those woods, countless trees, bushes and uneven terrain would make pursuit much more difficult.
Keeping Ka’z alive came before everything else.
Thud!
Without warning, the air became unbearably heavy and Ru’k’s instincts screamed. Time itself seemed to slow as a massive shadow descended from above.
He instinctively looked up.
Grash!!!!
The goblin chief had somehow appeared directly overhead, his enormous battle axe already raised high enough to blot out the afternoon sun.
His cold eyes stared down at them without emotion.
"Vael Ryn."
Wind Magic: Wind Rush!
Wind erupted beneath his feet like an invisible explosion. The terrifying acceleration carried his gigantic body through the air as though gravity itself had ceased to exist.
He looked less like a warrior and more like death descending and his axe came crashing down.
Bang!
A blazing torrent of flames erupted sideways across the battlefield. The explosion slammed into Grash before the axe could reach its target.
Instinct alone saved him.
His battle axe twisted sideways, its enchanted blade becoming a shield just before the inferno struck.
Boom!
The firestorm engulfed him completely. Grash’s boots dug trenches through the earth as the overwhelming force shoved him backward.
Within the sea of flames, his eyes met another pair burning with equal hostility.
Tud’or!
The injured commander stood with one arm extended, fierce fire pouring from between the gaps in his crimson scales. Neither warrior blinked. Their murderous gazes clashed through the inferno.
Bang!
The explosion finally overwhelmed Grash.
His body shot backward several meters before landing heavily on both feet. He skidded across the scorched ground until planting the blade of his battle axe into the earth, carving a deep trench before finally stopping.
Ru’k stared ahead in disbelief.
Standing between him and the goblins were two towering figures.
Tud’or and Lan’ka.
Flames continuously leaked from the cracks between Tud’or’s scales, surrounding him in shimmering heat while Lan’ka casually rolled his shoulders and cracked his neck as though preparing for a routine training session rather than facing the strongest goblin in the southern forest.
"You’ve done it now, you green motherfucker."
Lan’ka’s voice carried an excitement that made even the goblins pause.
"You dared touch my boys."
Tud’or’s eyes burned with cold fury.
"Be certain you won’t leave here alive."
Ka’z’s chest rose and fell violently. Every breath felt like inhaling knives. His vision spun, yet he forced trembling fingers beneath the deep wound across his chest.
"Lumen Carn Kael..."
The ancient words escaped his lips between painful breaths.
Warm golden light slowly spread beneath his blood stained palm. The torn flesh gradually knitted itself together, though far slower than usual.
He had already lost too much blood and his thoughts refused to remain focused. Even maintaining the healing spell felt like trying to grasp water with bare hands.
For the first time, Ka’z truly understood why runes existed. A prepared healing array would have activated instantly.
He clenched his jaw. Using every remaining ounce of strength inside him, he forced his head upward.
"Be... careful... He... can... use... words..."
Ka’z struggled to breathe between every sentence.
According to Rok, Grash had mastered only three spoken Words of Power. Ka’z had already witnessed Wind Storm and Wind Rush.
That meant one more remained.
Tud’or gave a slight nod without taking his eyes off Grash.
"I understand. Get him out of here."
He spoke quietly before looking over his shoulder. Lan’ka glanced briefly toward Ka’z before reaching over and firmly patting Ru’k on the head.
"Run. Take him home."
"Yes, sir!"
Ru’k answered instantly.
Wind exploded beneath his feet once more. Without giving Ka’z another chance to object, he shot toward the cave entrance with the wounded child over his shoulder.
Ka’z wanted to protest but his body no longer belonged to him. All he could do was watch Tud’or and Lan’ka grow smaller behind him as Ru’k carried him deeper toward the safety of Vaal’kor Colony.