NOVEL NEXT 66: A Surprise Addition
With Sylvia entering the battle, momentum swung back towards the Primordial Deities. Not only did they manage to stop the scorpion in its tracks, they managed to beat it back from all sides. It was, in all honesty, looking like utter domination.
They had four deities all pounding down on this one abomination of a scorpion. Sure, the scorpion did have strength far beyond two, even three, Cataclysmic Monsters, and sure, of the four deities, three of them had been fighting for a long time now, but the numbers advantage was still too powerful. No matter its power, the Primordial Deities were determined to push it back.
The scorpion though, had an atrocious level of vitality. It could take beatings like no other being on the planet and its regenerative capabilities would swoop in to save the day. It seemed built, like no other, for battles of attrition.
“How much energy does it even have...” Sylvia complained while growing a forest of plants from the ocean floor into the sky. “I’m detoxifying everyone!”
Burning a huge amount of divinity to blossom the entire forest of plants all at once, Sylvia winced and clutched her abdomen as the entire cloud of gas was dispelled. “Rainier, next time you’re doing it with your wind, I need some rest.”
Rainier, already out of the battle as a frontline fighter just gave a thumbs up. Floating in the ocean like a dead body, he was too tired to fight anymore and had left the frontline to Valencia. If anything, he was just weather support.
Refreshing her support spell on both Sylvia and Valencia, Joanna felt the fatigue begin to drive a spike of pain through the back of her head. Clutching her throbbing head, she could only shut her mouth and shake her head while concentrating on keeping the monster in chains.
As a non-combatant most of the time, Joanna admired the others’ ability to fight through the blood, pain, and fatigue...
Especially Rainier! Look at the man! He was drenched, from head to toe, in his own blood. His clothes were in tatters! Half his bones were shattered! Yet, he pushed forward and continued to participate in battle.
“Why did you all want me out here...” Sylvia groaned while coughing up globs of blood as her skin began to pale. “Growing plants in the middle of the ocean to detoxify some mist or gas or whatever this is.... Is not very energy efficient.”
“Well, Estelle’s not able to do anything, she’d just be watching like us,” Joanna shrugged while giving Sylvia a few comforting pats on the back. “What... now though?”
“That’s a great question,” Sylvia answered while summoning some small plants to aid with the battle. “This battle doesn’t seem to be progressing anywhere. They’re both hurting, but it’s not like either party is suffering too
badly right now.”“Indeed,” Joanna nodded while summoning another layer of chains, the exertion causing a bolt of pain to stab into her stomach. “Valencia, as always, is thriving in battle. I truly wonder what made her this much of a battle junkie.”
“I’m sure she’s also getting it out of her system,” Sylvia laughed while flooding the scorpion’s area of the ocean with thorny plants. “She hasn’t been able to let loose for the past couple decades after all.”
“That’s true...” Joanna sighed before moving on. The battle was becoming a little... boring. They were settled into a rhythm and the scorpion’s attacks, although powerful, were not too hard to predict.
Far from the battle were crowds of spectators. With the opportunity to see four different Primordial Deities fight, a lot of curious bystanders had begun to congregate by the outermost ring. Amongst the audience members though, one was considering flying over and joining the battle: Astrid.
“So... you don’t want me to go,” Astrid asked while motioning outside the window. “It looks fine enough right? Aren’t there two of them floating there just chatting? I could go help out...”
“Yes, but we were tasked with attending to your needs and keeping you safe,” the assistant pushed Astrid back into her seat, “So, just sit tight and watch, I’m sure it’ll resolve itself well.”
Groaning, Astrid flopped back onto the couch as a worry brushed across her face. It was already the third time she had asked and each time they had shut her down in the same fashion.
But how could she sit still?
She was sure Valencia was having fun, but it hurt her heart seeing Valencia getting pounded by the scorpion time after time...
Pulling out her phone, Astrid decided to ‘take a trip to the restroom’ while dialing Solomon’s phone number. Closing and locking the restroom door behind her, she waited a couple seconds before the call connected. “Hey~ Solomon, I have a favor to ask...”
“What’s up? You want to leave, correct?” Solomon predicted with a light chuckle. Typing on a document while waving off a couple of his assistants, Solomon spun in his chair and looked out the window. “It should be fine enough. I should probably come with you though.”
“Are you sure? Aren’t you quite busy with... running the city and stuff?” Astrid asked with a worried tone. “I could just go on my own. Joanna and Sylvia don’t seem too busy so I could hang out with them.”
“No, don’t worry about it,” Solomon laughed while powering his computer down. “I came back because the cult leaders had all shown themselves, but I think Estelle has the situation under control. Where are you?”
“Some bathroom, the closest one to the room you dropped me off in...” Astrid answered before getting hung up on. “... Really?”
Shaking her head, she sat tight in the bathroom. Washing her hands and checking herself in the mirror real quick to ensure there wasn’t an immense outfit malfunction she wasn’t aware of. Tying her hair up, she flinched as someone began
pounding the door.“Solomon here, ready to go?” Solomon asked before hesitating. “Wait, Astrid, you’re in this bathroom, right?”
“Y-Yes!” Astrid stammered before breaking into laughter. Pulling the door open, she gave Solomon a thumbs-up before leaning over and whispering. “Which way out? Also, before we go, here.”
Pressing her hands against Solomon’s shoulders, Astrid began channeling her divinity forward as golden light burst forth from her hands. Restoring Solomon’s body back to peak condition, she raised her eyebrows a couple of times. “What do you think, hmm? Not bad, right?”
“Very impressive indeed,” Solomon nodded before motioning down the hall. “This way.”
Following along behind Solomon, Astrid weaved her way through the Library of Truth hallways. Once outside, she took a second to begin flying, but once in the air, she zipped along behind Solomon towards the open ocean.
It was battle time!
Warming up her hands by breathing into them, Astrid couldn’t help but laugh as she approached the others. “Hey! I... uh... wanted to come out and join you all. I can help, trust me!”
