hotmtlnovel 9. Revenge
9. Revenge
The skill orb that had rolled out of the Salamander's mouth burst with light. A pulse of mana travelled up his arm and into his core, reinforcing it. His whole body tingled, pins and needles bursting out.Rare Skill Obtained: Salamander Healing
[Name: Ike | Age: 15 | Status: Burn | Rank: 1 [Salamander Slayer]]
Skills: Common: 3 | … | Rare 1 | … | Unique: 2
Common: Sprinter Lvl 5 | Distance Runner Lvl 8 | Razor Handling Lvl 7
Rare: Salamander Healing Lvl 1
Unique: Lightning Dash Lvl 4 | Lightning Grasp Lvl 3
Ike grinned. A wave of comfort washed over him, weakening the pain and granting him vigor even as his mana drained away. He threw himself out of the way of Joseph's boot, and the man's foot slammed into the ground instead. Wet sand flew up, splattering Ike's back. He kept rolling, then pushed himself back to his feet. The healing skill swirled in his eyes, and his vision returned. Ike cut his eyes across the pit,
Thunder rumbled. They both leaped toward one another. Joseph slammed his fist toward Ike's stomach, going for a body blow.
Ike swayed to the side, dodging the blow. For the first time in his fight with the party, lightning flickered around his hand. The razor darted for Joseph's neck.
A hit smashed into his ribs from the other side as Joseph's left fist flew in from his blind spot. His ribs cracked. Sick, sharp pain welled through his stomach, the disgusting sensation of a freshly broken bone. Ike stumbled, but pressed on, hand still flying forth despite the injury.
Joseph jerked his neck back. Between that and the stumble, Ike's razor barely skimmed his neck, drawing a line but not a fatal blow.
They parted. Ike backed away, free hand wrapped around his broken ribs. He swayed, his eyes bleary, whole body slumping with exhaustion. Joseph chased after him, hauling back his fist to finish him off.
Ike's eyes glittered. As Joseph punched him, he grabbed Joseph's arm with his free hand, pulling him close, and shoved the razor up under Joseph's ribcage. For the second time, hot blood gushed over his hand. He grabbed onto Joseph, his own body wrecked, leaning his weight on Joseph to remain standing. He couldn't fall now. Not with two members of the party still alive.
Joseph glared at him. "Fucking…die."
"No," Ike said, and released him.
Joseph fell onto his face. Ike staggered back, his ribcage a mess of pain, skin still aching from the burns, half-falling, half-walking until his back finally met the cliff wall. There, he panted, then forcibly slowed his breath, gasping in mana. The lightning faded from his feet. Exhaustion flooded him, Salamander Healing still a drain on his mana.
Across the field, for the first time since the Salamander fell, Tana moved.
Ike tried to push off the wall. His ribs jostled in his chest. The pain slammed into his brain, so intense his vision darkened at the edges. He coughed, spitting blood, and fell back against the wall. Clutching his razor, he watched as Tana approached, powerless to do anything else. With every passing second, his body healed, but slowly, too slow.
She drew up to Joseph's body and stopped, turning closed eyes toward him.
"Sorry I killed your boyfriend," Ike tried, watching for her reaction. Stall for time. Heal a little more. Then—
Joseph reached toward her, his hand trembling. "Tana…don't go…"
A sharp-edged, jagged, ugly magic circle appeared on the back of his hand, mirrored around Tana's throat. The vicious design possessed a bruise-like quality, dark purples and blacks, biting deep into both their flesh. Ike had never seen one before, but only one word came to mind: a curse.
Joseph's eyes shut, and his hand hit the ground. The magic circle shattered, and so did the one around Tana's neck, fragments of magic peeling off her neck and falling away.
Tana's eyes opened. Black sclera. White irises. Pinpoint pupils.
Ike startled. Like Ket's?
Lightning flashed, and Ket stepped out from behind her, turning those same eerie eyes on Ike. bowed. "We will not forget this kindness."
"I…what?" Ike asked, lost. Joseph put a curse on Tana, one that controlled her, or something. I can put that much together. But those eyes…what do they mean?
I know too little about this world. I need to see more. Experience the world.
Tana put her arm over Ket's shoulders, and Ket scooped up her legs. He leaped into the air, and they bounded away, escaping into the forest in a few quick leaps.
Ike sagged against the wall, exhausted. Rain poured down, the stormclouds finally letting loose. He sighed, wiping rain from his face. Too much. It was all too much.
Sliding down the wall, his eyes slid closed. His head sagged against his chest, and Ike fell asleep.