Chapter 78 – The Storm of the Gorilla King
The Wind Slash came without warning.
Peterson barely saw the motion of Makak's arm before the air screamed.
"DOWN!" he shouted.
Naëlle dropped instantly.
A white arc of compressed wind tore across the throne hall behind them.
The stone pillar it struck split clean in half.
For a moment the top of the pillar remained standing.
Then it slid apart slowly and collapsed with a deafening crash.
Dust filled the chamber.
Naëlle stared wide-eyed.
"…Okay."
She slowly raised one eyebrow.
"That would've cut us in half."
Peterson rolled his shoulders and tightened his fists.
"Yeah."
"Let's try not to let that happen."
Another Wind Slash screamed toward them.
Peterson grabbed Naëlle's arm and pulled her sideways.
The blade of wind passed inches from their bodies and exploded into the floor behind them.
Stone shattered.
Makak stood calmly near the throne steps, his massive body barely moving.
Six horns gleamed in the torchlight.
"You are quick," the gorilla king said.
His voice echoed through the temple.
"But not quick enough."
Makak flicked his arm again.
Three Wind Slashes launched in rapid succession.
Peterson sprinted forward.
"Split!"
Naëlle darted right.
Peterson dove left.
The wind blades ripped through the ground between them, tearing chunks of stone from the floor.
Makak tilted his head slightly.
"…Hmm."
Naëlle slid across the floor and raised both guns.
Water Bullet.
Two compressed spheres of water blasted forward.
The shots struck Makak's chest with a heavy splash.
The gorilla king stepped back one pace.
He looked down at the damp mark on his chest fur.
Then back up at Naëlle.
"You keep using Water. I'm not made of fire, you know."
He chuckled.
"I remember fighting beasts like that."
Naëlle smirked.
"Good."
She pulled the triggers again.
"Here's some more!"
Three more water bullets fired.
Makak swung his arm.
A quick Wind Slash cut through the projectiles.
The water exploded harmlessly in mid-air.
Peterson charged in from the side.
His fist slammed into Makak's ribs with everything he had.
The impact echoed loudly.
Makak didn't move.
The gorilla looked down slowly.
"…You again."
Peterson grimaced.
"Yeah."
He swung another punch.
Makak caught it.
The difference in strength was terrifying.
Makak squeezed Peterson's fist and lifted him off the ground.
Naëlle reacted instantly.
Aqua Burst.
A wave of pressurized water slammed into Makak's shoulder.
The blast forced his grip to loosen.
Peterson dropped and rolled across the floor.
Makak stepped back and rotated his shoulder once.
"…Interesting."
Peterson pushed himself up slowly.
His knuckles were bleeding.
"That guy's built like a mountain."
Naëlle moved beside him.
"Pete."
"Yeah?"
"Avoid getting hit too much, those shields cost me a lot of magic and I'm running low."
Peterson nodded.
Naëlle raised her hands.
Water swirled around them and formed a transparent sphere.
Aqua Barrier.
The shimmering bubble surrounded both of them.
Soft blue light flowed along its surface.
Peterson felt a faint warmth spreading through his body.
"…I was meaning to ask that does your water shield do some type of healing?"
Naëlle nodded.
"Slow."
"But it helps."
Makak watched with curiosity.
"So that is your defensive trick."
He stepped forward.
"Let's test it again and see how its hold."
Makak punched the barrier.
BOOM.
The shield trembled violently.
A deep crack appeared across its surface.
Peterson and Naëlle both felt the shockwave through their bodies.
Naëlle winced.
"…two or three more hits might brake it."
Makak grinned.
He punched again.
CRACK.
The cracks spread wider.
Makak punched a third time.
The barrier shuddered violently.
Peterson grabbed Naëlle.
"Move!"
Makak's fourth punch shattered the barrier completely.
Water exploded outward in a spray.
The healing stopped instantly.
Makak stepped through the falling droplets.
"You see?"
"Your protection is fragile."
Naëlle wiped blood from her lip.
"Yeah."
"But it bought us time."
She fired again.
Water Bullet.
Peterson rushed in simultaneously.
Their attacks struck Makak from opposite sides.
Peterson's fist smashed into Makak's jaw.
Naëlle's shots hit his ribs.
Makak staggered half a step.
Peterson noticed immediately.
"Did you see that?!"
Naëlle nodded.
"He's not invincible!"
Makak's expression darkened slightly.
"You celebrate too soon."
Makak swung his arm again.
Wind Slash.
Peterson ducked.
The blade sliced through another pillar behind him.
Naëlle sprinted around Makak's flank.
She raised both guns.
"Let's try something else."
Her weapons glowed faintly.
Water pressure gathered around the barrels.
"Pete!"
"Yeah?"
"Get out of the way!"
Peterson jumped back.
Naëlle fired.
Water Jet.
A concentrated stream of high-pressure water blasted forward like a cutting beam.
The jet struck Makak's legs.
The stone floor exploded where the beam passed.
Makak jumped backward quickly.
The water jet carved a deep trench across the temple floor.
Makak looked down at the damage.
Then back at Naëlle.
"…Now that was interesting."
Peterson laughed breathlessly.
"Hey!"
"That actually made him move!"
Makak's grin slowly faded.
"You are beginning to annoy me."
Makak raised his arm again.
Wind Slash.
Peterson rolled across the ground.
The blade clipped his shoulder.
Blood sprayed across the floor.
Peterson hit the ground hard.
Naëlle rushed toward him.
"Pete!"
"I'm fine! Just keep your eyes on him"
He wasn't.
The cut burned badly.
Naëlle quickly raised another barrier.
Aqua Barrier.
The bubble shield reformed around them.
Soft blue energy began slowly repairing Peterson's wound.
Makak watched patiently.
"…You are stubborn."
Naëlle glared at him.
"You talk too much."
Makak laughed.
"You are amusing for prey."
He stepped forward again.
And threw an even stronger Punch.
The barrier cracked instantly.
Two Punches.
More fractures.
Naëlle gritted her teeth.
"Three hits!"
Peterson clenched his fists.
"Then we attack on the fourth!"
Makak swung again.
CRACK.
The barrier shattered.
Peterson exploded forward immediately.
His fist slammed into Makak's ribs.
Naëlle fired three water bullets at his shoulder.
Makak stumbled slightly again.
The injuries were small.
But they were increasing.
Makak exhaled slowly.
"…Persistent insects."
He stretched his arms outward.
Wind began swirling around his body.
Peterson felt the pressure instantly.
"Oh no."
Naëlle whispered.
"…Pete."
Makak's eyes glowed faintly.
"I told you earlier about the eagle I defeated."
The wind intensified.
"It granted me power over the skies."
The air inside the temple began spinning violently.
Dust and broken stone lifted into the air.
Peterson's stomach dropped.
"Naëlle…"
"I know."
Makak raised both arms.
"And now…"
"…I will show you what true wind power looks like."
The wind screamed louder.
The entire throne room shook.
Makak's grin widened.
The air grew heavy.
Even breathing suddenly felt difficult.
"Wind Tornado."
The air twisted into a massive spinning vortex around him.
Peterson stared.
"…Oh shit! We dead."
Naëlle swallowed.
"…This is bad."
The tornado began forming.
And for the first time since the fight started…
Peterson realized something terrifying.
The king power is far beyond their level.
End of Chapter 78