Raising her left heel, Yrix slid across the floor like a dancer on ice. Any attempt from the Infestare to shatter her Psionic Ambience was met with failure as she glided over the surface of the floor using her sheer talent. Once her sleek evasion was complete, she conjured two spinning disks on her forearms, slinging them towards the enemy with blinding speed.
"What are we doing?" Sonera panted, looking up at Yrix as her disks collided with the larger Pennants, bouncing off their disengaging bodies in an attempt to locate another victim.
She had waited long enough to ask the question properly. After proving her worth in both strength and resilience, Sonera had a right to know the plan. Regardless of how arrogant Yrix could be, she always came with a plan.
"Thinning the herd, drawing out their leader," Yrix replied. "Should be any second now, really."
"That's what this is? Grasping at attention?"
Sonera's voice carried the weight of concern, as if part of her actually cared about Yrix's success. She felt almost ashamed to allow the thought any credence, and quickly snuffed it out. Yet when she watched the Arch-Flayer levitate into the air with an orb of Psionic energy in the palm of her hand, she couldn't help but stare in awe.
It was inspiring.
That feeling was, in some ways, more pure than the mania she had been using to keep up. One day, she hoped to be as strong as Yrix. Though unlike the cruel woman, Sonera dared to use such power to protect her family.
Concentrating her power, Yrix's orb grew in size and veracity, purple energy swirling around its glimmering surface. She held it aloft for some time longer, its mere presence causing her surroundings to disintegrate into sparkling dust. And after a brief pause, Sonera could almost feel Yrix cast the orb down and smote her enemy.
What once swarmed the perimeter of the Aerie was torn asunder, whether they be mere Incipents or towering Symbiotes. Sonera barely kept her feet planted on the floor, raising her hands to her face as a purple field of energy shielded her frame. If not for Yrix's passive protection, she too would have been obliterated by the attack.
"This is..." Sonera stuttered. "The true power of a Psion."
It felt almost shamefully whimsical to put it like that. In fact, Lila would have no doubt laughed if she were there. The Earthling would call her friend corny and all sorts of other terms.
That didn't make Sonera's observation any less accurate.
"Is this all you have?!" Yrix taunted, pointing one finger into the sky. "Send your Broodmaster, or be branded a coward."
Sonera's eyes widened. She was the last student among the Aerie to be intimidated, but hearing Yrix's challenge sent a chill down her spine.
"Come on now." The Arch-Flayer yawned playfully. "Don't let your Goddess down. Lovatte loves a good drama."
Sonera raised an eyebrow. She was suprised to hear Yrix use that name, its venomous fringes having been gleamed from Lunae's mind some time ago. But as she placidly drifted closer to the Arch-Flayer, the very air of the smoke-filled field convinced her to put that thought aside.
"There we are." Yrix chirped, pointing her finger towards a shimmering light in the sky. "Come to mommy."
Her student squinted, barely making out what appeared to be a meteor of sorts as it plummeted down from high orbit, its looming presence filling the scene with dread.
Just then, a golden portion of Yrix's gauntlet flickered to life as a deep voice came through. "Arch-Flayer. Incoming Broodmaster. Their fleet is regrouping."
She didn't even bother responding to the Executor, leaving Sonera in stunned silence.
"Well, now, I hope you're ready." Yrix teased her student with a pat on the shoulder.
"You know I am." Sonera nodded. "Just tell me what to do."
"Of course."
The flaming ball of fire came screaming through the clouds, drifting ever so closer to the Aerie without slowing its fall. By the time its impending arrival became possible to track, Sonera took a step back. She knew where it would land.
Neatly in front, of course.
The ground rumbled as it had never before, the large meteor causing a deafening explosion as it slammed into the earth. Unlike the pods of the Infestare, this creature arrived in no shell, using only its fleshy mass to dive into battle. Yrix stood unwavering as dust and rock blew into her face, staring at the crater where the meteor had landed.
"Look within." She spoke into Sonera's mind. "There you will find the strength to survive, as you have done so many times before."
Sonera rose to her feet, peering out over the edge of the crater in an attempt to get a view of her foe. Instead of an Infestare, however, she saw only the crumbled mess of armored flesh. Surprise described little of what she felt then.
But just as soon as she dared to take a step forward, the debris left behind by the meteor erupted into flame, revealing a large Infestare in its wake. Sonera took some time to grasp all of its features, readying her blade by Yrix's side.
As opposed to the other Infestare, whose dirty shells tended to glimmer with a sort of reflective rainbow, the Broodmaster wore a pure white carapace into battle, signifying its authority. Its visor hid its features, yet even then Sonera could still sense the way it stared at Yrix. Holding no pride in regards to its chances, the Broodmaster extended a hand into the air, silently asking its Queen for aid.
Sonera watched with a rather shocked expression as a feminine hand descended from above the Broodmaster's head, using a portal shaped like the eye of a flower to deliver its gift. With an open palm, it bequeathed its servant a glimmering gem that plopped onto its head like dew, causing it to shudder violently.
"What the-," Sonera spoke to herself.
The Infestare began to mutate, its bones folding in on themselves as a horrible crunching sound rang out from its sundered flesh.
The true gift of life.
Boundless Growth.