Stage II, Chapter XXXII: The Floor Is Lava, But We Step On It

After concluding my talk with Sabik, we continued on carefully.

From what he had said, the Somber were spies sent by the Karman. Was I right to assume these guys functioned as Maya, minus the ship?

Anyway, they probably were a much cheaper alternative to the probably costly chameleon ships that could camouflage.

I'll show the body to Sabik later on, maybe he can analyse it.

On our way to the ship, we came across many other Somber. A simple Light Beam from Lena was all it took to knock the vampire-like creatures down and whimpering.

"Hey, little brother." Lena was currently the one carrying me, so a simple whisper was all it took to grab my attention from my thoughts.

"Yes?"

"What are you going to do with those vampires, anyway? They creep me out." Lena shuddered.

I could see goosebumps had formed on the surface of her skin. The tiny bit of hair on her arms had stood up.

"Are you... scared of them?" Well, she probably was.

"What? No! Of course not, haha..." Lena broke off into a sweaty mess.

I must agree though, those things were hideous.

************

Just a while ago the ship was only slightly in view. Now it was covering the night sky as it floated directly above us.

"Everybody head under the cannon." I say.

The protruding cannon below the Kuman ship was designed to be able to beam Karman infantry directly into the ground, without having to take the time to glide down, and risk being separated.

While it served as a great way to deploy troops, it also had another function - and that was as a way to retrieve troops and debris.

It could just as easily teleport allies inside just as it could send them out.

"There you are, Leader. Please hold on as I will be preparing the cannon for activation." Sabik's voice came over my head.

Light was beginning to converge inside the barrel of the cannon, which was bound to attract any nearby Karman.

We had disabled their ships earlier, so it would be suspicious for one to be working properly.

"Right. How long will that be? The Karman are bound to see it."

"Only a few minutes. While the light will not last for long, it is still very bright. And we should worry more about the sound that comes with it, instead."

"Damn. Hurry up then, I'll leave you to it." I disconnect the Link.

"Help us out here. The light will surely be attracting some unwanted guests. We need to stay under the ship's cannon while also defending it." I explain to the red headed man beside me.

"Copy that, little baby." The red headed man smiles, his red hair growing red.

Now that I think about it, was this guy an Apostle Of The True Fire God? His hair glows red whenever he uses spells, just like my Control Eyes...

"He's not." An all too familiar voice pops up in my head. It's Jandru, the alcoholic.

"I haven't heard from you in a long time. I tried calling you, but you must've been drinking your ass off, you drunkard?" I growl.

"Whoa, at least I came up to talk to you. I figured you could handle this anyway. What use would our training be if you couldn't?" Jandru says in a condescending tone.

"Fuck off. Anyway, why did you come up now?"

"Just wanted to tell you that I actually noticed the mana of the Wind God earlier."

"The False? Or was it the True Wind God?"

"I wasn't able to confirm, but I'm somewhat positive that it should be the True Wind God."

"And why are you so sure?"

"I just am! Bahaha!" Jandru laughs as I imagine him chugging another barrel of wine in my head. "Anyway, if that's all, I'll be heading back." His voice begins to fade.

"Wait! Can you at least tell me who the Wind God Apostle was?"

"Oh, I forgot. Anyway, it's someone you've met." Without another word, he slips away from my mind, and I am unable to detect a single trace of him.

"Useless god... Careful Kenneth. You're letting him win by letting him get into your head. Deep breaths..."

Danger! I shift my body weight to the left, almost falling off Lena's grasp, but in turn allowing me to dodge the bullet that just zoomed past my face.

So fast, not even Aurelia noticed it. I look around, and see that everybody is in battle with the Karman. Did so many things happen while I was thinking?

"Hey, red head man. Come over here." I beckon to the red headed man, who is throwing fireballs from his hand one after the other.

"What is it, little baby? Can't you see I'm busy fighting for my life?"

"Well, I can end the battle for you quickly if you listen to me."

"Alright, fine, what is it?"

"Cast your longest lasting spell somewhere."

"Where?"

"Anywhere close."

"Alright then, you said it." The red headed man's hair began to glow into an even more brighter crimson, as mana began to stream all around him.

"I still hate this spell's name... The Floor Is Lava. Everybody get back!" The red headed man screamed. He didn't have to, really. His voice would have been transmitted to everyone...

Hurriedly Lena held me tightly in her hands as all of us retreated backwards slightly as multiple puddles of lava began to rise from the very surface of the earth itself.

The floor below us was rising in temperature fast.

The unaware Karman were left to burn as the rising lava melted away their bodies.

Some were fortunately more lucky. They were able to spot the ground heating up and moved to a safer place.

"My turn." I rub my eyes as it begins to itch. As I open it, Mental Magic begins to rush out from my green pupils. "Run Amok."

Instantly the surviving Karman turn crazed as they almost willingly run into the burning lava, diving in like it was a swimming pool.

The spell only began to wear off when the heat from the lava had snapped the Karman out of my spell.

But it was too late. Everybody had run towards the nearest death lava puddle and killed themselves.