Chapter 18: Power

            For most people, travelling from Calorfons to Incipancy would involve a 16 hour cart to Petrit and then a further 24 hour cart to Incipancy. The same travelling time would also be involved if they were heading to Occidignus. However, for Austin and Ellie, travelling around the base of Mount Regterbors and around the barren lands behind Bunpidum killing everything the saw, would be a nice little day trip. Their Dragon God powers were unfathomable by all, including themselves, and those who witnessed it would swear that they were more monster than human. And this was all with them only being able to use 70 and 60 percent of all the power available to them.

            Since it had been about six weeks since they had done this expedition of theirs, they decided it would be a good idea to switch it up a bit and take a little detour up the mountain. Mostly because after spending another few hard earned weeks resting and drinking, they forgot if they used to go up or not.

            With bounding strides, enormous jumps and impeccable parkour, leaping from edge to edge and traversing sheer rock face, it took just over an hour to scale 32,000 feet. Standing at the summit above the clouds, they looked down at the oblivious world sprawled beneath them and pretended not to notice as timid dragons peered from their caves.

‘I guess this is how the Greek Gods would have seen things.’

‘I don’t understand the reference but calling yourself a god isn’t completely out of the question at this point.’

‘We’re not at 100% yet, and there’s still a lot of stuff for us to do.’

‘Well, I know a good fight that you might be ready for. It should help you get to 80%.’

‘I’m interested.’

‘Head down the northeast side and scout along the coast. He should come to you.’

“New plan Ellie.”

“Huh?”

“We’re heading northeast to the coast.”

“… Larax says that might be a risky move… But I’m down.”

‘Hahaha! I’m beginning to like her more than you!’

‘Back to the insults again I see.’

            Climbing Mount Regterbors had never been done before because of the number of monsters living around its base, but even if it had been done, the record time would have been smashed by Austin and Ellie. Ascending 32,000 feet in less than two hours would usually be an impossible achievement for normal people, but what would also be an impossible achievement, would be descending that distance in less than two minutes and surviving. But once again, for Austin and Ellie, that was just something they could do.

            The coast along the barren lands was actually not as boring as Austin expected it to be. A straight drop around 75 feet into cascading waves for as far as the eye could see. It was the total opposite to the endless perfectly symmetrical smooth stone waves of the land.

            After about ten minutes of wandering along the coast the two saw something strange sitting at the edge of the cliff.

“Is that a fucking monkey?”

“I… don’t actually-… what’s a monkey?”

‘It’s a Pithraki.’

“It’s a Pithr-”

“Pithraki. I know, I’ve just been told as well.”

“… So, what the fuck is a Pithraki?”

“No idea…”

“…”

‘Hello? You there?’

‘Oh, I thought Larax would beat me to it. It’s a minion of who we came to fight.’

“Apparently it’s a-”

“Apparently it’s a-”

“… Let’s just assume we both know already.”

“Yeah…”

‘So what do we do now?’

‘I don’t know… try kicking it.’

            Without hesitation Austin walked up to the surprisingly large minion and kicked it as hard as he could. It was fired out across into the ocean letting out a surprised shriek as it flew.

“Hahahaha! I was just told to do that as well! I didn’t expect you to do it without hesitation though!”

‘Pahahaha! I wasn’t expecting that either!’

“Literally zero shits given. Ugly bastard looks exactly like a massive baboon from my old world. Couldn’t wait to do that the second I laid eyes on it.”

            A moment later the scampering of feet and low murmuring chanting could be heard from the sea. More and more, closer and closer. Until the first Pithraki poked its head over the edge. It stopped for a second just looking at them before letting out a howl and leaping up over the edge. Within the next few seconds, the two were completely surrounded by hundreds of the minions. They all stood around chanting, howling and pounding the ground before being stunned into complete silence by an enormous howl from just under the cliff.

            A much larger hand reached up and over and slammed into the ground. It was instantly obvious just from the size of its hand, that this was no mere minion. What appeared next from under the edge was the obvious tips of jet black feathered wings and then the blur of the hulking figure as it blasted up from the cliff into the sky and smashed into the ground in front of Austin. Huge black wings, ripped and torn black fur stained with blood, massive crimson chitin claws already dripping and a colossal stinger clad tail. The stench it carried was the same as the look upon its face; lifeless; not even a shred of flesh left: death.

‘Than-Pithilias. He really did sacrifice his soul just to remain a King.’

“HUMAN…”

“Oh, it speaks!”

‘Meh… kinda.’

‘What do you mean “kinda”? It just did.’

“MEAT… MEAT… MEAT! MEAT!! MEAT!!! MEAT!!!!!!! MEAT!!!!!!!!!!!”

‘Ah. I see what you mean now.’

            The monsters excessive shouting began to rile up and excite all the minions. Shouting, shrieking, howling and the pounding of flesh against rock filled the air. Than-Pithilias turned around with a deathly look in its rotting eyes and glared directly into Austin’s eyes.

“Larax says I should leave the big guy to you, Austin. I’ll take out all the minions before you even start.”

“Bout time I get to roll my sleeves up again…”

            For the first time since the fight with the Ground Dragon in Claralux over a year ago, Austin rolled up his sleeves. Spiked chain markings ran down and around both his arms, proof of his link with Giddenavya.

            Than-Pithilias leapt at Austin with incredible speed and began his powerful onslaught of punches combined with slicing grabs with its claws and precise stabs with its tail. Each move it made would’ve been far too quick for anybody to be able to react to.

‘He’s pretty quick…’

‘Hahaha… Sure.’

‘Oh come on you bastard thing… this better be a satisfying crack.’

            Austin was too busy trying to crack the last knuckle on his right hand to really be bothered about making any counter attacks yet. Everything moved in slow motion as he simply just twisted his body around each of the monsters seemingly simple attacks.

*Crack*

‘Finally.’

            He looked up into Than-Pithilias’ eyes as he felt Giddenavya’s power begin to flow through every inch of his body. The eyes of a king met by the eyes of a god. And a psychopathic one at that. His chains shifted and twisted around his arms as his skin contorted and began to form scales. Austin’s hands developed into a monstrous form and his nails grew and sharpened themselves into deadly claws. His entire demeanour shifted in the blink of an eye. Then, out of nowhere a claw clamped around his arm.

“whaaAAA-”

            Before he knew it Austin was being flung around and slammed into the ground over and over again. He felt as the giant claw began tightening its grip trying to crush his arm.

“Alright… I’m bored now.”

            The monsters look of pleasure was lost in an instant as the dust cleared and Austin’s bloody, smiling face peered back at him. However, it was obviously not his own blood. Than-Pithilias stepped back in shock as it saw its mangled and contorted claw laying on the floor. His arm was grabbed instantly, and the process was repeated… The opposite way around this time.

“HAHAHAHA! This is fun! Though I gotta admit, it was more fun being the one thrown around.”

            Once again, while Austin was not paying full attention, Than-Pithilias launched an incredibly quick attack. Its tail zipped through the air at lightning speed directly at Austin’s face. A single drop of blood slipped down his cheek from a tiny cut and his smile was quickly wiped off and replaced by an offended scowl. Then it cracked.

“hahahahahahaHaHaHaHaHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA”

            Austin began laughing completely uncontrollably in such a way that it even terrified an undead king class monster. It turned its head to look for the backup of its minions only to find Ellie spectating the fight and chuckling to herself sitting upon a throne of their dead bodies.

‘Let’s do 80%.’

“HAHAHAHAHAHAhhhh… You’re so dead…”