Chapter 23: Zeth vs Drought

Chapter 23: Zeth vs Drought

Kurt, a bit dazed from being under the imp’s control, is being helped up by Emily and Joe.

Disappointment and guilt are etched onto his face. “I’m… sorry. I defeated the bulky demon but was then attacked by that imp.”

Joe hugs him once he’s up, a few tears falling from his eyes. “It’s okay. I’m just glad you’re still here, buddy. Let’s stay back. Truthfully, none of us are in any condition to fight except for Zeth.”

They all look over at Zeth, who stands ready to fight Drought.

“Tell me something first, Drought,” Zeth demands. “Is that guy, Crimson, your buddy?”

Drought raises an eyebrow. “Crimson? Never heard of him, and if he’s human, well, I don’t ally myself with humans.”

Zeth mutters to himself, “So they aren’t allies? What is Crimson’s story?”

“No more talking!” Drought yells. “I will crush you all!”

Drought begins by having his left hand grab his right arm and magically charge it. He takes his right arm off, which begins floating around him.

Bewildered, Zeth says, “What the…?”

The fist launches at Zeth like a missile and slams into his gut with extreme force, causing him to cough up blood.

“Like that?” Drought asks with a smirk. “There’s more where that came from.”

Wiping blood from his lips, Zeth tries to laugh it off. “Hehehe. That hurt, I admit, but I can tell you are nowhere near as strong as Crimson.”

“Laugh while you can because you won’t last long,” Drought says with conviction.

With a magic aura at the top of his index finger, Zeth draws a five-pointed star shape in the air in front of him with it.

Zeth yells, “Star Rays!”

Small beams of energy release from the five tips of the star, all of which head for Drought. With his beams in motion, Zeth runs toward Drought, ready to attack once he dodges the beams. However, Drought lets the beams hit and minimally damage him so he can prepare to counter Zeth’s physical attacks. Zeth thrusts his right fist forward, but Drought blocks his punch, allowing the floating hand to punch him in the face, knocking him back.

Zeth rubs his cheek, clenching his teeth. “That damn hand.”

He spits blood from his mouth and stands up, preparing to continue fighting.

Zeth yells, “Try this!”

He forms and releases two Star Shards into the ground before rushing forward toward Drought as the floating hand flies toward him.

“Not this time!” Zeth snaps as he performs a front flip to dodge the flying hand.

As he gets close to Drought, the floating hand comes back at him from the side. He performs yet another front flip, which also causes him to go right over Drought.

Drought quickly turns around to face Zeth. “You can’t take me by surprise,” he says with a smirk.

The floating hand launches back at Zeth, but his Star Shards come out of the wall, intercepting the hand and slicing through it significantly.

With the hand out of the way, Zeth proceeds to rapidly punch Drought, who can’t block well with only one arm attached.

Drought sticks his toes into the ground as Zeth continues to pummel him. He releases a poisonous substance from his toes, and it brews in the ground right below Zeth.

Zeth notices something is off about the ground below himself, quickly stopping his barrage of punches, and jumps back as a blast of poison shoots straight out of the ground like a geyser.

Although his floating right arm is badly wounded, Drought reattaches to his shoulder. Once attached, the wounds quickly seal shut.

“Your awareness is impressive, but soon you’ll be worn down and won’t so easily dodge my poison,” Drought says as he readjusts his right arm.

Determination burning in his eyes, Zeth replies, “That’s what you think. I’m just getting started. It’s time to begin round two!”

The battle against Drought is underway! The second phase will now begin!

Chapter 23 END

To be Continued in Chapter 24: Poison is His Way