Me and the Fox Chimera

"Here she comes!" Says Tamamo, the fox Chimera.

The falcon Chimera lunges its spear at me. I swiftly pivot to the side as the bird girl crashes its steel lance into the ground, kicking debris into the air. My feet slide on the wet surface, and I draw my gun out and fire.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Plink! Plink! Plink!

The bullets bounce off the Chimera's armor, making me click my tongue. I swing my sword, clashing against the spear that's trying to impale me in rapid succession. Swiftly, I spin and stomp on the lance, pinning it to the ground and aim my gun right at its face.

The falcon Chimera quickly pushes its steel mask before the barrel and takes the bullet.

Bang!

Plink!

The bullet bounces off and sends the falcon's head back. Like a punching bag, it comes back and pounds its skull into mine.

Blood gushes out from somewhere on my head where the edge of the Chimera's mask had hit me, knocking me back with a grunt. Then, the falcon lifts its weapon off the ground and flips me into the air. I hit the ground hard with a loud thud; quickly shaking my head, I look up to where the Chimera is. Looping circles in the air then descend upon me.

A wall of fire erupts from the ground, surrounding me and dehydrating the water on the floor into steam.

Is this magic? How is that fox Chimera doing that?

"Get up, Liam!" Says Tamamo.

"I don't take orders from you," I say as I rise back up and dash around the flames. As I pop out from the side of the wall of fire, the tip of the falcon's spear meets me. My nerves scream at me, pulling my sword up and deflecting its path from my head, but the Chimera crashes into me and sends me rolling back.

Fire rains from above, forcing the falcon Chimera to spin its lance to protect itself. Tamamo's palms light up, and balls of flame shoot out like small versions of the sun, burst from its hands, and explode in the skies.

"You're being too reckless!"

"I'm not reckless! I need to know where the enemy was, and your wall of fire was in the way!"

"She's looping back at you! And only coming for you! Not me!"

"I can see that without you telling me, Chimera!"

The falcon Chimera rushes at me like I'm some caterpillar. Raising my sword, I divert its blow again, then aim my gun toward it in the skies, missing all my shots as it loops back for another strike.

I will need more firepower than just a few shots with this thing. The falcon Chimera clashes with one once more, knocking me back, but I use this chance to jam my pistol into a gun barrel that's hooked onto my belt with its own magazine. I flip back, catching my fall, then turn to the Chimera swiftly coming back at me and shoot.

Rapid bursts of orange fire light up in a stream, catching the Chimera off as the bullets rain like the storm above. Bouncing off of its steel armor and blood spilling from its exposed skin. The thing quickly flaps its wings, spinning its lance and deflecting more lead. I click my tongue as it retreats back into the skies and is now more wary of me and my weapon, as this time, it's circling above me.

But I still have one more trick I haven't pulled yet. I just need to get close and somehow build force.

" You had a weapon like that this whole time? Why didn't you use it?" Tamamo asks as the fox Chimera stands next to me, firing more fireballs into the sky. Then, it erupts another wall of fire, spreading it across the helipad.

I groan at the fox Chimera. "If you must know, I only had two magazines left. One and a quarter now." I wipe blood from the gash on my head, but it still spills.

" You're hurt. Let me heal."

" I'm fine. I don't need your help."

"Yes, you do. You were just thinking you needed more firepower to beat her."

" How'd you know? Are you in my head?"

" Yes, I can read your thoughts."

I raise my gun at the fox Chimera. "Stop, or I'll kill you too."

The fox Chimera narrows its eyes at me. "Do that, and you'll lose. I am your only way of defeating her. Watch."

The fox Chimera lifts her hands in front of my gun, and a bright red ring of light circles the barrel of the gun.

"What are you doing?"

"Just shoot. Here she comes."

The flame walls die down, then swoops in the falcon Chimera. Just as the fox Chimera says, I shoot, annoyed that I followed its instruction.

Bullets burst into flames as it passes through the ring. The falcon spins its lance and quickly retreats back into the air. I keep shooting, chasing after it, raining bolts of fire into the air. Tamamo blasts a miniature sun up and explodes in front of the Chimera's way. Lead and flames burn holes through its armor and wings as it screeches, falling down.

I lunge forward, taking this opportunity for the killing blow. As I'm about to use my final trick, the falcon does one last flap and screams, zooming and pointing its lance at me.

My jacket gets pulled to the side, yanking me out of the spear's path. I yell as Tamamo hurls me into the air close up to the dark clouds. "Why'd you throw me!?"

"Now's your chance!" says the fox Chimera.

It's reading my mind again. It knows I need some way to build up force, and it's giving me gravity. Fine. It works. Flipping in the air, I aim my gun down as the falcon struggles to flap its way up to me. My bullets turn into fireballs, following down the raindrops, and the Chimera spins its lance while simultaneously dodging and closing in on me as I am.

I thrust my sword toward my back, and my blade clicks as it connects to a guard. Then I twist.

Click.

Clack.

Cluck.

An enormous steel blade collapses out behind me. I wind it over my head; flames burst, engulfing the blade. Then I roar like thunder. The greatsword shatters its spear and strikes at the falcon, crushing and melting its armor. Then, it slices through, cutting the Chimera in two.