Raymond was locked in a vicious battle. He was ducking, dodging, and parrying fast and furious strikes left and right. They were both moving faster than he ever thought possible.
It was strike for counter strike, move for counter move. Raymond felt like he was fighting his reflection at times. Neither combatant gave the other time to mount any kind of effective offence.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Alecia roast her opponent and it gave him an idea.
Raymond faked an opening, drawing the Minotaur in. He ducked low under a wild swipe, then flipped backward, his boot catching her square in the jaw.
The kick threw Una backward. She landed on her back, but immediately kipped back up. She lifted her eyes just in time to see a plume of golden fire headed right for her.
She dove out the way, but the flame caught the scant bit of clothes she was wearing. She hit the ground hard and tried to roll to put out the fire. The next second she saw stars and quit moving.
Raymond glared at his downed foe. She was still breathing. He raised his blade for the killing blow but was struck hard in the chest by a massive chain.
His feet swept out from under him and he slid on his back for several yards. It was the worst pain he'd felt in this new world.
He got up clutching his chest. His sternum was definitely cracked. He looked and saw the last Minotaur walking toward him slowly, swinging a flaming chain in each hand. The chains slamming the ground with each step.
Raymond retracted his blade and aimed his Double Dragon like a rifle, firing off fire balls at the monster in rapid succession.
Trey swung the chains in front of him, criss-crossing them like a jump rope, deflecting the fire balls like they were nothing.
The Minotaur dashed forward, impossibly fast, swinging a flaming chain at his opponent.
Raymond shadow-step behind him, intending to stab the behemoth in his back. A chain came out of nowhere, wrapped around Raymond and threw him back in front of Trey.
Alecia saw Raymond get tossed and streaked in like a comet. She fired arrows in rapid succession at the massive Minotaur, as she circled around behind him.
The arrows bounced harmlessly off an unseen barrier, causing Alecia to scream in rage and frustration.
Suddenly, without a glance from the Minotaur, two chains rushed into the air after the flying menace.
Alecia twisted in the air, avoiding the chains, then flew in circles as they chased her like they had a mind of their own.
She changed her flight path and managed to get the chains to tie themselves in a knot. After a moment of struggle the chains shattered in a shower of sparks.
On the ground Raymond took the "stick and move" approach. He darted in and out, shadow stepping around the monster, dodging chains and striking every chance he got.
The problem was, neither his blade nor his magic could penetrate the Minotaur's barrier.
Raymond's chest heaved painfully and sweat poured down his bald head. He glared at the monster, trying to force his brain to come up with his next move.
The Minotaur laughed cruelly. A menacing sound that reverberated through the battlefield.
Raymond and Alecia both unleashed their Fire Breath at the same time, hoping to make charcoal out of their foe.
Trey laughed hard as he stood to his full height and stretched his arms out wide, allowing the flames to press ineffectively against his barrier.
"Fools!" he roared. "You can not touch Trey the Indomitable! You will all die here today and I will season my soup with your bones tomorrow!"
He thrust his hands forward and two massive chains flew at break-neck speed towards Raymond.
Ray side-stepped and severed one with his blade. He grabbed the other and sent a surge of lightning back down it toward Trey.
Trey roared in pain, causing the entire battlefield to tremble. He tried to pull his chain back but Ray held it fast.
He shocked him again.
Trey roared and his barrier faulted.
Alecia peppered him with flame arrows.
Trey covered up, protecting his face, then flung his arms wide again. "ENOUGH!" He roared as a ring of fire rushed out from his body.
Raymond was forced to let go of the chain in order to avoid the flames.
Once he regained his footing, Raymond called down a pillar of lightning from the sky aimed right at the Minotaur.
Trey dove out of the way, rolled, and was thrown backward as the lightning impacted the ground where he was just standing.
Suddenly, a mighty war cry filled the air as an army of Beastkin, of all races, came stampeding around the far end of the city wall.
At the head of the stampede, clothes drenched in blood, was King Gabriel, the Gryphon of LaSpania.
Trey roared again in frustration, then pulled a horn from behind his back and sounded the retreat.
As one Trey and every hellish creature that was left, turned and disappeared in a puff of black acrid-smelling smoke.
Raymond fell to a knee, leaning on his sword. He breathed heavily as his body glowed slightly. He felt warm as his healing magic started to ease his bruises and sore muscles.
King Gabrial approached him and was about to say something when Alecia flew over, carrying Nikki's unconscious body.
She laid the battered Wolfkin on her back in front of Raymond. Alecia's voice was barely a whisper, choked by rage, fear and grief.
"She's still breathing. But she's struggling."
Nikki was in her human form and her breath was coming in shallow gasps, her face was a mask of pain.
Her chest was rising unevenly, her hair and fur was matted with blood and dust.
Her clothes were shredded, hardly keeping her decent, and one arm was bent in the wrong place.
Raymond put a hand on her face and one on her belly and concentrated.
His hand glowed briefly, then flickered out.
He shook his head, tears welling in his eyes.
"I'm out of mana."
King Gabriel turned and whistled loudly. A young Dragonkin boy flew over holding a bag that clinked loudly with glass bottles.
He took the bag from the boy and wordlessly handed it to Raymond.
Raymond took the bag with a nod. He pulled a large round bottle out and inspected the teal colored liquid.
He pulled the stopper and took a swig before slowly pouring the rest over Nikki's body.
Raymond felt his own chest begin to heal as he watched Nikki closely.
Her breathing evened out as the bones in her chest pushed themselves back into place.
Her arm straightened out and bruises on her skin faded away. Soon, her face relaxed as her pain eased as she relaxed into a deep sleep.