The hands slide to the ground, twisting quickly, the fingers like trees retract like animal claws. The earth that was once the hand's garment becomes fuel for the fire.
"I see," he said, beyond the lake. "This part of the forest is clayey, and has some plants."
Sliding over the handle, the fingers demonstrate the specific feel of the flame-thrower as solid as arrows.
The animals scattered in dizzy droves, a flock without a shepherd, without self-control and without any possibility of safety. The wind that touched the feathers and fur of various animals became the voice that would guide them all to their best position.
"Very good." The bow's handle served as a caress. "You must listen to me. I am a hunter, and as equals, you must follow my orders."
All the carnivores that made the forest their shelter and hunting grounds gathered around the huntress. She could never hunt them, as she was just like them. With the help of the local predators, she sought to ambush the creature that had entered that paradise without permission.
The hunter served as a guide for the animals, becoming their shepherd, they would not only use their own skills as their weapons.
Calisto's hands were covered in air, and she touched every predator in that place.
The feline had its claws covered by the wind and its fangs too, the air made them bigger.
The giant eaglehoveredthe air became lighter, the beating of its wings shot air.
The snake could move not only on the ground, but also through trees.
— Hide. — A crack. — He's coming.
The creature that made that place different, threatening the sheep like a wolf, moved its body quickly, throwing large balls of earth, as hard as rocks.
The shepherdess dodged the blows with her jumps, her feet were graced by the winds, and the wind blasted her opponent like curses.
With no way out, the creature became angry, repressed itself, its body became less tangible, hiding its presence in the ground.
Ground fire only reduces vision, a curtain of earth that prevents any human from seeing, but not an eagle. Its flapping wings lifted the lightest layer of earth, that being, while the snake descended from the sky and, using its elongated body, trapped its victim.
The creature took shape again, carrying stones and minerals in its body, along with grass that it absorbed to become one with the ground. The mass in its belly took the shape of a club, which, when touched to the ground, created a bridge between it and the ground, freeing itself from the creature.
— You're a good human, you made me use my Daemon form, but now you're done.
— If that's what you say.
The arrow fire that once created large holes in the thrown stones was no longer useful. The small boulders hitting the ground became stakes. Seeing this, the hunter's only option was to hold the boulders aloft while the animals fought the creature.
Daemon used plants to cover his club. A sustained attack would sprout a thorn, two, and more thorns, until he became like a needle-like cactus. His clayey body could make one part of himself less solid, enabling heavy attacks, and another less solid, aiding locomotion.
A great flash of light covered the sky. The stones became stakes in the ground, but Callisto didn't care. She slung her bow over her shoulder and whistled. The animals stopped attacking and fled. The wind she gave them turned them into one-handed axes.
— Did you hear that? Cassandra must already be fighting, I need to be quick with you.
— Don't underestimate me human!
He flicked his wrists, a blast hitting the stakes, sending them flying into the sky. Calisto began her advance, while the Daemon swung his club toward Calisto.
— That was close. You're a strong woman. I'm sure I'll get stronger after eating your flesh.
— You'll have indigestion, but first you have to beat me.
The scarlet eyes, the bow consumed by fire, took the form of a halberd. The Daemon's eyes turned purple, his form began to change, his skin covered in layers upon layers, like an insect's exoskeleton, and in layers, like an onion.
The Daemon's exoskeleton served as a long coat, which gradually clung to the body as if on a hot day. The large sleeves gave rise to protected arms, with exposed joints, from which twisted circular shapes emerged. His hands were bare with long fingers, his torso with several straps, like an insect. His bare neck had no limit, allowing it to rotate. His ommatidia eyes were mesmerizing in a purple, yellow, and red gradient. His long antennae, the same ones the Daemon powdered as weapons.
"For an Echidna, your Daemon form is pretty cool. I'll find a way to break the egg without damaging the shell. You'll be quite stuffed."
— Funny human. What would your name be, miss? I want to know what meat I'm eating.
— Cassandra, Cassandra Pythia. Do you act like a hornet? If you smoke, do you pass out?
"I don't think so. My name is Aeacus. The Giant who consumed consciousness fought alongside Apollo. I'm not doing it, thankfully. Apollo has strong opponents on his side. Let's fight now."
Cassandra separated her feet, placed her halberd on the ground, and touched it. The red suit she wore, along with her pants and frogs, burned. Her breasts were covered by a top, and she wore women's underwear. Her body, unlike Aeacus's, which was covered in layers, had only a few clothes, and a tattoo that covered her from one shoulder to the soles of her feet.
Aeacus held one antenna up, and the other tucked into his elbow, in the circular part of his forearm joint. Moth-like wings spread from his back, serving as a cape. His free hand generated a cloud of locusts that ferociously headed toward Cassandra.
— My God, your sense of humor is better than I thought. Eaco, you're acting like Moses, but I'm the one who's going to part the sea.
—That's right. Very good, human. And just like Moses, I will free the Echidnas from the hands of Apollo!