Chapter 248
I reeled in the aftermath of Despite the whimsical name, the crafted explosive devices posting including a list of specifications as long as my arm. It was supposed to be a low-yield payload with a limited radius, using a mix of temporal reiteration, and straight-up blast power to obliterate anything in a tight circumference. Its effective area was so contained and small that I doubted it would work as a car bombit could absolutely ruin the day of the people in either the front or back seats, or annihilate an engine block, but youd need multiple to achieve all three simultaneously, which was both inefficient and something of a relief.
History, as always, was prone to repeating itself. With independent crafters on the rise it was a growing area of argument and discourse among the regions at large. Some wanted to restrict the production and sale of explosives completely for obvious reasons, while the opposition argued that they flattened the playing field, and allowed both low-tier Users and civilians to defend themselves against the sort of high-level threats that were commonplace during the transposition.
My opinion was mixed. A capable mage like Astrid or Astria were more than capable of creating large-scale destruction that equaled or sometimes exceeded a run-of-the-mill explosive, so in some ways it felt like a moot point. Simultaneously, the idea of placing access to explosives at the fingertips of every gun-toting propaganda-spouting fringe dweller in the domeof which there were manymade me uneasy. Updated from novelbIn.(c)om
If Im being honest, I wanted that access. Current circumstances served as a suitable example. Id found myself in a situation where I needed to do more damage than I was capable of. Id done my due diligence, identified an ideal staging ground, and hopefully, reduced my regenerating attacker to dust.
I just wasnt sure I wanted to see what happened if everyone else had it.
Even my use hadnt been perfect. I wasnt physically hurt and had taken no damage from the blast, but just being on the edges of it had scrambled my senses. As I pushed myself up, I nearly slipped, fighting the misfiring neurons and ruined equilibrium that made me feel as if I was constantly growing closer to the ground.
The sound of conflict reached my ears as my hearing returned. More than a few of the Chimeras Audrey had angered were still advancing on us, but most of them were turning to face the onslaught of their joint attackers. Mages hurled spells off of rooftops, while an aggressive and well-equipped forward line cut them down in droves. Their attention was split. Still, now that they were under attack, the creatures were putting up a more consolidated resistance, forcing back the adventurers who strayed too far forward with savage ambushes from the side. Id disregarded them as stupid, which in retrospect was a poor estimation. They were lacking in general intelligence, but their instincts, the way they fought, gave the impression they were bred for war.
He landed on the snakes head in an almost gymnastic-display of dexterity, pressed his palms together, and slapped them down over the serpents eyes. Audrey got clear just in time, releasing the snake and skittering across the pavement to me as fire raged beneath the newcomers palms.
The snake bucked in its death throes, launching the man high in the air. He sailed backward, head plummeting towards the pavement before he tucked his knees, completing the backflip and instinctually raising his arms in a salute for balance, a dead giveaway that he probably was a gymnast.
He snapped out of it just as quickly, sprinting back and forth between me and the oncoming chimeras, holding out his left hand and snapping his fingers, creating a collapsing radius of orange diamonds that radiated brightly.
A chimera that drew too close was immediately engulfed in flames, and the others drew back, staring at the minefield with cautious eyes.
We always meet in the strangest places. Saber guy grinned at me, far too happy considering the circumstances. Now that he was closer, something about him was familiar, but I couldnt place it.
I spared a glance to the side when another of the orange mines went off. They were testing the range, but not drawing any closer, then looked back to the newcomer. Who are you?
Along the side of his neck, I spotted a tattoo of a human face, so faded and poorly penned it was almost indistinguishable. Oh, sorry. Rolled in with the Adventurers Guild to help out. He pointed to Audrey. But I was talking to my friend.
