Myths and Gargoyles by Jamie Hawke (interesting books to read in english txt) 📕

my surroundings. That made me sure it was a smart move, so I started funneling more prana his way, and in a flash he spun, wings out and slicing through the enemy as if they’d taken on a weapon ability of their own. Hot damn, this was going to be fun if I could level up both myself and him, basically surrounded by an endless supply of prana.

Pucky was nearby, shooting her huge-ass rifle at anything she could. I even caught sight of Ali Baba, who I’d lost track of in all the chaos and maneuvering. He had his genie magic going, swirling around enemies, turning them into wind-up toys when he could, shooting out attacks at those powerful enough to resist his simple tricks.

Meanwhile, Elisa and her brothers were tearing through the enemy, making a show of it. You could almost say they were stealing my prana, since at this point it was feeding their armor, making them hulk out. Pretty badass. I spun, avoiding a strike from one and then retaliating with my blade, and watched as a red cloak moved through the crowd, the large wolf that I knew to be Sharon close behind.

Again I swiped at the air, not even bothering to aim this time, and managed to hit one of those fucks. Two came at me at once with strikes that might have done damage if not for my shield flashing up, and then I knelt, coming under a dark shadowy form to shoot out with my group attack. At least ten prana orbs shot my way, and I assigned them to speed.

The momentary distraction wasn’t smart though, because I barely had time to register the way the Shades were parting, the form of Heimdall blasting down with his rainbow light and massive sword.

Good thing I had my lion upgrades, because it was through Roar’s eyes that I saw it, because of him that I was able to drop and roll to the side to avoid the first blow. My sword was up in time to parry the next strike, and the third met my shield—blasting it to pieces!

Damn, I didn’t know if that would need a recharge or if it was gone forever, but either way it wasn’t good.

“Mortals,” he said, bringing his sword up in a swing that should have been impossible with a blade that size, “will never be able to stand against gods!”

“Good thing you’re just a cocky, arrogant, fucking dickhead then,” I replied, and thrust out, using my skill to shoot a blade of light. When he dodged in a flash, I considered cancelling out skills to see if that would put us on even footing, but he was twice my size and using a sword he’d likely been training with for hundreds or thousands of years, depending on whether he was an original or not. Instead, I opted for attacking his ego. “You’re not a god, you’re a pissant, pea-brain jerk who thinks he’s better than everyone.”

I went on the attack, hoping the words plus my aggression would trigger something in him. It worked. He roared, coming to meet me in a charge, and our swords collided in a burst of colors and energy that sent us both back. Wispy hands gripped me but Roar was there, tearing through them, then looking at me in a way that made me understand. He would hold off the nearby Shades while I took care of Bobby-Big-Balls over there. I nodded, turning to get back into the fight.

Another thing about my moment with Roar. I was reminded that I didn’t have to rely only on my senses. Taking that into account with this Heimdall guy’s rage, a plan began to form.

This time when we clashed swords and I called him weak, said any of my team could take him, I let him catch me with his sword, barely, making sure I turned so that it was the broadside. The impact sent me flying, landing facing away from him with my sword skittering across the ground.

But that’s exactly what I wanted.

Using Roar’s senses I knew he was coming at me, and holding out my hand I prepared. When he was lunging, sword coming down for my neck, I summoned my blade, caught it, and turned with a thrust up and kick to his legs.

He went sprawling, sword going up under his sternum so that I could leverage that and throw him over me, sword still in him. Then I was up, summoning it to me, but jumping so that I was taken to it instead. I let the impact do the work, my weight and gravity pushing the blade in deeper, so that I could see his red eyes fade to empty, black sockets as his life force faded. Then he was gone, his ichor entering me.

Without hesitation, I upgraded to get the illusion skill. I had no idea what would come next, and I needed to be ready.

Just then, Huera came charging past with Pucky and Toewi, in pursuit of a group of Shades, while behind me I realized the enemy was clearing enough that I could make out Sekhmet and Bastet where they fought, the others on the far side of them.

We were winning, at least for the moment. Mowgli and the others had joined us and were leading an attack that pushed the Shades away to the East, another group, including Chris’s, had moved the enemy on the west back to the bottom of the hill. My group had the immediate north and south handled.

But the darkness surged, a form appearing in the sky. It descended toward us, and all of the surviving enemy backed up, awaiting their ally.

Ra! He’d arrived.

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Ra stopped not far out, close enough to throw a stone at, with my upgraded strength, anyway. He sneered at us, translucent hawk wings out behind him, his helmet glowing like the sun.

“You’ve returned,” he said, turning to assess us all. I wasn’t sure who he was addressing, but