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

in, I wasn’t sure what my options were until the dark form moved to the front, about to attack. It hesitated, giving me what I needed to understand. The shisa statues out front gave off an interesting energy, so I moved into them to see what could be done.

As I hoped, the shisa both came alive, breaking free as Ebrill had, to reveal two dragon-like lions. Not large, but formidable. Their strength radiated off them, the hidden power of protectors pushing them to charge for the shape in the darkness.

They connected, throwing themselves at the beast so that it convulsed and surged back at them, wrapping around and revealing itself to be a serpent like a Chinese dragon, green bursts of energy shooting out of it like lightning bolts. The shisa moved fast to dodge and attack as I did what I could to contain the serpent with roots and flying rocks.

Others amongst the enemy realized what was happening and moved in to join the fight, while a side group managed to get past the wards and into a back entrance of the house. I brought down part of the first floor to crush them, quickly replacing it as the house rumbled. Two managed to push themselves free, red auras glowing and seemingly unharmed.

They shouted threats, but already I had the shisa charging away from the serpent, using my power to raise the ground as barricades to keep it out while the shisa dealt with those already in.

If the shisa could come to life, why not more? Thinking outside the box, I focused on the floors and walls, feeling them morph into humanoid forms that met my enemy in battle. With each push of my power, surges like electricity charged through me to let me know I was getting stronger, better.

Another level increase was coming soon, I could sense it. Two demons met my floor golems in battle. While I took down one by smashing it to blood and pulp, the second demon hit my golems with a fist of vibrating red energy that caused them to shatter at its touch. It seemed to look at me, and I felt its presence inside me, pulsating as if that red energy were going to rip me to shreds.

I pushed back, reaching deeper within and working to bring whatever I could rally in my arsenal to destroy him. The shisa was there, tearing through his leg and then dodging again as the serpent nearly got it, and then I had my focus back. With a surge of energy, I brought wire from the wall, vaguely aware of electricity going off in certain rooms while I zapped the fucker and pulled him into the wall, closing it back up.

More figures appeared, some that I was able to pull into the walls. Others were too strong though, and used their magic to push back and resist. Rumbling sounded, then shaking.

“It’s not enough,” a voice said, and suddenly I was pulled from my focus, back to the room where I lay with them, both now propping themselves up.

I saw why, too. Lines formed in the walls, splitting, some even showing hints of magic cracking through. As much as I was achieving, the outside forces were too much for me.

“Leave me in there, I can—”

“No,” Fatiha said, already moving for the door. “We get to the panic room, hold in there. More than anything, we’ll need the Liahona.”

Ebrill joined me, my hand on her lower back, guiding her, as we followed Fatiha through the door. I wasn’t as sure as the older woman and Ebrill looked skeptical, but I hadn’t been doing this long, so I didn’t really know. Ebrill had been out of commission for so long that listening to Fatiha seemed the best move.

As we moved through the hall, though, listening to the rumbling throughout the building and a new roaring from outside, Ebrill whispered, “It’s not going to hold,” and then she shouted for Kordelia as part of a nearby wall crumbled in.

Two lanky red demons with long claws and horns charged in. Ebrill felled the first with a flash of claws. I hit the second with a “Hurtio” stunning spell, then an icy fist thanks to my elemental strike. Apparently, I had left the metal from the fence in the room, but it was too late to get it, now. She finished off the bastard, hitting it where my ice had frozen its jaw so that the demon’s head shattered. My level went up again. I quickly adjusted the attributes with the points available, even though I knew this was all somewhat arbitrary, considering it was essentially my transmutational magic giving me a way to regulate my power advancement. When I was done, it read:

Level 2 Witch MAGE

Statistics

Strength: 6

Defense:6

Speed: 6

Luck: 7

Charisma: 6

Mana: 320

Current Spells

Passive: Situational Alchemy, AKA “Transmutation”

Active: Ddiogelu (protection ward), Elfenol Streic (elemental strike), Tarian (defense boost), Hurtio (stun).

“Keep using those spells every chance you get,” Ebrill said, and I nodded as I cast the “Tarian” defensive boost on all of us.

“Quickly,” Fatiha shouted, and we charged after her.

More rumbling, and the dark form of the serpent crashed through part of the house, cutting off the hall as the walls collapsed and some of the floor gave out. Fatiha turned toward us, eyes wide, when more of the ceiling fell between us.

I jumped back, grabbing Ebrill and pulling her close. For a moment, the house continued to shake. We turned toward the door to our left and took a step, when it opened to reveal Steph.

“Stay back,” I said, hand out, ready to cast a stun spell her way.

Steph stood there, lifted a hand, and her death knights appeared behind her—three of them, at least, that we could see.

“Wait.” Ebrill leaped forward, hands on Steph’s head. For a moment, I thought she was going to suck the life out of my ex. Instead, a darkness floated away like smoke, leaving Steph without the death knights, confusion in her