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

as powerful as the combined force of three of the Nine, but… if it was two on two, that might be a different matter.

“Okay, okay,” I said, going for the moment of reprieve that would buy me.

“Yes?” Moronoe asked, her firm grip turning into a gentle caress by one of her fingers. Fuck, my body was going through a mix of emotions and cravings. I both wanted to bash her brains in and unleash all over her.

Instead of answering directly, I tried another tactic. One that might not have worked, but had been of use with Riland. Directing my thoughts at Mizoa, I communicated, You, and you alone. I can get you to see your mother, Rianne.

An instant release from her side, and my magic continued from there. Eyeing the shawl where it fell, I transmorphed it into a venomous snake that bit Moronoe’s wrist. In hindsight, that could have gone one of two ways—either her hand letting go, or her hand clamping down. To my relief, the shock and pain caused her to release. With Mizoa not there to hold me in place, I broke free, running up the beach toward the cliffs.

The magic that swelled up behind me was so powerful, I could practically taste it. Something akin to spearmint gum, but with a lot of wild flavor crystals. Instead of running, then, I turned back to face them, knelt and prepared my defense, chanting the words and gauging them to see what I thought they might come at me with.

One advantage to using magic in the nude was fewer odd dangly bits getting in the way of a good fight. Still, as a young man thrusting my hands out and chanting while taking different stances to support my magic strikes, dodging from time to time, I was very much aware of things swaying about and how odd this would have been to watch if anyone else was within sight.

In spite of my awkwardness, as the attacks came one after another—mostly in the form of those black whips and some green light and plants coming to life, I was holding my own. Considering that these ladies were part of the legendary Nine, I felt pretty damn good about myself. Flurries to distract them, ice claws and stone skin and anything else I could think of.

The best part? My XP was jumping up with each hit! Apparently, they were so badass, I didn’t even need to kill them to gain the experience.

Moronoe came at me with full physical strikes this time. She knew my ability to attack mentally now. She knew I wasn’t going to take any shit. Unfortunately, physical fighting had never been my strength. I was a mage, dammit. Not a kung fu fighter or GI Joe or whatever!

Her eyes lit up when she landed that first punch to my gut, then caught me with an elbow to my jaw.

I staggered back, muttering a half-spell that came out garbled.

“Won’t work,” she said with a laugh. “See…” Gesturing around herself, light flared to reveal a set of runes. Apparently, she had created magic-cancelling runes in the area where we were fighting.

“Then you can’t use it either,” I spat at her, blood flying out with spittle.

“Eh, I think I can take you.”

“Let’s see, then.” Honestly, I had little to no confidence in my skills, but felt pretty damn good about my willingness not to die, and my desire to return to my team.

Her next attack was a kick to my leg that made me want to collapse, but I lunged forward to catch her with a headbutt. That strike didn’t hit its target, which I had meant to be her face, however, it turned into a simple plowing of my forehead into her left breast. I bounced back onto my ass while she stepped away, holding her tit and growling in anger.

“That fucking smarted, J.” She stood with a finger pointed at me. “How’d you like it if I head-butted you in the nuts?”

“I wouldn’t like that at all,” I admitted, realizing that I was spread-legged, nuts out for the attacking. Shifting, I moved to a kneeling position, ready.

She paced, the rune glowing beneath her and around us. The other two were just outside the boundary of its magic, watching. Gliten shot a green burst my direction, but it faded in the air at the edge of the rune.

“He’s mine!” Moronoe snapped at her, then came at me again. A fake left followed by a leap and a superman punch that sent me stumbling. Not only was I getting my ass kicked, but it was by a nude woman. A nude woman who, in spite of appearances, was ancient. This didn’t seem fair.

If there was one thing I’d discovered about myself, though, it was that I was a quick learner. So, the next time she came in with another attempt at an elbow, I moved left and out of the way, throwing a wild haymaker that—to my surprise—hit her in the throat.

She fell back, gasping for air, and I took the chance to use what I could to my advantage. For one, I had learned at Gertrude’s house that my transmutation powers weren’t affected by such runes. I broke the rune, molding the ground with my magic so that it did the opposite of what she intended and would amplify what I would do next. I hit her with an ice wall and mumbled, “Gorffwys.”

It almost surprised me when she passed out. The other two, though, were there, moving in… still nude, although the green one had darker green energy moving over her in semi-concealing ways.

“You two don’t have to do this,” I said, hands up in warning. “Moronoe has lost her way. But us… we can still be friends.”

“Sure, give us all the details,” Mizoa said. “Everything you know.”

“Oh, details.”

“You know, the locations—Gertrude’s research.”

“I’m just a guy standing here in this… what, dream world?” I held my hands out, unashamed. “Nude, having just gotten my ass kicked by