Chapter 60: Chapter 60 : Vin! Work on finding the hostages!"
want to read ahead or want to support you can join my patr-eon and u will be able to read ahead by 15 chapters
patreon.com/Elsapataky
-----------
"That sounds reasonable," Xenovia agreed, her grip around Excalibur Destruction tightening, "We simply have to match them with power."
"So, how should we head in?" Irina asked, "Cause I don't know about you guys, but I don't see any open doors-"
Right as Irina was about to finish her sentence, one of the boarded-up entrances to the wall smashed open with a titanic boom; catching everyone off guard. Swords were raised, and Midas' Rings flashed onto Vin's fingers as the dust settled, revealing that what smashed down the door was… a massive chunk of a statue. Clutched in its hands rested a smashed analog clock face.
"I suppose that's our invitation, huh?" Ethan humorously chuckled.
"Shall we enter, then?" Ezekiel's hand came to rest against the hilt of the Judgement Sabre, "It would be most… rude to keep our guests waiting."
"Right, c'mon guys, let's move," Jafar directed, cocking his pistol as he led the group through the hole in the wall.
They emerged into the mall on the 2nd floor, surrounded in a hallway by gated-off storefronts, their once sturdy security dented in deep fissures of warped steel. Looking straight ahead, just like how he remembered it, Vin could see the open-area of the 2nd floor. A loop with a single path cutting through the middle, large holes leading down to the first floor on either side of the middle path.
Cautiously, the group moved deeper and deeper into the mall, until they got to the foot of the large atrium, when a scratching noise from above drew their attention.
Hanging from the middle of the ceiling was the centerpiece of the mall, a great antique grandfather clock, reminiscent of a clock tower's head, suspended high up at the peak of the skylights curved dome design.
But it wasn't the sight of the clock that caused the group to pause, oh no.
It was what was perched on top of it.
Not unlike a gargoyle on a gothic building, above their heads was a very humanoid, reptile-like creature, bent down into a squat, holding a long lance in its hand. It's yellow eyes gazing at the group of exorcists below, it's gaze hardening for a moment, before it slowly stood up, unfurling it's spine as it's tall, imposing figure cut through the ray of sunlight casting down through the skylight like a spotlight on a decrepit stage.
Then, the next thing they knew, the lizard-man was in the air, it's lance pointed at the group, determined to skewer them.
Vin wasted no time, as everyone rolled either to the left or right, Vin quickly swiped his hand up in a scooping motion, causing a spire of crystals to burst forth diagonally, straight towards the lizard man, who's eyes widened slightly, as it shifted in the air, it's side barely scraping against the crystal.
By the time the beast landed, it lashed it's spear out towards Vin, who hand sprung himself backwards to avoid impalement, before waving his hands, sending a low, swath of crystals shooting up from the floor, making the creature backflip, dexterously landing on the guard railing.
Yep, this one was the Knight, alright; it's speed made it too distinct to be anyone else. Kaizer was its name, if Vin could recall.
Before Kaizer could attack again, its head perked up, before it quickly braced against the shaft of it's lance, as it blocked against Ethan's strike, which came zooming in in a flash, Excalibur Rapidly humming a sweet trill as it unleashed its speed.
Kaizer leapt away as a slice from both Excalibur Rapidly and Destruction clashed where the stray stood a second ago.
The creature gazed upon the combatants before it, as it opened its jaws of sharp teeth, and roared out a chittering hiss.
And in that moment, Vin swore the gates of hell opened.
From behind the stray, twelve massive, deformed, screaming quadruped swarmed out of the walls, the floors beneath them, out of abandoned storefronts.
Shit.
This was an ambush.
The team was forced off guard, as they scattered around the loop, each one fighting off against a few of the strays.
One of the ghastly abominations charged towards Vin, it's appearance sparking reminders of the market, being pinned down, watching in real time as one of the things slowly took his own life from him.
Vin's gaze hardened. Not again.
Swiping his left hand to the side, a massive crystal spike burst from the wall right as the stray tried to pounce on him. Crystal met flesh as the stalactite tore its way into the it's side. Not necessarily fatal, but enough he kept it impaled to the ground, squirming as Vin leapt over the spike, and took survey of the area around him.
Quickly, Vin spotted Kaizer locked in combat on that middle path with both Xenovia and Ethan, it's spear and body lashing out in several different directions, as it and Ethan engaged in a high speed duel, while Xenovia kept it from leaving with oppressive backup from Excalibur Destruction.
For a split second, Vin and Xenovia made eye contact, before she had to break it in order to dodge a swipe of Kaizer's weapon. Even though the atrium of the mall was alight with the sounds of combat: clashing metal, the pained hisses of the strays as they mercilessly met their fates slowly at the hands of his comrades, Vin could hear Xenovia's shout over it all.
"We'll take this thing on, Vin! Work on finding the hostages!"
He didn't need to be told twice.
Spinning on his heel, Vin sprinted away from the fight, heading east in hopes of finding the hostages, unfortunately, he didn't find the hostages, but something far worse.
He really should have been more careful. Seriously, a little bit of situational awareness would have saved him from a potential world of hurt as he passed by the ripped open entrance to an old bookstore, and failed to notice the gleaming yellow eyes in the dark until a second too late.
-----------
want to read ahead or want to support you can join my patr-eon and u will be able to read ahead by 15 chapters
patreon.com/Elsapataky
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone