Chapter 272: And I Am Strong Enough To Be Cruel
<span style="font-weight:400">Landin stood next to his three summons, staring down the massive man across from him.
<span style="font-weight:400">Xavier and Landin had moved a small distance away from the rescue tents, the only audience the entourage that Xavier had forced to apany him.
<span style="font-weight:400">Hudson had stayed behind reluctantly to keep the rescued citizens safe from any other surprises and the soldiers were unsurprisingly unwilling to follow Landin.
<span style="font-weight:400">“You done there, princess? I’d like to hurry this up, I got lots of ns to get to today,” Xavier sneered, licking his lips.
<span style="font-weight:400">Landin grimaced, “Shut up. Your insults are as bad as a Halo 2 lobby, you gross old man. Can you even get it up, you disgusting, balding, Slender Man looking idiot? Maybe need a little blue pill there, maybe some blue chew, Giganto?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Xavier frowned, shing forward before Landin could realize what happened.
<span style="font-weight:400">Landin was looking up at the clouded sky, his back searing in pain as he coughed up a wad of blood.
<i><span style="font-weight:400">W-what happened?!</i><span style="font-weight:400"> He thought, his mind racing only for a moment until he saw Xavier standing above him.
<span style="font-weight:400">“You talk too much.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Landin grinned, “Habit I picked up from my cringy teacher,” he chuckled, spitting a glob of blood back at Xavier, it hitting him on the cheek.
<span style="font-weight:400">Xavier’s frown devolved into a scowl as he wiped the red splotch from his cheek. Xavier grunted loudly, raising his massive military-like boot above Landin.
<span style="font-weight:400">But just as his foot came down, Landin was pulled out from under the blow, Ifrit barking loudly as the wolf pup yanked hard on Landin’s pant leg.
<span style="font-weight:400">Jumping back up, Landin wiped the blood from his mouth, bracing himself for whatever wasing. But to his surprise, the man didn’t move, instead rolling his shoulders and neck.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I haven’t had a stretch in a while. And since we have such a <i><span style="font-weight:400">captivated audience.</i><span style="font-weight:400"> I think I’ll enjoy embarrassing you before I rip your shitty little throat out kid,” Xavierughed.
<span style="font-weight:400">Landin scowled, but this was the best scenario for him. Xavier was underestimating him and giving him precious time for the others to get to Drake.
<span style="font-weight:400">But Xavier blurred after a light sneer back at Landin, a secondter in front of him, already in the motion of a right hook.
<span style="font-weight:400">Landin’s eyes once again widened, unwilling to believe this man was so leagues above him in stats. Quickly snapping his fingers, he switched ces with Anima. Their differences in height saving both of them once again, Xavier’s hook passing over her harmlessly.
<span style="font-weight:400">Landin needed to pull out all the stops or he wouldn’tst long enough in the fight, even with the bastard of a man ying around with him. He had just used up thest charge of his recement skill and it wouldn’t be back for several minutes.
<span style="font-weight:400">He began chanting, straining his eyes to keep track of Xavier.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Ifrit!<i><span style="font-weight:400"> Let the bell toll!”</i><span style="font-weight:400"> he began.
<span style="font-weight:400">Landin crouched ready to receive another blow but it never came. Xavier rolled his arms again, this time a glow beginning to emanate as he did.
<i><span style="font-weight:400">A skill? A body enhancement like Drake’s, but it works with him fighting longer like Sarah? Or is it just from him rolling his arms?</i><span style="font-weight:400"> Landin thought.
<span style="font-weight:400">But he continued the chant, not time to waste.
<i><span style="font-weight:400">“Ring the sound of victory, devour the branch of life, Grow and expand! Step forward into the light! Summoner’s Enlightenment!”</i><span style="font-weight:400"> he roared, Ifrit taking long leaping bounds towards him.
<span style="font-weight:400">Ifrit was bathed in white light suddenly growing several times bigger, his legs bing more muscr, ws longer and sharper. The mes on his mane and elbows burned with more intensity. Finally, his face turned several times more severe and ferocious. No longer a puppy but a full-grown Tundra Wolf.
<span style="font-weight:400">Landin continued, reaching his hand out to Ifrit.
<span style="font-weight:400">“<i><span style="font-weight:400">Dwell within me! King Maker!”</i>
<span style="font-weight:400">Ifrit lept into Landin’s chest a magic circle forming instantaneously as he did between them. As Ifrit passed through the circle, Landin began to glow in bright bluish light, his body expanding outward, his hands bingrger with sharp ws instead of nails. His hair growing out past his waist and changed to a deep blue.
<span style="font-weight:400">Landin gave a guttural animalistic growl, his eyes yellow and sharp.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Oh look, the snot-nosed kid, grew some sharp nails, want me to wait while you paint them?” Xavier bellowed, his head snapping backward with each amusedugh.
<span style="font-weight:400">Landin ignored him and flexed his legs, taking a step forward, the ground underneath him cracking and denting from the force.
<span style="font-weight:400">He shot forward before Xavier was able to react in time. Landin thrusted his hand forward like a spear, his new ws set to points, aimed directly at the man’s chest.
<span style="font-weight:400">But it was never that easy. Either a skill, defensive item, or just the difference in levels and stats prevented Landin’s blow from dealing any real damage.
<span style="font-weight:400">His wed hand ricocheted off Xavier’s chest, only ripping the clothes and leaving a small scratch against the man’s skin.
<span style="font-weight:400">Xavier frowned, “That’s some power-up! Still not good enough though! You''re just some weak little brat who got some fancy stones!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Landin tried to retreat, taking a step back, but his wrist was grabbed in a sh by Xavier. The strength behind it too much as Landin could hear and feel his bones snapping under the hold.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Let me teach you just how <i><span style="font-weight:400">weak</i><span style="font-weight:400"> and <i><span style="font-weight:400">useless </i><span style="font-weight:400">you really are!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Xavier bellowed anotherugh, lifting Landin like a paperweight into the air and mming him down into the ground.
<span style="font-weight:400">Landin gave out a grunt of pain, air forcibly expelled from his lungs as his eyes rolled back into his head. Then was thrown across the open area, skipping across the ground until he crashed into a building, toppling it from the force.
<span style="font-weight:400">Xavierughed mirthfully. Allowing Bahamut and Anima to go to him.
<span style="font-weight:400">A voice Landin hadn’t heard before yelled out as he scrambled to get up out of the house’s rubble.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Please! Please stop! You can’t win! Don’t throw your life away!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Landin flexed his aura, Anima beginning to heal him as his head struggled to lift to see the owner of the voice only to hear a single crack of a hand.
<span style="font-weight:400">He finally found it, Xavier, had pped the elf woman in maid clothing across the face, sending her to the floor.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Who told you to speak, you dumb slut! You sit there and you watch as I beat the shit out of this less than dirt, burden! And just for talking, I think I’ll have <i><span style="font-weight:400">extra</i><span style="font-weight:400"> fun for our special night!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Something twinged inside Landin, a fierce scowl forming across his wolf-like face.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I… am not worthless,” he growled, canceling his King Maker skill, his body reverting back to normal, “And I am <i><span style="font-weight:400">not</i><span style="font-weight:400"> a <i><span style="font-weight:400">burden!”</i>
<span style="font-weight:400">The elf girl held her hand to her face, a difficult expression on it, but yelled out again.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Don’t waste your life for us, we’re already lost… There’s no hope of us escaping, no matter who is here!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Xavier turned, but Landin shouted first.
<span style="font-weight:400">“SHUT UP!” he growled, “I’m not doing it for you! I’m doing it for me! I’m not going to be told I can’t do something <i><span style="font-weight:400">ever again</i><span style="font-weight:400">! It’s my job to protect this camp and there are people in front of me who need help, and I finally have the power to do something about it! I’ll do it, just like he did it for me! So just shut up, sit there, and let me put my life on the line to finally do what I want to!” he gave a feral grin, pointing a finger at Xavier, “I’m finally living my life my way and right now that means kicking this Lieutenant Surge wannabe reject, head looking ass’s dick in the dirt!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Xavier’s face turned purple in rage, turning back to face Landin. He began swinging his arms, the dim glow Landin had seen before beginning to brighten and deepen in color, turning to a deep red.
<span style="font-weight:400">Landin had no other options, he wasn’t even sure if what he was about to do would work. But if he didn’t he was dead. His enhanced form with Ifrit was the strongest skillbination that he had used.
<span style="font-weight:400">There was only <i><span style="font-weight:400">that</i><span style="font-weight:400"> left.
<span style="font-weight:400">“<i><span style="font-weight:400">Duality Core! Bahamut into Anima!”</i>
<span style="font-weight:400">Both summons glowed, turning into spheres of light and then crashing into each other as their anchors on Landin’s body glowed and vibrated with power.
<span style="font-weight:400">“<i><span style="font-weight:400">Plus Ifrit! Monst3r!”</i>
<span style="font-weight:400">Landin roared, Ifrit bing a sphere of light and finishing the skill as it crashed into the other.
<span style="font-weight:400">Xavier blurred, shing out of sight.
<span style="font-weight:400">But Monst3r formed from the light, taking the blow meant for Landin in its shoulder, blowing it’s arm from the shoulder down clean off. The amalgamation of the summons shrieked in pain and grunted as it slowly used Anima’s power to recover itself.
<span style="font-weight:400">Unfortunately, Landin didn’t have time to wait for his summon to fully heal. He was almost out of mana, and Duality Core onlysted so long while putting a huge tax on his resources.
<span style="font-weight:400">Gritting his teeth Landin shouted while he still had eyes on Xavier.
<span style="font-weight:400">“<i><span style="font-weight:400">Dwell within me! King Maker!”</i>
<span style="font-weight:400">He jumped forward, aiming right at the back of his new summon. Praying the skill activated.
<span style="font-weight:400">And with luck, it did. Just inches from colliding with Monst3r, a magic circle formed and he melded with the summon.
<span style="font-weight:400">Landin’s entire body grew several timesrger as he loomed over Xavier now. His facial features were fierce and sharp, his skin several shades darker as if it had turned to woodish bark. His face still resembled himself, however, blue fire escaped his mouth and yellow-slitted eyes leered back at Xavier.
<span style="font-weight:400">On Landin’s back enormous dark wings spread wide, his feet changing to serrated talons, and his arms covered in white-blueish fur with knives for fingertips.
<span style="font-weight:400">Xavier was stunned for a moment looking back up at the creature.
<span style="font-weight:400">Landin sucked in a deep breath, then gave a guttural howl of blue mes, covering Xavier in frozen fire.
<span style="font-weight:400">It was a gamble, but it looked like it had paid off. Landin didn’t have the minute control his summons had over their skills, instead, he could only brute force them. And he had never practiced, giving this fight a whole new level of difficulty.
<span style="font-weight:400">Then, it was Landin’s turn to be stunned as a only slightly frostbitten hand reached out through the gale of blue fire. Trying to grab for his throat.
<span style="font-weight:400">Landin cut off the bellowing fire and threw his serrated hand in an uppercut to deflect Xavier''s grip.
<span style="font-weight:400">Once he did, another hand came from the side in a left hook.
<span style="font-weight:400">Landin put his right elbow up to block it. But that was a mistake as he was flung to the side, his arm going limp.
<span style="font-weight:400">Xavier had shattered his arm.
<span style="font-weight:400">Landin stopped himself mid-air, flexing his wings, and willed his body to mend thanks to Anima’s skills. But it was clumsy at best, which only slowed down the process of mending the shattered bone.
<span style="font-weight:400">And Xavier wasn’t waiting any longer.
<span style="font-weight:400">The man dashed forward chasing Landin, throwing several jabs in quick session.
<span style="font-weight:400">Landin could see the blows now thanks tobining with his summons, but only barely, the blowsing in blurred streaks.
<span style="font-weight:400">He tried his best to dodge the blows, dipping to one side, but one of the jabs touched the side of his cheek, cutting it wide open.
<span style="font-weight:400">Landin pped his wings, forcing himself into a spinning kick with his talons only to hear a scraping sound against Xavier’s skin as if Landin was scratching metal against metal.
<span style="font-weight:400">Xavier’s guard halted Landin’s strike, allowing him to grab him by the leg and throw him to the ground once more. Landin impacted and crushed the ground beneath him, blood escaping his mouth as he grimaced, trying to stay conscious.
<span style="font-weight:400">But Xavier was unrelenting. Jumping onto Landin’s chest, he swung his arms, the light growing and growing with each rotation.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Anyst words piss ant?” Xavier sneered.
<span style="font-weight:400">“You look like an ugly Mr. Potatohead…” Landin smirked, showing two elongated canines.
<span style="font-weight:400">Xavier’s face twisted in derision and he gripped his hands together like a hammer, bringing it down on Landin’s stomach.
<span style="font-weight:400">The blow folded Landin like awn chair as he was pushed further into the ground. His body desperately tried to heal the damage, but he was running on empty, his health and mana bars dangerously low.
<span style="font-weight:400">Xavier reached down into the hole, picking Landin up by his hair and dragging him in front of the elf girl.
<span style="font-weight:400">“See what happens when you step out of line bitch? You’re just like him, useless! Only good for that thing between your legs. Too bad this sack of shit, couldn’t back up his mouth. I needed to burn off those snacks I had earlier!” Xavier guffawed.
<span style="font-weight:400">Landin coughed, one eye forced shut, the other half able to open.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Y-you taking a break potato face? I-I didn’t hear no bell, spudman…”
<span style="font-weight:400">Xavier growled, rearing back his free arm as Landin’s eye began to close, exhaustion taking him, his skills and spells running out and canceling.
<span style="font-weight:400">Then Xavier was gone.
<span style="font-weight:400">The sound as if a grenade had gone off next to his head rang deep within his being deafening the surroundings and blurring his already darkening vision. The only sensation he felt was theck of rain for a few moments, then warmth entered his body.
<span style="font-weight:400">Landin opened his eyes, a goofy empathetic smirk looking back at him.
<span style="font-weight:400">“It’s about goddamn time-” Landin said, but coughed, a dribble of red liquid leaving his lips.
<span style="font-weight:400">“You did good. I didn’t expect someone so strong to be here. That was my fault… It won’t happen again,” Drake answered, standing up.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake motioned to several people, “Take care of him. Tanya? Bring him and those women to the tents. Sarah, Mordred, Glenn, Luciem. Go to the pits, and find Clotho and Quetz. Evacuate anyone you can. You have 10 minutes.”
<span style="font-weight:400">A roar came from behind Drake, the voice now very familiar to Landin.
<span style="font-weight:400">“They aren’t going anyw-”
<span style="font-weight:400">But the voice was cut short, the surroundings crackling and humming with power as magic circles of every element at Drake’s disposal manifested and then vanished, his entire being going golden.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake turned away from Landin, his eyes sharp daggers in a vicious primal re as he looked over his shoulder.
<span style="font-weight:400">“<i><span style="font-weight:400">I didn’t say you could speak.</i><span style="font-weight:400">”
<span style="font-weight:400">Landin bent to the side slightly to see past Drake, seeing Xavier syed across the muddy ground, his face showing just how much effort he was putting into fighting against Drake’s aura.
<span style="font-weight:400">“What about the guards we’ve captured, Patriarch?” Sah Ul’ asked from the side, looking at the man with murderous disdain.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Leave them here. I know what to do against men like him. They are going to die just like he is, and thest thing they see is him. As the true weakling that he is. You can try to fight against my aura. But you are just like Adam,” Drake scoffed, “Bjorn was right. It looks like our auras are affected by some things. And yours has no bite. I can only assume how you came to be so high level but you do not deserve it. There is no substance in it, just like you. A small little man, on a small little throne.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Landin chuckled slightly.
<span style="font-weight:400">“<i><span style="font-weight:400">Oh, now you''re screwed.”</i>