A sudden silence enveloped the chasm. Beside the carts speeding through it, avoiding the sides at all costs unless they risk a mimic sink them right there, and the sound of the droplets of the ether charged rain hitting their cart, nothing else could be heard. No magic, no shouting, nothing. At the sound that ripped apart the very air a cold sweat was built upon everyone present, after all, all of them have at least once taken a trip in this Gods-stripped world and knew very well what was coming.
Entering the driver's section from the side, Fleck sees Masha and him look at him back. No words were needed, Fleck could see how a white, pale color has conquered Masha’s face. Without any words, Masha pushed the cart to its top speed, forcing the etheric engine to overclock. Fleck understood this decision, after all, in the experience he has dealt with J’avo’s, it is better to escape one if possible than to face it head-on.
Turning to the open side window from which he entered, Fleck sees Hashi sticking her legs in, her cloak fluttering against the air. At this moment, Masha makes a slight deviation, trying to avoid a white rock that was sticking out of the water. This small movement was enough to strongly shake the automated cart, making Hashi lose her grip when she still hasn’t entered the driver’s section.
Without truly thinking it, Fleck reacts, in one step he reaches Hashi’s hips, surrounding them with his left arm and securing his grip with his right hand, pushing against her belly button. Tightening his body and putting strength on his legs, he carries Hashi all the way into the interior.
-”Thanks…”- Hashi mutters as she takes in and out a couple of deep breaths, still soaked by the etheric rain.
-”Don’t even mention it.”- Fleck says as he raises an open hand in front of her, and then joins together both of Hashi’s legs and, moving out of the seat, puts her in it in his place.
Incorporating himself, he senses a chill running through his body. Looking at the back, the cargo section, he can see through the opening by the end of the cart how the other carts just stopped attacking and now are just speeding away, just like them. All of them have made a single line behind Masha’s cart in hope for the bandits to take advantage of Masha’s cart breaking the air for them.
-”Is this the limit speed of this automated cart?”- Fleck asks to Masha.
-”Full speed, overclocked.”-
-”Think we can make it to the throat of arcadia fast enough? Natural water heavily damages them.”-
-”We should be right there at any time… as long as that thing isn’t faster, that is.”-
-”I see. Well… better us…”- Fleck mutters to himself as he takes long steps that resound in the automated cart as he moves towards the back.
-”Does any of you have experience with J’avos?”- Fleck asks the four mercenaries left that are still standing.
Everyone shakes their heads.
-”I see. Then move out of the way, and stick as close as possible to the driver’s section. Leave the rest to me.”- Fleck replies.
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With these words, hail started to fall, piercing the fabric that covers the automated cart. Accompanied by multiple steps and the sound of the hail hitting the wooden floor of the cart, Fleck reaches the opening in the back of the cargo area, just in time to see how a cart that is behind the one that is right after them is lifted in the air. Then, another automated cart, closer this time, is pushed against the wall of the chasm. Another one, this time pushed forward and falling on top of the one that was in front of it.
This behavior, it is like it is chasing something, ignoring everything else… is it us?
Two more carts are sent out flying.
That’s it, now there’s only one cart between us and them… indeed it is coming for us, but why? We shouldn’t have the highest etheric readings, it should be average between all of us.
Suddenly, Fleck can see how a light goes up and down right in the middle of the cart that is behind them. This light almost reaches Fleck’s nose. One moment the cart continues to run, and the next one it falls into two and into the water, letting a shadowy figure pass.
This one seems to imitate a ground animal, probably it can’t fly. The throat of arcadia will be out best bet after all…
The J’avo comes closer, shoving to the sides all hail that is hitting its shadowy body. At the touch of each hail, the body gains color for an instant, right before turning shadow once more. With all the colors that is hitting it, Fleck can devise that has taken the shape of a horse.
It probably killed one when it crossed to this side.
A light shines over the head of the J’avo, at which Fleck unsheathes his sword and the blue pale light deflects its light. Letting a screech escape, the J’avo comes closer, freezing the water of the river in order to run, and from its mouth shadowy tentacles come sprouting, grabbing Fleck’s cart.
Sword still in hand, Fleck changes the pale blue light of the sword to a yellow one, and with one circular swing Fleck cuts the tentacles with an electrical wave, freeing the cart from being toppled over by the J’avo’s strength. The small pieces that are still attached to the cart suddenly gain color and become like rocks, no different than the hail hitting the cart beside the size and composition of colors.
Another screech, and the J’avo surrounds itself with a dark mist, at which Fleck lets a gasp escape and then turns to yell -”Masha, full speed ahead! Blow up the engine if needed to be!”-
He can only see a thumbs up from the driver’s section and Hashi peeking to see what is happening, right before turning once more to face the J’avo who has gained terrain, moving way faster than before.
Swinging left and right, stopping new tentacles from reaching the cart, Fleck then whispers -”I see you are forcing my hand here”- as a wry smile is drawn on his face. Moments later, he jumps out of the cart, landing right on top of the J’avo’s head, piercing it with his sword.