-To Destroy-

Callan grimaced as a bolt of lightning struck the mast and the wood splintered. Jordan dropped into a defensive ball, wooden shards piercing her arms. But he didn’t hesitate for a moment.

Picturing in his mind the flow of his Orenda, he threw his arms out at his sides and an emerald blast radiated out from him like a cannon, green light shimmering and shoving the shards and debris out of the way and far from Jordan.

Now awake and alert, the Orenda curled around his hands and up his wrists, eager and hungry to be of use.

He didn’t hold back.

Sulfins the size of boulders thrashed against the sides of the ship, majestic creatures coated in scales the size of his torso. Their eyes glowed an electric yellow to match the lightning they called down—eyes like fallen stars, burning slowly in the silver swords of their bodies.

Everything else faded away but repelling the creatures. He respected Jordan enough to know that she could handle her own—although he still wondered how a sword in a scabbard would do anything but irritate the majestic sea creatures.

Maybe she’ll beat them to death.

An unearthly cry again, like nature screaming, defying auditory laws. Growling, he shoved emerald Orenda outward like The Heightened plowing through waves, pushing them back with mighty shrugs. Emerald light and heat exploded from him in all directions, striking the sulfins and forcing them back, cutting off their cries as Orenda pierced them like blades.

The creatures didn’t bleed, but their scales buckled or shattered. His use of the emerald power invoked a new cry—one of war. The Orenda’s heat made their scales shimmer and simmer, blazing a violent shade of green to match his power.

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Sparing a glance to the side, he saw Jordan, now on her feet, a long coil of rope slung on her shoulder. She was approaching the edge of the ship, where several sulfins thrashed and roared. Her sword was strapped back onto her waist, seemingly forgotten.

He could barely make her out in the enraged downpour, brought down by the ancient creatures. The rain cut into his vision, but the blurred forms of the seven or so sulfins were as easy to make out as the flash of Jordan’s hair. Eight silver shapes, wavering like candle flames.

He almost fell to his knees again as one of the beasts rammed its serpentine head into the starboard side of the ship, the entire craft rocking but firm, unyielding. A typical boat, Elisian made, even by a master artisan, would be unable to hold up under such an otherworldly siege.

But The Heightened hadn’t been made here. It had come here.

More Orenda rushed through his body and collected at his hands, rushing up until it coated his arms up to his elbows like vambraces. Picturing a war ax in his mind, he closed his eyes briefly, breathing deeply in and out, emptying his mind of the outward turmoil, the pitching waves and eery cries, the shudder-flash of lightning striking the sea like tridents.

Just him and the coiled, powerful form of Orenda, grinning, eager and willing to fight.

His eyes shot open, the usual brown tinged with emerald green that shimmered palely like the glow of the moon. Enough to warn enemies and victims—he housed the power to destroy.

In his hands, an emerald war ax, reaching up past his head, wickedly sharp and radiating heat like a torch.

Tensing his legs, he leaped, aiming for the head rearing over the ship’s edge as though searching for an easy meal.

The sulfin’s mouth opened wide in a snarl, pearly teeth as long as Callan’s arms standing ready like sentries guarding the black hole of the creature’s gut.

A swing, then a crack like thunder.

Emerald light littered the air like the remnant of firebombs shot off at the beginning of the new year. A cry, this time of surprise, anger.

Callan grinned.