Moonlark Turned Evil

47: In a Dark Tunnel

Just for clarification:

1. I don't think I've explained this until now, but I thought it would be good to include it: the Charging ability is described as both 'electricity' and 'lightning'. I've imagined it as a purple-ish-blue version of Misaka Mikoto's (from A Certain Scientific Railgun) lightning, so if you want a reference, then I suggest you search up a video of her doing that. (Misaka's railgun coin has nothing to do with a Charger's electricity, by the way, it's just her ordinary attacks).

2. Now that I mention A Certain Scientific Railgun: Shirai Kuroko, also from that anime, is how I imagined Sophie's teleporting. In the original Keeper series, Sophie needs to pick up speed, and mentions cracking open the sky, as well as being surrounded by lightning, but in MTE, she doesn't need any of the special effects.

The tunnel was dark and damp.

Claws and teeth scratched at her, and rough, stubby hands grasped at her, trying to pull her to the ground.

Her sword was a silver blur in the darkness as she cut through the ever-advancing dwarven army, her teeth clenched.

Why aren't they retreating? Sophie muttered to her Discesion ability.

DON'T ASK ME.

Is it just me, or have you been getting more and more informal lately? she asked, completely off topic. It was a habit of hers, one she'd learned from Fayn—changing the subject while in a life or death situation. The two of them often exchanged banter while they fought, and it had (unfortunately or fortunately, she didn't know which) also rubbed off on both their Guilds.

IT'S PROBABLY JUST YOUR IMAGINATION.

Sophie highly doubted that, but she had no interested in fighting two battles at once, so she accepted what her ability said.

. . . I BELIEVE THE DWARVES' LACK OF FEAR IN THE FACE OF DEATH SUGGESTS SOME SORT OF MIND CONTROL.

Mind control? Sophie scoffed.

YOU'RE HOLDING A CHESS PIECE THAT COULD GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO RULE THE WORLD, the ability reminded her. I DON'T THINK IT'S SO FAR-FETCHED.

True.

The dwarves continued marching forward, an endless wave that showed no sign of stopping.

"How many has Enki even sent?" Sophie hissed, sliding backwards.

Blood poured from a fresh gash on her calf.

She glanced back over her shoulder, where the entrance was a faint white dot. Clenching her hands around the hilt of her sword, she thought of Fitz and Biana, who were fighting for their lives—and Alvar, who had to take care of both his younger siblings and his parents.

They wouldn't survive much longer, even with the dwindling number of enemies.

"Hey," Sophie said, in Dwarvish.

There was a moment of silence, when the dwarves stopped moving.

"I cannot allow you to step beyond this point," she said, her voice low and threatening. "Leave, or die."

The only answer was a rushing torrent as the dwarves raced towards her, baring their teeth and claws.

Sophie swung her sword, skewering and slicing. She kicked out at the dwarves that went for her legs, cursing the low ceiling of the tunnel. Her range would be so much better, if she could only jump.

But this was the battlefield. These were the rules.

She'd have to play by them.

"Shall we go all-out, then?"