Sky Attributer 2: Path of Devastation

Chapter 9 - Frail and Outplayed

"Last time I saw machines similar to these, it was when I was going after Luke, one of Michael's henchmen" Spike began saying as to get everyone on the same page.

He looked over to Mark, along with the rest of the Pack, and began realising they had no idea who Michael was, "Michael was an elemental who wanted me dead for his own selfish desires. Hunch is his mentor if I recall."

The pack all gave their satisfied nods and Spike turned back to face the tents before them, "They looked different though, thinner and a little more simple. Maybe they've been upgraded, but it hasn't been more than a week."

More machines were coming out now, the area below was full of them. Then, the last to leave each tent turned to face the same one they'd just walked out from. Their arms extended out, the palms of their hands faced directly in front and their fingers spread apart. Their fingers then began moving around their hands abnormally, instead of being stuck like normal fingers they were moving along the outer edgesof their individual hands.

The speed of the fingers increased to a blur and the centre of the hands opened, then without warning the tents in front of them were sucked into the arms like a vacuum. When the tents had disappeared, the hole on the hands closed and the fingers slowed down until they finally clicked back into a normal place.

"Well that's quite useful" James said.

"Shut it" Carmen said, "What are they doing here?"

As if to answer him, there was a bolt of lightning from the sky which hit the ground at the centre of the machines. They quickly cleared away into a perfect circular formation, little to no gaps between them all, and from the lightning bolt was revealed to be Hunch. He stood up from his crouch, wiped his hands on his pants and took a look around at the machines.

"Well now that's definitely perfect reveal for our friends. WHAT DO YOU THINK?!"

Those last four words, they had been shouted far louder than Spike or his friends had expected. Then they realised, Hunch was looking in their direction with a finger pointed to their spot on the tall cliff.

"Fuck" Spike said, "run!"

The pack wasted no time, they jumped from their positions and dashed while their bodies transformed into that of their wolf counterparts. Their paws pressed against the ground as fast as they could to get away from their area.

Paul grabbed Laura's hands, the girl shivering a bit in his grasp but quickly stood to her feet with his help and they disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Spike, however, didn't run.

He heard a crackling sound from above him and so with a raise of his head he saw the brewing of storm clouds in the empty sky. With a smile, his eyes caught sight of lightning within the storm cloud, then a second later it struck the ground. Spike, however, was gone.

There was nothing for silence for a while, the machines didn't move or tick, Hunch didn't make any sign of movement. The pack had gotten a good distance away before stopping and Paul soon appeared beside him with Laura. Their sudden appearance caused all of the pack to flinch to almost attack but Paul brought a barrier around himself and Laura just in case.

"Where's Spike?" Mark said as soon as he realised it was Paul.

"Do you want an honest answer or to be reassured?"

Mark bit his lip, "Honest."

"He's probably getting up close and personal with our friend right now, after all he's the one who stole Spikes portal glove."

"That's suicide though! He saw the amount of those machines."

Carmen, however, shook his head and grasped Marks left shoulder gently, "Actually, I don't think that's the case, his power is much stronger than even I expected from a normal Shadowmancer. The only thing I worry about now is how he uses it."