Grey Skill 7

Fueled by rage over their injured brethren, the Four Fists howled madly, hurling themselves at me with complete disregard for their own safety.

Letting out a sharp breath, I focused on the aether clinging tightly over my skin, protecting and strengthening me. My mind slipped into a trance as I recalled the years of hand-to-hand training I received from Kordri.

I could hear angered screams of the Four Fists growing louder, Caera calling my name from the distance as she fought her way toward me, and Swiftsure honking high over our heads, but I tuned them all out until all I could hear was the sound of my own, even breaths.

Sidestepping a pair of smaller Four Fists that pounced on me, I struck one with my fist, causing it to collide with its partner before spinning on my heels to intercept a darker Four Fists’ aether bullet.

Cladding another layer of aether over my palm, I redirected it to hit the pair that I had just knocked down before driving my elbow into my attacker’s sternum.

I ignored the choked gasps the aether beast let out as it collapsed. I ignored the look of pain and fear on the other Four Fists. I just focused on the sound of my own breath as beast after beast was felled by my hands. This wasn’t the time to show doubt or compassion.

This wasn’t the time to show weakness.

A squashed, ugly face of yet another Four Fists pressed down from above, its jaws snapping and its tusks digging at the air as it tried to gore me. I grabbed the beast by those tusks and slammed its face into the ground. When it didn’t go immediately limp, I stomped my feet down into its skull before scanning the battlefield.