Forged Destiny [Book 9: Ch. 14]

Three quarters of the way up our progress became slower and slower. Pyrrha and Blake worked side by side to carve a path forward while Ren and I covered the rear, Weiss casting spells upon the ground to leave it icy and trip the Grimm in pursuit. We'd been reduced to a snail's pace; every metre bought in blood. And more and more of the things were coming awake, both behind us and ahead.

"This isn't working." Ren said to me. "We need Weiss clearing the path ahead with her magic or we're going to be stuck. Look out!" The Monk pushed past me, catching a Grimm that had flung itself off a higher floor to attack our flank. He blocked the strike and pushed it back with both hands, dropping it into the abyss and down to the floor several feet metres below. "Isn't there something you can do?" he asked. "This whole tower is made of metal."

I sheathed Crocea Mors and dropped to my knees. I swept away some blood on the ground and slapped my palms down, trusting Ren and Weiss to buy me the time I needed. I don't want the Ironwood to grow. I can't make a wall big enough out of this little material.

There were other avenues. I Engraved a line in the pathway before me, less than a foot ahead of my hands. The groove was carved into it and I felt the Ironwood protest. "I'll give you fire," I promised it. "Work with me and I'll help you grow."

I couldn't tell if it heard or understood me, but it fought less as I Engraved and Engraved over and over again, carving the line thicker and thicker in my mind, cutting into the causeway like a Lumberjack cutting at a tree.

Soon enough it became weak. A Grimm leapt onto it and proved too much. The ground shook and snapped. The ramp fell, slumping down and hitting the floor beneath, crushing Grimm under it. Those still alive leapt up to try and reach us – and some came close. Even so, there was no path up to where we were. I watched one begin to scale the walls, using its long claws to grip on. It was slow going, however.

"Good work," Weiss said.

—Forged Destiny [Book 9: Ch. 14]