Upping The Ante

72. The Surge

Almost as if the air were rushing toward us, a wave of pressure rolls up the tunnel and presses against my face.

It… isn’t comfortable.

[“Something is coming up. Get ready to fight,”] I warn my crew.

Vibrant and Crinis huddle carefully on my person. Tiny stands to his full height, his head brushing the roof. He can also sense the disturbance. His silver fur starts to rise off his frame as electrical sparks begin to shimmer and zap across his frame.

Ohhhh, he’s pumped up! I’m also keen to see what he can do now that he’s evolved. That massive frame isn’t for nothing. I’m sure I’ll witness something interesting when he goes at it. Now that I think of it, I should also start making some preparations.

My two sub-brains are well rested and ready for action. It’s time to put them to work. Wanting to test their strength, I task both with a separate spell, one Gravity Bolt each. Best to begin with the basics and work their way up.

As the pressure continues to build and roll against us, I internally sense my two little helpers getting busy shaping the spells. Independently, they draw on the Gravitational Mana stored in my gland and begin the process.

Gwehehehehehe.

Excellent!

Chuckling to myself with glee, I begin to shape a third spell with my main mind. Not double the spells, TRIPLE the spells! This is the true, awesome power of my Divergent Mind! The sub-brains are neither as quick nor as capable as I was in my last evolution. They lack the force of Will to shift the Mana as rapidly, and the Cunning to weave the shapes as deftly. Even if it takes them twice as long, being able to independently cast their own spells makes these sub-brains so damn useful!

Now to unleash the fearsome might. The unparalleled force and the extraordinary dexterity of my newly upgraded main brain!

After all, most of the extra juice I pumped into my mental faculties was spent on this. In terms of Will or Cunning, I’m nothing like I was before. Behold!

With force and precision, I draw on the Gravitational Mana to rapidly weave it into a Gravity Spear, the long body of the spell with its surrounding intricately engraved circles taking shape at record pace. Incredible!

My ability to use magic in combat situations has absolutely shot through the roof! I’m more than satisfied. With my next evolution, I may spend a little of my budget neatening up the edges, but I don’t think I need much more juice in the mental department. I’ll be ramping up my physical stats until I’m the same size as Tiny!

Once the spells are formed, I hold them ready, one mind for each, and prepare myself to face whatever is approaching.

Tiny is so excited he’s practically fidgeting. Calm down, oi!

Gradually the sounds from the tunnel build in volume. From a whisper to a murmur and then rising into a crescendo of sound. Roars, screams and the pounding of feet fill the air, rattling my nerves. I still can’t see anything coming. Where the heck are they!

This sounds like a freaking stampede of monsters!

Just when I’m starting to reconsider our frontal approach, the edges of the horde come into view. My first impression is a wave of teeth racing at full speed. The second and third impressions are much the same.

What the heck is this!

Dozens of monsters, hundreds even, are charging with mouths gaping and claws rending the air. They aren’t fighting each other at all… this is weird! Gandalf? Any advice!

Dammit, you beardy-faced pile of senility!

[Tiny! This is going to get rough! Go all out!]

Why the hell didn’t I get a Gravity Bomb ready?

I see all sorts of monsters mixed into the onrushing horde. Shadowy monsters, Imps, pigs and even some of the mobile plant types are in the mix. I just can’t understand why they’re all cooperating.

And the formless pressure is still building. Pressing down on us like an unseen hand.

No time to hesitate, let’s do this!

Experience the power of my ant soul!

Gravity Spear! Gravity Bolt! Gravity Bolt!

All three spells are launched simultaneously, streaking through the air like glittering purple arrows. The monsters have no capacity to dodge, as packed together as they are. The leading shadow beast is speared directly through the chest and the creatures around him are instantly wrapped within the expanding circles as the spell activates.

The second the pull is applied, over ten monsters are dragged toward the target. Not expecting the sudden force, they’re thrown off their feet and stumble, only to be smashed into the ground by the pounding feet of the creatures behind them. Other monsters trip and fall, only to meet the same fate. Crushed under the heels and claws of their brethren.

[You have defeated…]

[You have defeated…]

No time for that!

The two Gravity Bolts smack into another two monsters and drag them down. These are also crushed. With five or six monsters dead, the size of the coming monster wave hasn’t even diminished.

Going to need to bring out the big guns!

I spin up the backup singers and task them with preparing the much more complex Gravity Domain. With the two of them working in tandem, they should be able to handle it. I don’t want to chip in with the main mind right now, I need my wits about me.

Tiny is getting increasingly riled up, electricity crackling all over his frame, stinging the air with frequent flashes of light. In the face of the onrushing monsters, he doesn’t flinch, but rather smashes his chest with his mighty fists and roars! His powerful bellows and shrieks are so loud, they even rise above the cacophony of the beasts coming at us.

And he doesn’t stop there. Having issued his challenge, the ape charges in, smashing the tunnel floor with his knuckles as he picks up speed. He’s not content to wait. He’s going to take the fight to the enemy!

Dammit, Tiny!

[“We’re going in with him, hold on!”]

Dash!

I spring forward, hurtling ourselves to the onrushing horde. As I get closer, the thousands of teeth and claws grow larger in my sight until there’s nothing else. This is madness! What is happening here is sheer madness.

How’s that Domain coming?

Still not ready?

CRASH!

Like a cannonball, Tiny smashes into the front ranks of the wave, fists flying. Monsters are catapulted into the air and bashed into the walls. He continues to propel himself, bellowing his challenge.

Tiny is quickly surrounded, the monsters latching onto him with claws, mouths, tentacles and whatever else they have available, lashing the ape again and again.

Oh no you don’t!

SHATTERING BITE!

CRUNCH!

Pouring out my stamina into the bite, I manifest jaws of light over two metres long and rip them closed. The Savage Mandibles display their ferocity, tearing my enemies apart and crushing them in the same breath.

The horde of monsters is endless. Is this the true Wave? I feel like I’m battling the tide!

Shattering Bite! Shattering Bite! Shattering Bite! Shattering Bite!

I lash out relentlessly, but as quickly as I crush them, they’re instantly replaced by more. Tiny doesn’t seem to care. He keeps pushing deeper, sending waves of monsters flying with every lashing of his fists. The electricity on him is still building! It’s started flashing out and lighting up the monsters around him like Christmas trees, and it doesn’t feel like it’s going to stop there.