I know that I perceive a battle differently than Petra and everyone else I've ever, subtlety, talked to about it. They generally say they focus on one thing: one monster, running to that one safe spot, looking for that one person. That way they don't get overwhelmed, and just shift their focus during the battle.

Petra told me that as she got better, that one thing got bigger. One monster became a group of monsters, and watching someone's sword became watching all of them.

Which absolutely boggled me when I first heard it. I thought everyone was like me, thinking that a fight isn't a series of goals or made of a lot of little things, but like a piece of art. Every stroke of color counts, and if you only focus on one section on the painting, then you won't understand it and you'll miss key parts.

Then again, I've noticed that other people don't see the world slow down at all, sometimes they say it speeds up. Which I can't say I relate. During stressful times, I can always feel time crawl slowly around me. Giving me more time to think and observe, and plan the perfect attack.

So when the four demons first leaped forward, I didn't charge forward to meet the one closest to me. I got into a defensive position and looked at all of them. They were all going forward, but each one going straight towards different people. The tails also tense and primed for action.

The one coming at me decides to lunge right for my neck. Instead of rolling, I fall flat on my stomach. The tail unable to reach me here. But its back claws can. I somewhat manage to dodge it, but feel a lucky talon slices into the side of my neck.

I flip back up and whip around to face it. There's no pain yet, but I can feel warm blood run down from my neck onto my shirt. We play another starring game for a moment, and I see the fourth one, and largest, darting past Axel and Petra. The reason-

The webbed things on its face suddenly sticks out, and it hisses loudly. It wants to attack me, I know it, but it's bringing its head back...

Uh oh.

I turn and protect my head with my back, not even I can fight off deep primal instincts. The acid misses my head, but my armor sizzles. I roll forward at once, just missing the white claws.

While I rolled, I felt my back touch the ground. No armor left to protect it. Note to self: keep back safe and stop ruining armor sets.

My left leg starts to burn as I get up, and it takes me a moment to remember why. The arrow wounds I got aren't completely healed yet, not enough to handle this strain. And this is why you don't rush into battle without thinking.

I take a moment that's too long, and in the corner of my sight I notice the row of razor sharp teeth barring down on me. I raise my left arm to shield my face, attempting to scoot back.

Only to feel dozen of daggers dig into my flesh! I scream, lightning bolts firing throughout my arm and my armor cutting into even more skin. The thing moves its jaw, waves of pain crashing onto me, one after another after another.

I manage to blindly swipe my sword at it, tears filling my eyes to the brim. The wretched beast releases its grasp, my arm seething in agony. I back up away from the demon, trying not to look at the blood running across the smooth armor.

The thing does a little hop and swings its body, whipping the tail around. It comes streaking around the side, the pointer(?, bard) aimed at my face. But it's now time to serve some revenge.

I sidestep giving myself the perfect angle to swing my sword at the oncoming tail. My brilliant Sharpness V sword slicing through the barb, along with another chunk of flesh, right off.

The force pounds into my arm, and that arrow wound starts to wail with pain. I stagger back as the thing screeches and also scurries backwards, starring at the rush of blood where its limb used to be. No time to worry about that one, no time worry about me, I have look for my friends.

Petra, although not winning, is handling one. Axel however struggles against his, his armor isn't affected by the acid but it does look torn and Axel seems to be stiff on one leg.

I run at him, limping slightly as pain shoots up from my left shin, all while trying to find pinpoint the last demon. Hopefully, the other three are taking care of it even though they're not the best sword fighters. And I pray really, really, hard that no citizens are outside.

The tail sweeps under Axel, and he crashes on his back. Before he can make a move, the demon pins him. The fins fanning out....

I've been keeping my fire on complete lock down; I can't trust myself that I can control it around these things. But seeing Axel about to die fuels the fire stronger than what I can contain.

Surreal strength washes into my body, my pain becoming a distant memory, and I pull my sword back charged with uncontrollable rage. I leap forward, and just as the thing turns its head at me, I thrust my blade right into its eyes.

It gives a cry of anguish, then poofs in a satisfying green smoke. A small part of me whispers to help Axel up, but I ignore it. I want these demons to suffer and die this instant.

A golden sword clangs, followed by string of furious curses. With a roar, I fly over to Petra. Everything moving so slow compared to me. I don't even feel my feet touch the ground, just a blur of burning power in my legs.

The demon moves its claw, about ready to deliver the fatal blow on Petra. I plant a foot and swing the other right in its chest. The kick flings the thing to its side, exposing the soft scales on its stomach.

I prepare my sword for the final thrust, but my eye catches my original demon in mid air. Its claws stretched out to me while its eyes burn with fury. I raise my sword quickly but still fumble back on the ground.

The other one has recovered too, ready to attack with the tail and the tailless one pouncing again. Before they get too close, my fire springs up to my aid. It gives a short blast out of my feet and hands, thrusting me back. My momentum rolls me, and I manage to use it to get on my feet.

Both arms starts to throb, one pulsating against the sharp edges of my armor while the other throbs as it reopens. My left knee buckles a bit, as my shin is having a hard time supporting me.

Suddenly, I really don't want to be here. My muscles feel like pathetic bundles of dead grass, my bones must have been used as anvils earlier, and I'm fed up with new dangerous things trying to kill us.

But these things have to be removed, and only we can do it. So I better snap of my wallowing now before I die. Again, but without respawn.

Only to find the two demons starring at me, totally still. I should take advantage of this, attack when they aren't ready, but I'm completely still too. Fear obliterates any fire flickering in me, as some part of me tries to get me to move. But I can't look away from their eyes. Eyes, once filled with rage, now with endless hunger.

And I must be the buffet.

They roar perfectly in tune, almost bursting my poor eardrums. Yet if anything, I feel even more rooted to the spot. I feel like I can't fight this, that they are too powerful for me to handle. I feel like prey.

I'm not able to use my left arm, my back is entirely exposed to anything, and not even adrenaline can completely wash away the desire to just curl up and rest. Some hero I am.

Then a scream echoes behind the mighty roar. My flames burst up as an invisible string violently shakes in my mind. The night goes pitch silent in my ears, as fury unlike no other builds inside me. Instantly crushing my pain, my self-pity, and every other weakness in me.

It's Lukas, these demons hurt him. These monstrosities are trying to kill Lukas while they keep me busy.

Don't they know who they're dealing with? I NEVER allow threats to my friends live, doesn't matter how much pain I suffer with. It doesn't matter the consequences I will face. It will be done.

They will DIE!

And with that, I destroy every chain I placed to hold back my fire. I leave nothing to stand in its way.

An audible whoosh goes out, as the steady embers explode. This isn't a rage that spasmodically pops up or a fit of anger that momentarily makes pain vanish. No, every lick of flame, every cell inside of me, seethes with pure unconquerable wrath.

And every single monstrosity will BURN!

The demons charge forward, but I only stand there... waiting.... waiting... letting pressure build more and more... Only when their claws are just inches away from touching my face, do I act. And boy are they going to regret ever trying to hurt my friends and my Lukas.

I bend down and take a quick step forward, perfectly angling myself for a shot at the exposed belly. One fast thrust, and green smoke appears.

The other lands hard, shocked and then enraged at his fellow demon's death. The webs expand, yet I run at it. The green acid sprays out, and I leap up, gaining at least three blocks thanks to my raging fire.

Gracefully, I whip my hand back and fling my sword. I continue to sail through the air and hear the heavenly puff of a demon being removed from the world.

Another roar rings out, a yelp of panic echoing it. I race towards the cry purely on impulse, flames shooting out behind me. I'm rocketing faster than a minecart, my beautiful town blurring past my eyes.

I see a lot as I get closer. Arrows embedded in the ground and walls, broken glass scattered around, a blotch of red, and a black spot that looks a little green.

But I'm only looking at the demon, larger than all of the others, arrows protruding from his body, glass stuck in between the scales. His fins aren't sticking out, but its head is arched back. Sharp teeth glittering as the monstrosity opens its mouth, getting ready to take a massive bite.

A bite out of Lukas, who is pinned underneath a claw, blood staining his shirt!

I bellow at the demon, so full of power that it hesitates before its kill. The last mistake it'll ever make.  

My fire surges below me, thrusting me into the air. Now the demon has plenty of time to move, but I know now that these things are fueled by greed. It won't leave its catch.

I flip at my peak, building maximum energy before crashing right on top of the demon's neck. Amazingly it doesn't die, the neck only slightly buckling, but that'll only prolong its suffering.

It starts to buck, and in doing so, gets off Lukas. Which means it just lost its leverage. I no longer have to worry about it hurting Lukas.

Now I will. Kill. It. This demon deserves to WITHER for what it's done!

I grab its horns, and remain planted despite all of its thrashing around. I growl, taunting the demon's powerless position against its death brought by my hands.

All the fire I've been using to burn endless energy in my body only radiates small power. It can be greater, be bigger and brighter, but there just isn't enough room of it do that only inside of me. Fire needs fuel and space to grow, not a whole lot of that within my body.

So I take every single spark, every fleck of heat, and let it rocket out in front of me. A bright burst of green and white explodes and flings me back. A faint memory of the Formidi-Bomb pops up, but this time I have something in my grasp. I still hold the horns of a demon.

I stumble and flail to the ground, the revolting head of a demon in my hands before it vanishes. No time to celebrate or let my fire recover. I must get to Lukas, and make sure everyone else is okay too.

Using the last of embers of my flames, I shoot over to Lukas. The blast threw me quite a distance. I don't have the energy to blaze over there like before, but I can sprint pretty fast.

Now though comes the price for what I just did. The excitement is over, and it leaves wrecks in its wake. My fire runs on fumes, and a numb dullish sensation settles in my mind and body. Everything feels so heavy, the air feels like it has turned into water.

I don't feel my foot touching the ground, but I feel the jolt. Nothing aches or feels weary yet, but I know that my limbs are running a tad slower. And after everything I've seen, all the possibilities and questions jumbling around along with every emotion running rampage inside me, my thoughts aren't exactly the sharpest.

But all of that vanishes again once I see Lukas, or the spot he's at. Ivor blocks him mostly, but I can still see his blood on the ground. And suddenly, my body digs up a new well of energy and I'm to him in a moment.

There are other cuts that he has, but the red staining his shirt grieves me the most. Not only did that demon slash him, but then it just stood on him! Should've made its death more miserable....

"Ivor... I swear, if Lukas dies-"

The breaded one raises a hand, not even turning to me. "Just gave him my best healing and regen potion I had on me. Even so, he's not in great condition."

"Can't you do more!?" My fire keeps puffing despite having every little energy left to burn, so enraged that Lukas remains in pain even though the demons are gone. Lukas needs to be perfectly healthy and safe.

"Your unexpected departure left me no time to pack stronger potions." Ivor snaps at me, blaming me for this. "There's more in the Order Hall but-"

Ivor stutters and coughs as I delicately pick Lukas up. He starts to gripe but I stop and glare at him. Ivor didn't make Lukas completely better, unacceptable. Ivor is unfit to watch over Lukas.

"I'll take care of him myself."

The potion master just stands there stunned, his bread slightly quivering. I spin on my heel and walk to the Order Hall. My thoughts going faster and faster, spiraling into panic and lifting my feet quicker and quicker.

I don't care what's wrong with me, I don't care how sore or hurt I am, I don't care if I no longer have the energy to do this, I don't care about myself.

I need Lukas to be alright, I need to make sure he's healthy, I need to get him to a safe place, I need Lukas to wake up and tell me himself that he's alright.

I was the one who failed to protect him in the first place. It was my impulsive and rash decisions that set him up to get hurt. It's ultimately my fault.

Why do I always have to see my friends in pain? I try so very hard to protect them, and I usually do. But they still get hurt, I still fail them over and over again. Why can't I just make sure my friends are healthy and happy all the time?

I've stripped an Admin of his power, surely I can do that too.

The Order Doors open painfully slow again, and Lukas moans. I try to find that strange string, that I now believe is his connection to me, but I can't. It was so obvious earlier, screaming for attention. But now it's gone and I can't really tell how injured he is.

I scurry into the Treasure Hall, and try my hardest to not disturb Lukas. Ivor said there were other potions here so I need to find those. He doesn't technically have a room and could have left them in the storage, workshop, or even the library.

"Jesse..." I stop dead and see Lukas's eyes flutter open. He gazes straight up at nothing, but the oceans in his eyes are starting to swirl with life again. Yet, his eyebrows slowly stagger towards each other, pain creeping up into him.

"You call me a worrywart when you get worked up over a little scratch." He finally looks at me and tries to move. I clutch him harder and start to go towards the workshop. That's probably where Ivor would leave the extra potions.

"Jesse, I'm fine. Please let go of me." I scoff at the injured man, and don't move a muscle.

"Sure Lukas, I'm definitely going to believe that after I felt you almost die."

Lukas squirms, and perhaps he does have more energy than I thought. "Ivor gave me regen potion too, I'm getting better by the second."

Did Ivor say that? Yes, yes he did, and that he also gave Lukas a healing potion.... Ugh, I suppose he can stand, but that's it. Lukas stays off duty for a while. Actually Axel wasn't in great condition either, and Petra was giving it her all. Ivor looked fine, but I don't know about Olivia. Maybe they all need to sit on the sidelines for a little while.

I, reluctantly, set him back down. True to his word, Lukas doesn't waver a bit and stands strong. Well, as strong as one can after everything that just happened.

However, now that I'm satisfied with Lukas's condition, my fire goes out, unable to sustain itself any longer. Immediately, all at once, my body decides to stop being a body and instead a well off pure pain.

My arm burns with deep teeth marks all the way down to my bone. The other pulsates in misery as blood tries to slam its way through the injury. My leg is screaming at my to take off weight of it.

Random spots all over my body throb in agony, more bruises and scars to add to the collection. My head feels so heavy and foggy, I can barely feel the blood running in my veins. But I can definitely feel the cut on my neck stinging relentlessly.

A fuzzy hand waves in front of my eyes, and I force myself through the pain and back into the real world. Lukas is peering at me, worry all over his face. Other misshapen blobs of color are a bit behind him, but everything just hurts to look at.

Someone grabs my shoulders, a small bit of energy waking me up. Lukas's mouth moves, but I still can't understand him. My friends too are glancing at each other, concern in their eyes.

I shove all my own problems down and somehow manage to find my voice. "Is everyone okay?"

They look relatively good, but everything still looks blurry to me. But considering how they're all moving kinda forcibly and I can now hear their muffled voices, I don't think they're that injured.

Which is great. I don't have to worry about for at least awhile. I'll take a quick nap, let my body stabilize, and talk to them again afterwards. In fact, they can all rest too. I think the Order of the Stone really showed those demons who NOT to mess with.

"Good job everyone..." Everything's getting really heavy and numb, but I just gotta finish speaking and I can sleep. "Why don't we take five...?"

And down I fell in the blissful darkness of no suffering.

****

Phew! First encounter of the acid ones is over!

I don't like fight scenes that much, they're suppose to be written at a fast pace and I tend to draw out my scenes. But I think I did a pretty good job on this one!

By the way, have you guys figured out the bolded text that pops up very once and awhile? I'm sure your pretty confident why, but I think it's a bit hard to figure out when you're not the author and know everything.

*Cough* You know very little *Cough*

Anyways, see you next week!