Chapter 51.6: Out of Her Hands
The fight in front of her went on as Penny continued finding what gaps she could, though those gaps grew smaller with every moment as more combatants joined the central fray.
Chapter 51.5: Success?
How Penny could think Jinkke didn’t grasp the situation as well as she did, Jinkke had no idea. None of this was transdimensional matter distribution.
Chapter 51.4: Playing With Magic
“Penny, it’s an admirable approach,” Jinkke said, looking around the scattering of golemite parts and pieces, “but there are only two remaining reservoirs we haven’t divested, and he’s already tapping one of them. Your theory likely necessitates a source large enough to guarantee…”
Chapter 51.3: Eye of the Storm
Chapter 51.2: That Bandit Jerk
In the norn’s wake, they crossed the eastern half of the courtyard. Somewhere along the western cliff face someone had spotted them and started taking shots. Penny heard the whizz of rifle rounds sailing past them, much closer than she was comfortable with.
Chapter 51.1: One Last Hurdle
Every step through the winding halls of the complex pushed Penny’s patience—with herself—one step closer to shutdown. As they jogged, Jinkke swore up and down that she remembered the way in and out of the claustrophobic labyrinth, something her brother had previously taken care of. He’d managed to see them through it seemingly without problem, with a confidence that was new to him but endearing. But he couldn’t help them now, or ever again.
Chapter 50.3: For a Friend
Chapter 50.2: The Truth Always Finds You
“Human.”
Penny vaguely heard the rough demand. She had the feeling it was directed at her, but nothing at all was clear.
Chapter 50.1: Unshielded
Jinkke didn’t feel the shot from Kikka’s energy rifle as much as she heard it, knowing that it had happened. She felt around the point in her chest where it should have struck. The ammunition bandolier was there, her layered tunic was there, and most importantly all the parts of her intact torso were there. What was not there was any evidence of the blast that should have seared a hole through her—or some equally gruesome outcome.
Chapter 48.3: Truth of the Matter
Ventyr shook his head, wincing to regain his wits. “Situation report?”
He heard Crusader Jindel fire off another shot from the backside of the wagon barricade, and she whirled back, pressing herself into the wooden bed. “It’s not good, sir.” She opened the gun’s loader and shook out empty casings before tossing the weapon to the ground beside her. “It just got worse. The asura are split between us and the bandits, but we’re pinned down and out of ammu— behind you!”
Chapter 48.2: Air and Fire
Ventyr fell to a knee and gasped, his body seizing as another of the asura struck him from behind with some sort of electrical weapon. His hands uncontrollably clutched at his staff, and his body curled in on itself until the current shut off. The asura pulled back a step and waited, eyes wide at what he’d done. He must not have been a fighter.
Chapter 48.1: Circling the Wagons
Chapter 47.2: Something Like a Plan
Through the tinted glass of the cylinder, Penny watched Minkus go. The leather-cased device on his back piped a thin stream of exhaust into the air as he beelined toward the Vigilman rising from the ground. Of course, that was also a beeline toward the golem that stood between them.
Chapter 47.1: The Gang Back Together
Minkus panted as he dashed down the final corridor. He could feel his rejuvenation returning, but he’d pushed himself to active exhaustion after putting so much effort into healing Yissa. His thighs burned, and his lungs couldn’t get air fast enough to keep up. It had been some time since he’d channeled this much focused magic continuously.
Chapter 46.4: Ventyr’s War
After a few turns, Ventyr was all but lost; the way out was longer than he recalled and far more twisted than he’d recognized under the blindfold his captors had used. With each corner Minkus bounded around, Ventyr could all but feel the promise of an imminent exit, but each one was a lie. The halls and doorways continued, one after the next after the next, and though his elemental training insisted that Ventyr temper his deepening impatience, he didn’t. The whirlwind of fire and air storming through him felt too good, too rare. Most importantly it felt too powerful. Alongside Minkus’ rejuvenating magic, that swelling storm inside was the only thing keeping Ventyr’s battered body moving.
Chapter 46.3: Moving Target
Still backing away, Ventyr kept his attention on the golem, staff raised in ready defense. Fjornsson needed time to recover himself, but Ventyr had to reach the jade—he had to. He shot glances toward the landing at the north end of the room, the handful of fighters actively engaged behind him, Crusader Yult, and then back to the golem just on the other side of the wide doorway. Earlier, it had been unable to pass through it, being too tall. Ventyr would have to take advantage of that, even if those projectile arms complicated the matter.
Chapter 46.2: The Search
Ventyr leapt aside as the golem took another sluggish swing at him. Fat, stone fingers gripped shut around empty air, scooping up nothing several feet shy of the sylvari’s wind-aided movement. He spun, looking back at the mechanical monster. It had no eyes, per se, but the glowing slits that represented them seemed to meet his knowingly.
