Chapter 33

  Static Field day

  Dan stood in the center of the funnel. "Try not to use your powers, and stay within sight of the meadow. We are just looking for another nearby creek, understood? Holler if something big comes."

  “Sure thing, Dad.” Chris smirked.

  Dan crossed his arms, “Fire or not, I will kick your ass.”

  “Im all sore and tired from cultivating, you can't take advantage of me like that.” Chris looked aghast.

  Dan stood his ground.

  “Jimmy is handling it just fine.”

  Chris laughed and pointed, "Jimmy still has blood on his face.”

  Dan shook his head, "Don't bring Jimmy into this.”

  “Wha- Bu-”

  “Can we go?" Kim asked, gripping her spear tighter.

  She, with Luna, led the team hoping to find good water, since the creek they have been using was running low. Chris, and Belle joined her for the short mission.

  “Yeah get outa here, and watch him would ya? He might burn the whole forest down.”

  Dan didn't stop shaking his head.

  “...I probably can't do that…Yet..” Chris muttered to himself.

  The small team eased into the trees.

  The tension was immediate.

  Belle struggled the most, the internal buzz intensifying as she fought to suppress her anxiety.

  They followed the creek bed, noting the low water mark.

  Luna suddenly stopped, letting out a series of low, warning huffs.

  The brush cracked, and three boars burst out.

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  Kim reacted first, lining her spear up with the lead boar.

  As it closed, Kim braced.

  The tip pierced into the boar's chest, ripping the spear from her grasp.

  The beast's momentum continued, barreling into her legs, squealing and thrashing.

  Chris turned, meeting the charge of the second boar with his spear.

  He abandoned the refinement rule.

  A ping-pong ball sized fireball sputtered to life in his palm.

  He threw the fireball directly into the boar's face.

  REEEE!

  The heat singed its fur and eyes, causing it to turn away in fear.

  Chris immediately followed through with his spear, driving it deep into the boar's side, crippling the animal.

  Belle stood stock still.

  The third boar was on a collision course with her.

  Kim was on the ground, bleeding, rolling away from a dying animal.

  Chris, forearms straining, fighting to keep his grip on the lodged spear.

  Belle was isolated.

  Exposed.

  With the small boar closing fast, her mind snapped.

  The electrical static pressure, built up by her anxiety, found its volatile release.

  She let out a high-pitched scream.

  Chris’ head snapped over, “Shit! Belle!”

  The Static Qi erupted in a blue-white spark that arced wildly from her rigid hands, traveled down the length of her spear shaft, and zapped the boar's snout just feet away.

  The boar let out a pained squeal, its muscles locking and jerking, knocking it sideways into the dirt. It lay, spasming.

  Chris, seeing the opening, dropped his spear.

  He pivoted on his titanium leg, driving the knife into the beasts’ eye with a spray of blood.

  The stuck pig struggled to close the distance, when Kim speared it from the other side.

  Finally dropping the tenacious swine.

  Belle dropped her head, her hands tingling and numb.

  They stared at the dead boar, its fur still smoking.

  Kim, bleeding from a couple of wounds, but alive.

  Chris, panting, having spent most of his meager Qi on the fireball.

  "Belle used raw panic, and she grounded a charging animal without training."

  “My fireball barely trimmed its fur.”

  Belle’s teary eyes looked up, “I hurt it…”

  He stared down at the smoking boar, then at Belle’s shaking hands.

  No one spoke.

  Then Chris started laughing.

  Cracked.

  Exhausted.

  A little hysterical.