Chapter 21

“Any minute now.” They had gotten to the mall, and just as Jon had indicated, a rift began forming shortly after. The combined frequency of Henry and Jon, along with the masses of people in the area, the electronics, and such, just created a location ripe for D.E.D. to come through. The gurgling water of the fountain within the mall, seemed to serve as a focal point, and helped utilize all the excess energy in the air to make the rift.

As such, they were leaning against a wall near the fountain, watching the air crackle and shift as the rift formed. According to Jon, just because a rift formed, didn’t mean a D.E.D. was going to appear instantly. When one formed, it would open in their dimension, and the D.E.D. could sense the rifts. The stronger the rift, the more powerful D.E.D. would be attracted to it, and it became a mixture of a race and a fight to get through. It was a toss-up though, where the rift appeared in the other dimension, which meant they couldn’t ever predict what type of D.E.D. was going to come through.

That being said, the size of the rift crackling before them, indicated it had the potential for something relatively powerful to come through.

“So, remember the plan.” Jon said quietly. They both had their phones out, and were watching the indicator. The moment a D.E.D. passed into the rift, the sensors the Exorcist had would identify the D.E.D., and they would have the information they needed regarding what was coming through. “If it’s under level 5, I’ll leave it up to you. Subdue it, pact it, or kill it. If it looks like you may completely lose, I’ll step in to help you. However, ideally I need you to do this yourself.” He glanced at the Evil Eye, “though, I’ll understand if you can’t.”

Henry’s anger flared once again, but he bit back his comment, deciding to ask something else. Something a little more relevant. “How exactly am I supposed to subdue the D.E.D. if I can’t just randomly start talking aloud to it?”

Jon laughed and reached into his pocket, pulling out two blue-tooth headsets. He handed one to Henry, and put the other one onto his own ear. “Just act like you’re on a phone call.”

“Thanks.” He affixed the headset to his ear. It would be silly, but it would work. After all, people walked around seemingly talking to the air all the time, when they were really on calls with friends and family and were using wearables to communicate.

“No problem.” Jon looked back at his phone and let out a low whistle. “And looks like we have a taker. This should be fun.”

Henry looked down at his phone, noticing that indeed, the D.E.D. information for what was coming through the portal had just gone live. At the same time, he could see the telltale essence that was flowing through the rift. There…was a lot more essence than what he’d seen last night.

Storm Crow

Lightning Type

Level 5

Suddenly, the amount of essence, as well as Jon’s reaction made sense. The D.E.D. was level 5. There was no way Henry would be able to take it down with his level 2 Evil Eye. Hell, a level 2 combat type would have trouble against a level 5. The situation had literally just presented itself, likely in Jon’s eyes, that Henry would lose his Evil Eye in this fight, and Jon would step in, subdue the Storm Crow, and give him a level 5 D.E.D. that wasn’t a floating eyeball.

Which, wasn’t entirely a bad situation, but Henry had already resolved himself to gaining power his way, and that didn’t involve sacrificing his D.E.D. like simple pawns. As such, while Henry didn’t like it, he knew what had to be done.

Without another moment of doubt, Henry swiped his finger across the app, and deftly selected the option he’d decided upon. Even as the essence of the Storm Crow continued to gather before him at the rift, essence began to swirl around Henry, as his Bladed Drakeling came into being.

“Oh ho ho.” Jon lifted up his glasses for a moment, eyeing the Bladed Drakeling appraisingly. “It seems you’ve had an eventful time since last night, eh?” He lowered his glasses, chuckling. “This just got even more fun.”

I told you my time would come. The Bladed Drakeling said smugly in Henry’s mind. Even if I’m sure your intent is to protect that weakling of yours, I look forward to this chance to grow stronger. The D.E.D turned its eyes to the swirling essence, which was now taking on the form of a large crow. Its entire form was a blackish blue, and lighting crackled around it. The bird had a wingspan of roughly three feet, and its beady eyes were glancing around, even as the essence continued to swirl around it. There was still some time, before it fully entered into this dimension.

“I’m going to need you two to work together.” Henry muttered as he looked down at his phone. With both his D.E.D. summoned, their profiles were up on his phone, and he could quickly select from their list of moves on the phone, which according to Jon, would send the commands to his D.E.D.

Even better, it showed up almost like a combat screen would, with the Storm Crow listed as a target. As Henry selected his skills, he was given the option to select what to target. First, as the Storm Crow continued to materialize, he selected Wind Shield and Rock Armor for his Bladed Drakeling. The Evil Eye complied instantly, casting its magical shield of wind over the Bladed Drakeling, even as stone armor began to cover the lizard.

Then, as the Storm Crow neared its full appearance, he selected another set of skills. The Storm Crow was lightning type, meaning it was thankfully weak to his Bladed Drakeling’s attacks. Which was going to give Henry an advantage.

He commanded his Evil Eye to send an Air Burst towards the Storm Crow. It was unlikely to do major damage, but any damage was better than anything, and as long as Evil Eye still had MP, he was going to just abuse that spell. After all, he needed to keep it out of direct danger, considering its lower HP and stats.

His Bladed Drakeling, responding to his commands, rushed towards the Storm Crow, and leapt rather impressively as it neared the creature. In doing so, the Bladed Drakeling bit down hard on the Storm Crow’s wing, and pulled it down into the fountain. Henry couldn’t help but notice, even as the fight began, that no one around them actually seemed to notice what was going on. And, the only other physical signs, of a fight taking place, was the rippling of the fountain, which could have just been excused as ripples caused by the fountain’s faucets.

Henry though, could see the whole fight. He watched the Air Burst smash into the storm crow, causing it to shoot an evil glare in the Evil Eye’s direction. However, the Bladed Drakeling was latched onto the Storm Crow’s wing, and now that it had landed its poisoned bite, it wasn’t letting go.

Fools. The Storm Crow’s voice echoed into Henry’s mind even as it let out a loud caw. Lighting crackled around it, and raced down towards the Bladed Drakeling. Some of the electricity, Henry noted, was deflected by the air shield. Another bit of it, hit the stone armor, chipping away at it, but doing nothing to the Bladed Drakeling. However, some of the electricity did make its way through the defenses Henry had set up. After all, the inside of the Bladed Drakeling’s mouth was currently touching the Storm Crow, and he winced as he saw his Bladed Drakeling’s life decrease by a few hit points. He was loathe to think of how much it would have done, if not for those armors.

Henry swiped another move, and his Bladed Drakeling let go of the electrical bird just as it released another charge of energy. Now, switching tactics, the Bladed Drakeling began lashing out with its bladed tail. The Storm Crow, to its credit, tried to dodge, but was knocked downwards by another Air Burst. The Evil Eye, having been commanded to continue utilizing that skill, had floated higher into the sky, to launch the attack downwards at the Storm Crow, keeping it…grounded in a sense. Henry hadn’t ordered that specific maneuver, but it seemed the Evil Eye was doing its best to support the Blade Drakeling.

I’ll- Even as the Storm Crow readied another attack, it was cut short, as a bladed tail stuck deep into its feathered chest. Kill you. It screamed, sending another blast of electricity from itself. The energy rushed along the bladed tail of the Drakeling, but was easily dissipated this time by the rock armor it was wearing, and the wind shield that still encircled it. Henry was almost certain he could see his Bladed Drakeling grin at that, and Henry took the opportunity to send another command.

To him, it seemed like the Storm Crow needed time to channel its electrical attack, and he was going to abuse that time. The Bladed Drakeling responded, and launched another poisoned bite attack into the Storm Crow. The bird, to its credit, responded by grabbing hold of Bladed Drakeling with its claws, as it began to peck at the Bladed Drakeling’s form. The beak dug into the rock armor, but its momentum was slowed by the wind circling around the Drakeling, and the barrage of wind hitting it from above.

In essence, the Storm Crow was stuck between a rock and a hard place. Henry could tell it wanted to get to the Evil Eye, but the Bladed Drakeling had a firm hold on it, and wasn’t letting it get out of its grasp. Meanwhile, the Evil Eye was providing pesky support, and was keeping the Storm Crow down, and unable to free itself from the Bladed Drakeling.

Sure, the Storm Crow was a higher level than both of Henry’s D.E.D., but it was a 2 on 1 fight, and the uncommon Bladed Drakeling had an elemental advantage against the Storm Crow. Meaning the stronger D.E.D.’s damage was greatly mitigated, and the increased armor and protection offered to the Bladed Drakeling from the defensive skills Henry had activated just before the fight started, was doing a spectacular job at mitigating the damage his Bladed Drakeling was taking.

Even with multiple shocks, and now pecks, his Bladed Drakeling had just over half its HP remaining. Meanwhile, he could tell the Storm Crow was weakening. It’s feathers had fallen all around it, and it seemed to be leaking essence from the various puncture wounds left in it by the Bladed Drakeling’s attacks. Furthermore, Henry could tell the poison from the Bladed Drakeling had begun to take effect on the poor D.E.D.

This. Is. Not. Right. The Storm Crow’s voice muttered. It was weak, and it seemed to be in pain. This. Is. Humiliating. It flapped its wings, trying, fruitlessly, to free itself. The Evil Eye was out of mana, so the air bursts had stopped, but the Bladed Drakeling was not letting the bird go.

“Are you done then?” Henry asked, focusing solely on the Storm Crow. It’s eyes narrowed on him, taking in his appearance. “Do you concede? Otherwise, you’re going to die.” He said the last part quietly. Sure, it seemed like he was talking on the phone, but still, saying something like that was bound to draw a few strange looks.

The Storm Crow looked from Henry, to Jon, and the other D.E.D. The Bladed Drakeling was not letting up, even with the weakened state of the enemy. Henry, also wasn’t going to order it to stop. He didn’t know what the D.E.D. may do if it got free. And he wasn’t going to risk any crazy last-minute attacks from it. Either it gave in, and formed a pact, or it would be defeated. That was sadly just the way this world seemed to work.

I’m…dead either way. The Storm Crow said, defeat evident in its voice. Siding with an Awakened One, will bring me death. It shook its head. The coming storm…will see to that. It struggled weakly, looking about. But…I don’t want to die. Like. This. More feathers fell from its body.

“So you’ll pact with me?”

If. That is what you desire. The Storm Crow stopped fighting, and was promptly slammed into the ground by the Bladed Drakeling. Henry was pretty sure his D.E.D. was trying to kill the Storm Crow before it could pact with him.

“It is.” Henry nodded to the Storm Crow. The bird closed its eyes, and its body began to fade from around the Bladed Drakeling, as its essence flowed towards Henry. Just as before, the essence seemed to pass through the phone and swirled around him. After a few moments, a quickly becoming familiar message appeared.

[Level 5 Storm Crow – Lighting Type] Acquired

A quick selection of the Storm Crow, just to see its stats, made Henry shoot an evil glare towards his Bladed Drakeling, who was likewise sending him a sullen look. The Storm Crow, normally, had 50 HP at level 5. It was down to 3. The Bladed Drakeling had been extremely close to killing the bird, and Henry was pretty sure it was well aware of that. Still, he wasn’t surprised. The Drakeling had been quite clear in the fact that it wanted to grow strong, as quickly as possible. The gaining of the Storm Crow, already level 5, was a threat to the Bladed Drakeling’s goals.

Henry let out a sigh, unsummoning the Bladed Drakeling as he shook his head. He would have to deal with that, sooner or later. He couldn’t have the Bladed Drakeling pulling stunts like that. Though, its actions also revealed Henry didn’t have as strong a grasp of control on the D.E.D. as he originally thought he would. They very much so, were their own individual selves.

“Well then,” Jon pulled himself away from the wall he’d been leaning against, and walked towards Henry. He placed a hand on Henry’s shoulder, his eyes hidden by his sunglasses. “It seems you’re full of not only potential, but also surprises.” His hand tightened on Henry’s shoulder for a second, before loosening. “But good job there. How about we grab some pretzels, and head back to headquarters. I’ll finish up your initiation since it seems you’re more than capable.”

Without looking back, Jon headed towards the Auntie Anne’s pretzel shop in the mall. As much as Henry loved those pretzels, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of dread fill his stomach. Something in their dynamic had just changed, and all he could think about, was Loki’s warning.