Chapter 98: The Mimic Part 3

Nathan: “We need to split up here.”

Iris & Ash: “What!?”

Nathan handed Iris over to Ash, before waving his hand and a large sword appeared in his hand. It was almost the length of his body; he needed both of his hands to wield it.

Ash: “Woah, split up, what are you even talking about?”

Nathan: “We’re not gonna make it back in time, worse case; we’re already too late. We need a distraction, something to draw the Mimics attention, I’m gonna make one.”

Iris: “Wait I will go with yo-”

Nathan: “You are not in any shape to come with me and before you say anything Ash, I’m faster than you. It would be much easier for me if I just ran on the ground. More importantly-”

Nathan placed the large sword on the ground.

Nathan: “I couldn’t tell you earlier because Jasmine was around, but the Mimic is weak to poison.”

Ash: “Ah, Poison Magic.”

Nathan: “Right.”

Ash and Iris understood immediately; with his Poison Magic, Nathan had the best chance of killing it or at least getting away from it and with one target, it guarantees that the Mimic will target him.

Ash: “You think it will even come after you?”

Nathan touched his hand to the sword on his back; (Origin).

Nathan: “I don’t think it will possibly pass it up and that’s why you can’t be here Iris.”

Iris was shocked for a moment, but gained much needed clarity from his gesture. Origin, the blade of the Hero, forged by the gods, was a sword that had an unnatural charming effect of the fae, including fairies. Even with Nathan’s ‘Calm Mind’ ability she was borrowing, it still entices her with its luster. If Nathan was to unsheathe it with her around, though she hated to admit it, she would be in the way.

She gritted her teeth at her inability to fight the charm; if she could she could always be by his side.

Iris: “I…….I understand.”

Ash: “You think Origin could kill it?”

Nathan: “Definitely.”

Nathan lied, he knew that the sword wouldn’t work, but if he told them that; Iris wouldn’t let him go.

Nathan: “Ash, head back towards Jasmine, I heard something in the distance that might give us a chance to get rid of it.”

Ash: “Alright, but don’t do anything too crazy.”

Iris: “Please exercise caution.”

Nathan: “You know me.”

Ash & Iris: “All too well.”

Ash, taking Iris to his shoulder, leapt high into the trees and with one last look back he leapt away into the distance. Once Nathan was sure the two were a good distance away, he took a deep breath and then unsheathed Origin.

_

_

Jasmine: “Dammit, hit!”

Jasmine fired off volley after volley of arrows at the Mimic, but it was no use. It was indestructible from the outside and with its mouth always closed, except when it means to swallow its prey, there was no way to get a clear shot. However, Jasmine had bigger problems with that, after consuming the antlers of the Broken Harts, followed by the Harts themselves, it had taken on a new form.

Beneath the chest was a monstrous-like body, feet with the toes on either foot and long claw-like fingers, that made it easy to both slice and/or capture its target. Jasmine wasted no time aiming for the new body in an attempt to cause it harm, and was happy to see the arrows riddle the Mimic’s body. However, that happiness soon faded into dread, as one by one the arrows sank into its body and vanished.

After seeing this, after it ate all the antlers, Jasmine realized why a Mimic was in this forest. It too was hunting the Broken Hart in order grow stronger and it was only Nathan and Ash’s bad luck that lead them to it. This was the reason why the deer that usually run through theses woods was so scarce this year, they were being hunted long before Zane had come along.

*Gooooooorrgggggghhhhh*

Jasmine had scurried up into the trees like Nathan had warned her before, even with its new limbs, the Mimic seemed reluctant to climb trees, which was a stoke of good luck for Jasmine. However, with its long claw-like fingers, it began to claw away at the tree, the shock from the blows forcing Jasmine to hug the tree.

She still had the bundle of antlers on her back and wasn’t planning on letting them go. This was also the reason why the Mimic was still hunting her, but she wasn’t going to relinquish them to anyone but Zane.

From her quiver, Jasmine pulled an arrow from the pocket where she kept the magic arrows. Pulling out a single arrow, one with a strange purple hue, she nocked her bow ready to fire. The Mimic must have sensed something dangerous, because it stopped what it was doing and tried to step back;, but it was too late.

Jasmine’s arrow, just like before, pierced the Mimic’s body, but this time a spell was activated.

Mimic: “Gorgh!?”

*Bam*

With a loud sound, the Mimic smashed into the ground, as it was engulfed in a purple light. Jasmine was delighted to see that her Gravity spell was working. When a target is hit with the arrow, its weight is then doubled, forcing the target onto the ground. Though she was a little upset, when she used this arrow before, the targets body usually would be crushed under the intense gravity, allowing her to retrieve the arrow later. However, the Mimic was now fighting back from the spell and retrieving it seemed impossible.

Jasmine: “Dammit, but whatever, now’s my chance.”

Jasmine climbed back down the tree. Looking to the mimic, she could see that the arrow was slowly, but surely, being sucked into the mimic’s body. She didn’t know if the spell would still have an effect after it was gone, so without wasting anymore time she took off into the forest. She didn’t bother to look back, but if she had she would have noticed the mimic currently aiming its palm at her.

*Swoosh**Thwick**Thwick

Jasmine: “AAAGGGHHHHH!?”

Jasmine screamed in pain and tumbled to the ground, sliding backwards into a tree. She curled in pain, from the impact and also from the throbbing pain her leg. Turning over she was shocked to see two arrows sticking out of both sides of her leg. What was even a bigger surprise, it was two of her own arrows, the ones she had fired off into the mimic. It wasn’t using the arrows she shot, to attack her with.

Jasmine: “H-How!?”

*Swoosh**Thud*

Jasmine looked up in time, ducking the arrow aimed for her head, but she didn’t have time to think. The Mimic still had her in its sight and a moment later a volley of arrows was fired. Using what little strengthed she had, she quickly moved behind the tree, the sound of arrows stabbing into the tree, coming from behind. Soon the volley stopped and Jasmine got to her feet, even with the throbbing pain in her leg, she couldn’t afford to sit around. She peeked around the tree, finding the Mimic still under the spells effect. Counting the arrows in the tree, she realized it was the amount she had shot into it earlier, it was out of ammo or so she thought.

Just as she was stepping out, a much larger object was caught in her peripheral vision and she quickly move back as it whizzed by her.

Jasmine: “What the hell was th-”

*Thud*

Jasmine jumped in shock as she looked behind her. She stared in disbelief, taking a moment to understand what she was seeing. Sticking out from one side of the tree to the other, was a long sword. If she had stepped back even a bit further, it would have gone straight through her head. Turning back around, she looked at the other thing that pass by earlier and discovered a large axe sticking out of a rock.

At this moment Jasmine realized something, something that should have been obvious to anyone. The Mimic had other weapons it was hoarding and could, in turn, utilize them all. The second she tried to run away she would be impaled and with her leg hurt, she couldn’t move how she wanted, not only that, but in any moment the gravity arrow would be consumed and then she wouldn’t be able to escape at all. She was trapped and unless she thought of something soon, she would soon be the next thing hoarded by the Mimi