Lightningbreaker

by L. T. Thornhill

  Shaury gave a quick glance at the Griffin’s legs and nodded.

  “Alonzo,” said Matteo, “as soon as the beast comes down, you jump on its head and plunge your knife in as deep as possible.”

  “I don’t have my knife,” came the reply from Alonzo.

  Matteo didn’t even have to look at Shaury. She tossed the knife to Alonzo, warning him about the incoming weapon with a loud, “Here.”

  “I found it,” came the shout from Kenji, who ran back to back to Alonzo, throwing the canteen before he was even halfway back.

  “Finish the invite,” said Matteo.

  “Party invite,” said Shaury, her voice now filled with new determination. “Kenji.”

  “Invite accepted,” responded Kenji.

  “Party invite. Alonzo.”

  Alonzo took a large swig from the canteen and tossed it aside, his posture going from slightly bent to a straightened back. “Invite accepted.”

  Shaury looked at Matteo, who gave a quick nod. “Party invite,” said Shaury, “Matteo.”

  “Invite accepted.”

  Floating characters appeared in Matteo’s vision.

  PARTY JOINED: SHAURY.

  OTHER MEMBERS: KABAKA. KENJI. ALONZO.

  Another slam of the fist on the Griffin’s beak. Kabaka began to breathe heavily.

  “Now, Shaury,” yelled Matteo. He didn’t have to look at her to know that she had heard him. Aiming for the hind legs, Matteo charged with as much speed as he could muster. Because he couldn’t spot Shaury from the corner of his eyes, he guessed that she might be a few steps in the back. He soon had to change his mind. Shaury had caught up to him, and together, they headed straight for the Griffin’s hind legs like two human battering rams.

  Shaury connected with a leg first and a split second later, Matteo collided into his target. The impact was almost like walking into a brick wall, except there was a small layer of skin to absorb some of the force. Regardless, Matteo bounced off the leg and landed hard on the ground.

  A screech-roar filled his ears—a cry of genuine anger from the beast.

  The beast had tripped. Its chest was nearly hugging the forest floor, its hind legs splayed out behind it. Its position had caused its head to fall closer to the ground, and Kabaka immediately reacted. He had stopped taking a pause between his attacks. One blow after another rained down on the beak. The beast was in a constant state of stagger.

  Alonzo ran toward Kabaka. In one fluid motion, he leaped into the air and brought one foot down on Kabaka’s shoulders. He immediately bent the leg and pushed himself up again, another jump that landed him on top of the Griffin’s head. His hands were already held above him, the knife gripped tightly. With a bellow, he brought down the blade and stuck it into the Griffin’s head.

  Pain is a physically raw feeling, and some part of the Griffin must have felt the blade enter its head. The beast reacted suddenly, jerking itself to its side. The move tossed Kabaka sideways, sending him flying through the air and crashing to the forest floor. Alonzo had grabbed onto the feathers of the Griffin and flattened himself on the beast’s head.

  “Get down, Alonzo,” said Shaury, her voice carrying panic.

  Wings unfurled and the Griffin lifted itself up in the air. It began to shake its head violently, though whether to dislodge the knife or the person, Matteo could not say.

  “You have to get down now,” said Kenji.

  Alonzo appeared over the beast’s head. He had lifted himself up to look at the ground. Another beat of the wings and the Griffin had lifted itself up higher, almost twenty feet up in the air. At that height, there was no way for Alonzo to get down. There were no other options that Matteo could think about.

  As if reading his mind, Shaury called out to Matteo, “Do something. You must have an idea.”

  They could attack the hind legs again, but that would not change the altitude of the Griffin. Matteo realized that none of his plans could get the beast down, and he clenched his hands tight. When he looked up, he couldn’t even see Alonzo anymore, since the bird had lifted itself high enough for anyone to do anything.

  Finally, Matteo spotted Alonzo—and if he could, it only meant that the man clinging to the head of the beast was sitting upright. Alonzo raised his hand and brought it back down on the Griffin’s head. The beast roared and, instantly, it was dropping to the forest ground. It did not fall, however. Some part of its brain must have signalled the beast that it was about to land hard and it beat its wings, coming to a stop a few feet above the ground.

  Alonzo repeated the move. Hand slammed down on the beast’s head, and the Griffin could not react fast enough to avoid crashing to the ground. Matteo realized what the man had done. Simply, Alonzo had slammed his hand on the knife, driving it into the Griffin’s head again. Kenji cheered beside him, and Shaury whooped.

  Taking the small opportunity given to him, Alonzo leaped to the ground. He almost made it when the beast raised its wing, hitting his leg and sending the man on a spin.

  When Alonzo landed, the Griffin had rounded its body to face him. There was an animalistic fury in the beast’s eyes. It had been bested, and that was something that it could not comprehend. Whether the beast understood the concept of pride, no one could guess. That did not mean the Griffin couldn’t recognize frustration and pain.

  The beast settled down on his hind legs, a move that would allow it to take a leap toward Alonzo.

  Kenji, who had found a rock on the ground, pitched it at the Griffin. Matteo couldn’t fathom what the boy was aiming for. He could provide a distraction, sure. But what would that accomplish, other than either distracting the Griffin or placing himself in harm’s way?

  The rock cut through the air like it was launched from a slingshot and, with a precision that Matteo had never seen before, smacked into the creature’s eye.

  There was a screech-roar of pain mixed with raw fury. The sound made Matteo’s skin crawl.

  Not waiting to see what would happen next, Matteo ran up to Alonzo. “”Kenji, check on Kabaka.”

  Reaching Alonzo, Matteo looked down to see the man on his back, breathing hard. He was clenching his eyes sporadically, as though fighting waves of pain. Shaury was there at the same time, landing on her knees and holding the fallen man’s hand.

  “Where are you hurt, buddy?” asked Matteo. “Can you move?”

  A slow nod and Alonzo opened his eyes. Together, Matteo and Shaury lifted him to his feet, each wrapping one of his arms around their shoulders. Kabaka had gotten to his feet and was walking toward the trio, Kenji staying close behind.

  When the five regrouped, they checked for lasting damages.

  “Anyone feeling like they can’t even stand up are free to catch their breath,” said Matteo, though he knew no one would take him up on his offer. After all, the beast was slowly recovering.

  The Griffin had stopped thrashing about and stared at the five people standing in front of it with one eye shut. When the creature slowly opened its other eye, Matteo could see the redness surrounding its iris. It seemed as though the Griffin must have realized the same. It closed its bad eye and angled its head so that it was facing the group with just its good eye. The creature was adapting. Matteo could not help but feel a new fear coursing through his body.

  A thought sparked in his mind and Matteo decided to follow it. “Check life Griffin.”

  Instantly, a health bar appeared over the creature. 1500/2000. Matteo sighed, a sudden feeling of defeat threatening to overpower him. His teammates mimicked his actions, each of them throwing a different reaction, from Shaury’s groan to Kenji’s, “Oh, hell no.”

  Yet no one moved. No one ran. The group stood there, facing an impending attack. Perhaps facing death itself.

  “Don’t give up yet,” said Kabaka. “As long as we live, we can fight. Even if it is just a little bit more.”

  The big man’s words were supposed to mean something, but oddly, they didn't generate the reaction Matteo had hoped. It seemed no one
was hoping for the best outcome in the present situation. The Griffin clawed the ground with one front leg—a sign of readiness. The beast was still trying to figure out if the group had any more tricks left.

  “Every breath matters,” said Kabaka. “And every opportunity is a chance to save someone.”

  Saying that, he took one step forward.

  “Don’t,” said Matteo. “Stopping it head-on took a lot of health from you. You don’t have enough to stop it again.”

  “I have enough to slow it for a brief moment,” said Kabaka.

  “What are you talking about, fool?” said Alonzo, stepping in beside the big man. “Who do you think you are? I didn’t ask for you to save me.”

  Shaury took a step forward next. “I am done running,” was all she said.

  Nothing had to be said. There were no words to exchange, nor actions to take. It just seemed so odd that the one time the group came together, would be their last moment on the planet. Matteo only wished that if there was a second life or reincarnation or whatever—and he seriously prayed there was such a thing—he would at least be able to find the same group of people again. Perhaps with no Griffins, if possible.

  Both Matteo and Kenji joined their teammates.

  “Do you have another rock, Kenji?” asked Matteo.

  “I know what you’re thinking,” said Kenji, “but that thing is looking straight at us.”

  “At this point, does it even hurt to try?” asked Shaury.

  No further words were needed. Kenji looked around, spotted a small piece of branch and brought it back with him. Not a single person in the group complained about the fact that the branch was so small that even if it hit the beast’s eye, it probably wouldn't leave a big effect.

  The beast spread its wings and delivered a mighty screech-roar. Matteo guessed that it must be feeling triumphant. He could have sworn that he almost heard a jubilatory note in the Griffin's voice, but he was not well-versed in ancient beast communications to be absolutely certain.

  Matteo noticed everyone getting into a different position of readiness. Alonzo had his fists out in front of him, having lost his dagger to the beast’s neck. Kenji held the branch out in front of him like a sword. Shaury had one foot in front, as though she was about to run a relay. Kabaka simply crouched, looking like he was about to sumo-wrestle the Griffin to the ground.

  The beast charged. No one said anything; there was no need for words. If death was indeed the end, then perhaps dying with good people by your side wasn't a bad thing, after all. Matteo had once heard someone say that people are born alone and they die alone. He wished he had the opportunity to show that person how wrong they were.

  The Griffin reached them. A bolt of electricity stuck its beak and sent it crashing in another direction. Its claws barely missed Kabaka’s face.

  For a moment, Matteo looked at his teammates, who were all in various stages of shock and relief. But the screech-roar of the beast grabbed their attention, and then they watched as it shook its head to recover from the attack.

  Following the source of the attack, Matteo saw Boran standing with one foot on a rock, his eyes looking through the sights of a Crossbolt.

  “You doing okay there, fellas?” asked Boran, looking as though he had just interrupted a party, and not what would have been a massacre. He fired another shot, which was followed by another screech-roar. “If you don’t want to be bird food, then hide in the trees.”

  Neither Matteo nor his teammates spoke. In fact, they knew exactly what they were supposed to do. Kabaka spoke. “Across the stream. Make it more difficult for the Griffin.”

  Kabaka led the way and the others followed. One-by-one, they crossed the body of water. Matteo heard another shot and screech-roar combination behind him. Before he even attempted to leap over the body of flowing water, he skidded to a halt.

  “Matteo,” said Shaury. “Get over here right now.”

  Another shot. The beast had no chance, but Matteo could see that it was slowly fighting back. It began to use its wings to absorb the attacks, while inching toward Boran. Matteo knew that the Griffin was suffering damage, but the creature must have understood that by the time it received a fatal shot, it could get to Boran for a kill.

  “Boran,” shouted Matteo.

  There was no answer at first. A bolt struck a wing.

  “I thought I told you to run for the trees,” said Boran.

  “We need the experience points. There’s no way to stop Olympus without our skills.”

  Boran shared a glance at Matteo. Without providing any response, he fired another shot.

  “Boran,” called Matteo.

  The Griffin snuck a peek at Matteo, its eyes conveying that it might just perhaps take care of the helpless human.

  “Boran,” Matteo called again.

  “Leave him,” came a shout from behind him. Kenji. “We can find another way.”

  A wing blocked another shot. The Griffin refocused on Boran. Matteo realized that there should be another way to persuade the young man. “Shaury, send Boran an invite.”

  For a split second, Matteo expected words of defiance from the woman. Yet all he heard was, “Party invite. Boran.”

  The trust placed in him was so potent, and felt so real, Matteo could not help but turn around and nod to Shaury, who returned the gesture.

  Boran was up to something, Matteo knew that. There was no way he would simply keep firing the weapon in the hopes that he would get a lucky shot. That was when it hit Matteo—where was Emiri?

  “You sold me out, Boran. I am trusting you once again.”

  Shot. Wing block. Another shot.

  “There is no point, Sir Godlike,” pleaded Alonzo. “We are strong together.”

  “Invite again,” said Matteo. When there was no response, he continued. “Now, Shaury.”

  “Party invite, Boran.”

  Emiri stepped out from behind one of the trees and fired a bolt straight into the Griffin’s hind leg. The beast toppled, a cry of anguish escaping its mouth. Matteo noticed that its head was exposed, and he could still see the dagger sticking out of it. Boran took aim. The finishing blow.

  “Don’t do it,” said Matteo, nearly pleading with the brother. He hated the way his voice sounded, but this was not about his pride at all. There were four other members he wanted to save, and if they had even the slightest chance of survival, then they needed the experience.

  Boran took aim and fired a shot. The Griffin stopped thrashing.

  “That’s for lying to me,” said Boran.

  All Matteo could see and feel was red. It was as though his rational thoughts were locked in a special place in his mind, and his emotions had taken over. Without knowing what he was doing, he began walking toward Boran, his fists clenched. He was faintly aware of voices behind him. His teammates were trying to warn him. At least, that was what he guessed from the tone he heard in their voices.

  Emiri saw Matteo’s approach and raised her weapon at him. It did not frighten him. She could take the shot, for all he cared, but he would show her younger brother just how much weight his fury carried.

  When he was a dozen steps from Boran, he saw movement out of the corner of his eye. He was almost going to ignore it, thinking that perhaps it was Emiri attempting to distract him.

  The Griffin raised its head, and Boran aimed at the creature again.

  “Party invite. Accepted.” With that, he shot the beast in its head.

  The Griffin began to disintegrate. Matteo had stopped dead in his tracks, watching as the beast slowly turned into dust.

  Matteo saw a message hover in the air.

  MONSTER KILLED: GRIFFIN

  REWARD EARNED: GRIFFIN CLAW

  PARTY EXP RECEIVED: 2000

  With that, Matteo watched as the words LEVEL 3 appeared, and then the levels kept increasing until they finally reached LEVEL 9. He turned back to his teammates, who wore jubilant expressions on their faces.

  Despite the odds, they had done it. />
  There was a grin on Boran’s face, as though he had done something praiseworthy. He locked eyes with Emiri and gave a playful shrug. It was in this moment of celebration that he did not notice Matteo until the other man was within a few feet of him.

  The punch took Boran by surprise. A right hook that connected with his cheek. Within seconds, he was on the ground, his hand touching the area of impact with a shocked expression on his face. Matteo was on him in an instant.

  “Do you think this is a joke?” screamed Matteo in Boran’s face. “Are you really happy about this, you two-faced reprobate?”

  Shame quickly took over Boran’s features, and with that came the rush of anger. The boy’s pride was on the line. He wasn’t thinking straight. At that moment, he wasn’t about to exchange logic but rather, allow his emotions to defend himself.

  “Get off me,” screamed Boran in pure rage.

  A muzzle was pressed against Matteo’s back and he didn’t have to look back to see who it was. He didn’t want to turn around. He would deal with Emiri later. For now, all he could hear was his blood rushing in his ears, a biological indication that he was not entirely in control of his anger.

  “Emiri,” said Matteo, “I do not give a rat’s ass if you are going to pull the trigger. Go ahead, but I’m taking your brother with me.”

  Matteo was watching the woman’s shadow. She had raised her weapon, probably to deliver a blow to his head.

  The attack didn’t come. When Matteo took a quick peek, he saw Alonzo standing behind Emiri, his dagger held against her throat. Shaury walked up to the woman and yanked the Crossbolt from her grip. The sister watched as her own weapon was pointed at her.

  Boran took the opportunity to push Matteo off of him, but the action was futile. He was going up against someone whose only purpose was to inflict pain.

  “You don’t know anything,” said, Boran, panic lacing his voice.

  “And who is to blame for that? And don’t think I’m going to go easy on you just because you saved us. You owed me for saving your life. We’re even, and I don’t care what happens after this point.”