Ilith banked. It’s the amalgam.
Is this what they summoned? Are there more like it out there?
No, this creature is a product of the Creators. It’s the only one that exists.
Shock rippled through Tate.You’ve faced this before?
A spurt of amusement filled Ilith. You have too.
Confusion traveled down their bond and Ilith caught an image of Tate frowning to herself, her gaze distant.
I don’t remember,Tate whispered, sounding lost.
Ilith was pretty sure her Savior hadn’t meant her to hear that last part. As a good partner, she should pretend ignorance.
Ilith set aside all thoughts. In a battle, thinking could get you dead.
Her wings folded as she dove at the amalgam, arrowing through the sky at a breakneck speed. Closer and closer. She extended her back claws, reaching for the neck of the amalgam.
It broke apart, thousands of tiny birds screeching as they swooped out of reach.
Ilith belched blue flame the color of the hottest part of the fire, snickering to herself at the pain-filled cries as hundreds of birds dropped.
The amalgam was an annoying opponent, requiring time and effort to whittle down. In addition, if even a single piece of him escaped he could replicate himself and grow into a future threat. Something Ilith had no intention of allowing to happen again.
For all that, his pieces were astonishingly simple to destroy, offering little resistance unless they were in a mob or part of the final form.
As if sensing her thoughts, the amalgam reassembled.
Ilith dove, her claws inches from its bedraggled feathers when it burst apart again.
She snarled in frustration. Now she remembered why she hated fighting him. He was a vexing opponent, weak yet strong at the same time.
It didn’t help that Tate chortled in the back of her mind.
Sensing Ilith’s rising irritation, Tate sobered.You’re doing great, your majesticness.
Ilith preened. Her Savior wasn’t the type to lie. If she said it, it must be true.
It didn’t matter if the amalgam was a difficult opponent. She was Ilith. Dragon. Supreme ruler of the sky.
Ilith’s claws slid in and out of their sheaths as she fantasized rending the stupid shadow creature apart.
How dare it not give itself over to death? Who did it think it was?
Flame left her mouth, singeing the creature’s flank as Rath attacked from the bottom. Between the two of them, they managed to tear several gaping wounds into the creature before it split apart. Its screech sounded like saw blades assaulting her ears.
Annoying pest, Ilith grumbled to herself.
She no longer had any interest in gobbling down its smaller forms. Better for the whole thing to die.
Rath wheeled out of the way as Ilith concentrated. Wind gathered, smacking the amalgam out of the air as if it were a giant hand.
Ilith and Rath dove at the same time, their bodies two streaks as the ground sped toward them.
Unable to stop himself, the amalgam crashed into the ground. He thrashed, trying to find his feet.
Ilith and Rath descended on him, their wings snapping out to break their plummet at the last second. Claws extended they slammed into the amalgam at the same time.
