Page 75 of On a Barbarian World

Big hands curved over her shoulders, and he tipped her face up. “Perhaps, and I know that is how you see it, but to us, they are our Gods, Aurina. They used their superior knowledge to create us, to do what was best for us.”

“You should decide what is best for you, not someone else.”

“My ancestors weren’t capable of that. They were barely a step above the animals we’ve battled in the Wilds.” He pointed to the screen where an image of the primitive race glowed. The huge man-like creature was roaring, its skin almost like scales. “The First Warriors helped us become more than beasts.”

“Maybe.” She looked around this lab. Maybe the people who’d crashed here were good men. But if they hadn’t been, and they’d messed with things they didn’t fully understand, it could have been very different.

Shouts echoed from outside. They glanced at each other, Kavon drawing his sword. Together, they rushed back out into the main cavern.

The warriors were gathered together in the center of the cave, swords drawn.

Close by was a huge, swirling cloud of silver.

“It came off the walls,” Colm yelled at them.

Nanami. But now knowing the origin of the nanami, she wondered if this was the same version that lived in Kavon’s blood.

Or something else.

The cloud began to coalesce. She watched it flowing and swirling…into the eerie shape of a giant warrior.

“You are not welcome here.” Its voice sounded like the booming voice of a hundred warriors. “Leave. Or die.”

Kavon stared at the warrior that was not a man. His mind steadied as he took it all in—it was a foot taller than him, broader, and as the nanami forming it shook and moved, he could see it wasn’t solid.

It lifted its arms, its giant hands forming large fists. “Leave,” it boomed again.

Darroch shot forward, yelling as he swung his sword. His blade moved through the nanami warrior. The creature parted, then reformed. Then it swung out with its fist, and slammed it into Darroch’s middle. The warrior flew backward and slammed into the rock wall.

Colm and Kian flanked Kavon, gripping their swords. Aurina was tense, her gaze on the enemy.

“Stay back,” Kavon warned her. “I will test it. Look for weaknesses.”

He strode forward, raising his sword high.

He slammed his sword against the nanami warrior’s sword arm. They traded blows, and Kavon trusted his nanami, letting them guide his moves. He spun and ducked, his strikes faster than ever before.

But his opponent matched him move for move.

It would tire him out, while it didn’t appear to tire at all.

“Colm.”

He saw his friend enter the fight with a war cry.

“Trust your nanami.” Kavon whirled. “They know how to fight this creature.”

His warriors waded in, and they worked together to attack the nanami warrior. But for all their brilliant moves and attacks, it had no effect on the fighter.

A huge blow sent Kavon staggering backward. Then he saw Aurina leap into the air.

“No!”

He watched her land on the nanami warrior’s back. She held something in her hand, but he couldn’t make out what. Then, with a giant shrug, the warrior threw her off.

She smacked into the wall and fell to the floor. Kavon saw her try to get up, raising her head. He saw blood at the edge of her mouth.

An icy rage filled him. He turned, ready to launch at the warrior.