Chapter 1261 1261 Breathe in. Breathe Out
--- Nixilei ---
Their path was decided and barely a moment too soon. There wasn't even time to hash out any further details because the giant countdown clock reached zero just a few seconds after Nixilei had come to the realisation. She's relayed it to Asteodia just before the timer ran. Then Thyme provided everyone with a small sheet of paper with their options. The thirty second countdown accompanying it was barely a problem.
*I want to glance over at Asteodia. Make sure that I'm not going to throw the game by picking up a wingsuit and then running myself ragged while she just takes off. But… I have to have some trust in her. The plan is solid, and the risks can be mitigated by stealing another vehicle if I really have to. Let's just hope it doesn't come to that.*
Nixilei ticked off box for the wingsuit before she could let her paranoia talk her into picking one of the other options. It would be a massive slap in the face for Asteodia and her team, gaining animosity that just wasn't ideal in the long run. Not to mention, Nixilei did still think this was the best path to victory.
The paper burned in her hand, but no heat came from the ashes. Soon after that Nixilei felt herself being teleported and she was now on a much smaller platform with five circles all attached to a sixth, much larger one in the centre. They were aligned in a vaguely star shaped way, keeping all of the competitors a certain distance from each other but it gave her a complete view of all the competitors, and their chosen vehicles. It also let her see that Thyme had a copy standing next to everyone, herself included.
The area was under heavy cloud cover, it surrounded them completely in a way that likely wasn't natural. It blocked everyone's view of the path forward and made picking a direction to go a rather strange affair. For now, it wasn't something to worry about so Nixilei turned her gaze elsewhere.
Asteodia was two places to the right, and had picked a plane as discussed. The Thyme next to her was holding out what Nixilei failed to recognise as an old-timey flight outfit complete with oversized square goggles and a long scarf. If Kat could see it, she'd have taken it as proof that Thyme was watching other dimensions for inspiration… but Thyme just liked an excuse to give people an extra long scarf, and the rest was just practical.
With her mind set at ease, Nixilei looked around at the others. Between her and Asteodia sat Midnight, and it appeared as though he was going to be equipped with a wingsuit as she was. He's going to be forced to target Asteodia, what with me also in a wingsuit. *I'll have to go straight for him then. Unless Asteodia can fend him off for a bit? Hmm… trick tricky. Obviously if she can hold him off we can take out two enemies right at the start… but if I don't go for him, Asteodia risks being knocked out and that would be a real problem for our plans.*
The Thyme next to her held out the wingsuit unzipped and very oversized. Nixilei nodded and stepped into it, the enchantment tightening around her legs once they were slipped in, and the rest of her body after the zip was placed. The helmet remained off as she looked at her other two competitors.
Ellenell was next to her, and a potentially dangerous foe in the balloon. It seemed the elven healer had gone for staying power. Nixilei knew she didn't want to tangle with him. Nixilei was sure the elf could hit the net throw just by being patient with it and waiting for the right moment. They'd just have to 'outrun' him in the end. *A strong idea, for Ellenell but I don't think it's a winning one. If Asteodia and I weren't working together it might have guaranteed second place though. I think it's best to leave him be… but perhaps it might be worth causing a few issues? Get Ellenell to waste the net or some other things and then run. A gamble… but I'm not sure if it's a good one.*
Finally, Chartreuse had chosen the glider. He was the optimal target… if it wasn't for the fact he was relatively far away. The glider would likely be easy to take down compared to the other marks. With no need to save the structure, Nixilei could just saw through the wings and let Chartreuse fall. It would take him out of the contest… but be a rather large risk considering the positioning. Asteodia would definitely be fighting Midnight for a bit, and if Chartreuse tried to run, Nixilei knew she'd need to burn a good deal of mana to catch him.
Nixilei didn't let any of this show on her face, not until she'd placed the visored helmet on. The see-through glass had a mirror shine that kept her face from being visible to anyone else. So she simply turned to face the middle of the square, while keeping her eyes on Asteodia for a signal. "See those buttons on the edges? Just click your fingers while facing one and the light will move, that determines the direction you'll be thrown," said Thyme.
Nixilei didn't move, not willing to let Thyme in on the fact she'd heard, more for the people watching her then Thyme, who could likely tell regardless of her lack of reaction. Asteodia was in the plane now, looking around. When her eyes met Nixilei's visored face, her head tilted ever so slightly towards Chartreuse.
*A risk. Is she telling me to take it?* Just as Nixilei had the thought, Asteodia changed the dial on her platform to be heading towards Chartreuse's circle. Not directly of course, but the direction he would likely go flying. A glance at Midnight's ring showed that it looked more like Asteodia was running from him… but Nixilei couldn't shake the feeling that wasn't the true intent.
Nixilei breathed in, and then out. Her thoughts still as she changed the light to go straight for Chartreuse, who couldn't see her now he was bound by the glider and failing to take a proper look at things. Nixilei's face froze into an uncaring mask. Her thoughts started to speed up, and then Thyme blew the whistle and suddenly she was launched forward. Nixilei flew towards Chartreuse but it wouldn't be enough. She carefully fed an ever-increasing amount of mana into her boots to avoid making too large a sound and having Chartreuse notice her approach.
Nixilei entered the cloud cover and for a moment, she wondered if it was endless. A truly ridiculous notion yet in that sea of white there seemed to be know end… for just a moment. Nixilei found herself in the open air, just a small amount behind her quarry.
A quick glance back revealed that Asteodia was 'ahead' of with Midnight on her tail but nothing had happened there just yet. A glance behind her, through the hole left in the clouds revealed that Ellenell was having NOTHING to do with everyone else's nonsense and had launched himself away from the rest of the group, for good or ill.
Chartreuse was just a few metres away at this point, so Nixilei shoved a good ten percent of her mana into her boots and rocketed forward for a moment. Chartreuse probably heard her, because she could see the glider below her starting to move forward… but that had been part of the plan. Activating the suction feature, Nixilei stuck herself to the top of the glider with both hands. Chartreuse kept throwing out blasts of air, as he banked sideways, perhaps just to get away from Asteodia, perhaps to try and throw her off.
Nixilei simply stuck with it for a few moments, activating the suction a second time, then a third, before deciding to shake things up. Fourth time it needed activating she only did so with one hand, the other reached up and gripped the front edge of the glider. Then when her few seconds were up, she activated the suction on other glove, while bringing out the air blade with her other.
Nixilei stabbed down into the glider and immediately felt her mana shudder. Even though this was being done through an enchantment, Nixilei could practically feel the two sources of magic fighting each other. Nixilei frowned at her reserves, already down to sixty percent. That thought was unimportant for the moment though, so it was discarded.
Nixilei increased the mana flowing to that finger, and then stabbed down again, a ripping sound was heard as the taut membrane was sliced into. Once that initial resistance was gone, it was easy to rip her way through large chunks of the remainder. Nixilei kept this up until the glider started to enter into an uncontrolled spiral… and then she leapt off and turned, ready for help Asteodia… wherever she was currently.
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