Visceral: A GameLit Fantasy Adventure (Nullifier Book 2) by J.R. Ford

Author:J.R. Ford [Ford, J.R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-04-01T22:00:00+00:00

12

Falling was like walking: I never got used to it.

I skidded along stone, upside down, head tucked in, frantically hoping the mountain didn’t smash my neck. My cuirass tugged painfully. I wrenched my fingers through the motions, and when I slapped my palm to my thigh, the world jolted to a standstill. My mana bar bubbled up to 40/100.

I scrabbled with my burnt fingers and gauntlet-dagger, but there was no purchase, only cold stone. Not that I would’ve been able to support myself upside down anyway. I tried with my feet as well, but as soon as my left boot touched rock, hot pain lanced up my leg. I had a split second to realize I’d better keep symbolling.

I looked up, which was down, and saw the ground was still far below me, though the mountainside wriggled in my head’s way about twenty feet down. I’d hated the ascent, but I had to admit, the descent was worse.

Fingers were not designed to twist through arcane gestures after being roasted, but necks were even less designed for being crushed, so my fingers did their best. I couldn’t breathe as the stone rushed to end me. Three pings and a slap stopped me dead inches from the mountainside.

I only had a moment. I got what little grip I could and spun myself upright. It was still too steep to stand, but at least I’d have a bit of headroom. My mana pulsed at 60/100.

I began gesturing even before the effects wore off, and as gravity gripped me again, I pushed off with my right leg. The hop bought me some time to think, while my hand was ready to slap me to a stop at any moment.

Two stops to reach safe ground. Another outcrop threatened from below. It took all my grit to wait until the last second before halting myself. My mana bar warned: 80/100. No time for redirect momentum. One stop left.

A ledge! As the mountain face twisted, a meager shelf jutted out, only a couple feet wide. Wide enough. I planted my feet, ignoring the fire in my left foot, and leapt for it.

Air resistance and my twisted left foot conspired against me. Instead of arcing toward it, I plummeted.

No choice. As the ledge approached, I slapped the last nullify momentum to my arm.

I’d waited too long. The ledge was above me and two feet away. I reached with singed fingers and managed some sort of hold before gravity reclaimed me.

I clung on by those aching fingers and swung like a pendulum to smack into the rock face. My dagger chinked against stone ineffectively.

My left boot found a crack, at the expense of my toes. My vision dimmed, but I persevered and found purchase with my right foot, then pushed my left elbow over the top.

I got a good look at it, a mistake. Sleeve and flesh were bloody ribbons. My gauntlet was soaked. I had no breath to scream. I staved away unconsciousness enough to swing my leg up and roll onto the ledge.

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