“No.”Rod’s answer was as emphatic as it was swift.“Our bond gives you strength well beyond what even your father possesses. This is something only the firebird can do.”
Using my old nickname was bittersweet. Grandfather had called me that when I was small, long before Blackstonecorrupted him. Now, I carried his final gift inside me. This wasn’t just revenge, it was honoring a sacrifice by ensuring it wasn’t in vain. Rod didn’t just understand, he shared my need to strike back at Blackstone for what he’d done.“I love you so much,”I said.“But you know that already.”
He didn’t answer because words weren’t always needed anymore. Rod gave my hand one last squeeze before we separated.
Grandfather’s energy coiled inside me, but there was more. Rod had been correct. I was stronger than before we bonded. My connection to the Earth was deeper, more pervasive. The power was ready to respond when it came time to execute my part of Rod’s plan.
A surge of magic erupted around the wheel as the guardians launched their attack on the demon. I spared a glance just as Gund and Cael pointed their seaux at the creature, and bursts of raw earth magic struck it on two sides. The mages joined, blasting the demon in multiple colors. Their attack prevented the creature from joining Blackstone.
The planet let out a groan as the conflict tore at its surface. All the magic charged the air with power that would kill an ordinary being.
Avie and her team pressed forward against Blackstone’s mages. Magic flashed with the intensity of a small sun. The last of Blackstone’s army crumbled under the assault.
Blackstone’s head swung from place to place as his allies came under attack. Rod didn’t give him time to adjust. Magic lanced across the open space, its pure white light contrasting with the black energy it attacked. Blackstone looked more surprised than hurt.
“You?” He swept his gaze from Rod to me. “How did you survive?”
I wanted to scream at him and let him know about Grandfather’s sacrifice, but Rod didn’t answer with words. A second burst of energy struck the dark magic swirling around Blackstone’s legs. The attack burned away without touching its target.
“You’re a fool to challenge me, Roderick Hollen,” Blackstone said. “Even your overrated brother can’t match me now.”
A ball of blackness shot from his stone. Unfazed, Rod flicked his stone, and the globe sped toward the demon. The orb struck the beast, eliciting a deep growl.
“Human, your bindings restrain my full power,” the demon snarled. “The longer you wait to free me, the weaker your position becomes.”
“You hold back on what you give me.” Blackstone maintained his composure, his black hematite pulsing with dark energy. “As I knew you would. If you won’t honor our agreement, you will die too.”
Magic struck the demon on all sides, and he roared in frustration at his attackers. “This prison already violates our agreement. You will pay for your duplicity.”
Blackstone didn’t respond, which was answer enough. His deception ran deep enough to fool even a prince of hell. He’d better hope our side defeated the creature.
I used a brilliant explosion of magic to shift. My phoenix form was more connected to the Earth, and Rod’s plan required that deep relationship.
To my left, Avie’s people imprisoned the last of Blackstone’s mages. Perhaps sensing he was about to be surrounded, Blackstone waved his stone at his lackeys. All the black mage stones around the area, even those still in the hands of his allies, flew toward him. The various gems merged into a gelatinous blob before exploding into a translucent barrier that protected Blackstone from attacks.
Chancellor Wilhelm led the mages with him closer to me and Rod. They fired at the shield as they moved, but their energy slid harmlessly off the surface.
“Anyone know what that is or how to defeat it?” Rod shouted.
Silence answered him. Blackstone lashed out, his attack aimed at Rod. The white magic absorbed the energy, but it seemed to turn gray for a moment. “Now do you understand? You’ve lost. Once I help Prince F’dreg defeat those pathetic guardians, I’ll have the power to make the world pay for trying to eradicate my family.”
Without warning, Blackstone struck at the closest guardians to his position. The blast hit Percy and Gio in their backs with enough force to knock them to the ground. Otto’s red zircon bathed the area in crimson energy, preventing a second blow. Behind the shield, the former guardians slowly got to their feet.
Rod led an attack on the dark wall guarding Blackstone. Everyone focused their energy at one point. The dazzling display obscured my view for a moment, but when it cleared, the wall looked unscathed.
Blackstone tossed his head back, drunk on his new power, and laughed. It seemed like overconfidence, but given how easily he’d repelled what should have been a devastating attack, he might be justified.
From the west side of the wheel, a purple and blue wave of magic struck Blackstone’s barrier. It appeared to have no effect and Blackstone renewed his laughter. “Not even themightyBartholomew Hollen and his little elfling can touch me now.”
Surprisingly, Bart and Cael didn’t renew their attack. Instead, they returned their attention to combating the demon, and their indifference seemed to annoy Blackstone as his smile disappeared.
“Don’t pretend you aren’t afraid,” Blackstone shouted. “I’m the world’s true archmage!”
He fired a ball of black energy in Bart and Cael’s direction. It immediately exploded, and the magic rebounded back at Blackstone. Caught off guard, Blackstone threw his hands up to cover his face. He fired a second, smaller burst, but this also stopped at the edge of his shielding.
Across the wheel, Cael touched his two fingers to his forehead and gave Blackstone a mock salute.
“That tricky little Bart,” Avie said, admiration in her voice. “We can’t penetrate his shield, but now Blackstone can’t fire through it anymore.”
