Valencia Hall

It turned out that holding on for five minutes was tough, especially when the dinosaurs used their ultimate finisher move.

This felt like a cliche move I was used to. Everyone just threatened me with some normal moves before going towards their ultimate finisher. Where was the originality? 

[ Pterodactyl Drill has been used. ]

< Do you want to know about this move? >

'No need. I am going to kill them anyway.'

Together, the remainder of the five pterodactyls flew closely in a circle. They opened their large beaks and started rotating on their spots. In circular motion, their beaks rotated similarly to a power drill used in construction.

Somehow, the five dinosaurs merged together to form one large drill the size of a fully grown African elephant. This move was clearly created by someone with the imagination of a ten year old.

I raised my hands to summon another wave of fire and got a headache. Headaches and body aches were going to be a common thing for me in the future.

Gathering fire in the palms of my hands, I allowed the fire to take a circular shape. The flames narrowed at one end and became pointed.

I created a drill of my own with matched the size of the pterodactyl drill. I extended my hands outwards to push the blue flames drill at the incoming attack.

Both drills came in contact, their edges colliding against each other. Since my fire drill wasn't solid, the [Pterodactyl Drill] easily cut through the flames.

I countered this by revolving my hands in a circular motion to make my drill rotate as well.

< Blue wishes Michael to be careful. >

I didn't pay much attention to his words. Being careful might end up costing me too much.

 Forcing the drill to spin faster, I felt power surging through my veins. I quite liked the feeling of using this power.

All the water in a 1 meter radius around the drill immediately evaporated into steam. Vapors were present all around it and the smell of burning flesh slowly filled the wet atmosphere.

The flames burned the beaks of the Pterodactyls and they no longer cut through the fire. Despite that, they didn't step back. 

Blue was correct about them being enchanted because no creature that felt pain could continue after experiencing such burns. They did this against their free will.

A bit more and the beasts wouldn't exist.

< Michael does not have the energy to do that. Michael will faint again. >

I knew that very well but I couldn't stop. Due to the momentum and the power the beasts put together, stopping my own drill might result in the beasts cutting straight through the fire.

My job was to hold them back until we reached the city center. I was surprised how a few minutes felt like hours during such crucial moments.

'How much time is left?'

< Two minutes according to Blue's calculation. As Michael is occupied with the fights, Vin is ensuring that Michael doesn't fall over. Managing that leads to a decrease in speed. >

I took a deep breath and loosened my control over the fire drill. The fire spread around a bit and the tip of the drill became less pointed.

[Pterodactyl Drill] seemed to give up at the same time. The five pterodactyls detached from the giant drill, their wings hanging low.

Their energy was drained from performing the ultimate move for this long. Without mana, their screeches couldn't threaten me either.

Sadly, I knew they wouldn't let me go even after I entered the safe zone. If the beasts were enchanted to follow and kill me, the power to stop them resided with the one who enchanted them.

Even if I entered the safe zone, the enchanted pterodactyls might continue to hover outside the barrier, waiting for me to come out.

Another thing I noticed was the fact that the rest of the herd didn't follow me. Someone enchanted the pterodactyls after seeing how I reacted to them.

This seemed like a test to measure my potential. If that was the case, I needed to 'pass' the test.

'Blue, I think you know what I am going to do. Will I pass due to it?'

< Most likely. Blue understands that it can't be prevented and wishes Michael luck. >

'Yeah, I know.'

The moment I finished my conversation, a blueish gleam appeared in my vision for a few seconds. A wave of energy passed through my body before vanishing.

+

[ Congratulations! You have made it to… ]

+

I made it to the safe zone…

I immediately dismissed the window without reading its contents. That could wait for some time. Currently, my eyes were focused on the tired beasts hanging at the edge of the safe zone.

The edge of the safe zone was marked by a blue dome shaped barrier with various pixels. It was transparent enough to look outside and prevented all beasts from entering the safe zone.

The barrier offered complete protection from the monsters as long as one stayed inside it. But sometimes, the ones inside the barrier were more dangerous than those outside it.

+

[ Michael: Vin, can you position me right at the edge of the barrier?

 Vin: Sure, I can. Why? 

 Michael: I will explain later. Also, catch me if I fall. 

 Vin: Huh? ]

+

Obviously, Vin didn't understand me. Though once she saw me, Vin would probably understand what I meant by that statement

'Hmm, what shape should I try? Something that doesn't consume enough energy to knock me out for days.'

With a smile, I summoned my flames again. Hovering over the edge of the barrier, I extended my hands out of the pixelated blue barrier.

Another wave of energy passed through my body, vanishing as quickly as it came.

The moment my hands made it out of the barrier, the five pterodactyls dived towards my location. Poor creatures being forced to their death.

'I know this won't have much effect but I hope that the person responsible for enchanting them learns a lesson.'

I obviously knew that the person testing me wanted me to suffer or die. My actions might show my capabilities and prove that I am strong.

I might possess the 'main character' luck…

Extending the flames in my hands, I willed them to take a unique shape.

A flame pterodactyl appeared in front of my hands. Quite an ironic thing to do considering how the pterodactyls were about to be fried by a creature resembling them.

The pterodactyls were about five meters away from biting my hand yet I didn't do anything.

"Just a little more…"

Even though I controlled and manipulated the shape of my flames, managing the temperature was another task.

My tired body made a lot of effort to make sure that the flames were hot enough to burn through the beasts in one go.

Stars entered my vision as I pushed myself to my limits. Barely a few hours passed since the beginning of the real apocalypse and I was pushing myself this much.

I definitely prefer being an author over a main character. At least an author controlled everything happening in their story.

"Now!"

As the five pterodactyls charged forward to bite my hand off, I released my flaming pterodactyl. Charging forward, the entities collided against each other

The moment they came in contact with the flame, I spread out my hands in opposite directions. Flames erupted all around the five beasts, engulfing them inside.

"It feels like I am destined to pass out…"

Numerous windows appeared around me but I couldn't see any of them. My vision already blacked out.

In the past 12 hours, this was the third time that I passed out…

***

"So that's what he meant by catching him…"

Currently, Vin stood on the ground along with Michael's limp body hovering beside her. Vin facepalmed after seeing Michael get knocked out after killing the pterodactyls.

'I wonder what goes inside that head of his.'

With a sigh, Vin took a glance at her surroundings.

The city center building was a marvel to behold. Vin remembered visiting it a couple of times for some official work. Every visit left her amazed.

Amidst the sky scrappers and the glass buildings, the city center was an old building made from limestone and numerous carvings.

Flowers adorned almost every corner of the building and trees lined the path to the entrance. A dome was present on top of the white building along with the statue of a man made angel staring at the sky.

A blue pixelated barrier surrounded the entire building. Vin knew that the barrier was created using technology from the Supreme Planet.

"Valencia Hall."

Vin said the name of the building before hauling Michael towards its entrance. If she knew correctly, the survivors stayed inside the building where an Entertainer briefed them about what was coming next.

Vin didn't want to enter the building, especially when Michael was lying unconscious next to her.

Glancing at Valencia, Vin decided to look for a spot to hide, something she was an expert in.

"I am coming to find you and you better pray that I don't catch you. Who knows what I will do then, Vin."

Vin shuddered at that thought. No, she couldn't allow herself to remember those moments. She had to remain strong.

Glancing at Michael, a sigh escaped her lips.

"Wake up soon, you idiot…"