Sand and Starspawns, part 5

The serpent Starspawn has transformed its mana into half a dozen sword-like blades. These blades floated around him like they were hanging off strings. Then they split—three flew upwards, chasing Cael and Dante, while two others swung down at the metal spikes that held the serpent Starspawn imprisoned until now.

Cael tensed, preparing to block the swords that attacked him and Dante.

The magic blades fell on the spikes, cutting through the metal like a knife through butter—

Explosion!

With a booming sound, the cut spike exploded from the inside. The blast was on the level of a third rank spell—like a Fireball—but from that close it shattered several plates of the serpent Starspawn's shell. The nearest spikes also shook and bent.

Then they exploded as well. A chain reaction began, exploding all the metal spikes Dante created in an instant. Explosion after explosion overlapped each other, and the serpent Starspawn was right in the middle of this.