A show of strength

Before anyone else can react, Uzume leaps forward with a laugh, bringing her massive club down on the head of the nearest reaver. The armored demon crumples under the blow, dropping limply to the ground. The leader of the bandits springs towards you, brandishing his sword like a cleaver. You deflect his blow with your shield. He is strong, but nothing compared with the fight against Dura. He steps aside from your answering thrust, and you both eye each other.

Anna hurls her frost ball at the hell hound, and it staggers from the freezing blast. Shaking its head, it growls and begins to charge Anna, only to be met by another howling blast of frost. She keeps up the barrage until the hound falls over and shatters.

You deflect another strike from the leader, and hear screaming from behind you. A glance over your shoulder makes you chuckle. Ruka has several bandits dangling from vines, as Sadie flits around hurling lightning at the scattering humans. Meanwhile Maya has waded into combat with a vengeance, her claws reaping a horrible toll on the lightly armored bandits, while deflecting their return strokes with her wings and her shining gauntlets.

You turn back to the leader, and give a grin nod at the panic on his face. His attacks grow wilder and more ****, eventually leaving an opening in his defense. You plunge your sword into him, and he drops with a groan. At the same time, Clarissa chops the legs out from under the other reaver, and Uzume pulverizes its skull with a smashing blow from her club.

You look up from the carnage to see Samara watching, leaning against a tree. “Well done. You took out the trash. Now it’s just us.”

She waves a hand and everyone freezes, seemingly paralyzed. Everyone but you and Kali, that is. Your sword absorbs the spell, and it just seems to wash over Kali. Samara raises a delicate eyebrow. “Interesting. I expected Josh to resist, but I’m surprised by you, Kali. Well done.”

Kali glares. “I guess the ‘half-breed’ isn’t so weak after all.”

Samara sighs. “Really Kali? Do you really think you’re the first half-human father sired? Look at me, do I look full blooded demon to you?”

You realize for the first time how similar Samara looks to Kali’s old look. She glared back at Kali. “Some of us just learn how to earn respect. It’s simple. Power.”

With that word, black lightning crackles from her fingertips. Samara points at you and a inky black bolt strikes you in the chest. You feel the potent spells in your armor try to aid your resistance, but the powerful spell still drives you to your knees, your vision blurry. You feel a hand on your shoulder, and you gasp for breath, looking up at Kali as she heals you. You can see the anger in her face, and a golden glow begins forming in her eyes.

Kali growls. “So, you want to see power?”

She looks up, eyes blazing gold now. “I will show you POWER!”

Kali thrusts her fists towards Samara, and beams of white fire blaze forth. Samara dives aside, and the blast carves a furrow thirty feet long where she was standing. She gasps as she stands. “Lifefire?! How? You can’t...”

Kali blasts at her again, and Samara is able to dodge only by a hairs breadth. She shakes her head. “Impossible! You’re one of us! That power is impossible!”

As Kali winds up another blast, Samara creates a gateway and dives through. Kali pauses, and slowly collects herself. You struggle to your feet as the paralysis spell fades on the rest of the girls. Looking around at the carnage, you sigh.

“That was a scouting attack. They wanted to know our strengths. She’ll come back, prepared next time.”

Kali nods. “Next time I won’t miss.”

You nod, considering Samara’s words.