Mark of the Fool

Chapter 590: Roth vs. Ram

Chapter 590: Roth vs. Ram

Power filled Claygons fire-gems, flooding them with searing heat and light. Towering high above the floating golem loomed Rams construct, Prime, unleashing a storm of force bolts the size of Claygons war-spear.

In mid-flight, the golem braced himself against the onslaught battering his stone body. He did not move. His gaze did not shift. His gems flared.

Three beams of fire magic lanced through the air with hungry crackles.

They raced for Primes torso.

No, Ram said.

And the force construct dissolved.

Its hulking form shimmered and its left arm shifted and flared, transforming to an enormous half-spherical shield that blocked the trio of beams. Orange flame washed over black force, overrunning its edges with the roar of a waterfall.

The barrage of ballistae ceased.

The audience screamed.

Ram flinched. Well done, Claygon. Those beams of yours felt like fourth or fifth-tier spells.

Felt, Alex thought, analysing the battle. Claygon, he said that he felt the power of your gems. Maybe hes sensing their mana, but he reacted like he actually felt their impact. Makes me wonder if theres some kind of feedback between him and Prime.

So that meanshe might feelwhat I do to Prime? Goodthats a weakness we should know about Claygon unleashed another wave of fire magic while he charged the larger construct.

Alex raised his staff, the aelds crystalline blooms shone, pouring haste magic into Claygon. The golems flight speed doubled and he shot toward Prime with his war-spear lowered like a knight wielding a lance.

Rams eyes narrowed.

He watched the golem race toward his construct as the audience went still, seeming to hold their breaths.

War-spear struck force shield.

Alex could only describe the sound of enchanted metal biting magical force as a cross between a shriek of steel on glass, the grinding of rock, and the cracking of stone.

Ram watched.

Prime was pushed back in the face of Claygons power, drawing screams of delight, and thunderous applause from the enthusiastic crowd. The force constructs spear-shaped legs scraped across the arena floor like nails on anobsidian board.

Behind him, the cage bars inched closer.

One of Rams eyes twitched.

And Prime exploded.

What? Claygon cried.

The crowd winced, as the force construct ruptured in an amorphous cloud of black force that flowed around Claygons spear, hitting the golem in waves of dreadful power. Spectators grabbed their ears to escape the deafening noise of the blow that propelled the stone golem skyward, spinning him through the air like a maple seed, then plunging him to the ground.

He scraped along the arena floorthe metal overlay on his body shedding sparksuntil he finally righted himself and soared away.

Knoooockdooooown! the announcer cried. We have our first knockdown and it goes to Prime! A harsh beginning from Harsha Ram!

The roar of the crowd was thunderous; clapping hands, stomping feet and bellowing voices drowned all else.

But, Alex remained calm, eyes trackingPrimes mass as it flew around the arena at blurring speeds.

Fire-beams, father? the golem thought, a current of agitation in his voice.

Use all three to cut off his escape points, Alex thought. Youre a one golem battery of archers. Cage him in.

Yesfather.

The light of Claygons flaring gems reflected off the steely inlays on his body, flaring to a blinding radiance as three fire beams sliced the air.

Alex watched as the amorphous Prime sped around the beams, flitting through the air with shocking agility considering his massive sizenono that wasnt right

It has no mass, Alex thought. Its all force. No inertia to hinder it. Nothing. So, its not only fast and nimble, but it can shift direction without pausing. Claygon, stop firing your central beam.

Yesfather

Alex eyed Rams construct intently as it weaved through another storm of fire-beams. Prime dodged and darted with decisive, trained efficiency.

The Thameish wizards eyes narrowed.

Suspicion grew.

Its not sending any more force bolts at you, Claygon, Alex thought. listen, I want you to aim a firebeam at the arena floor directly in front of Ram.

Are you surefather?

Do it, Alex said out loud.

Rams eyes briefly flicked toward him.

Then Claygon turned a hand and released a beam of fire from his palm, aiming at the floor tiles directly in front of Ram. The audience gasped. A column of flame erupted, flaring against the cage bars.

The professors full attention turned back to the fight, his eyes squinting, one hand raised to shield against the intense flames.

Now, hit Prime with your central gem! Alex thought.

Understoodfather

His fire-gem flared, blasting through the air.

Prime tried to dodgebut, it was a breath too late.

The beam struck the amorphous constructs flank, knocking it to the bars. Rams eyes narrowed.

Prime boiled in the golems fire, then pushed itself from the beam and disengaged, streaking for the top of the cage.

I dont think it can split itself, Alex said to Claygon. It can change shape, but it seems it cant split in two.

What about thebolts it shoots? Claygon asked, continuing to fire beams at the flying construct.

I think it needs the ballistae on its shoulders for that, but thats a good point If it cant split in twothen its probably not shooting pieces of itself out of those ballistas: it must be forming the bolts as it fires them. But where are they coming from? It doesnt have an internal power source or magical items embedded in it, so the power has to come from look out!

Prime abruptly dove at Claygon, transforming into long, thick chains of black force. The chains wrapped him like a snake constricting a helpless mouse. Each chain tightened, coiling around the golems arms.

Claygon! Alex thought. You should

Ihave thisfather.

The golem flexed against the chains even as they went taut around his stone and metal limbs. The restraints shuddered, struggling to contain the powerful golem, but they might as well have been lengths of twine trying to tie down a charging bull.

Another scream of stone and metal on congealed force rang out.

A link shattered.

The crowd cheered.

Claygon seized the black chains as they ruptured, tossing them to the arena floor.

They landed in tatters.

Alex glanced at the judges as they marked their score cards. One by one, each one held up a score.

Its an orthodox one, but we have a knockdown! the announcer shouted. Bringing the score to 9-9! This is one heck of a riveting match, gentlefolk! Wouldnt you agree?

The spectators went wild.

I must say, Claygon, you are definitely stronger than you were last year, Ram said. I studied your matches extensively, and saw that you struggled against Vesuvius power, which led me to design those chains to match and exceed his force. I knew they would hold him up well against him, yet, you were able to shatter them with ease. Commendable.

Fatherbuilt me well, Claygon said, watching Prime return to his original form.

And you learned well, too buddy. Alex was smiling as he complimented his golem.

Well, shall we see if such learning and construction can hold back the force of progress? Ram asked.

His eyes narrowed again.

Alex took note of the reaction as Prime leapt, coming at Claygon with impossible speed. It bore down on the stone golem with its four front legs, each thrusting like a javelin. The flurry came too fast for him to dodge out of the way; so he parried, blocking the assault with his war-spear and forearms.

Force magic screamed against metal and stone, casting sparks with every blow. The smaller stone construct braced himself in mid-air. Prime brought its fists to bear, increasing its devastating strikes, adding to the ferocious assault.

Still, Claygon remained unmoved, unflinching.

Prime added its scythe-tipped tail to the offensive, slashing at the golems trunk. Every impact was like a wall collapsing, but Claygon still did not move. Suddenly, Prime cocked an arm back.

The fist swelled to twice its size.

And drove into Claygons guard.

The golem flew at least a dozen feet before catching himself and diving back into the fray. He defended with his war-spear and all four arms, not giving an inch, circling the larger construct, looking for an opening in its flurry of blows.

Alex monitored Claygon as he fought.

He saw other fighters in the way the golem moved; his guards, cuts, thrusts and parries were a part of Theresa, Thundar, and Grimlochs fighting styles: the three warriors closest to the golem.

As he dodged and weaved around the much faster constructs blows, Alex could see hints of the dance hed learned from Fan-Dor and Gel-Dor, the dance hed taught Claygon.

Meanwhile, Primes movementswere erratic.

Pride swelled inside him.

Some of its attacks were like a trained warriors, while others seemed like the flailings of something wild, something lacking finesse. As the audience chanted for more, Alex noted patterns in the force constructs attacks.

When it uses its legs and tail, it moves sloppily, with little control, like it has no training, yet when it uses its fists, it looks coordinated and well-trainedstill theres something off. Alex scrutinised their opponents arms further. Attacks with its legs and tail look like how something cornered would react: wild, desperate, untrained.

The Thameish wizard kept watching Prime. Im missing something

As he considered Rams construct, he poured greater force armour over Claygon with his staff.

Ram chuckled. Im surprised you can cast greater force armour, Mr. Roth. It seems you were capable of a lot more than you showed in my class, perhaps you should have stuck with my classes. Imagine how much more you could have learned.

I prefer the alchemical solution. Alex waved the aeld staff above his head, it flared with pride.

Foolish, young wizard, Ram said, punctuating his point with another immense blow from Prime that drove Claygon back. Increasingly, Primes attacks were slipping through the slower constructs guard. Reliance on outside tools: weapons, potions, staffs, golemswill spell your end. Where I am from, we learn to fight with our bodies first.

His eyes did not leave the clash between Claygon and Prime.

The larger construct smashed the golem with a tremendous right hook that sent him spinning into the cage bars.

Primes getting faster, Alex told Claygon. I think hes getting stronger too.

I am learninghow he fightshe favours one side Claygon thought.

Right, Alex thought.

Professor, weapons and tools are what let us sapient beings elevate ourselves above the beasts, Alex said. Whats a mortal without tools and weapons? Lacking, thats what they are.

Our fingers can become arrows. The arms, iron. The feet, spears. Ram growled as Claygon slipped a fist through Primes guard, knocking the force construct a few dozen feet back before it hit the barsto the roar of the audiencethen darted back into the fray. Force magic can become any weapon, and you always have your spells as long as you have your tongue. As long as youre not dead, you have a body you can fight with if youve trained it. Weapons and other things, can be

Prime abruptly turned into chains again, wrapping around Claygons war-spear.

taken away.

The chains suddenly jerked with immense force.

The war-spear tuggedbut Claygon held tight, keeping it firmly in his grip.

NoPrime, the golem said. This is mine

Rams eyebrows rose. You truly are a mighty force. Those chains of force would bind a dragon, you do realise that? At least, the average dragon of a certain age. From my calculations, I can tell you that last year, Prime would have held Claygon long enough to achieve the pin. My compliments to both of you.

He tipped his head at Alex, though his eyes did not leave the fight. Its regrettable: if you had tried as hard with force magic as you obviously did when building your golem, you would likely be quite the master of the discipline by now. You really should have applied yourself better, Mr Roth.

Alex frowned. Everyone has their talents. And everyone has their limits.

Hmph. Ram grunted. Limits are meant to be shattered, through intellect, force and willpower. Case in point.

Prime suddenly rushed Claygon, charging into the smaller golem like bull trying to break through a sagging fence. The golem was being pushed back by the force, but swung his war-spear at the same time.

The weapon hit the force construct, its form crumpled butbefore Prime could be catapulted awayit warped into a wave of force, blasting Claygon.

This time, the golem was ready. He raked it with fire-beams, planting his war-spear into the ground to steady himself, as it poured over him.

Ram frowned, then his face changed, taking on a self-satisfied smile.

Primes form distorted further, wrapping around Claygon like a shroud.

It constricted.

But, Alex wasnt watching Prime and Claygon.

His attention was on Ram. I think Im starting to figure out your weaknesses.