Chapter 80 - Like a bull in a China shop...whatever that means

The two of us raced through the town at high speeds with an angry Grim Shrieker hot on our tail. As I kept skating on the designated path Voxea planned, I couldn't help but repeatedly mutter "Crap crap crap" as we went on. I knew it was necessary for us to anger it enough for it to chase us for the plan to work, but it was still absolutely terrifying having such a huge monster chasing right behind us.

As the Grim Shrieker chased us, it began to glow with a purple light and started taking a deep breath. But while it was inhaling, Voxea quickly turned back and fired off a visible spear of wind at the chasing monster.

The wind spear screamed through the air as it flew towards the Grim Shrieker, and from what I could see, it was aimed directly at its throat. I'm not sure if all monsters were vulnerable at the throat, but I knew for sure that something that used screaming as a weapon had to be weak there.

As the spear flew closer to the Grim Shrieker, it suddenly jerked upwards and flew into the Grim Shrieker's inhaling mouth. The Grim Shrieker just sucked in the spear and nothing happened...until Voxea stated inside my head, [Burst]!

The Grim Shrieker was just about to scream again and probably deafen us, until a powerful force of wind aether suddenly burst inside its throat.

The sudden force stopped the technique dead in its tracks, and the Grim Shrieker appeared rather hurt from the sneak attack. From my shared perspective with Voxea, I could see that Grim Shrieker was now puking up a mixture of blood, wind and aether.

[Well that unexpected, but not entirely unwelcome. Now it won't scream us to death for a few moments], Voxea quipped.

[Fair enough, but why did it stop chasing us and is now glowing red]?

[Red]?

Voxea and I stopped going down the pre-planned path to see what the Grim Shrieker was doing instead of trying to kill us. After the Grim Shrieker stopped hacking up blood, it became unusually still and unmoving, almost tranquil. Making the whole thing unsettling, the Grim Shrieker started glowing with a dark red aura.

Normally, I would assume it would be the color of a fire affinity technique, but the color was too dark, like blood. An unsettling feeling soon settled around us as the Grim Shrieker seemed to exude a bloodthirsty feeling that threatened to choke us.

[Alright, we should probably continue with the plan and start moving now], Voxea suddenly piped up.

[Why?], I asked while readjusting my skates to keep moving.

[Because that thing is about to go nuts like a bull in a fine china shop].

[What's a china sh-], "SKKKRRROOONNK".

My question was interrupted by the ghastly sound of the Grim Shrieker trying to release a roar of rage, but having it come out distorted and bloody.

I quickly glanced back at the Grim Shrieker and was greeted by a rather unsettling sight.

The Grim Shrieker's aether armor of ice was now fully visible to the n.a.k.e.d eye but instead of the cold white color that we saw prior, it was now a dark shade of red. Its body no longer looked as pristine and healthy as before, it now looked to be scarred , bloody and bruised all over. The blood red armor combined with the battle scarred body worked together to make the Grim Shrieker appear to be a mad warrior fresh from a bloody battlefield. The only solace I could take was that it could no longer use its deadly voice against us anymore.

[Told you. Now let's boogie], Voxea said as suddenly flew down the ice path. Not saying a word and a little panicked, I just skated after her as quick as I could. A few moments later I heard the telltale thrashing and crashing of a very angry Grim Shrieker chasing behind us, causing even more collateral damage from the sound of it all.

As we kept rushing towards our destination, Voxea suddenly decided to ask me a question.

[Silvia, the fog of war is suppose to make it so that the enemy monsters focus on just me right? Not try some sneaky attack things on you, the binder right]?

[Yeah, why?], I asked confusedly.

[Because that Grim Shrieker has its sights dead-set on you].