Chapter 159 - 155: Rude Awakening

Chapter 159: Chapter 155: Rude Awakening

My eyes open wide. Air rushes into my lungs. Real human lungs.

My mother’s voice trembles in the room. "He’s awake! He’s coming out of the coma!"

What?

Is it possible? Did I die in Tanglewood? No, that couldn’t be. If I did, System would own me.

My hands, weakened from lying in the ICU, struggle to work. My mouth is dry. I can’t talk. But I can see.

Mom looks like she’s rested. A little. She holds my hand, which feels like feathers. But her skin is warm against mine. "Josh? Sweetheart?"

I try to say something, but after so long, my lungs and my voice are rusty.

Mom squeezes my hand. "Don’t try to talk, sweetheart. Your father is in the patient lounge. I’ll get him. Your brother is...well, he’s taking care of things."

I blink once to let her know I understand. Of course, I know what he is taking care of. He is fighting in the tournament.

Are we still in the tournament? Is this another Divine Vision? Just for now, I am not going to question it.

Medicine smell chokes me. Add that to the list of things to be grateful for. Monitors sing their constant electronic song. My heart rate is an erratic wave on the monitors, steadying. I never thought I’d be so relieved to see that heart rate display.

Mom uses a sponge on a stick dipped in water to keep my lips from drying out. I can’t eat anything because I have IV fluids pumping into me. Even juice and gelatin would be manna from heaven right now. One step at a time.

Oh, how I wish I could speak.

Mom pats my hand and withdraws for one of the nurses to check on me. "I’ll just go get your father. He’ll be thrilled."

My eyes drift shut from the effort of being alert and the new sensations of being awake...

* * * * *

I’m being crushed!

The coils squeeze, and my lungs burn, jolting me back to my life in the game realm. Typical. In either place, I can’t breathe. But at least here I can communicate.

[LOBO! Bite him.]

His voice is unsteady. [Working on it.]

Roaring in my ears. Why is there roaring in my ears? Is that blood roaring in my ears?

The announcer shrieks, "QUETZALCOATL! If you don’t stop this, you will be in violation of tournament rules. They are struggling to breathe. House Ixchel! You will be--"

Quetzalcoatl’s tamer yells something authoritative and sharp. Kaline is yelling too, and Minette. Unlike when Peridot put the squeeze on her opponent, this has gone on too long and to extremes. Not waiting around for sudden mercy, I wiggle around and sink my teeth into Quetzalcoatl’s coils.

The audience shouts, exhorting us to break free. "FREE THEM! GET LOOSE! YOU CAN DO IT!"

That’s what the roaring in my ears was. The audience is on our side! And Quetzalcoatl goes slack upon hearing this, The public outcry is sharper than our bite. A shrieking hiss, and suddenly, my bonds release. The world opens up. Lobo’s indignant howl pierces the air. Finally, he is loose.

I shoot out of the coils, with Lobo right behind me. We land a safe distance away from Quetzalcoatl. Kaline exclaims, "BLAZE!" She and Minette rush over to us, checking us.

My fur is smashed. My lungs feel unsteady. But I’m alive. Nuzzling Lobo, I feel his heartbeat and his warmth. We are both alive.

Meanwhile, the tamer from House Ixchel waves the medicine rattle, speaking in a low, urgent voice to Quetzalcoatl. Probably giving him a scolding.

[Lobo.] I boop his nose with mine. [Are you okay?]

[Fine. But of course I was back in my body. And able to monitor everything. We’ve got more support than you know. I’ll tell you about it after the match.]

I give a little "mrrrp" of approval. [After we win.]

[Yes!]

We face off against Quetzalcoatl, who rises in the air, keeping his coils tightly tucked for now, lest he be accused of crushing us or strangling us. The scolding must still stick to him like Velcro. For now, he is pulling his punches, which can work to our advantage.

We must have been near death for the announcer and Kaline and Minette to intervene, and the audience to go berserk. I can’t dwell on that right now, but it does give me a sense of immortality. Although I’m not going to get complacent, I do feel stronger in this match and going into the final one. But one hurdle at a time. Let’s win this match first.

Hovering, Quetzalcoatl dangles his coils and hisses menacingly. [You will not escape me.]

I growl, my teeth bared. [You’ll have to do it without squeezing us.]

WHOOOSH. A loud rush of flame and a burst of heat hit close to our position. We break and dive to the side. Rolling over, we stand up, out of the line of fire. But not for long. WHOOOSH. The flames streak toward us, and we duck.

I check my energy. [Can we Super Jump again?]

[We don’t have to do everything in sync. If you want to do it to confuse him--]

Pulling a little energy through the amulet, I leap in the air, narrowly missing another flame blast.

Lobo stays on the ground, crouching on the platform, head down, waiting for the opportune moment to leap in the air. His wolf eyes glimmer, a beacon tracking me. But I can’t get distracted.

WHOOSH. More flame rushes at me. I sail slightly to the right, then veer to the left, zigzagging to avoid Quetzalcoatl cooking me.

[Stay still!] Quetzalcoatl’s frustration simmers, as heated as his missiles. [You are only making it harder for yourself.]

[Au contraire, mon ami.]

Baffled, he behaves in-character in-game. [I do not understand that language.]

[Then let me translate.]

I pounce, sailing over his head, swiping and plucking a clawful of feathers from his crest in passing. A hiss lets me know that I have quite literally gotten under his scaly skin.

[Get the message now?] I sail over him, bouncing off his hide and dropping down. Can’t stay too long in the air or I will burn up all my energy and cancel the amulet for the final round.

My leg bends back painfully upon landing, but I ignore it. A little discomfort and a rough landing? No sweat.

[BLAZE!]

Clearly, Kaline disagrees with my assessment. She feels my pain.

[I’m fine. I’ll get a Healing Potion later. Right now, I just need to defeat Quetzalcoatl.]

Kaline’s voice is steady. [When you pulled his feathers out, it damaged him. Maybe he is weak there. No one ever really attacks his head. Maybe it’s his weakest spot.]

I squint up at Quetzalcoatl. He seems to be keeping his head tucked in. And it looks like it pains him. I pulled harder than I thought!

[Lobo! Could Quetzalcoatl have a weak spot? Beneath his feathered crest? Look at the way his head is drooping.]

Lobo growls. [Only one way to find out. Watch me!]

My eyes track his furry shape as he soars up in a Super Jump and clips Quetzalcoatl’s feathers. No mistake this time: Quetzalcoatl hisses in pain and jerks his head out of the way. He hold his head upright as if it’s difficult to do so.

[We’ve got him, Lobo! He can’t take much more of this--LOOK OUT!]

Quetzalcoatl comes hurtling down to the platform, his coils striking it. Somehow, he manages to slow his fall and land in a gentler fashion than any of our previous opponents. Resting on the ground, he tucks his head in.

[Yield.]

His one words send us both into a state of shock. Quetzalcoatl is giving up.

[Yield?] Lobo sniffs him for any deception. [You’re sure?]

Quetzalcoatl keeps his head protected. [My neck. My feathers. No one knows that they are vulnerable. My tamer never speaks of it to anyone. Even other beasts do not know. If I yield, you must keep the secret.]

My eyes widen. A rush of respect floods me. This creature is negotiating his own defeat. Lobo woofs, awed. He smells the feathered serpent’s authenticity and sincerity. [You’ve got yourself a deal, Quetzalcoatl.]

The announcer calls out, "Quetzalcoatl is surrendering! He is yielding to his opponents."

Quetzalcoatl’s tamer makes a mournful sound with her medicine rattle, but does not protest. Kaline and Vedette bow their heads in reverence.

The announcer’s countdown is swift. "Five...four...three...two...one...OUT! House Ixchel is out of the competition. House Riddlehoeven wins!"

Tremendous cheering for both us and House Ixchel as Quetzalcoatl’s tamer climbs on his back and soars away to the Medical Wing. In unison, Lobo and I lift our voices in praise. His howl and my roar pay homage to Quetzalcoatl and to House Ixchel.

I barely notice the platform touching down. Then, Minette and Kaline and Lamant and Niall help heal me. The injury was worth it. We made it!

Now, all we have to focus on is the final round!