Fallen University: Year Two

She looked at him with confusion for a second, then grinned. Without another word, the two of them raced for the stairs, no doubt heading for the roof. Other flyers and mages followed, prepared to attack the invaders from above.

“And we’ll go out the front,” Xero said grimly, fixing his gaze on the door as it shook with another unholy boom.

“Are you shitting me? No, we’re doing this the smart way. Come on.” Kai shook his head and marched toward the end of the school, which was pressed nearly all the way to the cave wall. Jayce and I followed, barely looking back as a bu

nch of other people followed us. I could hear Toland and Shen arguing, but the honest truth was, it wasn’t up to either of them. Our lives were in danger no matter what, and if we chose to fight, they couldn’t stop us.

One unexpected benefit of all the perimeter patrols and wandering we’d done was that we had all practically memorized the layout of the school, from hidden passageways to random little side doors. We hurried to a door on the far side of the school, which almost didn’t have room to open because it was so close to the cave wall. Kai forced it as wide as he could get it, and we all followed him through then crept single-file around the side of the school. We could already hear the sounds of battle from above, but I couldn’t yet see it.

“We know you can shrink,” Jayce murmured quietly in my ear as we walked. “But how big can you get?”

“Guess we’re going to find out.”

He clapped a hand on my ass and squeezed. “Power boost.”

I almost laughed, but it died in my throat as the battle came into view. Energy balls, lightning, and fire rained down from above. Our encroaching enemies shrieked in pain and fury, redoubling their attacks. I heard a student cry out, a piercing scream, and my heart began to race.

Big, I thought, picturing it in my mind. I want to be big. Bigger than the spider. Bigger than the salamander. I can do it. I’m massive. Gargantuan.

We were snaking around behind the onslaught and with every step I took, I grew a little larger. I knew I could get as small as a toddler, but I had never pressed the upward limits before. Soon, I was looking down on Jayce, then Kai, and then I was taller than everyone around us. I couldn’t tell if I was any stronger though, and I began to worry that I would stretch myself too thin. Size without strength would only make it harder to fight.

When we were all in position, gathered behind the last corner that concealed us from our enemies, Kai raised a hand and counted down with his fingers.

Three. Two. One. Attack!

We all surged forward, beating the hell out of whatever was in front of us with fireballs and fists and fangs, whatever weapons we had at our disposal. A big, ugly cyclops stood over twenty feet high right in front of us, blocking our way. Some of the students attacked his legs, but he didn’t even seem to notice. I stepped forward, moving quickly since my strides were so much longer in this shape. My growing ability seemed to have tapped out—I could only get tall enough to come eye level to his chin.

Close enough.

He was going after a few students on the ground, swinging at them with massive, meaty fists.

“Hey, ugly!”

I punched him between his shoulder blades as hard as I could, drawing his attention and allowing them to scramble away. Nope, not stronger. Weightier though, and with enough speed, that could compensate.

He turned around slowly, nearly crushing two other students under his feet. With a wordless roar, he lifted his spiked club. He was clumsy and slow, but I didn’t want to find out how hard he could hit. I had a strong suspicion it would feel like getting hit by a truck.

I backed just slightly out of range as he swung, trying to tempt him with how close he’d gotten. Air shifted in front of my face as the club whizzed by inches away from my nose, and my stomach dropped.

Fuck. Maybe that was too close.

Still, at least it kept his focus on me.

“You couldn’t hit me if I ran into your club, you big baby!”

He roared again and charged forward. My people were on the other side of him now, but they were still too near. I needed to get him where he wouldn’t crush anybody when he fell. Assuming I was able to kill him.

A burst of energy exploded beside the cyclops. I looked up to see Hannah riding on Kingston’s back, firing energy balls with surprising force and precision.

“Thanks! I got this!” I shouted at her.

Kingston nodded his serpentine head and turned back toward the thick of things. Hannah was still firing away, slaughtering demons and monsters like a badass. The cyclops lumbered toward me.

“A little farther,” I taunted him, backing up slowly. “I’m right here. You gonna hit me or what?”

He swung again, knocking a stalagmite loose. The spike of earth rising up from the ground shattered, sending little pieces of stony shrapnel flying.

“Watch it!” I scolded him. “You could hurt somebody like that.”