Plants Vs Zombies Part 2

The ghouls were getting closer and closer. Three of the four paths had been closed by the ghouls. His only possible exit would be the one from the back. In order to do so, he needed to burn one of them as fast as he could. He could just use Burning Hands for this task, however, there was a consideration by him of needing to push the ghouls as well to open the path faster. Why? Because the way the spell kills surely takes time and not instantly. That moments of waiting could turn the tables on him, giving the ghouls more chances to attack him.

BURNING HANDS

1+Fire Mana

[Quickening Spell]

Burning Hands deals 2 damage to target unit. If the unit alignment is wood, it deals 6 damage instead.

Mana: -

[Okay, no time to think. Let's do this.]

He readied his short sword as well as prepared to make the dash. Ahli grabbed Burning Hands and threw it toward the ghouls on the back.

"Paying 2 Fire Mana to cast Burning Hands!"

As it started to transform, Ahli waited for the many fire hands to appear. He looked around and the ghouls were approaching. Their distance was less than a meter to him.

When the first fire hand appeared in front of the targeted ghoul, Ahli made his sprint toward it. Just by then, he felt a hand grab him from behind. The ghoul had reached onto him.

He pulled his body as strong as he could, while his hand swung his short sword, clearing any threat that came from his right. Ahli's effort was fruitful, however, it was at the cost of a part of his armor broken at the back, exposing it to any attack. And sure it did get an attack. Two of the ghouls on his left, the ones he tried to avoid, yet not dealt with, were clawing at him when they tried to grab him. The result was that they were able to rip a part of his body.

Ahli felt the pain, but the adrenaline of rush made him keep on going. With the life counter showing the decrease from 20 to 16, with each ghoul's power was 2 point hit, he saw the sequence of Burning Hands had reached the moment when the many hands pushed the ghoul to the back, while as well burning it. Ahli jumped toward the burning yet standing ghoul with his short sword tip aimed at it.

They both clashed and the ghoul fell on its back. Ahli himself fell onto him, but he quickly rolled his body to the front, avoiding any further contact with it. He saw the life indicators turn from 16 to 15, showing how the fire that burned the ghoul was responsible for it. Without checking further about the ghoul's condition, Ahli quickly ran, knowing 7 others were still in pursuit.

To his surprise, and something that he felt coming a little, Dispute in the Pack landed on his hand. With this, his plan of using Dragon's Fire fell apart, so Ahli quickly add it to the mana source.

As the 4th Shard came into existence, Ahli glanced to his back, the 7 remaining ghouls from before were still in pursuit. He also did not see any opening for going forward any further. He knew, at that point, the necromancer seemed to strengthen his defense, and therefore, he needed to stall it for two more turns so he can use Dispute in the Pack to clear the path.

DISPUTE IN THE PACK

4+Fire Mana+Fire Mana

[Magic Spell]

Target enemy unit deals damage to each other enemy units equal to its power. At the same time, each other enemy units deal damage to that targeted enemy unit.

Mana: -

Only one option remained, he needed to gather again with Sharon. Ahli quickly ran toward her, dodging every incoming obstacle in front of him. Three ghouls stood on his path of escape with a very little opening between them. They were not facing him, so they did not realize he was coming at them.

To basically escaped unscathed, Ahli needed to drop one of them to the ground, problem was he did not want to use Flame Blast as he needed it to be used as a mana source. This is why he had no other choice but to use his short sword to break through and hope he could escape smoothly.

[Here we go…]

He prepared to do a backhand slash as he was approaching the three ghouls. With the distance between him and them closing, he did a long jump toward them, landing a kick on the one in the middle.

As he was gradually landing, he released his backhand slash aimed at the head of the one on the right. It hit it immediately and the ghoul fell to the side. The one in the middle tried to stand, but quickly its face was drowned to the ground as Ahli landed on it. He used it as a stepping stone and did not care anymore if it was alive or not.

Ahli took a glance at the one that remained, the one on the left. It seemed it tried to grab him as he appeared. Luckily he was fast enough and it missed him.

Many ghouls were surrounding Sharon, and Ahli knew that this time he could not escape smoothly like before. He prepared to break their formation and he needed Sharon's help for it.

"SHARON! HELP ME MAKE AN OPENING!"

His voice was quite loud and luckily enough it was able to reach Sharon's ears. Ahli could see how she seemed to look for him from behind the ghoul barrier that blocked their vision.

"NORTHWEST OF YOUR DIRECTION NOW!"

The information was able to reach her immediately and with her started to clear the ones in his direction, he also started to slash every single ghoul that blocked his path.

The ghouls started to take notice of him as well, and some of them started trying to grab him. They were unable to grab him, but the violent swing of their hand scratched his body multiple times. He saw how the life indicator changed from one number to another at a very quick pace. He tried to hold on, as it was only a little further to reach Sharon.

With his life now already below 10 points and coming closer to below 5, Ahli quickly looked at the card he got this turn. It was a wood card called Strangle.

STRANGLE

1+Wood Mana

[Quickening Spell]

Kill one target unit with 3 or less life.

Mana: -

A perfect substitute for Flame Blast at this point. Ahli then quickly took it and aimed at a ghoul that was blocking his path.

"Use one wood mana and one fire mana to cast Strangle. Targeting this ghoul."

With the green light and red light enveloping the card, it then entered the ground. Moments later, a thick vine came out of the ground behind the targeted ghoul. In a rapid movement, it tied itself to its neck tightly, and then the vine started to pull it.

The ghoul fell on its back as a result, but the strangling effect was not effective enough as ghouls are technically already dead. It tried to resist and wanted to stand again, and luckily enough, the vine power was able to keep it to the ground. Ahli could see how the vine tighten its grip with every passing second.

At the end of both sides' struggle, Ahli saw how the vine finally had the upper hand and snapped the ghoul's head from its body. Following that immediately was both of the ghoul's hands dropped and it ceased to move. The head itself rolled further from its body, which then was kicked away by Sharon.

Seeing finally they met, Ahli quickly went to her side. He saw how he had 4 life points left, which meant that it would be a tougher battle with all the ghouls still surrounding them.

"Have fun running off alone?"

"Yes, I did." Ahli took Flame Blast from his hand and set it as a mana source.

"So, did you find anything?"

"Yeah, over there. If we can stand for one more mana source, we'll surely clear the path." Sharon looked in the direction that Ahli pointed. Sea of ghouls stood between them and that destination. It surely is a losing battle ahead if they spent too long on the field.

"Let's better hope that damn one card appeared next turn then."

Sharon prepared her stance with her back sticking to him. Ahli then followed.

"Let's hope…"