the remains of a Scourger, cursing from the pain. I reached out to grab my sword, but I couldn't find it. Panickedly, I looked up, only to see a stubble of a stick resting next to Adrian

"Nice try, Dalton," Adrian said, groaning as he got up. He readied his whips again, glancing at my sword before looking back at me with murderous fury. "But admit it. You're an even worse Elementalist than Cory."

I shot a fireball at him, but he was ready. His purple whip flew out with a crack, turning the projectile into smoke. "You should've left Harold Valter to die when you had the chance."

He took one step closer to me, then thought better of it. 

"So tell me, Dalton," his murderous look turned into a smile. He held up the green whip. "Do you want to live through your entire lifetime in five seconds?" He held up the purple whip. "Or would you rather me to just teleport you to the belly of a volcano? Which sounds more fun?"

I just looked panickedly at the Space-Time Elementalist, my mind racing for any lifelines. The Elementals weren't responding. My sword was gone. Fireballs were about as useful as snow ones now.

So that left...

Adrian frowned at my silence. "If you can't make up your mind, how about I slice you in half?" He played with the sharp tip of his whip. "Then half will meet the volcano, and the other half gets to go through old age."

Without warning, his whips whistled through the air. Headed straight to my face. I yelped My hands flew out of my pockets, pebble in-

CRACK!

A bright flash blinded me. I held my hands in the air. Sweat rolled down my chin. Silence hung in the room. 

I opened my eyes. 

My hands were wrapped tightly around the Earthen Spear over my head. Two whips were coiled between them, practically vibrating with unsettling energy. It might've been my imagination, but the spearhead flashed a faint green and purple for a split second.

My eyes transferred over to meet Adrian's. For once, the Space-Time Elementalist's face was frozen in complete shock. 

Taking my chance, I jumped to my feet and wrenched my spear towards me violently. Adrian yelped as he was yanked off-balance, flying straight at me. My leg lashed out, kicking him in the groin and sending him flying back. The handles of his whips clattered out of his hands. As I watched, they turned into a pair of coins, the glowing threads in front of my face dissolving into the air. 

Adrian quickly recovered and scrambled to his feet, still in complete shock. "W-wh-how-"

"I guess you're right about one thing," I half-smiled despite the pain in my ribs, reveling in his confusion. "I'm not just an Elementalist."

Adrian opened his mouth to say something, but I was already lunging at me, my spear driving down at his heart.