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~~((The National Chocolate Pudding Day Special -- page 1 of 10))~~
He tried to leave some lightning rods behind as he ran, just in case that lightning did arrive later, but with so much going on around him--Chort in front, dozens of spawn in pursuit, over thirty cubes swirling around him, and the wind picking up like crazy--Hector honestly wasn't sure if those rods actually got materialized or not.

Chort melted in the forested background, disappearing from normal sight, but Hector was hardly using his eyes, anyway. Whether it was camouflage or true invisibility didn't matter. Hector could still sense the bastard.

And most importantly, he could sense that the Beast of Lorent was not trying to use this tactic to hide.

Rather, it was charging him. Hoping to take him by surprise, perhaps.

The only thing that surprised Hector, however, was how stupid that strategy seemed. Did Chort really not yet realize that it couldn't hide from him that way?

Hector didn't want to launch a cube at the Beast, though. It may have been his most powerful technique, but it hadn't worked on Chort thus far, and Hector didn't think this time would be any different. Most of all, he didn't want the impact to knock Chort away again. He'd had enough of this chase.

So he tried a cage, instead, combined with an iron coating.

Unfortunately, the coating didn't quite take. Only a few specks actually managed to materialize on Chort's body, and the cage was barreled through like it was made of cardboard.

And Chort had more electricity for him, this time spewing forth from its gaping maw as it closed in on him.

That proved about as effective as Hector's cage did, though. Instead of catching him, the sparks caught on the cubes and bounced between them harmlessly before ultimately discharging into the ground.

Huh.

Hector wasn't too sure what to make of that, and neither did Chort, by the look of it.

They had a kind of awkward staredown for a moment as they both considered their next move. Even Chort's spawn decided to pause, apparently also affected by their master's confusion.