The Desert is Cold in the Dark [Dark Data]

[Dr. McNinja]

Ogong was dizzy now. In his weakness, he had collapsed to his knees. He had cast so much magic, he could feel the universe being angry at him. After all, every time he used magic, he was borrowing the power of everyone's words. The metaphorical interest was starting to pile up.

The monkey stumbled to his feet.

"Jim says," Ogong paused to lick his lips, which had gone dry, "Jim says to be careful with the lightning."

The sand monster was still up and running. Ogong grit his teeth.

"Adjutant! Project Hellfire, now!"

Ogong fell over again, barely able to even keep himself up. Desertman flowed forward, targeting the Prime who had nearly blown him to several million pieces. After a few seconds, Jim's suit spawned the giant explosion tube again over his shoulder. Ogong slipped behind a collapsed sandstone pillar as the rockets rocked the temple. Ogong licked his lips again, rubbing Yeo-Ee-Pil with his thumb nervously.

"I think I'm done," the monkey muttered.

"That thing is still standing," his staff muttered back.

"Still," the monkey sighed, "I'm pretty sure I'm done."

Ogong could feel the staff's approval. "You did good, buddy."

As he prepared to hide, he heard Sandman slam something into a wall. He glanced at Jim, who was firing his gun.

"Kid!" Jim shouted, "He's got Somerled! He's gonna kill him!"

The monkey glowered and spun around, sticking out his palm and shot a fireball at the roughly-shaped hand. The limb seemed to flinch, the sand quivering as it tried to compensate for the heat. But it did nothing.

"It's wet now," the staff noted.

"Crap," Ogong mumbled, eyes half-shut. "You got any ice spells?"

"Nothing right now, pal."

"Fuck it. Let's hit the dude. Really fucking hard."

"Watch your language, young man."

Ogong almost laughed before preparing himself. The staff did not find the situation as amusing.

"You know," it muttered, "You do this, you probably die."

"Yeah," Ogong muttered, "Yeah, probably."

He shifted his gaze to Jim, who was firing still. Barely standing, he stumbled his way to Jim. After a few seconds, he reached the marine, clambering onto his shoulder. Jim reached around to throw off the unwelcome intruder, but noticing it was invisible, realized it had to be Ogong.

"Somerled! Help Somerled!"

Ogong climbed onto the palm of Jim's left hand and used the heavy rifle in the marine's other hand and pointed it at the Desertman, hoping he understood. And fortunately, he did.

Jim groaned. "That's not a good idea, kid."

He didn't feel the monkey lifting off his hand.

"Fine," the marine said, "On the count of three."

"You'll help me," Ogong said expectantly.

"One."

"We literally just did this scene," Yeo-Ee-Pil replied.

"Two!"

"...Always."

"Three!"

The Earth, a colossal mass, the added weight of everything we've touched in one big mess, a giant ball that for so long we called "everything."

The Earth, moving.

As Sun Ogong flew through the air, two arcane circles appeared above his head. He landed unsteadily on the mass of sentient sand.

"JI JIN! the monkey mage shouted, punching Desertman right down the middle.

Normally, this would not work. But Desertman was technically entirely one with the Earth. The Earth, its solidity rippling under one blow.

"JI JIN!"

One more blow and Desertman felt everything inside him shatter. His arm collapsed in mid-air, releasing the storm spirit. The temple was shaking violently, as if the Earth was trying to retaliate.

This time, Ogong could not control the impact, and felt the same force that shook the very planet rip through his own body. The Desertman roared in pain, his own body becoming waves of dissonance. His very essence was being brutally assaulted. Ogong felt his muscles brace for the response, but he could not have been ready for the nearly bone-shattering force that rattled through his arms.

"Jim! Stop him!" Somerled coughed, "He said... His stick said this is gonna kill him!"

"JI!"

Ignoring the pain in his body, screaming for him to stop, Ogong clasped his hands together and raised them over his head.

"JIN!"

He brought his fists down, and swung his fists down to the sand monster with the third consecutive spell.

683 words. I know it's short but IRL is slapping me around a little right now.

Used T1 Earthquake, 4/11 SP