Chapter 726

• He turned, aimed his hands at the rider, and the nearest trees around the armored man closed in on him. The trees weren't truly alive, no more than anything else in Hell, no more than bloodgrip or the burning bushes or the statues. They were a part of Hell, like the dirt, the blackstone beneath it, and the veins of hellfire beneath that. They listened to the song, and they twisted in from the top down onto the rider and into his path, hitting him on the way down.
• He fell to a knee as the sharp branches shattered on his body. Unharmed, but slowed. He stood up, and David weaved another song, sending the trees behind the rider for his feet. He fell, this time to his side, but pushed forward and got back to his feet with seamless motion. David brought in more trees, bending a dozen of them forward and into his path; they were brittle, but bent to his song as if made of rubber. But the rider brought down his axes, and the black trees shattered in an explosion of embers and swirling flame.
• The fire didn't spread, but it rained down on the path, and the rider walked through it, helmet's gaze locked on David.