The small boat surged down the steep stream, propelled by Lisa's magic. Wooden straps formed from the sides of the boat, securing everyone as they hurtled over rapids. Anuel stood at the helm, her sharp eyes scanning the surroundings.
"Brace yourselves," she ordered as the boat approached the calm edge of the forest.
The towering trees loomed ahead, their immense trunks disappearing into a dense canopy that blocked out the sunlight. Runes carved into the bark glowed faintly, pulsing in rhythm with the hum of the forest.
Lisa waved her hand, shrinking the boat into a palm-sized object and pocketing it. "Ready."
Festron glanced at the ice wall ahead, grinning. "Looks like a challenge. I've got this."
Before anyone could stop him, he punched the wall with immense force. The sound of shattering ice and wood echoed through the forest as a massive hole appeared, large enough for them to pass through.
"Subtle," Anuel muttered, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Let's go."
---
The Shifting Forest
Anuel's expression darkened as they ventured deeper into the forest. "This place is alive," she warned. "Stay close. It doesn't like visitors."
The air grew thicker with every step, and the ground seemed to pulse beneath their feet. Vines shifted unnaturally, creating new paths while blocking others. Ziraiah clung to Lisa, her steps hesitant.
After a while, they stumbled upon a group of Earthers. The humans were haggard and dehydrated, their eyes wide with fear as they backed away from Anuel's group.
Lisa stepped forward, raising a hand. "Search."
A magical field expanded around her, revealing hidden fruits in the trees. With a wave of her hand, the fruits hurtled toward her, landing in a pile. The Earthers hesitated before rushing forward, desperate to grab what they could.
One man clung to Lisa's foot, his gaunt face twisted in desperation. "Thank… you…"
Lisa panicked and kicked him instinctively, sending him flying several meters. His skull cracked against a rock, blood pooling beneath him.
Anuel's expression darkened as she glared at Lisa. "He's dead."
Lisa froze, her hands trembling. "I… I didn't mean to…"
Ziraiah stared, her stomach churning. She killed him just like that.
Anuel sighed. "Let's move. We'll find more Earthers."
---
Festron's Discovery
Meanwhile, Festron wandered off, drawn to a mysterious cave. Ignoring Anuel's warnings, he descended into the dark cavern. Phosphorescent moss glowed faintly, casting eerie shadows on the walls.
Deep within, he found a pulsating crystal embedded in the ground, etched with glowing runes. He crouched, running his fingers over its surface.
"Ooh, shiny," he muttered, grinning. He pulled the crystal free.
The ground rumbled beneath him, and the cavern collapsed. Festron tumbled into a deeper chamber, landing with a thud. Dusting himself off, he looked up—and froze.
Two massive red eyes stared at him from the shadows. More eyes appeared around him, glowing faintly as growls reverberated through the chamber.
"Uh… shit," Festron muttered.
---
The Beasts Awaken
Anuel froze as a distant explosion echoed through the forest. Her sharp ears caught the faint roar of a beast awakening.
"Festron…" she growled, her voice filled with dread.
The ground trembled violently as monstrous roars erupted. Trees shattered as massive shapes moved through the forest. Anuel's jaw tightened. "Those beasts… they should've been hibernating for eight months."
Lisa turned to Ziraiah, her face pale. "Stay close. Don't wander."
Suddenly, Festron burst through the ground, crashing into a crater. Behind him, a colossal beast emerged—four horns, obsidian-like armor, glowing red eyes, and spines that radiated heat.
"Oops," Festron muttered, groaning as he sat up.
Anuel's eyes blazed with fury. "You reckless idiot! Do you have any idea what you've done?!"
---
The Battle Begins
Before Festron could respond, the beast lunged forward. Anuel dashed in with blinding speed, intercepting it mid-charge. Her punch collided with its armored skull, the impact echoing like a thunderclap. Shockwaves rippled through the forest, toppling nearby trees and sending debris flying.
The beast barely flinched, shaking off the attack with a low, guttural growl. Anuel frowned, her fists tightening. "These things are tougher than I thought."
She grabbed two of its horns, lifting it clean off the ground. With a roar, she slammed the creature into the earth, creating a massive crater. The ground cracked under the force, sending Ziraiah tumbling backward. Lisa conjured a barrier around herself, bracing against the violent winds and debris.
Festron dug his hands into the ground to steady himself, his teeth gritted against the tremors. He stood, blood dripping from his face, and cracked his knuckles. "Looks like I'll have to clean up your mess, Anuel."
Anuel shot him a glare. "Stay out of my way."
Festron smirked, slamming his fists together with a metallic clang. "As if. I've gotten stronger, too."
The two advanced side by side, their strides slow and deliberate. The ground cracked beneath their feet as they braced themselves. Then, with a deafening roar, they charged into the horde of beasts.
The force of their clash sent shockwaves through the forest, uprooting trees and scattering debris. Ziraiah was flung into the air, desperately grabbing at branches to stop herself from being blown away. Lisa conjured another barrier, but the sheer force of the winds sent her colliding with multiple trees before she came to a stop.
---
Ziraiah's Trial
As Anuel and Festron battled the monstrous horde, a snake-like beast slithered toward Ziraiah. Its emerald scales shimmered in the dim light as it coiled around the tree branch she clung to. Its red eyes gleamed with hunger.
Lisa noticed the beast too late. "Let go!"
Paralyzed by fear, Ziraiah couldn't move. The serpent lunged, its fangs inches from her face. At the last moment, she released the branch, catching the creature's jaws mid-air. They tumbled to the ground in a chaotic blur of motion.
The beast hissed, wrapping its massive body around her and squeezing with relentless force. Ziraiah's muscles strained against the crushing pressure. Her vision blurred as she fought to stay conscious.
"You're stronger than this!" Lisa shouted, firing stone projectiles at the serpent. The attacks barely phased it.
Ziraiah's mind raced. I can't die here. I won't die here. Summoning every ounce of her newfound strength, she tightened her grip on the serpent's head. The harder it squeezed, the more she pushed back.
Blood began seeping from the beast's eyes as Ziraiah screamed, her determination overpowering her fear. With one final surge of strength, she crushed its skull. The serpent's lifeless body went limp, and Ziraiah collapsed to her knees, trembling.
Lisa rushed to her side, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "It's over," she said softly.
Ziraiah hugged Lisa's legs, tears streaming down her face. "I was so scared…"
Lisa knelt, wrapping an arm around her. "You did it. You're stronger than you think."
---
The Beast King Emerges
Back in the battlefield, Anuel and Festron fought relentlessly. Festron was flung into a group of Earthers, his body shattering bones and sending them flying. He landed in a deep crater, groaning as he struggled to stand.
Anuel, facing the largest beast yet, charged forward with a roar. The ground beneath her shattered as she leaped into the air, slamming into the creature's chest. The impact created a massive shockwave, leveling a portion of the forest.
The beast, a towering monster with spiked armor and molten veins glowing beneath its hide, roared in defiance. It swiped at Anuel with claws large enough to fell trees. She dodged with lightning-fast reflexes, countering with a series of rapid punches that left dents in its armor.
Lisa joined the fight, hurling fiery stone projectiles at the smaller beasts to protect the remaining Earthers. Her magic provided cover, giving Anuel and Festron room to focus on the larger threats.
"Festron!" Anuel yelled, her voice strained. "Get the survivors out of here!"
Festron grinned, blood dripping from a cut on his cheek. "I'll do it my way."
---
The Skybound Escape
Festron stood amidst the chaos, scanning the terrified and injured Earthers. His eyes darted toward Lisa, who was fending off smaller beasts with her stone projectiles, flames flickering from her hands.
"Lisa!" he called out, his voice cutting through the din. "Can you shield the Earthers?"
Lisa glanced at him, her brow furrowed. "How many?"
"Enough to get them out of here!" Festron yelled, punching a beast that lunged at him, sending it crashing into the trees.
Lisa raised her hand, her magic surging as a faint glow surrounded her. A translucent dome began to form around the gathered Earthers, its surface rippling with energy. "I can only manage 400 at once," she said, her voice strained.
Festron grinned. "That'll do."
Before Lisa could ask what he was planning, Festron bolted toward the barrier. His speed was astonishing, his movements a blur. He slapped the barriers one by one, each impact sending an Earther hurtling into the sky at sonic speeds. The translucent domes soared in perfect arcs, traveling several kilometers before splashing down into the sea near the shore.
The Earthers screamed as they flew, the protective barriers cushioning their descent. Some collided with the water in loud splashes, while others were gently deposited near the shoreline.
Lisa stared, her mouth agape. "You're insane," she muttered.
Festron returned, dusting his hands off. "And efficient," he added with a cocky grin.
---
The Beast King Charges
When Festron arrived back at the battlefield, the scene was one of utter carnage. Blood painted the ground in thick rivulets, mingling with the shattered remains of trees and rocks. The forest around them was unrecognizable, reduced to a wasteland of craters and splintered wood. Dead creatures littered the area, their grotesque forms twisted and broken.
Anuel stood amidst the chaos, her chest heaving, her body smeared with blood—both hers and the beasts'. Her sharp eyes were locked on the lone remaining foe: the Beast King.
It towered over them, a monstrous entity of pure muscle and ferocity. Its obsidian-like armor gleamed in the dim light, and its molten veins pulsed with a fiery glow. Despite its massive size, it moved with a speed that defied logic, its claws raking through the air faster than the eye could follow.
Festron cracked his knuckles as he stepped beside Anuel. "We should've brought weapons."
Anuel shot him a glare, her voice dripping with irritation. "We weren't supposed to fight. But you just had to mess things up."
The Beast King lunged, its claws slashing toward them. Anuel dodged to the left while Festron ducked low, their movements synchronized despite their banter. They counterattacked in unison, Festron landing a heavy punch to the creature's side while Anuel aimed for its head. The impacts reverberated through the battlefield, but the Beast King barely staggered.
"It's fast for its size," Anuel muttered, her voice tight with frustration. "And stronger than both of us."
The Beast King roared, its molten veins flaring brighter. It swiped at Festron, its claws piercing through his defenses. Blood splattered as its talons impaled him through the stomach, lifting him off the ground.
"Festron!" Lisa screamed, her voice cracking with panic.
Festron coughed up blood, his body limp as he hung from the Beast King's claws. "Guess I'm… taking a break," he muttered, forcing a weak grin.
---
To Be Continued...