Adventures Beyond The Void (Season 1)

Chapter 25: Wooden Monsters and Undying Flames

3RD POV

     Hunter: - WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT?!

The blond human screamed in terror, eyes locked onto the massive, snarling tree-creature. Nicholas's body shook as he clung to Kenju like a lifeline. Had it not been for the manaless warrior's quick reflexes, he would've been flattened by the massive roots. Kenju's eyes blazed with barely contained fury. How dare that oversized weed try to kill his bestie!!

     Severed: -That's a Tree-Trooper, after finding a host!!

The disembodied hand skittered away on its fingers. The Tree-Trooper roared, and launched a volley of attacks toward Lyra, Kenju and even Hunter. Lyra's body blurred after using her sound magic to hurl herself out of harm's way. Kenju grabbed Nicholas by the collar and yanked him clear just as another root slammed into the earth. Hunter jumped aside, barely dodging the impact, only to be flung through the air by the shockwave.

      Lyra: - Kenju!!

      Kenju: - On it!

In sync, they ran, raising their right hands. Their bangles shimmered, and in a flash of blinding light, their battle armors activated. Kenju's suit was sleek and ash-grey, plain yet fitting. Lyra's glowed in deep berry, gold, and electric blue hues, elegant yet fierce, decorated with a few music notes. Both had pitch-black shoulder plates etched, symbolizing their identities as members of the Dark Butterflies squad. Kenju twirled his daggers, the blades shining as they caught the light. Lyra drew a luminous magic circle in the air and pulled it to her throat like a choker.

She inhaled deeply.... And screamed.

A shockwave of raw sound burst from her lungs, slamming into the Tree-Trooper with hurricane force. The monster staggered, screeching as its bark split and cracked under the sonic assault. Kenju leapt into the air, flipping over a lunging branch, and landed on the creature's back. With a snarl, he slashed and sliced, daggers tearing through vines and limbs.

      Kenju: - You dare attack my bestie?! YOU'RE DEAD!!!

Nicholas watched from behind a nearby boulder, not sure what terrified him more: the creature.... or the fact that the same thing was wrapped around him. He stared at the mage's corpse; fused with the monster. He could've been in same situation. As to why he wasn't, well....he was eternally grateful to whoever was watching over him.

The battle continued. The Tree-Trooper wasn't down yet. Its wounds pulsed, sap-like blood. With a furious roar, it sent out another wave of roots, but this time faster. They dodged and they weaved through the attacks. Kenju was jumping up or sliding under, cutting the roots.

Lyra dispelled the magic circle from her neck and took out a.... Wand? No....a baton. She waved it through the air as she sang, her voice rising in a wordless, beautiful melody. From the tip, glowing music notes began to spill out. The notes shimmered like liquid light, weaving themselves into a long, ever-growing luminous sheet that floated in the air. Each note thrummed with golden, blue and light purple magic.

It truly was a gorgeous sight. Lyra's singing changed pace, the music notes breaking free from the, heading straight to the monstrous tree. Some blue symbols attacked on their own, cutting and scratching a few branches of the monster.

The Tree-trooper roared again in fury, now sending its roots down into the ground. The earth shook. The two magic warriors had barely enough time to move out of the way, before the roots burst from underneath their feet. Lyra landed on her feet in a low crouch, her hands moving in concentration. Multiple golden notes began circling around each other with increasing speed and brightness, like a spinning star, exploding with great force moments before the impact with the creature. The Tree-trooper screamed in agony, most of its branches and a huge chunk of the trank was destroyed.