Crossing Illusion: Reflection (Book 1) #Wattys2017

Chapter 26: Eldritch

They surrounded them from all direction. There is no escape. They're in the middle of their territory.

"A living tree? A dryad? No, Green Man? Could it be the Man-Eating Tree? Or uhh... Err.... Wait..." Astina are busy observing the being as she switch her vision between her book and the creature rapidly.

"Is this really the right time for that, huh!?" Hallmark shout at her as his focus fixed on the hulking tree-like giant. The being keep approaching them, and so the rest of them which now start moving as well. While not all the trees are moving, they are still everywhere, not to mentioned that their identity and capability is still unknown.

Hallmark fire a warning shoot at the being, but it didn't respond. It keep proceeding without regarding pain or fear from the shoot, not even when the head getting damaged. "This creature... Alright, fine!" He put back his rifle and rush to the creature. "Wait, Mr. Hallmark!? We didn't even know what creature is that!" Astina shout at him, but he keep proceeding. "Don't worry Ms. Augustina, he's not an amateur." Bates smile as he answered her worry.

The creature shriek as the branches from its body lash out and aiming at the attacker, but he able to dodge them with a quick jump. When he about to approach the creature, his path now filled with the branches as they surrounded him, but Hallmark only smirking, stop his path, and light come from his arm.

"My Phantasm, answered my call with a weapon to slay this monster! Vorpal Spear!"

In his right hand, formed a long spear seemingly made with various of the finest metals. He jump into the air and cut through the branches, cleaving the monster's shoulder and separate its hand. Taking the chance, he rush in and deliver a devastating strike, destroyed the creature to bits.

As the humanoid tree destroyed, something released as the physical form destroyed. Astina manage to spot the mysterious wisp, but soon disappear. As her attention occupied, another tree monster rush in from the side and about to attack her, but Bates jump in to protect her.

"Phantasm to protect all the innocent, Safeguard!"

A gigantic shield in diamond shape appeared, and just like the one that Hallmark had, it's made with solid metal instead of energy or other non-solid form. The shield able to deflect back the gigantic arm of the monster, then he flair it to knock monster away.

"Ms. Augustina, please pay attention to yourself. Please back away and let us handle them!" Bates warned her, but she shook her head instead. "I should said thank you for that, but I'm not the type of lady who need protection." She walk past Bates and point her hand to the monster.

The monster, lured by her defenseless presence, are group against her. "That woman!!" Hallmark about to help her, but she shout "Don't!", making them halt. "Just like you guys, I'm not an amateur as well." She smirked and let the trees charged at her.

"Mother Nature of Earth, bless my fingers with your wrath! Terramorph!"

The ground in front of her suddenly protrude into a pillar-like structure, knocking the creature up. Now the ground below it opened into a jaw-like opening, clamp the monster as it fall into the hole. While the other two man are in awe, more creature are attacking her, but she simply point their direction with her hand, and a stone wall erected to prevent them from passing by.

She then clenched her fist and throw it forward like she's punching the air. "Now, Impaling Spikes!" From the walls, sharp spikes erupted, impaling the creature as their body left half-destroyed, and their chest decorated with holes. When the walls submerge back into the ground, the creature already fall to the ground.