The vibrant foliage of the Thorned Thicket closed around them like a natural fortress, the glow from the bioluminescent fungi casting an eerie green light on their faces. Thorian could feel a tingle in the air, a slight increase in the magical energy that swirled around them.
"I don't like this place," the priest muttered, his eyes darting around the thicket. "Too many places for something to hide."
Thorian couldn't help but agree, his eyes scanning the undergrowth for signs of movement. "Stay close," he warned, his voice barely above a whisper.
The thicket was silent as they delved deeper, the only sound being their footsteps and the occasional rustle of leaves as Ventus blew a gust of wind to clear the way. The air grew thicker, the smell of damp earth mixed with the bitter tang of venomous ivy making it hard to breathe.
As they continued, a strange chill crept down Thorian's spine. He froze in his tracks, his eyes scanning the surrounding foliage. Everything was still. Too still.
"Something's wrong," he murmured.
The others halted as well, their eyes wide and alert. Then, from the corner of his eye, he saw a flicker of movement. "Thorned Stalker," he hissed, pointing towards the movement.
The foliage seemed to come alive as the Thorned Stalker emerged, its green skin making it almost invisible among the leaves. The creature's eyes were a haunting red, glaring at them with a predatory gaze.
Nox was the first to act, charging forward with his weapon drawn. But the Thorned Stalker was quick, its spiked tendrils snaking out to parry his attack.
"Nox, hold!" Thorian called out, his mind racing. The Stalker was agile and cunning, using the dense foliage to its advantage. They needed to bring it into an open space.
"Saxum, clear a field with your skill. Ventus, keep that thing at bay!" He ordered, channeling his magic.
The earth magus nodded, slamming his palms onto the ground. The earth shook violently as the hard ground turned into soft dirt, toppling the nearby trees and creating an open field before it solidified once again. Ventus sent gusts of wind towards the Stalker, forcing it into the open.
"Good!" Thorian shouted, preparing his fire magic. "Now, Nox, draw its attention!"
The black kobold nodded, dashing towards the Stalker. He was a blur, his movements swift and precise, avoiding the tendrils and drawing the creature's focus.
With the Thorned Stalker forced into the open, Nox became a whirlwind of motion, his every move a dance of danger. The creature lunged at him, its spiked tendrils whipping through the air, but Nox dodged, his slender figure darting about with graceful agility.
"Ventus, Gale Slash, now!" Thorian ordered. Ventus nodded, he pointed with his finger toward the enemy while articulating a small chant. A gust of wind materialized before him, spinning faster until it became a cutting blade of air. With a forward thrust of his hand, he sent the Gale Slash spinning towards the Thorned Stalker.
The creature reeled back, its cry echoing through the thicket as the wind magic cut across its form. In the momentary distraction, Nox closed in, his axe gleaming ominously.
"Too slow, ugly green face!" Nox taunted, his weapon finding its mark on the creature's exposed flank. A pained growl escaped the Thorned Stalker, but it quickly retaliated, its tendril swiping at Nox.
Using his superior agility, the shadowstalker sidestepped the creature’s desperate attempt before shadows seeped from his hand. The dark aura completely covered the Thorned Stalker, blinding it momentarily.
"Good job, Nox," Thorian commended, seizing his opportunity. With the enemy incapacitated, he rushed forward, palm ablaze with swirling flames. His hand clashed against the creature's core, the infernal fire consuming the shadows, and along with it, the Thorned Stalker.
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"Brilliant work, all of you," Thorian lauded, his gaze sweeping over his fellow combatants.
"This was no big deal, it was easy," Ventus remarked, a grin tugging at his lips as he casually scratched the tip of his nose with his thumb.
"I barely got a look in," the moon priest chimed in, his tone feigning disappointment.
“Isn’t that a good thing?” Saxum asked, his words laced with a light-hearted smile. The white-furred priest simply responded with a nonchalant shrug and a matching grin.
With the Stalker's demise, the party continued their cautious trek through the Thorned Thicket. The eerie green light from the fungi painted an otherworldly canvas on the forest floor, while the undergrowth's rustling hinted at the life hiding in its shadows. The air was thick with the scent of decaying leaves and wet earth.
The group reached a wide clearing, the light blue glow from the phosphorescent plants giving the area a surreal, dreamlike quality. A small spring of clear water trickled into a crystal lake pool, its surface perfectly reflecting the surrounding foliage.
"This is the Luminous Glade," Thorian began, his voice informative. "Its properties are akin to our own territory, where mana rejuvenates at a faster rate. Additionally, it aids in alleviating fatigue."
At Thorian's words, the priest felt compelled to offer his observation. “This place is very interestingly designed. It’s as if they want us to clear it.”
"The gods would miss their entertainment otherwise," Thorian responded cryptically.
Before the priest could offer a rebuttal, Ventus interjected enthusiastically, "Nox, let's have a swimming race across the lake. Whoever loses has to call the winner 'big brother' for a day!"
With the gauntlet thrown, the wind magus dashed towards the crystalline lake. He dove into its pristine waters, disturbing its serene beauty.
"Hold on, this isn't fair!" Nox immediately sprang into action, trailing behind Ventus who had already seized a significant lead in their impromptu contest.
Shaking their heads at the playful rivalry, Thorian, Saxum, and the priest utilized the moment of respite to recover from the rigorous combat against the Thorned Stalker. Gathering around the spring, they could sense the magical energy suffusing the area, soothing their worn bodies and hastening their recuperation.
Meanwhile, at the lake's far end, Ventus and Nox were on the brink of completion. Despite Ventus initially holding the lead, Nox employed his superior agility to outswim him. Seeing his impending defeat in a competition he had instigated, Ventus gritted his teeth and aimed his palm at the shadowstalker.
"Wind Gust!"
The incanted wind spell whipped up a wave that sent the black kobold veering off course.
"That's cheating!" Nox yelled out, his voice echoing across the lake as Ventus laughed triumphantly, speeding past him. Unfazed, the shadowstalker merely grunted and resumed swimming, resolved to regain his position.
As the finish line loomed ahead, and the lake's bottom was just within reach of his feet, Ventus cast a glance over his shoulder. Seeing Nox gaining on him at an alarming pace, the wind magus clenched his teeth, fear of losing his standing urging him on. He leaped into the air, body curled in a somersault position. As he aligned himself just right, he summoned his spell and used Wind Gust as a midair propulsion. With a monumental leap, Ventus landed at the lake's edge.
Upon touching the ground, he swiveled to his left only to find Nox standing right beside him.
"I was first!" They both claimed simultaneously.
Frustrated by their inability to determine the winner, they both cast resigned glances back towards their comrades.
"King, who won?" Ventus asked, "It was me, right? I clearly jumped over the finish line before him."
"No," Nox countered, shaking his head vigorously. "While he was spinning mid-air, I was sprinting to the finish line! I'm the clear winner!"
"Don't annoy the king with such nonsense," Saxum interrupted, a placid smile playing on his lips. "As for the victor between you two, it seemed like a draw from my perspective."
"Yes, you both arrived at the finish line simultaneously," the priest concurred.
"No, but he was cheating throughout!" Nox protested.
"There was no cheating!" Ventus shot back. "I never said it was a magic-free race."
While the two bickered, Thorian found himself chuckling and looking down, a nostalgic smile forming on his lips. Witnessing their youthful energy and camaraderie stirred fond memories of his own past.
It has been such a long time. I barely remember anything…
As the group engaged in jovial recuperation, Thorian, in contrast, was quietly steeling himself for the imminent challenge: the Quicksand Marsh, the next zone within the dungeon.