Upon returning to the grove, they found it much the same as it had been when they left. The biggest difference Cal could spot was the reinforcement of the walls. It looked like Frank had been hauling stone back and forth from the moment they left to manage the level of increased fortification he saw.
“Good job Frank, you build those walls!” He yelled encouragement to the giant tree man as he passed.
“Frank will build walls so mighty that even Frank could not smash!” Frank yelled in return.
“Do you know where Ethel is? I wanted to check on her progress with the elders.” Cal asked.
“In that large building over there,” Frank pointed to the building he was referencing.
Cal made his way into the building and found Ethel tending to the elderly squirrels. All of them were still breathing, which Cal was glad to see. “Good news, Ethel, Jen has ice powers. The weird news part, she seemed to bond a squirrel that had been frozen into the ice as her spirit. She is looking for the squirrel’s family to say their goodbyes, but after that’s done, I want to head to the dangerous area on the map. That means we all head out, assuming the squirrels are safe enough for you to leave them. I think we guess what the danger means now, and I’d like to get Albert to a spring as soon as possible.”
“Hrmph, just assumed I wanted to hear you say that much without even asking how I’m doing. And here I thought you had finally become less rude, but yes, the elders should be fine without me at this point. Not that I could do much more anyway. I wish I could bring them to my realm. That would be the real key to their health. Now that said, I’ve already spoken to them about the dangerous areas, and despite what you may think, it’s apparently not the mutated squirrels. There’s something else that infected the groves there. The translation is hard, but I’m guessing something like fungus zombies. So we are probably in for a large fight.” She said
“Well, I wasn’t expecting that. Add it to the ever-growing list of problems I suppose. When you’re ready, meet up with the rest of us at the city center.” Cal said as he turned to leave.
“Really, your rudeness has made you even forget to say goodbye. I can beat manners into you if I have to.” Ethel called after him.
“You can try,” Cal responded before exiting the building to the sound of Ethel’s laughter.
***
“So, zombie fungus? What does that even mean? Are we about to be fighting undead mushrooms?” Stan asked as they left the grove towards whatever uncertain battle was coming.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
“How should I know? I’m working through a crab who left Earth during the reign of Arthur. This all doesn’t translate well.” Ethel said with a huff.
“Frank wants to smash puny mushrooms, zombie or not. They shall feel the wrath of Frank’s flying elbow!” Frank accentuated his claim by dropping to his knee and holding his elbow out in front of him.
“Everyone, stop!” Cal yelled. He felt something crawl across his skin, and it filled him with disgust. He was reasonably sure he had just walked through a mana thread that had done it, but he had never felt anything like this from any other source or spell. He was fighting an urge to throw up. “Did anyone else feel that?” He managed to ask without losing the remains of his breakfast.
“Feel what?” Stan asked. He was answered by the sound of Oneler not managing to hold down the waves of nausea that were also sweeping Cal now. He was then joined by Jen and Ethel.
“That, I’m guessing it’s only affecting those of that can channel, seeing as you, Albert and Frank look fine.” Cal focused inwardly on where the feeling was originating inside himself. There, around his mana channels slowly marching towards his core, he found them. Countless tiny spider-like creatures walking a little, and then stopping to take a bite of his mana flows and then resuming their walks.
“Dad, ugh.” Cal finally gave in to his urges. All around them the others had started collapsing to the ground. “Stab me with the sword. I know this sounds insane, but I'm pretty sure it’s that, or we all restart the loop.”
Stan pulled out Excalibur and did exactly as his son asked, pushing the blade a fraction of an inch into his shoulder. The sword suddenly glowed a brilliant yellowish white and spoke. “What foul creatures are these? Smart idea, lad, I believe I can purify you of them.” and with that voice came an even brighter flash of light that took in the entire chamber.
“Dad, pull the sword out and quickly go do the same to everyone else,” Cal said as he fell to the ground, exhausted.
“Got it.” Cal watched his father comply. In the case of Onelder, it looked to be just in time as the alien was writhing on the ground, begging for the pain to end. “Ethel, I know it hurts still, but you need to put your atmospheric bubble around us to stop a reinfection.”
Despite whatever pain she was in, they were now surrounded by the safety of her shield. Cal sank down further until he laying entirely on the ground and let sleep overtake him.
Cal felt himself wake up and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. “Everyone alive?” He asked first thing, ignoring the smell of food.
“Yes, everyone slept just like you, but Ethel’s bubble seems to have held up fine during that. Albert is making food. Get over here and get something in you to get your strength back. Any idea what happened?” Stan asked as he scooped the soup into a bowl for his son.
“I think we got into the zone of whatever the zombie fungus danger was and nearly got overtaken by the spores,” Cal explained. “I think you and Frank may have to clear the chamber alone; they only seem to effect mana channels.”