Pinet gazed at the large hole in the home, and before long, Weep emerged. Smirking, she said, “Pretty resilient aren’t you?”

Weep started crying, smashing his head through the earth, burrowing down to his shoulders. Soon, the floor began to shake.

“What’s happening?” Eiji asked.

“Wide open,” Pinet said, appearing before Weep; at the same time, she formed her honey-hammer into a honey-spear.

“Help!” voices reverberated from within Weep’s stomach, causing Pinet to hesitate.

The ground erupted and three plants burst from the earth, slamming into Pinet! One gripped her leg, slamming her into the ground before thrusting her through many trees, far from the fight.

“There are three of them now?!” Eiji said.

“Look out!” Rosa yelled as a Minus lunged at him.

Its wooden jaws clamped onto Eiji's arm, immediately draining the flux within him. "Get off!" he shouted, swinging his arm and smashing it against the barrel. The negative flux within it dispersed, returning to the the storm. Falling to a knee, Eiji examined the blood along his forearm.

Rosa rushed over, asking, “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, just a bit drained is all,” he replied, wiping the sweat from his forehead. Unfortunately, being half-nefarian, I don’t share the same resistance as everyone else.

Weep continued to wreak havoc in the village, the Nefarian's present weren't able to contain the plants he summoned.

“Try to get up close and deliver a deciding blow!" Acoro said to Eiji. "We’ll handle the plants."

Eiji nodded, darting into the fray with Rosa.

"Don't screw this up knucklehead!" Rosa shouted at Eiji.

"Got it!"

"Try to pin them down!" a Nefarian combating the three sporadic plants shouted, however, sensing a threat approaching, the three plants shifted their attention to to Eiji and Rosa, quickly arching high above them.

“Up top!” Acoro shouted as one of Weep’s plants attacked.

Two legacy marks appeared on Rosa’s back, and a giant bubble heavily infused with flux formed from her mouth. “Ikken,” she said, launching it with a burst of flux force. The bubble collided with the plant, popping and leaving a sticky substance, dragging it through the air before it slapped against a large tree, firmly stuck in place.

Seeing the remaining two plants approaching his companions, four legacy marks appeared on Acoro’s back. Flux force swirled into the palm of his hand, and from it sprang a baby root that became an acorn which eventually grew to the size of a soccer ball. Hurling it at the plants, it exploded between them both, shredding them instantly.

Eiji charged in, swiftly pulling out a combat knife, and stabbing it into the shoulder of Weep. "How's that?" he stated, however, Weep’s head remained beneath the surface of the earth.

The ground split once again, and yet another plant emerged, swallowing Rosa!

“Rosa!” Acoro yelled.

Eiji, witnessing the situation, shouted, "No!" but a crushing grip, strangled his throat, threatening to crush his windpipe. "Let.. her.. go."

Weep slammed Eiji into the ground, tossing him away; at the same time, five more plants exploded out, sporadically twisting through the air above their heads.

“Tsk,” Acoro grimaced at the scene before him; the five plants destroyed countless homes, ravaging the village on their way to kill the Nefarians defending it.

At that moment, five spears made of hardened honey soared across the sky, piercing the heads of every single plant, and pinning them to the ground. One plant in particular bled a different color than the rest, and it was also the one thrashing around the wildest in an attempt to free itself.

Weep gripped his neck, tugging in an attempt to pull his head out.

Zipping to the front lines once again, Pinet swiveled across the honey she produced beneath her, chopping away at the stems of the plants as she did. "Thought you could get rid of me that easily!" Moments before cutting the most troublesome plant, it ripped away from the spear, retracting underground back onto the face of Weep.

Weep's beak had a gaping hole in it. Seeing this, much like a child, his tears turned into anger, and his body slowly started to morph into a larger version of himself. His beak grew, and long teeth protruded from his mouth.

"Be ready," Acoro stated, but Weep, sensing something, ran off into the woods.

“Coward!” Eiji said, chasing after him.

Acoro was puzzled as to why Weep left, but seeing as the Minus in the village seemed to be under control, he too chased after enemy; after all, they had members of their clan within Weep, and his wife…

***

“Ikken!” Zinnica shouted atop her pig, plowing through the trees Redeem’s Minus used to escape and attack from.

Rai circled Reddem, looking to gain an angle on her. He knew Zinnica wasn’t going to be able to hold on forever. “Come on, where’s it going to come up next?”

“Think you can get past my Shadow Maws,” Redeem said, caressing one of her large ears. From the base of a tree near Rai, a wolf jumped out, catching him off guard. Falling to the floor, instinctively, he picked up a stick nearby right as the Minus bit down, instead clamping it. It shook the branch violently, snapping it.

“Ikken!” A blast of flux smacked the creature, obliterating it and the flux it held.

Rai breathed heavily as he got up. Fighting with negative flux lingering around was incredibly draining, even with Zinnica’s flux field protecting him. Realizing there weren’t any more trees obstructing his path to Redeem, he ran straight at her, fists charged with flux. “Just you and me!” he shouted.

Redeem smiled, letting go of the ear she caressed in her hands. As it flipped up straight, the rising sun behind it created a shadow amongst the dimly lit floor beneath Rai.

Zinnica, noticing this, yelled, “Watch out!”

Within the shadow of Redeem’s ear, a third Shadow Maw sprung forth, slashing Rai across the chest. At the same time, one appeared from a tree’s shadow next to Zinnica. She threw up a flux barrier, but it was shattered by the Minus’s attack, sending her and the pig hurtling across the floor.

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Rai was bleeding across his chest, thankfully avoiding a fatal blow due to Zinnica’s warning. Looking up, he saw Zinnica on the floor with a Shadow Maw in hot pursuit.

“Come on,” Rai said, reaching his hand in the shape of a fist. “Ikken,” but once again, nothing. The Shadow Maw lunged at Zinnica.

“Ikken!” A wave of Flux force rammed into the Minus, obliterating it. From the woods, Birchet, Lily, and others appeared.

“We made it,” Lily said. Rai retreated to everyone else.

“Elder Zinnica,” Birchet helped her up. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” she chuckled.

“Back in the day, you would have been able to wave that attack off like it was nothing,” Redeem said.

“We have you surrounded,” Birchet said. "It’s over Redeem."

“I’m afraid you’ve got the wrong idea,” Redeem replied. “Haven’t you noticed?”

“Notice what?” Birchet said.

“We’re in the middle of a flux storm, and yet, no Minus?” Redeem replied.

Birchet looked around. She was right. On the way here, they had to fight past numerous Minus, but now they suddenly disappeared. Redeem placed her hands on the ground, and from the roots beneath it, more shadow maws appeared, this time numbering over a dozen, severely outnumbering them.

“Impossible,” a Nefarian ally said. “Only Links are capable of summoning creatures of flux, and even they can’t summon Minus!”

Zinnica snickered, moving beside her pig.

“What’s so funny?” Redeem asked.

“For someone who hates humans so much, you surely rely on their power quite a lot,” Zinnica stated.

“Shut your mouth!” The legacies on Redeem’s back started to glow, and some of the shadow maws began to grow larger as negative flux force seeped into their bodies.

“Rai,” Zinnica said. “Pay close attention. I am going to show you the true power of ikken.” Zinnica, along with her pig, walked towards the front of the group. “Nefarians don’t use Flux from within like humans do.”

Redeem smiled, confident in her ability. “Attack!” Her Minus charged at them.

Zinnica, eyes closed, took a deep breath and held her fist out. “We instead learn to bend the flux around us, guiding it.” The pig eyes next to Zinnica started to glow, transferring flux into the elder at a rapid rate. At the same time, she seemingly dispersed it, creating a swirl of flux force around her.

“Hey, I’d hate to point out the obvious, but they’re getting damn close, Granny,” Rai said. Lily tensed up seeing the amount of Minus charging them. “Any day now!” The Minus were merely a couple of feet away!

“Ikken,” Zinnica said, opening her eyes. A wave of flux force rushed forward, obliterating the Minus in front of them.

Redeem covered her eyes as the blast was about to overtake her.

When the dust settled, trees much farther than Redeem’s location were completely uprooted.

“Whoa,” Rai said. He never knew the old lady held so much power. Elder Zinnica and the pig hunched over, exhausted.

“Elder,” Birchet said. “You mustn’t push yourself so much.” Everyone sensing a threat approaching, quickly jumped back as a giant flower emerged from the ground, barely snatching Lily’s foot. It dragged her across the floor, up into the air, swallowing her before rescinding back onto Weep’s face, into the beak shape yet again. He was back in his regular form, gently placing down Redeem.

“Give her back!” Rai shouted, but his legs went numb, causing him to fall on the floor. What…

“Careful, the flux storm is still present,” Birchet said, placing a new barrier over Rai since the elder’s faded after her last attack “Do you have any flux left to spare?”

“Not much,” Rai said.

“What took you so long!” Redeem said, grabbing the beak of her brother by the hole Pinet created.

“I… Sorry,” Weep cried, as Redeem continued to lecture him about his worthlessness.

“If you care about your big sister, then make use of yourself and kill them,” Redeem pointed at Rai and company. Weep nodded, curling over to ready his transformation again. Everyone was on guard, ready to combat. “What are you waiting for?” Redeem shouted at her brother. Weep gagged, as if holding down something nasty. Coughing, he swayed left and right, in the same way a drunk might.

Everything was pitch black around Lily; she wasn’t even sure if she was alive. Was this it? All her life, all she ever knew was the village back home. But now, in only a few days, her life has completely changed! There was so much more she wanted to see, so much more she wanted to experience. Lily’s consciousness faded, but a sudden glow within the darkness caught her attention. Walking towards it, she came to realize it was Mibby.

“Mibb.” The tiny Minus started to turn into a yellow gooey version of itself.

Rai watched in confusion as Weep’s tears dried up, and his cheeks started to grow bigger as if he was going to throw up. Unable to hold back anymore, Weep vomited every living Nefarian, including Lily. They were all covered in a yellow gooey substance.

“You idiot, what’re you doing!” Redeem shouted. “Get them!”

Two blasts of flux force hit Redeem and Weep, propelling them backward. From the woods, Pinet and Acoro also arrived.

“Sorry we’re late, we had to tie up a few loose ends,” Pinet said. The storm had finally subsided, and the remaining Minus were dealt with.

Redeem scowled realizing this. “Time’s up,” she said, punching the floor. Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out a seed and tossed it into the ground. From it, a root burst out of the floor, zigzagging up and around the bodies of the siblings. “We’ll be seeing you,” Redeem said as the roots ensnared their entire bodies.

“Ikken!” Birchet shouted, but the cocoons of roots crumbled into nothing once the attack hit them.

“They got away...” Acoro said.

“I think I’m going to be sick,” Lily said. Lying on the floor along with Rosa and the rest of the Nefarians, they were covered in the upchucked remains within Weep.

“Lily!” Eiji came running from the woods towards her. “I came as fast as I could maa-” Eiji slipped on the saliva across the floor, sliding past her, face first into the trunk of a tree. “Ow...”

Returning to the village, the elder, along with many Nefarians, stood within the same tent where Rai had stood trial.

“They know the way to Kalumi, who’s to say they won’t be back?” a Nefarian shouted.

“And with others!”

“The children aren’t safe here.”

“What if we send someone after them?”

“Who would be crazy enough to go after those two?”

“Perhaps Fury can help?” Rosa said.

“Fury would consider it a waste of his time, we’ll have to handle this on our own,” Birchet said.

“I’ll go,” Eiji said, raising his hand.

“No offense, but you don’t even have legacy marks. What good could you do alone against those siblings?” a Nefarian spoke.

“I’m help him,” Lily said.

“But Lily, what about your family?” Rai said.

“I’ve put a lot of thought into it, and, I know now, what I want. I want to see the world, and live a life I’m proud of,” she said. “I spent so much time working at the bar; I don’t even know what the outside world looks like.”

Rai contemplated it for a moment before saying, “If it’s okay with you, I’d also like to help. I’m a member of the Illuminus elite apprenticeship,” Rai said, pulling a badge he was told to keep on him at all times before departing from the empire.

Whispers spread throughout the room. The Kalumi and the Empire were on much better terms than they used to be, but this didn’t mean old grudges had died off entirely.

“It’s true, with the support of the empire...” Birchet pondered out loud.

“We don’t want the empire’s help!” a Nefarian shouted angrily.

Zinnica’s pig squealed, silencing everyone

“Some lean upon the strength of mighty oaks, while others find solace in the grace of soaring eagles, but we find our anchor in the roots of Yaitweh, placing our trust in the nurturing embrace of our Mother,” Zinnica said. “Her wisdom flows through every leaf and breeze, guiding us.” She held her hand to her chin before deciding. “Very well, Rai, as the Elder of Kalumi, I am requesting you and the Empire to please aid us in the pursuit of Redeem and Weep. Eiji, Lily, you will accompany Rai on this journey.”

“Understood,” the two of them replied.

Later that day, before they could leave, Rai, Lily, and Eiji were instructed to stop by Zinnica’s.

“You wanted to see us, Elder Zinnica,” Lily asked, leading the way into the room.

“I wanted to see each of you before you left for your trip,” she said. “For you, Eiji,” she handed him a necklace with three beads on it. “It is likely that you've inherited the human capabilities resembling that of an Abminus. This may help you on your journeys,” she said. Facing Lily, “Lily, your Minus is commonly referred to as a Mibbit. A Minus that has merged with the root of a plant known as a Joy Sprout. It’s the only plant to be found everywhere in the world, no matter the environment. Take that knowledge into account when learning to understand the use of your legacies.”

“Thank you,” Lily said bowing her head slightly.

“And Rai,” Zinnica said, examining the coat on him with a faint smile. “It suits you quite well.”

“Oh, this,” Rai said, looking at his clothing. Plu’s head popped out, startling Eiji, who nailed his shin on a table nearby.

“Plu,” it spoke.

“Hello, Plu,” Zinnica chuckled, patting it on the head.

“Rai, I know earlier you weren’t able to use ikken, but I have no doubt you’d be able to,” Zinnica said.

“But I thought ikken was something only Nefarians could do?” Eiji asked, rubbing his shin while keeping a curious eye on Plu walking along the floor.

“This is true, but something tells me that’s not the case here. Perhaps, being human, you must find your way of achieving this,” she said. “Either way, the path forward won’t be an easy one, so make sure to watch each other’s back and help each other grow strong. The world isn’t the same as it once was, be careful.”

After saying their goodbye the trio, including Plu, departed.

“It was nice of the elder to send others to let our families know we’re okay,” Lily said.

“So where are we headed?” Eiji asked.

“To the Illuminus Empire,” Rai said.