Azreal stands over the vanquished Grove Panther, his breaths heavy with the exertion of battle. He kneels down beside the large beast's corpse. The air around them is thick with the scent of singed fur and fresh blood. With a steady hand, Azreal cuts into the Grove Panther's chest and reaches inside. With a steady hand, Azreal reaches into the carcass, in search of the source of its formidable power. Taking a few slow breaths, Azreal closes his eyes attempting to follow the fleeting Qi which retreats from the beast's body towards the core. Another moment passes, the Lingxi Grove falling silent as his fingers finally close around the beast core, a tangible pulse of life force that hums with a potent energy.

Azreal, clutching onto the core, drags it towards himself, blood pouring from the carcass as the core emerges, glistening in the dim luminescence of the Lingxi Grove. The core is an intriguing swirl of white and green, symbolising the dual nature of its energies: Fire Qi and Earth Qi. The core pulses in a steady rhythm, matching a peaceful heartbeat, each pulse sending waves of warm energy up his arm, sparking a primal urge within Azreal to harness it immediately.

Azreal, resisting the sudden and surprising urge to consume this core, knows that they must collect as many of these as possible to ensure entry to the Violet Sanctum. "A Mythic ranked beast core should be worth plenty of points. Hopefully not many teams can fight beasts of this level," says Azreal as he rises, turning to Darian and Xiara, who are recovering from the encounter.

"That wasn't easy, but I expected more from a Mythic ranked beast," Darian comments as he runs his fingers across the closing wounds from the claws of the Grove Panther. "Yes, that was a bit easy, but we should be on guard. I doubt the panther will be the worst of the beasts we face," Xiara adds as she scans the surroundings.

Darian and Azreal agree with Xiara as they begin to search for another beast. The next two hours are spent trudging through the entangled ground of the Lingxi Grove, the bioluminescence of the plant life on the ground and the winding vines, the only source of light which fluctuates causing shadows to cast and obscure vision. As they travel, Azreal swiftly guides them through pathways with markings indicating either a safe, well-travelled pathway, a small circle with three lines above it, or a beast ahead, a skull with an x carved through it. The path Azreal leads his team down is one which has the marking of a beast.

Xiara stops the group. "Soul Sea Creation," she murmurs, followed by an intelligible string of words. A small crow appears in her palm, no bigger than a finch, created completely from her Qi. "My creations are extremely weak. They expire in a few minutes at most and the risk of damage to my soul is high. The Elders advised not to use this until I have enough strength to create excess Soul Essence to create them. But the risk is worth the reward if we can find out what we are fighting early and come up with a plan."

Azreal, his face etched with worry, asks, "How dangerous is this for your Soul Sea?"

"If it dies, I may lose consciousness for a few moments, but I have two pills I prepared earlier which will restore any damage done. But let's put it this way, I won't be doing this twice if it goes wrong," Xiara replies, as she sends the Fire Qi crow down the pathway. Her eyes, usually an emerald green, flicker with flame, connecting her vision with her creation. Azreal and Darian take a defensive stance and guard each side of her, keeping an eye on the underbrush and listening for any approaching enemies.

The crow flies low to the ground in a feeble attempt to avoid drawing attention, but a crow made of flame will always attract attention in the lush green environment of the Lingxi Grove. A minute passes as the crow skims down the path, brushing just above the tangled vines and branches strewn across the ground. Another nervous moment passes, with Azreal and Darian on high alert as time passes slowly for the duo defending Xiara.

A heavy breath breaks their concentration. Xiara falls to her knees. "That was extremely close. The beast is well aware of our presence, and it seems that it has already killed multiple disciples." Her words are weak and her eyes are noticeably darker. "Did it kill your Soul Creation?" asks Darian.

Xiara shakes her head. "Almost, but I managed to dispel it before the beast could catch it." She takes a few quick breaths before Azreal places a hand on her shoulder. As he looks down at her, a warm smile appears, a small attempt to calm her nerves. "Xiara, it's okay to be afraid, but we have to know what we are about to face," says Azreal.

From her kneeling position, she stares up into Azreal's crystal blue eyes, taking a deep breath and forcing herself to stand. "A beast, or I believe a monster, of the Mythic rank," Xiara says, her words shocking Azreal and Darian. "I didn't think there would be this many Mythic ranked beasts so close to the outer edges of the Grove," says Azreal, as he contemplates their predicament.

"Especially not a monster. Mutated beasts with increased strength are rare. How do you know that the beast you saw was a monster?" Darian asks. "The thing has the body of an Ent, a tree beast made of vines with a core of Earth Qi. Yet, the corpses lying at the feet of the beast were torn apart and the vines of the beast were soaked in their blood," says Xiara.

"Ents, from what I have read in my childhood, are often kind but vengeful," Azreal adds as he raises his head from his previous contemplation.

"Yes, I've heard the same. Yet for one to rip apart over six disciples would indicate it's either protecting something or was targeted by the disciples and angered. I think, if it's not a monster yet, it will only be a matter of time before it mutates and absorbs the blood and Qi of those it's killed," says Xiara.

"I don't want to fight the Ent, but if we leave it, many other disciples may come across it and feed its growing hunger for blood and Qi," Darian says as he sighs.

"We should fight it now before it can grow and continue to consume disciples. Given the chance it will turn into a bigger problem. Let's go!" Azreal commands, seemingly waking Xiara and Darian from their worry-filled states.

As Azreal leads the way, his eyes flick between the shadowy spaces between the twisted tree trunks and overgrown underbrush of the Lingxi Grove. The bioluminescent glow from the plant life casts eerie shadows, making their impending clash with the Ent all the more intimidating. The silence of the grove is punctuated only by the occasional rustle of leaves, the sound of boots squelching on a wet cavern floor, or a snap of a twig underfoot.

Darian moves his way past Azreal and slightly ahead, his increased senses from his Golden Titan form sharp, his hands already clenched into fists. "Stay close," he whispers back to Azreal and Xiara, his voice barely audible over the murmur of the grove.

Xiara, still pale from her ordeal, nods, her gaze fixed on the path ahead. She clutches a small vial, one of the soul-restoring pills she had mentioned earlier, ready at her belt. Her other hand flickers with residual Fire Qi, ready to assist the two combatants of her team.

The trio advances cautiously, the path gradually narrowing as they approach a dense thicket where the undergrowth thickens and the air grows noticeably cooler. The change in temperature acts as a subtle hint that they are nearing their prey.

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As they round a particularly thick clump of twisted vines, the grove opens up into a small clearing. In the centre stands the Ent-like creature Xiara had described. Clearly more formidable than any ordinary Ent, its vines are thicker and its bark darker, almost blackened. Blood, indeed, stains its lower vines, glistening darkly in the dim light. The Ent currently stands above the remnants of disciples, their torn robes and broken weapons hanging from its branches, a grim sign that screams normal attacks are useless against this beast. Azreal, activating his Celestial Gaze, informs Darian and Xiara of the information he knows about the Ent.

< Name: Bloodvine Ent >

< Rank: Mythic >

< Core: Earth Qi >

< Description: The Bloodvine Ent is a monstrous variant of the normally peaceful Ent creatures. It stands towering with a body composed of dark, almost blackened vines that are thicker and more resilient than usual.>

"Fuck! It's recently transformed. The Ent has grown to over twelve feet tall, but its power should still be that of just a beast. But for how much longer, no one can say. We need to fight now!" Darian whispers to Azreal and Xiara, who nod in agreement and ready themselves for the upcoming battle.

Darian, his Golden Titan Body Arts already activated, steps into the clearing and shouts toward the Ent, its eyes deep-set and glowing with an eerie, unnatural light, watching the trio with a quiet, menacing intelligence. Azreal notices in the beast's eyes a complex emotion. Determination or desperation?

"Azreal, focus. Xiara is already injured. I need you here and not inside your head," says Darian, never letting the Ent from his vision. "Sorry," Azreal replies before being cut off. "I'm not asking you to be sorry. We can win this fight with a clear head." Darian begins to run towards the Ent, his golden figure shimmering in the faint luminescence of the Grove.

"Golden Titan Body Arts, Titanic Punch!" Darian's bellow echoes through the clearing as he lunges forward, his golden fist slamming into the Ent's lower vines with a sickening crunch. Blood, still warm and wet, splatters across his face, but he pays it no mind. Seizing the opportunity provided by Darian's distraction, Xiara rushes to Azreal's side. She places her hand atop his, her fingers brushing against his and Calista's hilt, and begins to channel her Fire Qi directly into the blade.

Azreal feels the surge of power flowing through him, his weapon pulsing with newfound energy. "Fire is the Ent's weakness," Xiara explains, her voice strained with the effort of maintaining the connection. "I've linked our Soul Essence and Qi through your soul-bound weapon. As long as we both have the strength and the will, you can draw upon my Fire Qi through this bond." With that, she steps back, positioning herself behind Azreal, ready to support him from a distance.

A look of confusion and wonder appears on Azreal's face. He has many questions on his mind, but none can be answered in the midst of battle. Azreal rushes as he activates Stormblade Surge, the air surrounding him once again becoming filled with static, yet Calista becomes engulfed in flame and the ethereal white metal turns into a raging inferno red. Azreal feels a sense of extreme fatigue run through his body, yet he can feel this is not his own fatigue. He turns to check Xiara who has now fallen to one knee. Azreal, about to ask her a question, halts as he hears her thoughts run through his mind.

What is this immense drain on my Qi? Xiara looks up to see Azreal staring at her as she consumes one of the soul-restoring pills. Her voice runs through his head again. Why do I feel so safe when he looks at me with those beautiful blue eyes? I will let him drain me of my Soul Essence and Qi if that's what it takes to kill this monster.

Azreal, unfamiliar with the voice running through his mind, quickly turns as the sound of Darian shouting in pain resounds through the small clearing. The Ent has used one of its long vines to lash Darian's leg. Unable to break his golden skin, a deep dark bruising appears on his calf. Darian, however, manages to stay standing and deals another blow to the monster's body. "How can I even know if my punches fucking do anything? It's a fucking tree!" he screams in frustration and pain.

Azreal, still having no idea how he can hear her thoughts, decides to cast away concerns and just use the new power flowing through his body and soul weapon. Using the second form of his Stormblade Surge, Lightning Infusion, he moves with extreme speed, directly past Darian, and launches a slashing attack infused with his Qi and Xiara's Soul Essence. The fiery slash slices through two of the Ent's lower vines, burning the dead disciples' blood as it passes through, the metallic tang of blood's smell becoming more prominent.

Disgusting. I had to deal with the smell of decaying bodies on Earth. The streets were often the burial ground for the poor or unlucky. And the street from the streets below my old apartment was one such location, yet the horrific smell of fresh blood still makes me feel uneasy.

The Ent makes no sound or any reaction to either Darian's punch or Azreal's slash, making both of them feel an uncomfortable pressure. The Ent attacks with a series of four vines viciously striking towards Azreal, these vines bending and cracking like a whip, yet Azreal can feel an incredible weight behind each strike. Azreal deflects the first two vines with extreme difficulty, just managing to guide them into the ground. Azreal can't keep up with the pace and strength of the third strike as the vine collides with his shoulder, causing him to stumble back, as the fourth slams into the arm on the same side. Azreal grits his teeth in pain, as Xiara screams in agony, her body feeling the full strength of those strikes. "Xiara! What happened? Are you okay?" Azreal screams his question as he moves towards the Ent, ensuring the monster's focus cannot leave Darian or Azreal for even a split second.

"Argh, I'm fine! Focus on the Ent!" says Xiara, struggling with excruciating pain in her arm and shoulder. She gazes at Azreal, her eyes wide with disbelief. The link she has created is a trump card taught to her by her mother, facilitating the sharing of Qi and Soul Essence. The link she has forged between them is a secret technique her mother had taught her, designed to link their Qi and Soul Essence. This profound connection allows them to share strengths but at the significant cost of experiencing each other's emotions, pain, and giving insights into their memories and thoughts.

Xiara, crumpled on the floor in agony, wishes she could do more, but a cultivator who follows the pathway of the soul is best at support and strategy. With the team before her and the drain her Soul Essence Crow creation had on her, she can only act as a pool of power for Azreal. Yet, she feels a sense of incredible happiness that she has found someone who will fight with her power and listen to her advice and strategy.

The Ent, frustrated with its lack of progress in the battle, charges forward and lifts Darian into the air with its two twisted vine arms. An unnatural scream resonates from deep within the Ent. Darian grabs one of the Ent's vine arms and begins to tear it apart, his golden hands bleeding as the darkened bark is sharp to the touch.

As Darian is hoisted into the air by the Ent's twisted vines, an unearthly scream rips through the clearing, sending chills down Azreal's spine.

That sounded like a human cry coming from within the Ent itself... It can't be possible, can it?

Azreal's thoughts spiral into dark places, his mind fixating on the worst scenarios. The memory of finding Xiara trapped inside a spider's cocoon surfaces, making his skin crawl. The idea of a disciple imprisoned within the Ent, their life force being drained away, is another horror beyond comparison.

Could the Ent be using the disciple's body as a source of fuel for its mutation into a monster? If that's the case, I have to end the disciple's suffering before their Qi is completely consumed by the beast's core.

Azreal's grip tightens on Calista, his resolve hardening in the face of this grim realisation.

Xiara gasps for breath as the already significant drain on her Qi doubles, her emerald eyes reflecting the massive inferno that is now surrounding Azreal's blade. Raising Calista to his shoulder height and pointing the sword towards the centre point of the Ent, Azreal begins pouring his own Qi in massive quantities into both the blade and his legs. Speed and precision. If I can kill the disciple that's being consumed inside, the Ent should not be able to draw additional power. Azreal, staring at Darian, estimates that he can last another twenty seconds before the Ent may tear him apart. He channels his Qi for another few seconds before charging towards the Ent with fiery determination in his eyes.