Calyxia’s sinuous form glided to the stream, its water murmuring softly. The rocky outcropping near the bank provided her a vantage point to observe the Kungwan horde on the other side of the waterway. Her serpentine lower body coiled around itself as she watched them, her eyes fixed on their movements.
The age-old eyes of the forest, the ancient trees, whispered secrets of approaching enemies. In the treetops, a flurry of movement betrayed the Skyclingers. Hidden by foliage, these creatures believed themselves to be the unseen predators. Calyxia smirked, her Eyes of Predation piercing through the deception. The warm pulses of their heartbeats were like torches in the night.
Before they could plunge from the canopy, Calyxia's scales shimmered as she released a Venomous Veil. A ghostly green mist erupted, encompassing the area. The Skyclingers, caught in the heart of the toxin, convulsed in disorientation and tumbled out of the air like charred leaves before collapsing to the ground, their bodies paralyzed by her venom.
The serpents atop her head hissed as they spat a barrage of acidic venom at the Kungwan Skyclinger's bodies, while a few stretched out to snatch one and drag it back towards Calyxia. The creature's body writhed in the serpents' grasp, its limbs flailing as it struggled to break free—before being bitten by one serpent, then another, and another.
The Memory Bind took effect, and the Skyclinger's memories flowed into Calyxia's mind. The creature's thoughts were simple; its only desire was to kill, feed, and replicate. She could see the horde's numbers through its eyes, a sea of mottled green and brown scales slinking through the undergrowth. She also gleaned knowledge of the other Kungwan sub-species abilities—the Flamecallers, Frostscales, Regenerators, Blightfroth, and Titans.
But there was no time to relish the newfound knowledge. The Skyclingers, though disoriented, were relentless, and the effects of her venomous cloud had begun to fade. The remainder leaped and vaulted around the trees, their bodies twisting and contorting through the air in an acrobatic display.
Fools. Her vision was not limited to her eyes—her serpent crown allowed her to see from their perspective as well, and her mind calculated each trajectory. She watched as they moved through the treetops, their forms blending into their surroundings. But Calyxia could still sense them—the heat from their bodies betrayed them.
They dove towards her in a coordinated attack, their claws extended as they prepared to strike. Calyxia extended her tail, swatting away two of the creatures in midair while another struck her, its claws raking across her arm. She winced, blood trickling from the wound, but the pain was fleeting.
Calyxia swiped and bit, her tail creating vortexes to push them back, but they were many and she one. She hissed in frustration, her fangs bared as she lashed out at them. To an ancient spirit like her, these creatures were no more than pesky gnats, yet their persistence grated on her nerves.
Her serpent crown, like her mind, was not limited to a singular function. She could weave the serpent's individual abilities into a tapestry of devastation and ruin.
A barrage of teal-colored beams erupted from the serpents, hitting several Skyclingers and slowing their movements to a crawl. The creatures' bodies became rigid, their muscles stiffening as the Slow Rays worked their magic.
Her claws slashed and tore, her movements a blur as she dismembered the Skyclingers caught by her hindering beams. Their limbs flew through the air, blood spraying from the stumps like fountains. She hissed in fury, her body a whirlwind of destruction as she ripped apart their bodies.
Their flesh tore like wet parchment, their bones shattering under the force of her blows. Her fangs punctured their throats, causing their bodies to convulse and bleed from the venom coursing through their veins. Her tail whipped around her, sending several creatures flying into the treetops with a sickening crunch.
Other Kungwan, the normal ones, joined the fray, adding to the chaos. She continued her rampage, her claws ripping through flesh and bone as she tore apart the creatures around her while her serpent crown fired rays that either slowed, burned, charmed, stricken, or disintegrated their targets.
The forest echoed with the sounds of battle—snarls, hisses, roars, screams, and shrieks. The air reeked of blood and death as bodies piled around her. Her serpent crown continued to fire its rays at the oncoming horde, while Calyxia herself continued her assault.
The Kungwan Blightfroths arrived and added their own venomous attacks, but the effects were negligible against her scales. She was immune to most poisons and toxins, and the few that did affect her were easily countered by her regenerative abilities. Even their corrosive spittle had little effect on her, merely burning away a few scales before healing.
At the end of her rampage, Calyxia's scales glistened in the sunlight, blood dripping from her claws as she surveyed the carnage around her. The ground beneath her was littered with dismembered Kungwan bodies, their limbs and entrails scattered about like macabre decorations.
She hissed in annoyance at the sight—this was but a mere fraction of the horde's numbers, and there were still many more to go through before she could rest. Already, she could sense more Kungwan approaching from the forest, their heat signatures betraying their positions.
Calyxia let out a frustrated sigh as her serpent crown hissed in anticipation of the coming battle. She glanced at the stream and spotted a Blightfroth within its waters, its body blending into the murky greenish-brown hues.
She extended her tail towards the creature, wrapping it around its neck and lifting it out of the water with ease. It thrashed in her grasp, its claws raking across her scales as it struggled to break free. She tightened her grip, causing its eyes to bulge from the pressure.
With a flick of her tail, she tossed the creature into the air before opening her maw and biting down on its head, crushing its skull between her powerful jaws. The creature went limp, blood oozing from the wound as she released its remains onto the ground.
She wiped the blood from her mouth and spat out the gore. The taste was unpleasant, but the act served to release some of her pent-up frustrations.
"I need a bath."
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Calyxia slithered through the water, her scales glistening in the sunlight as she glided across its surface. The stream flowed around her, its waters murmuring softly as she swam. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, savoring the fresh scent of the forest around her. She could sense Ebonheim's presence on the other side of the hollow. Explosions and tremors echoed from there, sounds that probably did not bode well for her young friend.
Her serpentine form slithered through the stream, her scales shimmering in the sunlight. The water around her rippled and danced as she moved, creating a mesmerizing display of light and shadow. Her body was lean and muscular, her movements fluid and graceful as she swam.
The serpents atop her head hissed as their eyes scanned the area for any threats. Their bodies swayed in time with Calyxia's movements, adding to the hypnotic effect of the scene. Her claws dug into the muddy bottom of the stream, leaving behind deep furrows in the earth as she swam.
She paused and dipped her head underwater, causing a small wave to wash over her face. Her serpent crown hissed as she submerged herself, their scales glistening in the water's refracted light. She emerged moments later, her body glistening with water droplets as she inhaled deeply, savoring the fresh air.
Her tail swished back and forth in the water, causing ripples to spread across its surface. She dipped her hands into the stream and splashed water over herself, causing the droplets to cascade down her body like tiny rainbows.
Calyxia continued her swim, her serpentine form moving with ease through the water as she glided across its surface. She then leaned back, her body drifting with the current. The sun's rays warmed her scales as she relaxed, enjoying the peace and tranquility of the moment.
Two Kungwans burst from the treeline, lunging at her in a coordinated attack. Her serpents fired beams of energy at them, one Kungwan disintegrated before it could reach the water while the other hung suspended in the air, a faint white aura surrounding its body as the Telekinesis Ray held it in place.
In a languid motion, Calyxia waved her finger in the air like a Maestra conducting an orchestra, and the Kungwan, through her ray's telekinetic push, slammed into one tree and then another until its body crumpled to the ground with a sickening crunch. The white aura surrounding its body faded away as the ray's effects ended.
Calyxia sighed and continued to float on the water, her eyes closed as she savored the moment. Her serpent crown hissed in contentment, their scales glistening in the sunlight as they swayed with the current. Eventually, she slithered out from the stream, her serpentine form dripping wet as she glided across the grassy bank. She shook off the excess moisture from her scales and slithered to the branches that held her regal attire.
A cantrip to clean the garments, and another to dry herself later, Calyxia donned her attire. The finely-embroidered tunic fit snugly against her body, its royal purple color contrasting with her obsidian scales. Her belt of gold and precious stones gleamed in the sunlight, adding to her overall regal appearance. She extended her hand to one of her serpents, its forked tongue flicking out to caress her fingertip.
"What do you think? Should we go and help her?" she asked, her tone playful.
The serpent flicked its tongue at her, its eyes blinking slowly. She let out a laugh and nodded, her fingers scratching the serpent under its chin.
"Alright, alright. We'll go and help her."
But before she could act, she sensed more Kungwan approaching. A group of normal ones, several Flamecallers, a few Regenerators...and a Titan.
She scowled. "Seems like she'll have to make do for the time being."
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The air was thick with a pungent musk as the Kungwan horde descended upon her. Their bodies glistened with slime, their eyes gleaming with hunger as they slunk towards her. Calyxia hissed in annoyance, her claws flexing as she prepared for the onslaught.
The first Kungwan lunged at her, its jaws open wide as it sought to clamp down on her throat. She ducked under its attack and slashed at its belly with her claws, causing blood to spurt from the wound. The others darted around her, their movements erratic as they sought to surround her.
Calyxia remained calm, her eyes fixed on the creatures before her as she analyzed their movements. Three Flamecallers emerged from the treeline, shoving aside the lesser creatures as they bounded forward, maws open as flames spewed forth.
Calyxia's muscles contracted as she coiled her serpentine body beneath her. With a powerful thrust, she launched herself out of harm's way as the flames surged towards her. The ground where she had been standing a second ago erupted in a pillar of flame, sending debris scattering in all directions.
From her peripheral, two Skyclingers attempted a sneak attack from above. Her tail unfurled like a whip, slamming into the creatures and sending them hurtling into the trees. Rays shot from her serpent crown, striking the creatures as they crashed into the branches.
She landed on the ground and crouched low, her body tensing as she prepared to strike.
The Regenerators shuffled forward, their blubbery forms quaking with each step. A Blightfroth crept close behind them, its bulbous body quivering as it prepared to unleash its venomous spittle.
"Nuisances." Calyxia's eyes shimmered, her pupils dilating as she fixated on the two Regenerators. They froze, their bodies going rigid as the gaze took hold. Their flesh turned to solid stone, cracks forming along the skin as it shifted from living tissue to inert rock.
The Blightfroth hissed in surprise and spat a volley of acidic venom at her.
Calyxia's serpentine body coiled around her, shielding her from the corrosive liquid. It sizzled against her scales, causing them to smoke and hiss. Her tail whipped out, striking the Blightfroth and sending it flying into the trees with a resounding crash. The creature's body crumpled to the ground, its limbs splayed out as it lay still.
The Flamecallers lunged at her, their bodies morphing into living flames as they surged forward. Calyxia hissed in anger as their fiery forms enveloped her, the heat scorching her scales as they attempted to burn her alive. She gritted her teeth, her claws raking through the flames as she struggled to free herself from their grasp.
More of the lesser Kungwan joined the fray from both sides, seeking to swarm and overwhelm her.
"I've had enough of you!"
As if caught in a tempest, her scales took flight. The Scalestorm was a blinding whirlwind of gleaming black, each scale singing its sharp song as it sliced through the air. The very ground became a dance floor of swirling scales and hissing venom. Amidst the storm, she released the Venomous Veil, the toxic mist blurring vision and disrupting senses.
Calyxia's keen eyes pierced through the poison and the haze, giving her an advantage against her opponents. Her serpent crown continued firing their rays—charming some Kungwans into attacking their allies, freezing others in stasis, while disintegrating a handful more.
The Flamecallers attempted to keep her grounded with their flames, but the storm raged on, pushing them back as the razor-sharp scales sliced through their fiery forms. She laughed maniacally, her voice echoing through the valley as she reveled in the destruction.
As her rage subsided, the storm came to a halt, the remaining scales embedding themselves into the ground and the nearby trees. The clearing became silent save for the rustling leaves and creaking branches.
Calyxia found herself surrounded by piles of corpses—a morbid bouquet of blood, gore, and decay. She hissed in satisfaction as she surveyed the carnage before her. Her claws dripped with blood, her body covered in bits of flesh and viscera.
The air reeked with the metallic tang of blood, its acrid stench causing her nose to wrinkle. She wiped her hands on her tunic, leaving behind smears of crimson as she straightened herself.
"Now, where were we?"
The earth trembled, the grassy hollow rippling with tremors. She felt them before she saw them. Kungwan Titans—two of them loomed over her, their massive forms casting a shadow over the battlefield. Their mucus-laden skin glistened in the sunlight, causing an eerie sheen to cover their entire body. Muscles rippled underneath their blubbery hide, causing their slimy skin to undulate in unnatural waves. The lesser Kungwans parted before them, creating a path for the larger creatures as they approached her.
Calyxia's smirk widened into a feral grin as she gazed upon her new adversaries. "Well now, this will be fun!"