Aaron grimaced as several forest creatures began to surround him. He could hear his siblings battling around him as several bush-like beasts had ambushed them from the trees. It was never-ending in the deep forest, and fatigue was beginning to weigh them down.
He jumped to the side as a whirlwind of slashing vines struck the ground. The stupid creatures weren’t plants at all. They were sluglike beasts that lurked in the forest, using branches and vines as camouflage and weapons.
Aaron fell into his rhythm and moved forward, dancing through the nasty vines. There were barbs on their tips, dripping a smelly liquid that the slugs excreted. They would rub the vines on their bodies, coating the thorns in a sticky goop.
He swiped, cutting vine after vine, then darted in for a killing blow, feeling their cores and knowing where to strike. Falling low, he dodged another blow before jumping high. He lunged through the air, activating [Deadly Strike], and lashed out, sending an arch of golden aura slicing forward.
The beast tried to fall back but was struck dead center. The slash tore through it, striking the core nestled in its center as small motes of light sparkled, swirling into the air as they were pulled into his core.
Aaron laughed viciously as he danced around, using martial attacks and his deadly blade to kill any remaining beasts. Soon the whirling vines had all ceased, and nothing was left standing but him and his siblings breathing heavily.
‘Damn forest’ He groaned.
He was happy to get more beast shards, but the attacks were relentless. They had been traveling for weeks and were attacked by countless horrors. Striders and similar beasts prowled, but they were the least of their worries.
The forest itself was the worst.
As they went further into the forest, it literally came to life. Carnivorous vines and trees would try to pull you in to consume you. Flowers would bloom that could lure you into never-ending sleep, becoming nourishment for their roots. The trees had become gigantic and towering, and even weirder creatures appeared, like the slugs now dead at their feet.
Their gear had become tatters, and they struggled with repairs, making progress slow. Aaron looked over to see his sister Jessie talking with Cornelius with worry in her eyes. The hunters were exhausted and had done most of the work, as they were scouts and warriors, working as vanguards. Aaron walked over, seeing Roman and Damien coming their way as well.
“What’s wrong?” Aaron called.
“We are done, Aaron.” Jessie stated, her eyes full of exhaustion. “We can't go any further. Our gear is in shambles, and we are worn out. We have walked long enough. You have promised us a home, but where is it?” She exclaimed, waving at the forest surrounding them.
“We are almost there. I can feel it.” He reassured her. There was something unique just slightly further in. He could feel its aura spreading through the forest, but it was hard to make his siblings understand.
“That’s what you said yesterday! And the day before!” Jessie growled, “But where is it, and what is it even? You're going to be the death of us, Aaron!”
She groaned, holding her head as Aaron scoffed, “It’ll be fine. This stupid forest won't be the death—”
A rumbling in the earth cut him off as they all braced for danger, dropping low with weapons drawn. They gawked as a massive silhouette rose above the forest canopy, walking away from their position. It appeared like a mountain, rising from the forest and deciding to find a new residence further away.
He turned back to his siblings and froze.
They all stared at him with murder in their eyes.
Aaron smiled sheepishly and tried to deflect, “Cornelius—”
“Aaron is not wrong,” Nara said, joining their conversation as Ciel followed close behind.
Aaron was grateful for the interruption as he needed all the help he could get. They all looked at Nara, waiting for her reasoning, as she fell back, still the same shy type.
She continued, mumbling faintly, “There is something ancient further ahead. I can feel it too, but there is also… something else.”
The ‘something else’ piqued their interest immediately, and they all turned at once, staring back at Aaron.
He gave them a thumbs up, smiling victoriously.
“I don’t know what it is, but the forest is crying,” Nara whispered as Ciel comforted her. “Something... is sending cries through the trees; its pain echoes through the forest.”
They all turned back to Aaron with hard looks in their eyes.
Aaron waved them off, exhausted with all their worry. He was trying to take them to something great, and they were crying about it. They continued to debate their next steps when he was pleasantly surprised when Cornelius come to his aid.
“If we’ve come this far, then I believe it would be best to continue,” Cornelius reasoned. “We have already fought to get here. We might as well investigate this anomaly.”
Jessie sighed, finally relenting. She ordered the scouts ahead and prepared the hunters to continue. Aaron showed a solemn look but roared in triumph in his heart. He would finally get to see what the hell was lurking so deep in the forest.
“Always fun when you're around, brother,” Damien laughed, smiling fiendishly at Aaron as he left to rally his warriors.
Aaron beamed, thinking at least one of his siblings understood him. He joined the scouts, heading further into the forest. The terrain began to shift downward, so they climbed high into the trees to try and see further ahead.
It was always dangerous, as beasts lurked in the treetops, snatching at any prey that came near. Giant spiders, three-eyed humanoids, and scaly branches with huge mouths were just some of the many horrors lurking in the dense canopy.
Aaron followed some of his siblings to the top of the nearest tree, and their breath caught in their throats at the scene before them. The ground slumped into a forested valley, and in the middle of that valley rose the largest tree they had ever seen. It rose high above the forest, giant and majestic.
There was a gentle stream winding through the valley. It spread a faint mist through the area, giving it a dreamy, surreal look. Aaron could see with his Sight that the large tree’s life was wavering. He didn’t know if a tree had a soul, but it seemed like its very life force was being strangled.
And he could see why.
Carnivorous vines had latched onto its surface, spreading around every inch of the great tree. The vines were feeding off the tree, nourishing a giant bulb nestling in a large mass in the tree's branches. The tree drooped and appeared, in every way, to be weeping to the world.
It made the hair on his body stand on end.
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The bulb was massive, and Aaron could feel the bloodlust pouring from it. Noticing that the bulb appeared to be resting, he saw a faint cut down the middle and could only imagine the horror when that thing opened.
Climbing back down the tree, they reported their findings and began to prepare and make plans to deal with the horrible plant. His sister Nara would be a huge boon, as she was most adapted to dealing with creatures of nature.
Aaron was amazed at his sister's change since entering the forest. Her nature Insight allowed her to cultivate from nature itself, producing wondrous results. The vines and leaves woven around her body seemed more alive and were even blossoming flowers.
Her green hair was brighter, and her skin was more polished. She looked stronger and more serene in this setting, giving her a certain vibrancy. She also had several plant minions that could help tremendously in any battle. Aaron looked over at more than a dozen walking branches, as tall as a human.
They were golems Nara had made from their surroundings. She called them branchies, which Aaron thought was silly, but he didn’t want to hurt her feelings, so he didn't say it. They're weak but resilient, and she could also repair them, so they worked great as fodder.
Finishing their preparations, they moved through the forest swiftly. The terrain became unstable as it sloped down, but they traversed it easily. Coming closer to the tree's location, Aaron could feel the forest growing calmer as if their surroundings had been tamed.
As the forest began to recede and the great tree came into view, they gasped in wonder and awe. Besides their Mother, the tree was the most divine thing they had ever seen. Its base was enormous, even larger than the camp they had left behind. The trunk traveled high into the sky as its branches reached for the heavens.
Fingers spread from the branches, falling like a curtain of leaves, giving it a mournful look. Walking beneath its canopy felt like being showered with its benevolence. It was eerie and surreal, and it moved their hearts.
But the feeling was cut short when a shudder went through the tree. The horrible vines wrapped around the tree in a chokehold. They began to thrum and shudder, causing the tree to groan. Several small bulbs appeared on the surface of the thick vines and began to stir, sensing that prey was near.
They split open and screeched, showing rows of sharp, barb-like teeth. Digestive fluids dripped from their mouths as they roared in hunger. A wave of killing aura washed through the area, causing their hearts to race as they moved in.
Nara sent in the branchies, and they watched as they climbed the roots, attacking the bulbs. Small vines surrounding the bulbs lashed out, grabbing the branchies and ripping them towards their hideous maws. Their digestive fluids began dissolving the poor golems as soon as it made contact.
Aaron shivered, knowing they would need to be careful as he gave the order. Roman and Damien moved their teams in on each side with battle cries. Ciel took up the back with Cornelius. They would save the big guns for the large bulb, which hadn’t moved. Most likely seeing them as only pests and not worth the effort.
Darting in, Aaron fell behind the vanguard group of hunters, led by Jessie. Thick vines began separating from the tree, reaching towards them with clusters of bulbs growing across their surface. They thrashed and whipped through the air, flinging the bulbs at them.
When the bulbs hit the ground, vines sprouted from them like appendages. They scuttled across the ground like spiders, their open mouths hissing. Aaron sidestepped a bulb reaching at him with tentacle-like vines as he swung his blade, taking the thing nearly in half.
Blue ichor seeped down his arm, making his stomach turn. ‘These things are gross!’ He fumed as he continued his slaughter. Thankfully, they were weak, but Aaron's heart was heavy when he noticed more bulbs were forming on the vines.
As they killed the bulbs, the thick vines rapidly formed more, flinging them around the battlefield. Aaron knew it couldn’t continue as their numbers were only increasing. He activated [Dance of Death] and fell into the march within his soul as he fought to clear as many as he could.
Seeing the vines rise to spread more bulbs, Aaron sent a ripple through the bond as Ciel stepped forward with a song on her lips. It was a powerful yet mournful song, full of agitation and melancholy.
Dark clouds began to form in the sky above the vines as a deep rumbling spread through the air. A blinding flash erupted as a bolt of lightning shot from the thundercloud, striking the vine as it reared back.
Arcs of lightning danced as several thick vines were fried to a crisp, with clusters of bulbs sizzling and popping. A burnt smell spread as he and his siblings cheered. Sister had given them a chance, so they sped up, quickly clearing the groups of bulbs still present.
Finishing the last bulb, drenched in blue goop, Aaron felt an ominous feeling as a shadow fell over them. He looked up, seeing that the large bulb had stirred and was coming down from the upper branches. His heart clenched in his chest as the bulb trembled and began slowly opening.
And blinked.
As an all-powerful eye judged them.
Aaron fell to his knees as his soul reeled. The world around him vanished, and he was swept away to another world. One of terror and pain. He began to live every bad thing in his life over and over, repeatedly.
Mother's death, his sibling's death, his brother's betrayal—all the things that made his heart ache. He was still connected to his body and heard a cry escape his lips as he trembled uncontrollably.
Then the nightmare crumbled as a song came crashing in.
Ciel wasn’t susceptible to mind games, as she knew her song and would not dance to the tune of another unbidden. She ripped them from their stupor as they gasped for air, struggling to shake their confusion.
Clusters of bulbs began to fall from more vines creeping in as they cleared their minds. Nara recovered quicker and moved in, chanting and whispering as she waved her hands around as if trying to plead with the bulbs. To Aaron's surprise, they stopped and began to shiver as if unsure.
Slowly, more and more joined them, then turned in place and began to attack the vines and other bulbs. Aaron and the others dashed in to help as Cornelius rose from the ground, floating in front of the large bulb. It turned to look at him when Ciel shrieked loudly, sending a wave of sound to strike it.
The bulb shuddered and blinked as a silver Rune appeared in the sky. Aaron moved in further as a large meteor fell into the bulb right as its eye was opening back. Gaining closer to the tree, he saw a small opening at its base that appeared like a cave entering its trunk.
Moving swifter, he killed several more bulbs as he made it to the base of the giant tree. Aaron slowed as he moved in, knowing it wouldn’t be that easy, as another large bulb dropped from the opening. He pushed half the power from his core into [Deadly Strike], preparing as the bulb opened, releasing a shrill cry.
Aaron reeled but didn’t falter, glad it was just a mouth and not another creepy eye. His golden aura surrounded his figure, cutting through the force slamming into him. Before he could release his swing, he felt another Rune appear in the sky and glanced back to see Cornelius deal a dreadful blow to the bulbous eye.
A beam shot from the Rune, striking the eye dead center as it fell back. The whole network of vines spasmed as the tree groaned from the stress. Aaron roared, internally praising his brother's attack. Cornelius called it cosmic energy, but Aaron didn't understand anything he had said, only knowing it was insanely powerful.
He ran forward as the bulb before him went limp as if stunned. Releasing [Deadly Strike], a wall of golden lightning and aura shot forward, striking the bulb with a clap of destruction. Aaron dashed toward the cave as chunks of plant material and goop rained down.
A wall of vines was blocking the entrance, so he shot several small [Deadly Strikes], slowly making a hole large enough to pass through. Slipping into the cave, he saw that it wasn’t a cave but a small cavern, and nesting in its center was the core.
But also the heart.
A thick blob pulsated as it latched onto the core of the great tree. Its vines were spread like the tendrils of some foul creature as it fed from the core and the tree itself. Aaron activated [Dance of Death] as he sliced at all the smaller vines until only the large, beating heart remained.
Vines began sprouting quickly, trying to grab at him as he activated [Domination] and latched onto the heart. Digging in with his fingers, he pulled mana from the heart and watched as the vines shriveled and receded.
Aaron smiled wide, pushing the remaining power he had into [Deadly Strike], but he didn’t swing. He stabbed viciously as golden arcs wrapped his blade. Plunging it forward repeatedly, he gored the heart to death as blue ichor pooled on the cavern floor.
He felt a moan go through the tree as it trembled, and the heart stopped pulsating. It slowly shriveled as he backed up, watching all the remaining vines recede. He heard shouts from outside and knew they had been victorious. The tree was free from the vine's horrible grasp.
But his stomach twisted when he looked at the core.
The carnivorous plant had been feeding on it, but it looked like it was also keeping it from dying completely. Without the vine's support, the core had become entirely inactive. Its power had been consumed, and Aaron felt its life force vanishing.
The tree still radiated life, but he knew that in years to come, that too would fade. With a heavy heart, he walked forward and looked closely at the core nestled in the center of the small cavern. It was surrounded by what almost appeared to be a dais made of bark.
He stared, mesmerized by the Runes.
[Heart of the Willow] “It wept till it could weep no more.”