Morigan skipped lightly through the dimly lit corridor, her footsteps echoing off the stone walls as though the castle itself was alive, whispering back her every sound. The enchanted fortress was cold, a labyrinthine structure of jagged stone and twisted architecture that defied the logic of human construction. Archways bent at impossible angles, while ancient torches flickered with a dull blue flame, casting eerie shadows that danced across the walls like specters.
Her ever-present grin widened as she thought about her latest plan. *Killing village folks? Boring,* she mused to herself, twirling a lock of her silver hair around her finger. *But preying on the heroes? Now that would be fun.*
In her mind’s eye, she could already see the demon lord’s reaction. Maybe, if she was successful, he would pat her on the head, perhaps even hug her. The thought alone sent a shiver of excitement through her body, her face twisting into a lewd smile. *What if... what if he made me his bride?* Her grin became even more wicked, her steps picking up speed as she rushed deeper into the castle, her heart pounding with twisted anticipation.
As she rounded a corner, the corridor darkened further, the air thick with an oppressive silence. The stone beneath her feet seemed almost alive, pulsating faintly as though it was infused with the very essence of the void itself. And there, in the shadows ahead, she saw it—an entity born from the void, a creature unlike any other.
This was no mindless beast. Its form was that of a towering, mythological figure—*Ladon*, a void creature shaped after the multi-headed dragon of ancient lore. Its body was a swirling mass of shadow and shimmering void energy, with multiple snake-like heads twisting and writhing in the air, each adorned with dark, glowing eyes that seemed to pierce through the veil of reality. Its body rippled with raw power, a blackened mass that barely held the form of flesh, as though it was constantly shifting between states of existence.
The creature stood tall, a living representation of chaos and destruction, but what made Ladon different was the spark of intelligence behind its many eyes. Unlike the lesser void creatures, Ladon could reason, think, and even communicate.
Morigan’s eyes gleamed with mischief as she approached, her grin widening. This was perfect. If she could manipulate Ladon into helping her, it would make her plan even more delightful.
“Ladon!” Morigan sang, her voice as innocent as a child’s, despite the devious gleam in her eyes. She twirled around in front of the massive void creature, her silver hair catching the flicker of the blue flames as she did so. “What are you doing here all alone? Don’t tell me you’re lost in this big scary castle?” She feigned concern, her eyes wide with mock innocence.
Ladon’s heads all turned in unison, its glowing eyes narrowing as it regarded her. Its voice, when it spoke, was a low, rumbling growl that reverberated through the corridor. “Morigan,” it hissed, the multiple heads speaking in eerie harmony, “I am here on the orders of the demon lord. I have no time for your games, child.”
Morigan pouted, folding her arms across her chest. “Games? Me? I would never!” She batted her eyelashes, her grin never faltering. “I was just thinking... you’re so strong and smart, Ladon. You could help me with a little task, and in return, I could put in a good word for you with Yami-sama.” She winked, her voice dripping with playful deception.
Ladon’s eyes narrowed further, suspicion flashing across its many faces. “You lie, Morigan,” it growled, though it made no move to leave. “What is this ‘task’ you speak of?”
Morigan twirled again, clasping her hands behind her back as she spoke, her voice as sweet as honey. “Oh, it’s nothing really,” she said, her tone laced with false innocence. “Just a tiny favor for little old me. You see, the heroes... they’re becoming a problem for our beloved demon lord. But if you help me deal with them, we can ensure they never threaten Yami-sama’s plans again. And who knows? The demon lord might even give you a reward. Maybe even more power?”
Ladon’s many heads tilted, considering her words. “The heroes...” it repeated, its voice filled with dark contemplation. “They are powerful. More so than any other mortals I have faced. You believe you can defeat them?”
Morigan’s grin widened, her eyes gleaming with excitement. “Of course! With your help, of course. I mean, you are the mighty Ladon, aren’t you? I can’t think of anyone better suited to the task. Together, we can crush them like the bugs they are!”
Ladon remained silent for a moment, its heads twisting and writhing as it mulled over her words. Morigan could see the creature’s hesitation, but she knew it was only a matter of time before it gave in. All she had to do was push the right buttons.
“Besides,” she added, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, “if we don’t stop them now, they’ll only grow stronger. They might even challenge Yami-sama himself one day.” Her eyes widened in mock horror. “And we wouldn’t want that, would we?”
Ladon let out a low growl, its eyes glowing brighter as it considered her words. “Very well,” it said at last, its voice rumbling like distant thunder. “I will assist you, Morigan. But know this—if you are deceiving me, I will tear you apart.”
Morigan giggled, skipping forward and patting one of Ladon’s massive heads as though it were a pet. “Oh, Ladon, you’re such a softie! This is going to be so much fun!”
She spun around on her heel, her grin widening even further as she led the way down the corridor, Ladon’s massive form following behind her. In her mind, her plan was already in motion. Soon, she would face the heroes. And when she did, victory would be hers. And then, perhaps, she would finally get that hug from the demon lord.
Or better yet... she thought, her grin turning lewd once more. *Maybe I’ll become his bride.*
The shadows of the castle seemed to dance in delight as the pair moved deeper into its twisted halls, the echoes of their footsteps and laughter mingling with the dark energy that pulsed within the fortress walls.
Morigan’s mischievous smile never faltered.
Morigan clung to Ladon’s massive body, her childish grin stretched wide as they soared through the night sky at impossible speed. The world below blurred into a streak of white and grey, the vast northern expanse stretching endlessly with its snow-covered terrain and frozen rivers. The stars above shimmered like distant gems, but even they seemed pale in comparison to the void wings that unfurled from Ladon’s back—massive, swirling constructs of shadow and emptiness that absorbed all light, reflecting nothing but a profound darkness.
Morigan’s eyes widened in sheer delight. The view was stunning. She had never been so high before, nor had she ever seen such a landscape. As Ladon’s wings cut through the sky, the snow-laden ground below shifted as if the world itself couldn’t keep still under the pressure of their presence. It was as though the very land was morphing, colors bleeding into each other in surreal patterns of blue, white, and black.
Yet, for all its beauty, the land beneath them felt wrong, like a broken mirror reflecting reality in distorted fragments. The snow-covered plains seemed to ripple like liquid one moment, then harden into sharp, crystalline forms the next. Glaciers split and reformed in an instant, as though time itself was twisting and snapping back into place.
Morigan giggled, her fingers tracing the ethereal void energy radiating from Ladon’s wings. She leaned forward, resting her chin on her palm as she admired the rapid change in the landscape. “Isn’t this beautiful, Ladon?” she asked, her voice giddy with excitement. “All this... chaos. So unpredictable! It’s like the world itself is dancing for us!”
Ladon, however, seemed less than amused. His many heads remained silent, eyes fixed on the horizon as they flew. The void energy that rippled through his form pulsed with a dark, ominous rhythm.
Morigan, undeterred, tugged on one of Ladon’s necks, pouting like a spoiled child. “Hey, I’m talking to you, Ladon! What’s it like, being made of void? I bet it’s fun, huh? Come on, tell me!”
Ladon growled, his many voices rumbling through the air like distant thunder. “Morigan, I am not here to indulge your idle curiosity. Focus on the mission.”
She wasn’t having it. With an exaggerated whine, she clasped her hands together and leaned forward, resting her chin on one of Ladon’s heads. “Pleeeease, Ladon? It’s important for the mission, I swear! We have to know each other, you know, for teamwork!” Her eyes shimmered with playful mischief, and she flashed him her most exaggerated, innocent expression—a look of wide-eyed pleading that made her seem like a child begging for candy.
Ladon exhaled deeply, his annoyance palpable. “You are insufferable,” he hissed, though the void energy that radiated from him pulsed in a rhythmic pattern, betraying his resignation. “Very well, if it will silence you.”
Morigan sat up straight, her grin widening as she listened intently, her eyes practically glowing with curiosity.
“The void,” Ladon began, his many heads speaking in unison, “is not simply emptiness. It is the absence of all things—matter, time, existence itself. It is the end point of everything, where even the concepts that define reality dissolve into nothingness. To be made of void is to exist beyond existence. We are erasers of reality, a force that strips away the layers of the world until nothing remains.”
Morigan’s grin faltered for a moment, replaced by a genuine look of fascination. “So... like, if something goes into the void, it’s gone forever?”
Ladon’s eyes glowed faintly, his heads dipping in acknowledgment. “Not just gone. Erased. It ceases to have ever existed. Memories, history, even the very concept of that thing is erased. That is the power of the void.”
Morigan’s eyes lit up with awe, and she leaned in closer. “Wow! So, like, if I threw someone in there, no one would even remember they existed?”
“Precisely,” Ladon growled. “The void does not merely destroy; it unravels. It strips away all meaning, all memory, until there is nothing left.”
Morigan shivered, though not from fear. Her smile returned, this time more twisted, more eager. “That’s incredible. I bet Yami-sama uses that all the time!”
Ladon’s heads twisted slightly, their glowing eyes narrowing. “The void is not a tool for indulgence. It is a force beyond control, even for Yami-sama.”
Morigan blinked, her grin fading slightly as she tilted her head. “Really? But I’ve seen the demon lord do some crazy things. You’re saying even he can’t control the void?”
“The void is not controlled, Morigan. It is harnessed—barely. Even the demon lord understands the danger it poses. It corrupts, distorts, and destroys everything it touches. Its power is absolute, but its nature is chaotic. Memories distort, perceptions warp, and even time itself unravels in its presence. Those who wield the void risk losing themselves to madness.”
Morigan’s grin returned, though this time it was laced with a dark, almost ecstatic excitement. “So... the void is kind of like me, huh? Chaotic, unpredictable, and a little bit dangerous.”
Ladon’s heads turned toward her, the silence hanging in the air for a moment before he spoke again. “In a sense, yes. But unlike you, the void does not play games. It consumes, without mercy, without care.”
Morigan giggled, leaning back on Ladon’s massive body as they continued to soar through the sky. “Well, I’m glad you’re here, Ladon. We make a pretty good team, don’t we?” She flashed him a mischievous smile, her eyes glinting with the thrill of whatever chaos she was planning next.
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Ladon remained silent, his massive form cutting through the sky as the twisted landscape below continued to shift and warp. Morigan’s mind raced with excitement, her thoughts swirling like the void itself. She had learned something valuable today, and it would certainly make things more interesting when she faced the heroes again.
As they flew deeper into the frozen wasteland, Morigan’s grin widened. *The void may consume everything,* she thought, *but I’m going to use it to have some fun first.* As they continued to fly across the shifting, frozen landscape, the tension between Morigan and Ladon lingered in the air. Ladon, despite being a creature of void and destruction, was curious. His many heads turned slightly toward Morigan, and in a low rumble, he asked, “You’ve questioned me. Now, it’s my turn. What is your past, Morigan? And what binds you so closely to Yami-sama?”
Morigan’s playful smile faded instantly, her childlike face twisting into an annoyed pout. She crossed her arms and huffed, kicking her legs as she reclined against one of Ladon’s necks. “Ugh, do we really have to talk about that? My past is so boring!” she whined, clearly avoiding the question.
But Ladon wasn’t in the mood for games. In an instant, his body twisted, the void within him shifting violently as if the very fabric of space around them was warping. The sky seemed to ripple, and the swirling darkness of Ladon’s wings expanded, threatening to pull Morigan into the abyss. “You will answer, or I will eject you from my body, Morigan,” Ladon growled, his many voices echoing with the cold finality of the void.
Morigan’s eyes widened in panic as she felt herself slipping, the void pulling at her with an unstoppable force. “Alright! Alright! I’ll talk! Just stop, you big meanie!” she yelped, her voice filled with genuine fear.
Ladon released the pressure, and the void receded, allowing Morigan to catch her breath. She puffed her cheeks in frustration, glaring at Ladon. “You almost killed me!” she muttered, but then, her tone softened as she realized there was no avoiding the conversation now.
Morigan sat up, her usual grin gone, replaced by a distant, sorrowful expression. “Fine... You want to know about me? About *us*? I guess it’s only fair.”
She looked out over the horizon, her eyes unfocused as if staring back into a distant memory. “Circe and I... we were born in a world where witches like us were hunted. We didn’t choose to be different, you know? But in that world, knights were sworn to cleanse anything they considered ‘evil.’ And witches... well, we were at the top of their list.”
Ladon remained silent, his wings beating steadily as they continued to soar through the sky. He sensed the shift in her demeanor, the pain that lurked beneath her usual playful façade.
“We were just children when the knights found us,” Morigan continued, her voice now a soft whisper. “They came at night, torches in hand, claiming they were delivering justice in the name of their god. We ran, but... there was nowhere to hide. They dragged us out into the streets. We begged, we cried... but it didn’t matter. They called us abominations. Monsters.”
Her eyes shimmered with a mix of anger and sadness, her fists clenched as she recounted the memory. “We were burned alive. They tied us to stakes, piled the wood, and lit the fire. I remember the flames... how they ate at my skin, how I screamed until I couldn’t anymore. Circe was right beside me, but I couldn’t hear her over the crackling of the fire. It was... it was the end.”
For a moment, Morigan fell silent, the weight of her words hanging in the air. Even Ladon, for all his cold indifference, remained still, absorbing the tragedy of her story.
“But then...” Morigan’s voice shifted, her eyes lighting up with a new emotion. “Then, *he* came. Yami-sama.” Her lips curved into a soft smile, and she wiped her tears away. “He pulled us from the flames. Gave us new bodies, new life. He saved us... no, he *revived* us. But not for mercy or kindness. He wanted revenge. And we... we were more than happy to give it to him.”
Her grin returned, though it was tinged with something darker, more dangerous. “When Yami-sama created the void rift, he tore open the boundaries between worlds. Circe and I, we followed him, burning down the very kingdoms that hunted us. We destroyed them all—every knight, every church, every village that ever raised a hand against us. We became his instruments of vengeance.”
Ladon’s many heads turned toward her, watching carefully as she spoke. “A witch’s hunt,” he murmured, his deep voice reverberating with something akin to disdain. “It’s barbaric.”
Morigan laughed bitterly. “Barbaric, yes. But that’s human nature, isn’t it? To destroy what they don’t understand. To fear what’s different. That’s why Yami-sama’s vision is the only truth. He’ll wipe it all away—rebuild the world in the void’s image.”
She sighed, her mood shifting once again, her playful grin returning in full force. “But enough of the sad stuff! That’s all in the past. What’s really important is *now*—and my future!”
Ladon, curious despite himself, asked, “Your future?”
Morigan’s eyes gleamed with a mischievous light, and her grin grew even wider. “Yeah! Once I defeat the heroes, I’m going to ask Yami-sama for a reward! You know what I want, right?”
Ladon remained silent, though a sense of dread crept over him.
Morigan leaned forward, her face lighting up with excitement. “I want to be Yami-sama’s bride!” she declared, her voice dripping with ecstasy. “I’ll be the one standing by his side! Not that wretched Lilith! Ugh, she thinks she’s so special. But I’ll show her! I’ll be the one Yami-sama chooses!”
She giggled uncontrollably, her cheeks flushed with the thrill of her delusions. “Can you imagine it, Ladon? Me, the demon lord’s wife! Oh, I can see it now... him patting my head, holding me close, maybe even... *kissing* me!” Her eyes glazed over in a dreamy, almost intoxicated state as she fantasized about the possibilities.
Ladon, however, was left stunned. He had expected many things from Morigan, but this... this was beyond anything he had imagined. He remained silent, his many heads blinking in unison as he tried to process her bizarre fixation.
Morigan continued to giggle, her joy uncontainable. “I’ll be the queen of the void! And Lilith? She’ll just be a footnote in Yami-sama’s past! Oh, I can’t *wait*!”
Ladon, though unmoved by her excitement, could not help but feel a strange sense of foreboding. Morigan’s obsession with the demon lord, her twisted dreams of becoming his bride... it all felt like a dangerous path, one that could lead to untold chaos.
As they flew onward, Morigan’s laughter echoed into the night, her wild dreams fueling her determination. For now, her focus was on the heroes—but in the back of her mind, she was already planning her rise to Yami-sama’s side, no matter what it took.
And Ladon, despite himself, couldn’t shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of something far more dangerous than even the void could contain.As the heroes ventured deeper into the forest, the air grew dense and heavy, as though the trees themselves were watching their every step. The leaves above rustled unnaturally, despite the absence of wind, and an eerie silence settled over the group. Elias’s eyes, glowing faintly with the power of his *Eyes of Wisdom*, darted around, scanning the structure of the forest.
“There’s something wrong here,” he said, his voice low, almost as if he didn’t want the forest to hear him. “Be on guard.”
Gabriel unsheathed his sword with a sharp metallic sound, its blade shimmering in the faint light filtering through the canopy. “If this forest is dangerous, we should burn it to the ground and be done with it,” he suggested, his voice brimming with impatience.
Kaelus quickly stepped forward, placing a hand on Gabriel’s arm. “We can’t afford to be reckless,” he said calmly. “Even if it’s dangerous, this forest is a valuable part of the world’s ecosystem. Destroying it could have consequences we can’t predict.”
Gabriel scowled, his grip on his sword tightening. “Did you turn into a natural scientist now? Since when do we care about ecosystems?”
Kaelus shot him a sidelong glance. “It’s just logical reasoning. We can’t obliterate everything that’s dangerous.”
Before Gabriel could respond, Kain stepped between them, his voice firm but diplomatic. “Enough bickering. Gabriel, Kaelus is right. The world may be unrecognizable after the void’s corruption, but we can’t destroy natural entities without understanding their significance.”
Selena, who had been silent up until now, nodded in agreement. “This forest feels... alive. It’s in pain, like it’s mourning something.”
The others looked at her curiously as she placed a hand on one of the trees, her eyes distant. “I can hear it,” she whispered. “The echoes of the forest’s cries. It’s afraid... lost...”
As Selena spoke, the ground beneath them began to shift, almost imperceptibly at first. But then, with a sudden lurch, the earth cracked open, revealing a pit lined with sharp, jagged roots. Gabriel leapt back just in time, his eyes wide. “What the—!”
Elias raised his hand, casting a spell to stabilize the ground around them, but as soon as the pit closed, thick vines shot out from the surrounding trees, writhing like serpents. They coiled toward the heroes with alarming speed.
“Move!” Kaelus shouted, slashing his sword through the air. The blade, Gram, hummed as it cut through the vines with ease, severing them before they could reach the group.
Gabriel, now fully alert, spun his sword in a wide arc, cleaving through more vines. “Alright, I see the problem now!” he shouted, slashing with increasing fury.
Elias, his eyes narrowing in concentration, chanted a swift incantation. Chains made of golden light shot out from his hands, binding the attacking vines in place. The vines thrashed, their movements slowed by Elias’s magic, but they didn’t stop. Instead, they began to grow thicker, absorbing the energy of the forest.
“These vines are adapting,” Elias said, a hint of frustration in his voice. “They’re drawing power from the forest itself. My chains won’t hold them for long.”
Kain stepped forward, his voice calm amidst the chaos. “Then we need to stop the forest from feeding them.”
With a wave of his hand, Kain summoned a protective barrier of light, creating a temporary reprieve from the onslaught of vines. The vines slammed against the barrier but were unable to penetrate it.
Selena’s eyes remained distant, her connection to the elemental magic of the forest growing stronger. She could feel the forest’s fear and anguish, but there was something deeper—an entity, an ancient presence that was guiding the forest’s movements.
“We’re not fighting just plants,” she said, her voice barely a whisper. “There’s something in the heart of this forest. It’s mourning, crying out for help.”
Before they could react, the ground beneath Selena rippled, and thick roots burst upward, trying to pull her into the earth. With a quick reflex, Kaelus dashed toward her, grabbing her hand and pulling her free just in time.
“Thanks,” Selena muttered, her voice shaken but resolute.
Kaelus gave her a quick nod, his eyes scanning the forest for the next threat. “Stay close. This place isn’t just dangerous—it’s sentient.”
As if in response to Kaelus’s words, the trees began to shift and bend, creating a maze-like path that blocked their way forward. Branches twisted and intertwined, forming walls that trapped the group.
“We’re being herded,” Gabriel said grimly, his sword still at the ready. “It’s trying to lead us somewhere.”
“I can feel it too,” Elias said, his eyes glowing once more as he peered through the maze. “It’s like the forest is... guiding us, testing us.”
Kain sighed, his barrier flickering slightly as the vines continued to press against it. “We don’t have much time. Whatever’s at the heart of this forest, we need to find it and stop this before it traps us completely.”
As they navigated the shifting maze, Selena’s connection to the forest grew stronger. She could hear its whispers more clearly now, could feel the anguish of the entity controlling it.
Finally, after what felt like hours of avoiding traps—hidden pits, crushing roots, and swarms of thorny vines—they reached a clearing. In the center of the clearing stood an enormous, ancient tree, its bark dark and gnarled. The tree pulsed with a faint, eerie light, and the air around it shimmered with magic.
“That’s it,” Selena said, her voice soft but certain. “That’s the source.”
As they approached, the ground beneath the tree began to shift, and a figure emerged from the base of the tree—a being made entirely of wood and roots, its form humanoid but twisted, its eyes glowing with a sorrowful light.
The creature’s voice echoed through the clearing, a deep, mournful tone. “You... you who wield power... why do you disturb my slumber?”
Elias stepped forward, his eyes fixed on the creature. “We seek passage through this forest. We mean no harm.”
The creature’s eyes narrowed, its form rippling with anger. “Harm has already been done. The world is breaking, and this forest suffers. I... suffer.”
Selena stepped beside Elias, her hand outstretched toward the creature. “We understand your pain,” she said gently. “But we can help. Let us pass, and we’ll do what we can to protect the forest.”
The creature hesitated, its eyes flickering with uncertainty. “Protect... or destroy?”
“We’re not your enemies,” Kain added, his voice calm and reassuring. “We only wish to restore balance.”
The forest entity’s form began to relax, its roots slowly retreating into the earth. The tension in the air lessened, and the vines that had been attacking the heroes stilled.
“I will allow you passage,” the creature said, its voice weary. “But know this: the world is on the brink of ruin. Even I cannot stop what is to come.”
With that, the creature dissolved back into the tree, and the forest began to shift once more, the maze unraveling and the path forward revealed.
The heroes exchanged glances, each of them aware that they had narrowly avoided a deadly confrontation. But as they pressed on, the weight of the forest’s warning lingered in the air, a reminder that their journey was only growing more perilous. As the echoes of lamentations reverberated from the tree Gabriel had pierced, the heroes stood frozen in shock. The tree’s bark, split and bleeding a thick, sap-like liquid, healed itself rapidly, twisting in corrupted, unnatural ways. A voice, chilling and taunting, emerged from the tree.
“My… my…” the voice purred, dripping with amusement. “I was going to kill you when your guard dropped. Such predictable mortals.”
Kaelus, about to reprimand Gabriel, stopped short as the voice continued. “But you… the knight in white armour… You saw through my little ruse. How delightful.”
The tree groaned as the bark began to split open, revealing a figure emerging from its depths. A humanoid woman, her body partially formed of roots and vines, stepped forward. Her skin was a deep, vibrant green, glistening like the dew on morning leaves, yet with an undercurrent of corruption that snaked through her veins like blackened poison. Her chest, full and exposed, was adorned only by creeping vines that lazily wrapped themselves around her, barely covering her in a way that seemed more deliberate than necessary. She had a playful, almost mocking grin as she stood before them, her eyes glowing with an eerie, otherworldly light.
In the centre of her belly, where her navel should have been, a thick, rope-like vine pulsated with life, connecting her to the massive tree behind her—the *Sacred Ygdrana*, a colossal ancient tree, whose twisted roots and darkened branches now appeared less like a guardian of the forest and more like the corrupted heart of it. The vine that linked the creature to Ygdrana pulsed like a heartbeat, tethering her existence to the very core of the forest’s power.
“Who are you?” Kaelus demanded, his voice tense as he prepared for whatever trick this creature might have up her sleeve.
Before the humanoid could answer, Elias stepped forward, his voice solemn as recognition flashed across his face. “She’s the forest’s will, brought to life by the influence of the void. This is no mere creature. She *is* the forest, and behind her lies the *Sacred Ygdrana*, the core that sustains the forest’s very essence.”
The creature chuckled, her voice filled with mischief. “Oh, how smart you are, little mage. Elias, was it? Yes, I am the will of this forest, but you can call me *Meliae*,” she said, her tone playful, as though she found the entire situation amusing. She took a step forward, her roots trailing behind her like tendrils. “But it’s too late to save me now. Too late to save this forest. The void’s influence has sunk its claws deep into me, into Ygdrana, into everything.”
Her lips curled into a sarcastic smile as she glanced at Selena. “*Save* the forest, you say? How naive. The corruption is everywhere, spreading like rot through a once-beautiful thing. Look around you. Do you think any part of this world is untouched by the void’s grip?”
Selena clenched her fists, feeling the sorrow and anguish of the forest, but also the undeniable truth in Meliae’s words. The void’s influence was pervasive, seeping into every fibre of the land.
Meliae raised a hand to her mouth, her expression shifting to mock contemplation. “And now, thanks to your dear knight, you’ve sped things up,” she said, gesturing toward Gabriel with a playful smirk. “Stabbing my precious core while my back was turned. How bold.”
Gabriel, still gripping his sword, narrowed his eyes but said nothing, his jaw set in defiance.
Meliae’s roots shifted and pulsed, the vine connected to her belly twitching like a lifeline. Her appearance was unsettlingly beautiful, her naked body only partially hidden by the roots and vines that clung to her like extensions of her being. Her hips swayed as she moved closer, her steps almost graceful, but there was something sinister in every motion, a reminder that she was no longer just a part of the natural world, but something twisted by the void.
With a sudden burst of laughter, she twirled on her heel, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “But don’t worry. I’m not angry. No, not at all. In fact, I’m quite impressed that you made it this far without dying.”
Her voice turned dark, dripping with sarcasm. “Such brave, brave heroes. Fighting for what, exactly? To restore balance? To save the world?” She threw her head back, laughing mockingly. “How cute.”
Her tone grew more menacing as her eyes locked onto each of them in turn. “But you see, it’s far too late for any of that. The void doesn’t just destroy—it corrupts, it consumes, and it leaves nothing behind but madness. Soon, you’ll see. Soon, you’ll understand. The void isn’t just a force... it’s an end.”
Elias, his face grim, muttered to the others, “She’s more dangerous than we thought. The void has fully taken over her consciousness. We need to sever her link to Ygdrana, or the entire forest will fall to darkness.”
Meliae’s grin widened as she heard him. “Oh, Elias, dear, I wouldn’t be so sure about that. Sever my link? You have no idea what you’re up against. The void’s roots run deep, deeper than you could ever imagine.”
Her vine-like tendrils began to snake toward the heroes, wrapping around their feet and creeping ever closer. But even as her playful demeanour continued, the malice beneath her words was impossible to miss.