BOOK 1, CHAPTER 15 – Seora’s Sacrifice

“He’s here.” Seora said, a kind of finality in her voice.

There was a moment of tense silence. The ground rumbled again as the ape called out. Far off, a rumbling echoed through the cavern and tunnels. A tunnel collapsed, rocks and dirt crashing down. Dust rushed through the tunnels, creating haze.

Seora faced the children before her. She looked at Little Green, love and pride shining in her eyes. She stared a long while, feeling something rise up within. This was her child. She was beautiful.

She turned to Artien, thinking over the past time he’d spent with Little Green. Her trust in him was firm. A suitable friend. A great sibling to her Little Green. She considered him as one of her own.

The pair was at odds. A beast and a human. Beasts never submitted to humans. They never sided with them. They never spoke with them. This one, small boy was the exception.

She nodded to herself, then gave them a stern look.

“We will exit this cave together. I will go first. Then you two will follow behind the opening I make and escape.”

“Mother…” Little Green said softly.

“You must be strong, Little Green. This is where we part. You must live.” Seora demanded.

“Artien,” Seora addressed, “you are confident in escaping?”

He nodded firmly. “With wind, force, and magic enhancement, I can escape.” He looked at Little Green. “We can escape.” He turned to Seora, his gaze hardening. “You are buying us time?”

“That is correct. I shall stall for as long as I can. While I fight that monkey, you both will flee. Take the direction behind the cave entrance. This will take you away from the ape’s territory.”

Seora closed her eyes, gathering her strength. She looked towards the largest tunnel ahead of her. “Let’s go.”

She moved slowly ahead, conserving all energy possible for the coming battle. She led the way, scales scraping against the caves walls. Mana stones fell to the ground and shattered. It took only a few minutes to climb to the end of the tunnel. She stopped at the entrance, eyeing outside.

“Stay quiet and try to not be seen.” She whispered.

A large boom sounded a distance away. The ape roared in anger. “Come out you snake! I’ll kill you!”

Seora launched herself out of the cave opening, sending debris flying. She landed before the ape and curled up. Her head rose above her body, the feathers on her head raising to show her superior bloodline. She smirked at the ape.

“You finally came out! Once I kill you, this territory is mine.” The ape bared his teeth, showing bloody fangs.

“I see you’ve returned for more. What a dumb monkey.”

The ape slammed on the ground, puffing angrily. “I’m not a monkey! I’m a grand, red-eyed silver ape. A silver ape!”

“All I see is a monkey that only knows how to scream.” She taunted.

“I’m going to kill you!” The ape’s eyes glittered red with mana as his fur suddenly took on a sheen. “I’ll feast on your heart.” He growled. With a slam, he charged.

Seora spat out a vast spray of deadly venom. It rapidly spread out, coating the ape’s fur. He protected his face with an arm and continued the charge. He leaped, tackling Seora head-on.

The massive bodies flew through the air before crashing into a hill. Trees splintered, rolling away. Seora wrapped herself around the ape, using all her strength to bind him. She bit the ape’s shoulder and constricted. Her fangs pierced deep, injecting venom directly into the ape’s flesh.

Artien took the chance and scooped Little Green into his arms. He exited the cave quietly, careful not to make any sound as he crept around the opening’s small incline. He crouched low and rounded a few trees and bushes before breaking out into a full run. Little Green watched his back, her eyes glittering.

Not waiting any longer, he activated his mana to the second-level spell air-flow. This created a shield through which air resistance decreased the more mana he poured into it. He felt no wind against him. His speed increased somewhat as his sounds lessened to the outside world.

Next he poured mana into his body, enhancing his speed through his flesh. He sped even further. The surroundings started to sweep past at increasing blur. He chose the most open path before him, leaving little trace behind. He felt his blood pump, his heart racing.

He gritted his teeth, reaching out to the core inside him. A soft warmth reached out, then spread throughout all his cells. Force rushed through him, heating him up. His skin turned pink and sweat beaded. He pushed with might against the ground, leaping ahead with drastic change.

With each step he vanished. Behind, the mana, force, and resulting energy created a booming sound that echoed through the forest. Large pits remained where he stepped. It was as if some terrible demon traveled through the forest, leaving destruction behind.

Ahead the ease of direct travel ended. The forest thickened. Large trees lined his view in every direction. He focused his mana to form a second spell, water shield. He thickened it, making it a foot deep. It spread in front of him, covering only three feet wide by six feet tall.

He pushed ahead, using brute force to directly crash through the trees. Large holes left gaping behind him as the trees splintered and shattered outwards. It sprayed the forest with needles. A large amount of his mana depleted as he ran. Eventually he slowed, releasing both airflow and water shield.

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His body trembled, feeling the effects of pushing it too far. He continued to use force and speed enhancement, not stopping. As he ran, the ground trembled every so often. The battle behind was intense. He caught a few roars of Seora and the ape.

Their battle sounds lessened the further he traveled. Little Green watched behind helplessly. Her body tightened when she spotted a shadow far above them.

“We’re being followed!”

Artien stopped, his feet forcefully digging furrows. He skidded backwards. He raised an arm, shooting two sets of four wind blades, one after the other, at the figure in the sky. They rushed seamlessly forward, catching the figure unaware. With a cry, the figure tumbled and fell.

He turned around, heading at a slightly different direction from their original course. They raced on, not stopping for anything. After a few minutes, they had no choice. Several new figures ahead blocked their way. He skidded to a halt again, letting Little Green go.

Several wolves, lizards, and other beasts blocked their path.

“The ape’s minions.” Little Green confirmed.

“Take them quickly. Leave everything. We need to run.”

They split, Little Green taking one side and Artien the other. Little Green jumped towards the first victim, immediately using her venom to inject devastating wounds. She jumped towards one victim after another, leaving wounded-soon-to-be-dead behind. She retreated after six fell, out of venom.

Artien cast several fireballs as distraction. He followed up with wind blades, soundlessly slashing directly into several beasts. He left some without limbs, and one without a head. He ignored the bodies, soon finding none standing. He scooped up the waiting Little Green, once more rushing forward.

They ran through forests and a meadow. Beasts blocked their paths. They held no mercy. Wherever they fought only death and wounded remained.

Little Green recovered her venom for each fight, using up her own mana quickly. When she brought down as many her venom allowed, she swallowed a few beast cores while Artien slayed the rest. This allowed her to replenish some mana for the next fight when she rested.

Artien could only persevere as his mana slowly depleted. He removed the speed enhancement, relying only on force to push on. He reserved the rest of his mana to cast spells. Eventually, his mana got low enough he resorted to using fireballs as a distraction to push through any group of beasts in their way.

Little Green became exhausted. She weakly clung to his chest, circling around his neck. She glared fiercely behind them. In the distance, the sounds of the battle faded away. She no longer heard the clashing giants. Her eyes squinted, her mind muddled and her heart riddled with rioting emotions.

Artien felt her pain through their connection. His heart filled with protection. How dare the ape! That damn monkey!

His own feelings crossed over to Little Green. She tasted the air, smelling the bloodlust on them. “I swear I’ll avenge mother!” She blurted out.

“We’ll avenge her together.” Artien vowed. More than for Little Green, he owed Seora his very life.

They ran further. Ahead they ran into less and less groups of minions. More often they came across a lone beasts that spooked and fled in fear. The beasts sensed the incoming blood lust and escaped. This proved a blessing, helping them escape.

They traveled, crossing several valleys before slowing down. Artien didn’t stop, fearing the white ape might be able to catch up. Little Green kept an eye out behind them. Her eyes drooped, succumbing to slumber. She slept in his arms.

Artien dredged every ounce of force out of his core, refusing to let it return. He pushed the force to his arms, legs, and chest. The force dwindled, consumed. He stumbled, looking for a hiding place to rest. He exited the forest, finding a stand of large boulders. He crawled deep inside and laid down, falling straight to sleep.

Back at the site of the nest, Seora and the white ape continued their fight. With a large clash, both split, facing the other. The white ape’s fur was dyed red with blood. Dozens of bites littered his body. One arm hung at his side, the venom having paralyzed it.

Across from him, Seora was in worse shape. Large patches of scales had been torn off. A huge wound from their previous fight had re-opened. It wound down her side, seeping blood. Her proud crown of feathers were broken, leaving few behind.

Around them the forest was destroyed. Trees and hills were leveled. Craters littered the ground. Patches of venom ate away at the very earth. All beats had fled, leaving only the two of them for miles around.

They rested, gathering strength for a final round. The ape bared his teeth at Seora. She hissed, maw wide, revealing four rows of sharp fangs.

The ape raised his head, standing tall. “When you die, I will eat your core. My strength will double.”

“You will get nothing from me, white monkey.”

The ape growled. “I’m a silver ape, you snake!”

“Hss-ss-ss.” She laughed at him, enjoying the pleasure of making him lose control.

“I know what you’re doing. You can’t trick me.” The ape said.

“Oh? What do you think I am doing?”

“You are trying to trick me. I won’t fall for it.” He pointed at her. “You are trying to provoke me.” He grinned. “Let me tell you. Once I eat your core and regain some strength, I’ll track down your little snake baby and eat her!”

Seora’s eyes glittered dangerously. She pushed herself up higher than the ape, her face that of a mother protecting her young. “You will not be able to lay a hand on her, let alone follow. I will make sure of that.”

“Don’t think I didn’t see that other one. The human! I’ll eat him too. I’ll eat them piece by piece, still alive. I’ll enjoy their screams.” The ape chuckled, madness in his voice.

“The monkey things he is a hunter. Now this is new!” Seora gathered her strength. She withdrew any remaining power from her flesh back to her core. She even drew in her remaining life force, her scales dimming in response.

She quickly bit herself, pumping what venom she had left inside her wound. The venom entered her bloodstream. She waited for it to reach her core before stopping. She let go, facing the ape with a solid resolution.

“What are you doing?” The ape watched her cautiously, confused.

“Why don’t you come find out? Or is the shitty monkey a coward?”

Anger made the ape roar out as he leapt at her. She curled around him as he tackled her. His clawed fingers dug deep into her flesh, tearing at her. His fangs bit even deeper. She curled around him in a death vice. She looked down into his face, close together.

“This is my final farewell, and my final warning. I may die here. However, my daughter will become stronger than me.”'

“Let go!” The ape screamed, crunching down on softened scales.

She grinned down at him. “Live, knowing she will one day come for you.”

Seora’s eyes lit up with a familiar flame. She drew I mana from her surroundings, using her own core as fuel. She burned up her remaining life-force, choosing a last-ditch attack with most damage. Her mana went wild, the venom infecting her core and devouring it. The venom condensed, empowered and strengthened.

The ape sensed the mana and struggled wildly. He bit and tore where he could reach. Blood pooled around and died them both. He screamed in fury, unable to escape. “Damn snake!”

Seora closed her eyes, feeling the end. She filled with hope. Hope that Little Green survives. Hope that Artien will take good care of her. She sighed, letting go of everything.

The venom finished eating the mana. It devoured her flesh instantly, releasing the ape. The ape fell to the ground, turning his back on the floating ball of black venom. He scrambled to get away, clawing with his one good arm.

The venom core rippled, then exploded. Venom shot in all directions. It rained down on the ape, eating away at his flesh. He screamed in pained rage. He helplessly covered his head and crawled away.

The venom landed on the surroundings, melting everything it touched and continuing to eat away. Slowly the mana fueling the venom was used. As the venom became inactive, the blackened land remained decayed. For decades after nothing grew where the venom landed.

The ape, incredibly weakened, crawled back to his lair. He curled up in his bed, cursing the snake and it’s offspring. The madness in his eyes grew, flashing with red fire. He bared his teeth, muttering under his breath.

“I’ll kill them! Eat them! Make them scream.” He clawed his face, creating new wounds. “Watch me make them suffer.”

He grinned, eerily laughing aloud.