12 – The Dastardly Ambush of the Warden of Vines_What? I've been transformed into an Eldrich Abomination. Help!!!

In the heart of a distant, once-peaceful kingdom, a room shrouded in twilight held a lone occupant. Bare, save for a thin mattress in the corner, it felt less like a chamber and more like a cage.

Del, a Dark Elf, lay sprawled upon the meagre bedding. Her slumber was far from restful. Her tall, willowy frame, once a proud Scout’s grace, now bore the weight of hardship. A tattered cloth, barely a whisper of decency, clung to her form, highlighting the generous curves it both revealed and failed to hide.

But beauty, if there ever was any, was a distant memory. Her pale, ebony skin was a canvas of battle scars - jagged lines that spoke of past conflicts, etched like lightning strikes across her back. A jagged chunk was missing from her left ear, a grim memento whisper of a close encounter. Yet, the most disturbing feature was the thick collar of ColdSteel clamped around her throat. The magical metal pulsed with a faint, malevolent hum, casting an oppressive aura around her.

Her right hand, slender and strong despite the ordeal, twitched in a futile attempt to tear free from the SlaveCollar. Her sleep was a battlefield, not of dreams, but of visions. Pain etched lines around her tightly closed eyelids and pursed lips. Muffled growls, a guttural language only she understood, escaped her clenched jaw. This wasn't a mere nightmare. It was something far more sinister - a chilling premonition of what was to come.

In her dream, the emerald embrace of the forest, once a haven of buzzing life, curdled into a grotesque mockery. A cancerous tendril, blacker than a moonless night, snaked out, brushing against an unsuspecting rabbit. The creature shuddered, a silent scream trapped in its throat. Then, the transformation. Bone cracked and flesh warped, the rabbit growing to a hulking monstrosity. Its paws became wicked claws, its innocent face twisted into a snarling maw filled with razor-sharp fangs. It morphed to resemble a grotesque caricature of a man, a creature birthed from nightmares. Blood welled from its eyes, dripping down its distorted face in a crimson cascade. It shrieked, a sound that tore through the forest canopy, a primal blend of pain and predatory hunger.

Panic clawed at Del's throat. The once vibrant tapestry of the forest floor was now a writhing mass of similar abominations. Each tendril touch unleashed a twisted metamorphosis, warping creatures into parodies of their former selves. Fear choked her as her vision zoomed out, revealing the monstrous orchestra conductor at the heart of this symphony of horror.

It was an Abomination, a pulsating mass of flesh adorned with writhing tendrils. Eyes, countless and malevolent, stared from every available surface, their gaze dripping with a forbidden hunger. Its very presence radiated a vile, Taboo aura that choked the life from the air. Del watched in paralyzed horror as the tendrils danced, each touch a death knell for another innocent creature. A towering apple tree, once a majestic symbol of life, writhed in agony as its bark turned to tainted obsidian and leaves to crimson red. A playful warg pup, frolicking in the undergrowth, was ensnared by a tendril and warped into a snarling monstrosity. Even the smallest creatures weren't spared. Spiders grovelled before their twisted master, mutated fish offered their decaying bodies as tribute, and delicate flowers wilted at the mere touch of a passing tendril.

Desperation clawed at Del. She squeezed her eyelids shut, willing herself awake, but the nightmare held her captive. A sickening crack echoed through the corrupted forest, and a tear ripped open the sky. Through the tear, she glimpsed a sight that chilled her very soul.

A monstrous obelisk, black as a dead star and stained crimson with the blood of countless sacrifices, dominated the landscape. Around its base, a grotesque court cavorted - malformed parodies of life, their chants a cacophony of madness. A storm brewed above, a dark vortex swirling at the tip of the obelisk. Dread rolled off it in suffocating waves, a primal fear that resonated with the very core of Del's being. It was a dead, malevolent god stirring within that black heart, its power both immense and horrifying.

Lightning, thick and purple, snaked across the dark cloud. The air crackled with an unbearable tension as the cloud's gaze settled on Del. It peered into her deepest recesses, a thousand unseen tendrils probing and prodding at her soul. Disgust welled within her, a suffocating sensation that made her skin crawl. It felt like a violation, like being stripped bare before an audience of ravenous predators.

Then, a voice. A booming bellow that echoed through the emptiness, shaking her very core. "Begone, insect! This place is not for the likes of you!" It was a voice laced with power, a primal command that threatened to shatter her mind.

The crack in the sky widened, and she was expelled, cast out into a vast emptiness. Cold pierced her bones, the absence of light a suffocating blanket. But even in that desolate void, she could see herself. Her body writhed and contorted, flesh melting and morphing. Her fingers stretched and elongated, transforming into writhing tentacles. Her legs fused together, forming a grotesque, fleshy tail. A silent scream tore at her throat, a sound lost in the endless expanse. This nightmare, this violation, it felt like it might shatter her very being.

A jarring dissonance, like the shattering of a thousand mirrors, ripped through Del's nightmare. With a gasp, she found herself back in a familiar forest, blessedly devoid of corruption. Yet, the silence was broken by a new presence. She narrowed her grey eyes, piercing the veil of mist that clung to a hulking figure in the distance. It was as tall as the towering oaks, its body a canvas of rippling muscles that hinted at a power more beast than man. A pair of massive antlers, crackling with an eerie blue luminescence, crowned his head. Though shrouded, the figure emanated a familiar divine aura, a whisper of power she recognized.

"Beast Lord?" she called out cautiously, her voice rough with the remnants of terror.

A monstrous roar echoed through the trees, the very air trembling under its force. "You must prevent it!" the voice boomed, deep and masculine, its power bending the nearby trees into an unnatural bow.

A harrowing image, a flash of a writhing black tentacle, seared itself into Del's mind. The horrors wouldn't be easily forgotten.

"Prevent what?" she rasped, desperation clawing at her throat.

The reply was another earth-shattering roar, so potent it sent her staggering back.

Then, with a jolt, Del woke. Her body was a battlefield of cold sweat, her hands shaking like leaves in a storm. In the corner of her vision, a shimmering sigil pulsed into existence – a quest.

[Divine Quest: You have foreseen a dark power rising within the Forbidden Forest. A malevolent entity, an Eldritch Abomination, festers at its heart, spreading its corruption through tendrils that warp life itself. These profane appendages twist the forest's innocent inhabitants into monstrous Minions, swelling the ranks of its grotesque army. Act with haste, Dark Elf. Locate and eliminate this entity before it claims dominion over the entire forest.

[Objective: Slay Minions 0/242]

[Objective: Slay the Abomination 0/1]

[Objective: Destroy the ChaosObelisk 0/1]

[Reward: DivineSpark, +20000 EXP, BeastLord Blessing]

[Special Reward: Break:SlaveCollar]

Del's fingers instinctively twitched towards the collar, the weight of it a constant reminder of her captivity. This ‘Special Reward’ - the one chance at freedom - was the most tempting prize of all. A grim smile played on her lips. "I need to play this smart," she muttered, throwing off the sweat-soaked cloth. "First, the Hero. She may be arrogant, but she wouldn't resist a bounty of the DivineSpark... then..." her voice trailed off, a glint of steel hardening in her eyes as she formulated a plan, her next steps dictated not just by the Quest, but by the sweet promise of freedom.

…

A twig snapped underfoot, the dry crack echoing through the stillness like thunder. Huntmaster, leading the village’s most seasoned hunters, froze mid-stride. Sweat beaded on her brow despite the cool morning air. Her scarlet eyes, usually scanning the undergrowth with practised ease, darted nervously across the dense foliage. The primal fear of predator and prey momentarily reversed.

The stench hit them next, a foul mix of rotting flesh and feral musk that clawed at the back of their throats. The rabbits, normally a picture of silent efficiency, exchanged panicked glances. Their twitching noses betrayed a truth their ears had failed to capture - a Warg was near.

Huntmaster, ever vigilant, spotted the telltale red glint flickering through the leaves - a DetectMonster skill, activated by the approaching beast. Adrenaline surged through her veins, momentarily banishing the gnawing fear. This wasn't their usual prey – a lone warg, a level ten brute, was a formidable opponent for a squad of rabbit hunters. Still, their survival depended on her vigilance.

A hand signal flashed – surround it. The rabbits, despite the tremor in their paws, melted into the undergrowth, silent and deadly. Yet, just as they neared their positions, a guttural snarl ripped through the air. The Warg, perhaps sensing the danger, whipped its massive head around, eyes gleaming with malevolent intelligence. The ambush was blown.

With a thunderous roar, the Warg charged. Its ThickHide, normally impervious to their blades, was a horrifying sight. Panic threatened to overwhelm the rabbits, but the Huntmaster's voice, sharp and unwavering, cut through the fear. "Hop and Strike! Confuse the beast!"

They erupted from their hiding places, a flurry of white and grey fur against the green. Each rabbit darted in, slashing with their blades, leaving shallow gashes on the warg's hide. It roared in frustration, its eyes snapping at the impossible-to-track attackers. But their nimble movements and sheer number were effective – for a time.

The Warg, fueled by rage, lashed out with a swipe of its massive paw. One unfortunate hunter wasn't fast enough. A sickening crack echoed through the forest as bone met paw. The rabbit crumpled to the ground, a crimson stain blooming on its chest.

This wasn't a simple hunt anymore; it was a desperate struggle for survival. The Huntmaster gritted her teeth, a hidden memory resurfacing in her mind – a forbidden technique she had learned not so long ago. This was her chance to use it.

As the other rabbits continued their frantic assault, she slipped away unseen. Her muscles coiled tight, like a predator stalking its prey. Then, in a low crouch, with one hand braced against the damp earth, she prepared for a strike. The TuskImpaler felt cool and deadly in her grasp. Before she committed, a silent prayer to Master X, the mentor who'd taught her this forbidden move, escaped her lips.

With a burst of power that propelled her forward in a blur, “[EnergyBurst], [Pounce]“, she launched herself behind the warg. The world became a whirlwind of fur and fangs. Then, the sickening thud of spear meeting flesh reverberated through the air. The Warg howled, a sound of pure agony, as the TuskImpaler pierced deep into its body, bypassing the ThickHide entirely.

[You have learned ForbiddenBackstab]

The triumphant smirk on Huntmaster's face vanished faster than a butterfly in a gale, the warg Wasn't finished yet. With a guttural growl that vibrated through their very bones, the beast thrashed its head, fangs snapping at empty air. The blow had landed true, the warg was Stunned, its massive body swaying like a drunken tree.

"Now!" Huntmaster roared, brandishing her BlackFang Stabber. The rabbits, energized by the forbidden manoeuvre and the prospect of victory, swarmed the momentarily Stunned warg. A flurry of fur and flashing blades erupted – one rabbit, emboldened, landed a blackened fang straight in the warg's neck. Her mate, RabbitHunter, followed through with a vicious flurry of PiercingStrike from his twin blades, the impact sending a crimson geyser spraying from the warg's neck.

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Weakened and Bleeding profusely, the beast lashed out with a ferocity born of desperation. Its every motion was sluggish, a pale imitation of its former fury. But Huntmaster barked a warning. "Distance! Keep your distance! Don't get taken down by its death throes!"

The rabbits heeded her command, circling the warg like wolves around a wounded stag. Each Bite of its jaws, each tremor of spent fury, told the tale of its fading life force. Finally, with a shudder that shook the very leaves overhead, the Warg collapsed onto the mossy forest floor, its eyes vacant and lifeless.

A close victory. Yet, the weight of it settled heavily on Huntmaster's shoulders. This was only the first of many, more would need to be taken down.

"The nest must be nearby," she muttered, scanning the dense undergrowth for any sign. A scattering of warg droppings, a clump of grey fur snagged on a thorn – these were the grim breadcrumbs leading the hunters deeper into the heart of the darkness.

The tang of blood, a lingering echo of the battle, hung heavy in the air. It wasn't just the warg's blood, it was the scent from their own wounds, a metallic tang that seemed to pierce through their fur and into their very being. This wasn't a mere Hunt anymore. This was a War.

And as if sensing their approach, the forest itself stirred. A howl, sharp and primal, ripped through the silence. Not just one, but four answered in kind – a pack of Wargs, their guttural growls a symphony of savage hunger. Four dark shapes materialized through the trees, their eyes gleaming with predatory malice.

The Huntmaster swept her gaze across the pack, a cold calculation settling in her eyes. Level 8, 8, 9, and 10. A formidable challenge, even for her seasoned hunters. But fear was a luxury they couldn't afford.

"Attack!" she commanded, her voice ringing with steely resolve. The rabbits didn't hesitate. With a chorus of yips and yels, they launched into a preemptive strike. This time, however, their tactics were different. Pouches filled with a strange, swirling powder – confiscated from the snake minion, Shazara – were thrown with practised precision. The pouches burst on contact with the warg hides, engulfing the beasts in a cloud of shimmering dust.

Huntmaster held her breath. The powder, she knew, was a gamble. It could cause Confusion, disorienting the wargs for a precious few seconds. But it wouldn't last. This was their window to Strike, and strike hard.

A deep breath filled her lungs. The debuff wouldn't last long. Every second counted. She needed a decisive attack, something swift and crippling before the Wargs could regain their bearings. Once again, she would use a forbidden manoeuvre – this was the time to test its limits.

With a powerful Hop, she propelled herself forward, a blur of snow-white fur. Her body arced through the air, a demonstration of agility honed by years of experience. Jumping over a startled Warg, disoriented by the swirling dust, she emerged behind it like a silent predator stalking its prey. "[ForbiddenBackstab]," she yelled, capitalizing on the fleeting window of opportunity.

A critical hit, but her spear was now stuck, poking grotesquely from the warg’s rear like a second tail. With a snarl, she snatched her BlackFang Stabber and in a blur of desperate agility, launched herself towards the warg's side. Pain, a searing white-hot agony, erupted in her abdomen as the Warg, jolted from its confusion early, twisted and kicked. Yet, her recent evolution granted her a substantial increase in agility. She landed perfectly on her legs, only a heartbeat away from a SavageBite.

"I have it’s aggro!" she shouted, her voice hoarse with exertion. Two quick backward Hops put precious distance between her and the warg's snapping jaws. The rabbits, emboldened by this brief window, swarmed in, a flurry of fur and flashing blades.

The Warg, enraged and disoriented, lashed out at the closest target – the Huntmaster. She dodged with a desperate hop, the level difference screaming at her in every near miss. Energy surged through her veins, fueling another [EnergyBurst] as the Warg lunged again. This wasn't a sustainable tactic. Her movements were growing sluggish, her breaths coming in ragged gasps.

Then, teeth clamped down on her shoulder. Agony. Pure, unadulterated agony ripped through her. Her vision swam as the Warg clamped down with renewed ferocity, the sickening crunch of bone echoing in the silent forest.

"HuntMaster!" the RabbitHunter's desperate cry cut through the haze of pain. Inwoking [Tackle], he slammed into the Warg from the side, a furry projectile trying to dislodge the monstrous beast. It wasn't enough.

The Huntmaster and the Warg locked eyes. Hers, filled with a desperate defiance, his, with feral hunger. Blood gushed from her mangled shoulder, staining her pristine white fur in hot crimson. The world narrowed down to that single point of contact, the searing pain, and the primal struggle for survival.

The Warg clamped down harder, the pressure on her shattered shoulder intensifying. It wouldn't be long before it gave way completely. But giving up wasn't an option. Not with the success of the Quest depending on her.

With a snarl that mirrored the warg's own, she raised her BlackFang Stabber. In a final act of defiance, she unleashed a Flurry of strikes, aiming for the warg's most vulnerable point – its eyes. The blade found its mark, popping the eyes like ripened fruits. The warg howled in pain, momentarily loosening its grip.

That was all she needed. With a surge of renewed EnergytBurst, she repeated her attack, the metallic tang of blood hung heavy in the air. Now both of them, she and the Warg, were bleeding. Her fresh wound oozed blood, her HP was taking a hit, a red sliver hanging precariously in her vision. But for the first time since the Warg clamped down, she wasn't worried.

She'd done her job. The warg, Enraged and Blinded, roared in frustration, thrashing its head wildly. It wouldn't be long now. She knew she would outlast the Warg. The rabbits, emboldened by her sacrifice, capitalized on the beast's weakened state. A series of well-placed Lucky strikes, fueled by a desperate need for revenge, rained down on the Warg.

Finally, with a shudder that shook the very ground, the warg went limp. A collective gasp escaped the remaining rabbits as a message materialized before them: [The EXP has been shared by the party].

Ignoring the throbbing pain in her shoulder, the Huntmaster reached into her pouch and retrieved a precious BloodApple. The moment it touched her tongue, a wave of relief washed over her. The pain dulled, allowing her a semblance of control over her mangled arm.

Another notification flashed – another Warg slain. Gritting her teeth, she ignored the dull ache in her shoulder and hopped forward, joining the fight against the remaining two Wargs.

Outnumbered and outmatched, the remaining Wargs fell quickly. But victory tasted like ashes in Huntmaster's mouth. They had emerged victorious, but not unscathed. One of her rabbits wouldn't be returning with them, his life sacrificed in the struggle. As the brand on his fur flashed crimson, a sign of his final sacrifice, the Huntmaster dipped her head in a silent prayer. The other rabbits mimicked the gesture, a sombre ritual for a fallen comrade.

"His soul is back with Master," she spoke, her voice thick with emotion yet laced with pride. "May he be reborn," the others echoed, finishing the solemn prayer.

The four wargs lay slain, a testament to their desperate struggle. Yet, the Alpha was nowhere to be seen. "The Alpha must be guarding the nest," she muttered, scanning the forest for a sign. Her eyes fell on a large mound of twisted branches and monster fur nestled amongst the trees. "There, the nest, I sense the presence of monsters."

The rabbits, their earlier bravado replaced by a cautious respect for the yet unseen Alpha, they moved in a tight formation. The Huntmaster, her shoulder throbbing with a dull ache, hopped cautiously at the head. The BloodApple had done its work, knitting the broken bone enough for her to function, but it was short of full recovery.

Once she reached the nest, it became clear that the warg pups were no longer there. Six empty indentations in the fur-lined bed spoke of their recent departure. And the Alpha… it was nowhere to be seen

"Strange," Huntmaster muttered, a furrow deepening between her brows. "The Alpha wouldn't leave its nest. And I’m sure my DetectMonster had..." She trailed off, a cold knot forming in her stomach.

Panic clawed at Huntmaster's throat as the realization hit her. The warg pups were gone, replaced by a monstrous trap!

The pile of leaves and branches erupted not in a burst of fur and fangs, but in a writhing, grotesque mockery of life. The monster, the Alpha, wasn't a warg one would expect - it was the forest itself, given a monstrous form. Its body was a gnarled network of ancient vines, thick as a rabbit's arm, pulsating with a sickly green luminescence. Where a head should be, a grotesque visage emerged – bark-like hide stretched taut over a skeletal skull, glowing green orbs for eyes burned with a malevolent intelligence. Its muzzle, a gaping maw lined with razor-sharp teeth, dripped with a viscous purple liquid that reeked of decay and poison. From its back, a mass of writhing tendrils lashed out like barbed whips, eager to Ensnare any unfortunate creature who dared to come too close.

The stench that assaulted their senses wasn't just the putrid odour of decay, but the cloying sweetness of overripe fruit and damp earth – a combination that turned Huntmaster's stomach and sent shivers down her spine. This wasn't just a predator – it was a living embodiment of the forest's dark underbelly, a creature woven from nightmares and the corruption seeping into their world.

She needed to know what exactly she was dealing with, the other hunters had a similar idea because everyone seemingly in unison uttered a frightened [Inspect].

Title: Warden of Vines

Class: [Beast] lvl.20

Magic Affinity: Nature

Race: Warg

Variant: Vine

>>>[Evolve?]<<<

HP:300

MP:50

STA:250

Skills

[PoisonBite], [VineLash], [RootSnare]

Perks

[BarkHide], [PackLeader], [Alpha], [Camouflage]

12 – The Dastardly Ambush of the Warden of Vines

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