A harrowing storm of black crows with red beady eyes, their molted feathers displaying their putrid flesh. Numerous beasts ranging from wolves, panthers, jaguars, leopards, even rodents and hares, all glared from behind the trees and within bushes. Serpents and overgrown frogs, possessing deadly venoms.
These undead beasts outnumbered them, though they were among the strongest in the village.
"We're outnumbered, but unlike these foul creatures who run off of pure instinct, we can act with intelligence." Kia-Nian stated.
Nero shook his head, stating dismissively, "The dead don't fear death. I'd say their pure instinct is much more frightening than intelligence. Quint, you get moving. We'll take care of this."
As Nero spoke, lightning surged through his body in an even stronger current than before. His muscles convulsed, his entire body growing in size with bulging veins and eyes that sought only to kill all enemies.
He lunged forward, grabbing a deteriorated jaguar's skull between his large hands, smashing it together. The body fell to the ground, attempting to regenerate when Nero's foot smashed down, flattening part of its chest into a meaty paste that splattered his robe.
A serpent shot forward as he rose his head, grasping it between his hands. Nero opened his mouth and his teeth seemed to sharpen like canines as he bit into the serpent, tearing it in two while both signs wreathed on the ground.
Without a single trace of viable reason left in his mind, Nero continued to tear apart beast after beast.
Kia-Nian followed, "Don't mind my next ability, it's a special gift I received long ago. Vultisori's Embrace - Summoning Stamp of Vultasori!"
As Kia-Nian spoke, his pupils lit up as they formed into blue iris flowers, while wood and life energies converged in front of him, taking on the form of a beast of vegetation. Its body sturdy like a tree, thistled vines acting as whips, and a blossoming of flowers of unknown effects.
Similar to Icrin, Kia-Nian had been bestowed with one of Vultisori's flowers. But unlike Icrin, he had long since learned how to use this gift.
Vultisori, Prodigium Silvis, was the original beast of the forest. Vultasori however was an identical name given to both iris flowers, the equivalent to seeds which would birth new Prodigium Silvis'.
When bestowed with one of the flowers, it would bury itself into the host's soul and form a bond, where it continued to nourish both itself and the host. Once the flower was nourished enough, its host would be able to summon it from their soul, their strengths being identical.
"Vultasori, all of these freaks are our enemies. Let's make quick work of them."
Vultasori's canopy shook in agreement, extending thorny vines out in all directions, tying up beasts while shredding others. Soon, the beasts found what was left of their bodies being devoured by Vultasori as it greedily consumed what nutrients remained.
Kia-Nian's eyes glowed purple, his lightning energy a mutated variant from those of his clan. His lightning was peaceful rather than chaotic. Rather than destroy, it seemed to have the properties to nourish. As he sent strands into the surrounding beasts, their bodies fell slowly to the ground. The energy controlling their corpses was simply erased.
Astrona jumped around rhythmically, dodging the beasts with fluent steps while leaving behind a trace of energy with each step.
He declared in exhaustion, "Whew. The formation is finally ready."
Despite being worn out, his eyes flickered with light as he forced his axe into the sky, matching in the middle of the formation.
Crackle.
A crackling followed through the night sky and lightning flashed.
Bang!
A thunderbolt crashed into the ground, obliterating several beasts in the proximity.
The fighting came to a halt, thankfully as all of them were nearing their limits. They quickly neared the makeshift shack, opening the door.
As they peered inside, their mouths went agape in shock. No one spoke, not a single sound came out no matter how much they tried.
There were four people inside. Well, one person unconscious—Tsyun—and three dead bodies.
Tsyun's eyes were tightly covered by a blood stained bandage, his breathing faint. The three bodies were his parents, as well as his older sister. All their eyes were still wide open in shock, their bodies perfectly intact.
The cause of their death was unfathomable.
"It's my fault...." Nero shook heavily.
"It's not your fault, Nero. You made sure he continued to stay at his home in seclusion. You upped security throughout the village. This cult's abilities are just beyond our comprehension." Astrona dimly replied.
"I should've personally stayed by his side. No, I should've just taken action the first day they made their appearance." Nero voiced in anguish, his hands curled into fists while his eyes bled.
Kia-Nian yelled, maintaining the rationality of the group, "Patriarch! Now's not the time for this. We need to get Tsyun back to the village, then gather our dead for a burial. And where's Quint?"
Several bangs rang out nearby.
Kia-Nian looked at the two, "Go. I'll watch over Tsyun; Vultisori can provide him with life energy in the meantime. He'll be fine under my care."
Nodding in agreement, the duo left.
As they neared Quint, they had to stop and watch the fight from afar. Even Nero being a half-step into Core Formation couldn't approach the two carelessly. The pressure the two gave off—it was immobilizing.
Edalas, the researcher, wielded a slim red and black blade. Each swing was basic, yet without impurities. It seemed that aside from his research, Edalas' swordsmanship was of high quality.
Quint held a small dagger formed from ice, yet it rapidly changed shape, length, and took on different forms.
While it seemed the two were caught in a stalemate, Edalas' sword suddenly changed direction, piercing through Quint's foot and into the ground.
"Gargh!" Quint let out in pain, yet a vicious smile formed upon his face.
Edalas came to a realization, attempting to dive back as Quint caught his arm.
"You think you can hurt me and remain unscathed?" Quint burst forth, ice energy quickly encasing Edalas' hand, traveling up his arm.
"Damnit. Foren, tear it off!" Edalas screamed out manically.
A black timber wolf with dull eyes stormed in his direction, its jaw opening as its sharp teeth tore apart Edalas' arm, severing even the bone. Edalas screamed in pain as the arm was torn from his torso, yet a smile soon accompanied his face.
Edalas grabbed onto Foren's back, exclaiming fanatically, "Haha. You're quite something, aren't you? We'll meet again though, and I'll be waiting to see how Tsyun turns out. Make sure he takes care of himself."
As Edalas turned to depart, a group of five blocked his path. It was Ced, Faline, and three other hunters.
A cynical smile escaped Edalas' face, while Astrona screamed out from afar in panic, "Ced! Faline! Go back, now!"
The five looked at each other, before ultimately deciding not to move.
They couldn't let this man escape! Not when he was the leader of that cult!
Edalas yelled out, "SHUREN!" Another beast made its appearance, its body covered in a brown fur with needles like a porcupine. Each needle tip was of a coppery green color, and its body was much larger than a porcupine, about the size of a cow.
Faline readied her bo staff, Ced standing by her side as his energy surged. The other three prepped for the worst.
Before they could act, a flurry of needles shot out from the porcupine's back in acute angles—it was impossible to dodge them all.
The five dodged what they could and deflected others, yet several managed to pierce their defenses and lodge into their flesh.
Two of the hunters instantly died, one's neck pierced through, the other shot through the skull.
"Foren, Shuren, get us out of here!" He laughed maniacally, quickly escaping.
"God dammit! Not again!" Astrona and Nero quickly attended to their injuries, while Quint limped over to the third hunter.
"It's just a minor injury." Ced coughed.
Faline started, "Yeah, we'll make it through—"
The third hunter who survived started to spasm, his mouth foaming white and red, "Astrona, not good! They've been poisoned by that thing's needles!" Quint started in panic.
Astrona's heart started racing, as he looked towards the third hunter.
His convulsing body quickly went still, no sign of life remaining. As he turned his gaze, Ced was holding Faline's hand in his.
Ced turned his gaze, flaring into a coughing fit, "Father... Sorry... Icrin... I'm sorry...."
"Father-in-law... I failed to protect him... I'm sorry... It's unfair, but please, watch over Icrin for us—"
Alongside Ced, Faline's eyes closed, their pulses coming to a halt.
Just like that... they were gone. Astrona felt a piece of him break, bursting into tears as he screamed out in anguish.
And just what he had always feared... he broke through in his cultivation. Going from stage 6 to stage 8. Astrona's weeping only grew stronger.
"Every time.... Every time someone I love dies, my cultivation breaks through! WHY! WHY AM I DAMNED! Damned to just watch... To watch all I love suffer...." He screamed out over and over, his face of snot and tears while Nero and Quint stood behind him silently, their gazes lusterless.
There was nothing to say, nothing at all to explain this situation could be put into words.
Astrona cried and screamed until he could no longer make a noise, his eyes puffy and red. Silently, they returned to the village.
The moon had long traded positions with the sun. But despite it being a new day, they still felt lost. Maybe a part of them would always be lost on that day, forever unable to move on.
All who were able grouped and went out into the forest, searching for and bringing back the bodies from their village.
No matter who, everyone was mourning. Grand Elder Ahan, normally the most stern of all in the village, burst in sorrow as he saw his son's body brought back. Over and over, he screamed about how he was stuck guarding the village while his son was out fighting.
Elder Astrona, after the death of his son and daughter-in-law, started wearing a plain grey robe. His blue robe was personally made by Faline, and every time he saw it his emotions flared.
Icrin locked himself away in his room after hearing the news, refusing to go out. Soon, the moon rose, and yet he couldn't fall asleep.
His eyes bloodshot, he cried out softly, "Paramnesia, Sapience."
Two serpents formed beside him, "I won't do this forever... It's just for a little."
Icrin cried, while the serpent "Paramnesia" bit into his neck, distorting his memory.
"It's just for the night... Just so I can sleep... Even if for a bit...."
Icrin's eyes shut slowly, finally falling to sleep and into his dreams.