The icy blue mana burst from Princess Iris as Ren leapt up. A dark green-purple coloured lump of plant matter burst out of the ground where he was just standing. Barbed feelers reached for his feet as he desperately tried to catch a branch to keep himself suspended in the air.
A loud shriek echoed as Princess Iris's barrier severed the feelers from the main body of the grasper. Only then, when the ground before them shook and the main body of the plant-like creature burst out from the breaking earth.
Ren landed back on the ground and then, speechless, stared at the massive monster in front of them.
It was a mass of… plant – he couldn't find any better way to describe it. From the mass of giant leaves that were the size of Warthorn's shield, and the thick, sturdy root-like appendages that seemed even more dangerous than the barbed feelers, they couldn't take this creature lightly.
"Ophelia!" Princess Iris shouted as the barbed feelers struck her barrier spell. "Use those icicles now!"
The young noble grinned as a much larger icicle appeared before her.
The feelers struck the barrier again as Princess Iris gritted her teeth. She wasn't strong enough to maintain the spell for much longer.
"Ren!" She shouted. "Go!"
The young man didn't skip a beat as he lowered his body and dashed into the fray. As he passed through the icy mana maintaining the barrier, he shivered for a moment. His body filled with anticipation, he unsheathed his tachi and cut the first set of feelers reaching for him in one swift move.
As nectar seeped from the cut appendages, he covered his nose with his cloak. The incredibly sweet, intoxicating scent immediately numbed his senses.
"Don't breathe it in!" He shouted as he retreated into the barrier. "It's a paralyzing agent. It's how it keeps its prey captured."
"I can't keep this up forever." Princess Iris said, glancing at Ophelia. She continued to assault the creature with icicles. Though her spell wasn't anything special, it was working, somewhat.
Ren quickly cut off a piece of his cloak and wrapped it around his nose and mouth. "I'll try again." He said as cracks started to appear on the barrier. "Persephone, be ready to support me." He didn't wait for an answer from the swordswoman. Instead, he once again dashed forward.
As soon as he passed through the icy barrier, his movements slowed. The air was heavy with the sweet scent. Despite the cloth around his nose and mouth, he could feel his body getting heavier with each breath. He didn't have much time – whatever they did, they had to kill the creature now!
He leapt up as a dozen feelers followed him. With gritted teeth, he swung his tachi and cut through the soft, fragile leaves in his way. He had to get to the actual body of the creature.
"Now!" Princess Iris' shout faintly sounded as his feet touched the mass surrounding the creature. As leaves and flowers got crushed beneath his leather boots, Ren seemingly wildly swung his blade. "Keep it busy!" He shouted.
He was standing on the massive creature, hidden between the leaves on its back. Beneath his feet, he could see the layers of sturdy root and hardened resin. Above him, he could see the feelers searching for him.
The creature suddenly shook as a burst of mana hit it. As the ground beneath his legs trembled, Ren fell on one knee. Sticky resin had gotten all over his clothes. He grabbed on to a handful of leaves, then quickly let go. Was the creature's entire body covered in resin?
"Princess!" He shouted, once again cursing his inability to use his mana effectively. "Burn it! Use fire spells!" He wasn't sure if his words had gotten across – there was nothing he could do but hope.
More mana approached and hit the creature, causing it to tremble. Ren clenched his fist – they were doing damage to it, but if it decided to retreat, all of their efforts were going to be in vain. He forced himself to get up on the shaking body of the creature. He needed fire to cut through the layers protecting the core of the creature's body.
With a few swings of his blade, he cut a path amongst the leaves and threw himself on the ground. As soon as his feet touched the earth, he rolled inside the barrier. The barbed feelers following him hit the barrier, causing more cracks to appear.
"Persephone!" He shouted. The young noble stopped in the middle of a chant to look at him. "I need fire!" He said, out of breath. His mind had started to feel hazy. "Enchant my sword with fire."
"The flames can burn you too," She said after a moment's hesitation. "Don't let them touch you."
He nodded. "I need you to distract it. If it notices me while I'm standing on it-"
"I know." Persephone said with fire in her eyes. A flash of mana leapt from her hands to his tachi. "I'll make sure its attention is on me."
A smile appeared on Ren's lips as flames engulfed his sword. "Princess," He said as he brushed past her. "Hold on a little longer."
As he leapt through the barrier, Persephone was right behind him. None of them noticed the bitter smile on Princess Iris' face.
As soon as they stepped outside the barrier, chaos ensued. Persephone wasn't weak, but her strength didn't come from her swordsmanship or speed – it came from her precise use of her mana. As she blocked a few dozen feelers reaching for her, she couldn't do much to dispatch of those following Ren. However, she could jump in the way and let them hit her barrier.
"Go!" She shouted as the barrier she'd created already started to crack.
Ren leapt up and threw himself among the leaves on the creature's back. Making sure to keep his tachi away from his body, he barely managed to find his balance and thrust the burning sword into the protective layers of roots and hardened resin.
A loud, ear piercing shriek echoed as the creature trembled and shook. The tremors beneath his feet brought him to his knees, but he didn't give up. He twisted and turned the sword, forcing it deeper and deeper. The core couldn't be much deeper, right?
Another shriek echoed. Ren tightly grasped the hilt of his tachi. Just a little bit more! He took a shallow breath and used all of his power to push the burning sword down. The sweet smell grew stronger. With his hazy mind, he noticed the movement behind him a few seconds too late.
He flinched when he felt a numbed pain around his waist. Even in his dizzy state, he didn't need to look to know what was happening.
Not a moment later, he found himself suspended in the air.