***
Yang Hai had been running from the burly straggler with all her might despite the dehydration she had been facing.
The creature had times that it nearly killed her, but she used all of her remaining strength to narrowly escape.
Since she wasn't at full strength, running back to the base was not an option. Also, it would most likely compromise the safety of everyone.
She had resorted to cat and mouse tactics, using the buildings to buy herself time, running up stairs and having the creature follow her.
However, tricks could only last so long, especially when there was more than one threat.
The roots springing up from the ground caught her by surprise, and one managed to impale her at her side and come out her back.
Yang Hai screamed in pain and quickly tried to remove it from her body but to no avail.
What made it worse was the bulking straggler that rushed up to her and gave her a fierce punch in her abdomen that launched her all the way up!
With the force, she was removed from the roots, flying up and knocking head first on a building wall.
'Shit... this ...is.... bad,' She thought before passing out.
The burly straggler attacked her body as she lay down, but another hulking mass growled and knocked it away with a fierce force!
It was a giant wolf.
Grace who was on top, jumped off and spoke to the wolf.
"Take her back to the base, I'll take care of this."
Her plan was to make sure that the straggler did not follow them. Buying some time would be the best option, even better if she could defeat the straggler.
The wolf tried to nudge her with its snout to ask her to change her mind, but she relented.
"Go! She needs help."
The wolf reluctantly took Yang Hai in its mouth and ran back to the base.
Grace faced the burly straggler and her pupils became slits, with a green glow. Sharp claws emerged from her hands as she prepared a stance.
'I hope my messenger finished my work for me. But, from the looks of it, it won't be much help, informing everyone about the plan. This thing actually seems str-'
Before she could finish her sentence, something extremely fast rushed down and whisked her away!
No one saw as it was invisible to the naked eye, rushing upwards with a great speed.
***
Innate Ability: Angelic Music Demon.
An innate ability that influences elements in the environment to behave a certain way depending on the type of music used.
Anything from living to non living matter can be influenced. The better coherence and matching of the music to the situation, the more effective it was. The flow was also an important factor.
The restriction to the ability is...
No known or already established songs can be used. The user must always sing according to the situation. Impromptu style.
Aryan saw the devastation on the ground. The dead hanging on roots, the struggling Invigorated, and the changing atmosphere.
He had to act fast.
They had taken time to reach this place after discovering a peculiar phenomenon on the way.
Now, he and Mei had to do what they were sent to do.
Seeing the powerful grade A rampaging and screeching while trying to kill everything that moves, Aryan decided it was best to use the music best suited for offense.
Rap.
He held the mic. Given that he was a very flexible singer who imitated and enjoyed all facets of music, he wasn't too bad at using his innate ability. He loved digging deep into the soul of every type of music and the culture that inspired it.
"Ahem.." he spoke into the mic and pressed the button the one of the speakers.
A beat began to play with an immense sound that covered a vast distance.
Aryan bobbed his head a little with his eyes closed for a few seconds and then opened them.
From his mouth, a beautiful voice was expelled, being amplified by the mic and forming a powerful sound. He began to rap, directing his energy on the enemy, while being in sync with the beat.
"Yo Straggler,
Here comes your handler,
I see you got roots in this place,
But you gotta chill with your pace,
Quit your assault on my race,
And make sure to give us some face,
Your attitude lacks all respect,
That's something I'm gonna correct,
Let's see who's bad in this Zone,
Lil' me or you who's alone,"
A burst of energy raged from Aryan and stormed on the tree with a static visual, as if applying a debuff!
Everyone looked in awe.
The tree and its roots started to slow down. Some of the roots even let go of the people that they held, dead or alive, coiling as if they were malfunctioning.
The attacks lessened throughout the entire Safe Zone!
Some began to cheer while taking up arms again and believing that all hope was not lost after all.
Mei reached the ground and went up to a group of Invigorated holding heavy artilleries.
"Hey, I need you to take aim on the tree. It doesn't matter if its accurate or not, just don't miss the tree, got it?" she said.
"Umm ...yes ma'am," they said, confused.
To their knowledge these things weren't that effective and they had been struggling to fight the roots so that they could aim well.
"Just do it," she said and headed towards the remaining tanks to give the same order.
Afterwards she headed towards the tree at her top speed, becoming a blur.
"Your roots go deep in the ground,
But they should stay heaped in a mound,
My people got you to surround,
They're dark, light and profound,
The strength that we hold is so vast,
We'll make you a thing of the past,
These hands will give you some sorrow,
Goodbye, you got no tomorrow,"
Another surging burst of energy struck the tree, making its roots and body start to coil and creak! It was trying to resist the effects of Aryan's singing.
For a moment, it stopped screeching and started to grunt in pain.
On the other hand, all the humans felt a surge of power that rejuvenated them and make them feel dense pulses of adrenaline.
Amelia felt it too and didn't waste such an opportunity. Moral was back online and she wouldn't waste it.
"COME ON! BACKUP IS HERE! LAUNCH EVERYTHING YOU HAVE AT THAT THING! RANGERS YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO! THE REST GRAB HIGH CALIBRE GUNS AND FIRE!" She yelled, prompting the Invigorated to act!
Many took up arms, taking advantage of the unstable roots of the tree to cover ground and surround it at a safe distance. Firing all the ammunition they had!
A few rockets were launched exploding on the roots covering the tree, leaving scorched marks.
The tree was enraged.
Numerous roots and long branches protruded from its body and spun at high speed, devastating the buildings and Invigorated as far as to the base and turned them to mush!
The straggler was still very much energetic and alive.
Josh had been dodging roots while still engaging with the lion straggler. It was beaten up but still lively.
He saw a quick shadow at the edge of his vision, moving at a tremendous speed. Once he caught a glance of the face, he smirked.
"Boost!!" Mei yelled as she rushed towards Josh and leapt up over him!
"Up you go!" Josh said activated Lonely Bastard, which pushed Mei into the air at breakneck speed!
She stabilised herself in the air and forced herself to head over to one of the charred spots on the tree!
As she approached, she held her chopsticks as if she was about to have a meal and pushed her hand forward.
The chopsticks landed on the charred spot and .....
It vanished.
Like it was never there.
A hole remained, matching the shape of the scar left by the ammunition that hit the tree!
The tree screeched in pain and looked at the hole on its body in despair.
Mei had already passed through, descending to the ground with a roll!
All who watched were flabbergasted!
Some of the Invigorated had their mouths agape!
The crew that had been told to fire their ammunition by Mei began launching every since one they had, aiming for creature!
Mei circled around the creature again.
It quickly turned towards her, recognising her as a threat and produced more roots and branches to capture her.
Innate Ability: Binge Eater.
Mei's innate ability was an extremely powerful tool. She could 'eat' anything as long as she had an eating 'utensil' in hand. The food doesn't necessarily go to her stomach as she 'eats'. It is taken to a separate sub dimension that she can consciously feel. It has a limit and sometimes it can also reject food according to her tastes and preferences. Luckily, Mei was a glutton that loves all food, vegetable, fruit or meat.
However, there is a particular restriction that made the use of her ability need the company of other Invigorated.
She can only 'eat' food that is 'cooked'.
From the use of fire, to boiling of water. As long is its a method of cooking she knows, then she can 'eat'.
"You gonna go down in a blast,
Your effect on this world won't ever last,
Your branch should be snapped and made to a mast,
Coz this Zone's about to recover fast!"
A deep wave of energy struck the tree making it screech again. This time some of its branches immediately broke off and fell from the ground!
Another wave rotated with a static around the atmosphere but broke apart.
Aryan stumbled and knelt on the helicopter platform vomiting blood. He started coughing and took deep breaths.
'Okay. Bad idea. Seems recovering the Safe Zone atmosphere is definitely beyond me!'
The tanks that remained from the attack started moving towards the creature to get a better aim. They had dents but the men and women inside were very much active, forcing them through the rugged ground, over the many corpses of Stragglers. A female Invigorated could visibly be seen atop the tank, half her body within as she directed.
Two figures ran towards one of the tanks. Ana waved at the lady with Nicholas behind her.
"Hey! If you want to aim at that thing's head then I can help," she said.
The woman atop the tank, didn't hesitate and talked to her men.
Other Invigorated with heavy artillery kept attacking, leaving marks on the creature that Mei immediately jumped to 'eat'.
The tank aimed at the position of the monster's rampaging head and stopped.
The young woman atop the tank looked at Ana.
"We're ready."
Ana touched the tank.
"Fire!"
The tank shot the shell from its turret, smoke evidently mixing with the air as the tank jerked.
Ana used her innate ability, Guidance, to direct the shell at the creature's head!
It curved in an arc speedily, evading the creature's branches and slammed into its face!
The tree jerked and backtracked, screaming!
It's leaves were alight and it momentarily stopped its attacks. Burning embers remained on its face.
Mei smirked.
She rushed towards Josh with her leather black hair rustling in the wind, her ocean blue eyes focused only on the burnt creature's head!
Aryan stood from where he had been kneeling. He sighed and took a deep breath, his brown eyes looking solemn and his thick, curly hair dancing in the wind.
His tall figure was taking in the light as he held the mic.
"You shouldn't have messed with Invigorated,
Now look at your face, you look constipated,
Hope you like the glaring incendia,
Coz this one's for my home, that place you sunk down, India."
(A/N: Incendia means or is related to fire).
The remaining burning embers that had been dying down on the creature's face, burned again, with more vigor, making the creature scream.
However....
Mei, with her chopsticks in hand, flying at breakneck speed towards the creature's head, put the creature out of its misery...