Alice ducked out of the way of the thick root that swung at her. She raised the machete in the air and brought it down to stab the root into the earth. Then she used her sickle to sever it from the rest.
The Dark Queen screamed, unearthing several large, thick roots toward Alice.
Alice was thrown back by the roots, landing with a heavy thud and sickening crack. She did not scream but instead let out a gasp and soft cry as a fire spread from her shoulder down through her arm. She dropped the sickle, which faded into a black mist as she grabbed her shoulder.
The Queen grinned with eyes full of hatred as she prepared to attack Alice once again.
Ashleigh moved with unprecedented speed, charging at the Dark Queen with her sword in front of her.
The sword pierced into the bark of the tree. The Queen cried out in horror and agony. The bark around the wound burned and curled away from the spectral weapon. Her eyes widened and bulged as the pain overwhelmed her.
