The journey to the Monsters lands began, urgency etched into every step. Time wasn't on their side, and they knew every passing moment brought Ray closer to death. To reach the outskirts quickly, Merle was to cast a high-level spatial spell known as Gate.
Gate is a spell that links two distant points in the world using beacons- remainders of ancient civilizations as its focal points. It requires immense precision and mana reserves to complete, making it one of the most advanced spells in Merle's arsenal.
The beacons themselves are made of adaptive material, capable of harmonizing with any elemental spirit to activate their spatial abilities. Like all scholars of the school of magic, Merle wished to uncover their secrets, but as state-protected relics of ancient technology, they were beyond her reach. It was even a dream to just get a chance to use one.
Before starting, she turned to Maggie, the green haired elf, and requested assistance. "I'll need your mana after this," Merle stated, her tone serious.
She wasted no time, positioning herself in the center of the group and raising her arms. Ancient words rolled off her tongue, the air around her vibrated with energy as the spell took shape. It took nearly twenty minutes of intense focus before a shimmering portal, wreathed in crackling blue light, opened before them.
"Go," Merle said through clenched teeth, her voice strained. "I can only hold it for two minutes."
The group hurried through, the sensation of crossing the gate akin to stepping through a waterfall of static electricity. On the other side, the ominous outskirts of the Forest of Monsters greeted them. Thick, gnarled trees loomed overhead, their branches intertwined to block out the moonlight. The air was heavy with an unnatural energy.
Once the group was safe, Merle let the gate dissipate, collapsing to one knee as the spell drained the last of her strength. "We're here," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "Maggie, you are up."
Maggie nodded without hesitation, placing her hand on Merle's shoulder. She began chanting the incantation for Mana Lend, a spell that allowed her to transfer a portion of her energy through use of a similar spirit between them. A soft blue glow passed between them, and Merle felt a surge of power course through her veins, bolstering her depleted reserves.
Once Merle regained her strength, the group pressed onward, determined to cover as much ground as possible before nightfall. The forest outskirts were a maze of uneven terrain, tangled undergrowth, and winding paths. Trina, their scout, relied on her Mana Search technique, sending ripples of energy ahead to detect lurking monsters or hidden dangers. The group made progress, their pace quick despite the oppressive atmosphere.
"Wait," Maggie suddenly hissed, halting in her tracks. Her sharp eyes scanned the surrounding darkness, concern etched into her features. "Something's not right."
Trina immediately activated her search spell, sending a pulse through the forest to check for anomalies. The response was unsettling: no monsters, no movement-just an unnatural stillness blanketing the dense, mana-heavy woods.
Before she could voice her findings, a thunderous crack shattered the silence.
A massive branch came hurtling toward them, crashing into the ground with explosive force. The earth beneath their feet trembled, shifting unpredictably as thick roots erupted from the soil. Tree branches lashed out like serpents, whipping through the air. It was as if the forest itself had come alive, a living, writhing entity intent on swallowing them whole.
The forest seemed to breathe with malevolence, every shadow a threat and every root a weapon. The ground writhed beneath the party's feet, roots bursting from the soil, forcing them to scatter as whip-like branches lashed through the air.
"Trina, shadows!" Edward barked, already moving to intercept a swinging branch. His blade gleamed, cutting through the gnarled wood with a single, precise stroke.
Trina moved like liquid, her form flickering as she stepped into the shadows cast by the writhing trees. She reappeared behind one of the larger roots aiming for Harold, slashing it apart with surgical precision before vanishing again.
Harold, his massive frame unshaken by the chaos, planted his feet firmly. He roared, channeling mana through his legs and stomping hard enough to send a concussive wave rippling outward. The force splintered nearby roots and destabilized the encroaching ground. "I'll hold them off! Edward, cover me!"
Edward's movements were a blur, his sword slicing through incoming threats with lightning speed. His precision was unmatched, each strike a clean cut that severed roots and branches before they could strike his companions.
Maggie, meanwhile, darted between the group, summoning walls of stone and bursts of wind to shield them from the relentless assault. When a massive root shot toward Merle, Maggie responded with a swift incantation, summoning a gust of wind that deflected the attack just in time.
"Thanks!" Merle called, already countering with her own spell. She danced across the battlefield, her wind-infused speed making her a blur as she launched fiery blasts at the roots. Each explosion charred the wood, forcing the writhing limbs to retreat momentarily.
"Something or someone is controlling this!" Trina shouted, emerging from a shadow just long enough to sever another attacking root. "The forest isn't acting on its own!"
Maggie's eyes scanned the chaos. "She's right-this isn't random!"
Suddenly, a powerful strike caught Harold off guard. A massive branch, thicker than a tree trunk, swung with terrifying force. He raised his sword to block, but the impact sent him crashing to the ground, the air knocked from his lungs.
"Harold!" Edward shouted, rushing to his side. His focus cost him-another root shot out and coiled around his leg, yanking him off balance. He slashed at it, but a second branch struck his side, sending him sprawling.
Trina disappeared into a shadow again, her form slipping into the darkness like smoke. She reemerged high above, balanced precariously on a twisting branch. Her sharp eyes locked onto a faint, ethereal glow deep within the forest.
"I see it!" she yelled, vanishing once more.
Below, the battle raged on. Maggie knelt by Harold, her hands glowing blue as she began channeling nature's energy to stabilize his injuries. "Merle, cover us!"
Merle nodded, weaving fire and air into a storm of flames that consumed the approaching roots. "Hurry, Maggie! I can't hold this forever!"
Trina reappeared near the glowing specter, her blades flashing as she lunged. The ghostly figure turned toward her, its eyes burning with otherworldly light, but it was too late. Her blade sliced clean through the connection between the specter and the forest.
The moment the bond was severed, the forest froze. The roots fell limp, the branches stilled, and the oppressive energy lifted. The specter let out a shrill cry before vanishing into the ether.
Trina landed gracefully, wiping her blade clean. "It's done," she said, her voice steady but her breathing heavy.
Merle's shoulders sagged in relief, but her expression darkened as she turned to Harold, who was struggling to rise. "This is exactly why I wanted Crystal to come with us," she snapped. "We need a healer for something this dangerous!"
Maggie's head bowed, her hands still glowing as she worked. "I didn't say anything earlier because I didn't think it mattered, but… I'm not just a mage," she said quietly.
The group turned to her their curiosity piqued.
"I'm from druid lineage," Maggie continued, her voice stronger now. "I can channel nature's energy more specifically the water element to heal, just like any healer can. Let me show you."
She placed her hands over Harold and Edward, her chant soft and melodic, her elvish bouncing of her tongue. The glow from her hands intensified, spreading across their wounds like a living balm. The cuts knit together, bruises faded, and both knights began to breathe easier.
When Maggie finished, she sat back, her face pale but satisfied. "There. They'll be fine."
Harold groaned, sitting up with Maggie's help. "You have never mentioned this before?"
Maggie met his gaze. "You never asked."
Merle smirked despite herself, shaking her head. "Remind me not to underestimate you again."
The group gathered themselves, clearly exhausted but their spirits unbroken. The Monsters land had thrown a powerful challenger at them, but they had survived. For now.