Terra-Green City
"What's that sound?" Theo asked, fear creeping into his voice.
Lennox, Theo, and Kira turned slowly, their eyes widening as they beheld a five-foot creature crafted from compacted soil, adorned with unassuming bushes bearing thorny vines and simple green leaves. Small, sharp thorns adorned its form, and its berries boasted a modest size and dull red hue.
"It's a Bramblethorn," Kira analyzed, her gaze focused. "The Lesser Version."
Bramblethorns hailed from the darkest depths, their purpose to seek and spread influence across the land, entwining everything in their thorny grasp.
Kira unslung her Shadowstrider bow from her back. "Twinkle, this is perfect for you; Bramblethorns have a weakness against fire," she explained, turning to Theo. "And your wind can come in handy too," she added, recalling information from the malevolent creature book detailing the creatures' vulnerabilities to fire and wind.
"Alright, does anyone have a plan?" Lennox inquired.
"No," Kira and Theo replied simultaneously.
"Alright, for now, let's improvise," Lennox declared. As multiple Bramblethorns slowly advanced toward them, he grasped the Fireember staff. A realization flashed across his mind; he knew how to manipulate it. The staff shrank to two feet, and he deftly laced it into his back and donned his Aetherbane gloves.
Lennox, his gaze ablaze with determination, shouted "Let's show these bramblethorns what we're made of!"
Theo, agile and focused, responded with a smirk, "Just a warm-up, right?"
Lennox and the others exchanged determined nods, adopting firm stances in preparation. With a synchronized dash, Lennox and Theo surged forward side by side. Meanwhile, Kira, positioned at the rear, skillfully notched an arrow. The bow bestowed upon her a new skill, 'Shadowshot arrow.' Infusing her nyctosure element into the arrow, she unleashed a swift, obsidian black projectile that pierced straight through the bramblethorn's head, causing it to slump lifelessly into the soil. its surrounding bushes followed suit. Lennox and Theo turned, surprise etched on their faces as they realized Kira had dispatched one with a single, well-aimed arrow. She nodded to them, acknowledging her success, but the unspoken consensus among them was clear that they needed to elevate their game.
Kira, unleashing another Shadowshot arrow, called out, "Keep them distracted, boys. I've got a few more surprises in my quiver."
Lennox, replied with confidence, "You handle the surprises, Kira. We'll handle the rest."
Theo skillfully evaded the thorny green whips of a bramblethorn, deftly maneuvering to avoid its attacks. As the whip lashed down, he swiftly deployed the retractable blade on his forearm, slicing through the bushy creature and sending it to its demise in the soil. Sensing a disturbance behind him, Theo reacted instinctively, using his air to push his body out of harm's way. Turning back to the bramblethorn, he unleashed a powerful gust of air, propelling soil into the distance. With the bramblethorn attempting to resist the force to no avail, Theo closed the gap and sliced through its body multiple times, ensuring its demise.
Lennox, on the other hand, moved with the precision of a coiled spring, launching himself at another bramblethorn. Utilizing the aetherbane gloves for the first time, the glove's veins glowed with an azure hue as he condensed a fiery orb within them. With a swift motion, he released the fireball at the bramblethorn, causing a spectacular explosion that scattered soil in all directions.
Lennox's heart raced. "Woah, these gloves are powerful!" he exclaimed, excitement lighting up his face.
Lennox's mind raced with possibilities as he contemplated the untapped potential of his gloves. Eager to put them to the test once more, he focused on the approaching Bramblethorn, its thorny whip poised to strike. With a swift and practiced motion, Lenhe nox aimed his gloves, conjuring yet another fireball that streaked through the air toward the Bramblethorn. The explosive impact resonated as the fiery burst engulfed the creature, scattering remnants of soil and bushes.
"These Fireball gloves, are officially my new favorite toy," Lennox remarked, a hint of satisfaction in his tone.
Theo, who had just finished dispatching another Bramblethorn, chuckled. "Think they come in my size?"
Lennox shot him a grin. "Maybe, but I don't think your airbending needs any upgrades."
As Kira lined up another shot with her Shadowshot arrow, she joined in, "Don't get too comfortable, boys. We've got more dance partners incoming."
Theo, mid-air from an evasive maneuver, responded, "I was hoping for a slow dance, but I guess we'll take what we can get."
Stepping deeper into the midst of the battle, two Bramblethorns discarded their whips, opting for a more direct confrontation. Lennox mirrored their choice, clenching his fists and readying himself for hand-to-hand combat. The first Bramblethorn felt the weight of Lennox's powerful blow to its head, causing it to stagger backward but not succumbing entirely. In a seamless pivot, Lennox delivered a right hook to the second Bramblethorn, which had attempted a sneak attack from behind, sending it sprawling away.
Undeterred, the initial Bramblethorn regrouped and lunged at Lennox once more. Displaying agility, he deftly evaded the dirt-covered, spiked bush fist, narrowly escaping a potentially devastating blow. Seizing the opportunity, he jabbed his fist forward, only to find it ensnared in the Bramblethorn's thorny grip. Unfazed, Lennox harnessed his fire power within him, enveloping his fist in blazing flames that consumed the Bramblethorn from the inside, leaving nothing but ashes in his wake.
Simultaneously, the second Bramblethorn attempted to catch Lennox off guard. Swift as the wind, he executed a low sweeping kick, disrupting the creature's balance and causing it to crash to the ground. Capitalizing on the vulnerability, Lennox unleashed searing flames, ensuring the complete eradication it.
"Help!"
Lennox and Theo were startled by Kira's fearful voice, quickly turning around to find her surrounded by multiple bramble thorns. One of them had already ensnared her hand with its thorns, causing a surge of adrenaline to course through her veins as she desperately tried to break free.
Lennox swiftly turned and dashed towards Kira, shouting, "Hold on, Kira! I'm coming!"
Using both gloves, Lennox knew that unleashing multiple fireballs would strain his body, but he had no choice. The bramble thorns needed to be dealt with. As he approached, he noticed that Theo was preoccupied with his own battle against the thorns, realizing that he was on his own.
"Dammit, they're growing faster," Kira thought in worry, her attempts to use her shadow power inexplicably thwarted.
The thorns had already grown up to Kira's chest, threatening to reach her neck. Lennox, with two dead and other bramble thorns obstructing his view of the one ensnaring her, relied on his inferno blaze. He unleashed a large blaze of flames that illuminated multiple bramble thorns, managing to reveal the one that had Kira ensnared.
'I got you,' Lennox thought.
Spotting the three bramble thorns, Lennox swiftly took control of the situation, calculating his aim and sending three fireballs that instantly incinerated the menacing thorns into solid, lifeless forms. Kira, released from the entanglement, fell to her knees. Some thorns slowly receded, while others burned from the remnants of Lennox's flames.
Without concern for the sharpness of the thorns, Lennox hurried to Kira, breaking them off her. "Are you okay?" he asked with evident worry.
As he examined Kira's body, he noticed small holes with bleeding. Lennox lifted her up, placing her hand on his shoulder. He pondered how to heal her wounds when, to his surprise, the small holes started slowly closing. Kira's forehead squeezed, and she wore a look of struggle. Lennox was astonished, wondering what was happening, but after a few seconds, her wounds completed healing.
"Sign... I'm good, just give me a couple of seconds to rest and get my strength back," Kira said, exhausted.
While about to let Kira catch her breath, Lennox was eager to assist Theo when they heard his voice.
"Guys, look at this," Theo said slowly.
Looking up in the direction Theo was pointing, they finally saw the state of the city. Buildings lay destroyed, covered in thorns, streets filled with cracks, and an eerie dark smoke filled the air, casting an unsettling gloom over the city.
"What happened? Did we come late?" Kira said in shock.
"No... I don't think so. It looks like it's been this way for a while now," Lennox said.
Suddenly, screams of terror echoed from panicked citizens in the city, and the wail of emergency sirens filled the air.
"Guys, we should quickly get a move on," Lennox urged.
Lennox, Theo, and Kira navigated through the cracked streets, dispatching a couple of bramble thorns along the way. They heard the distant screams of citizens, abruptly cut off as a grim realization settled in—they were being quickly killed. Observing elemental bursts in the air, they deduced that students from other classes were present, and the situation extended beyond their city.
Amid the chaos, Lennox, Theo, and Kira strolled past a maglev train and were startled by the desperate cries for help. Turning toward the grey thorn-covered train, they spotted multiple citizens inside, shouting for assistance as bramble thorns approached. Everyone stared in shock, but the trio sprang into action.
"Kira, take the roof. Theo, you take the left, and I'll take the right," Lennox ordered as they advanced.
As Lennox and Theo charged towards the besieged train, a surge of determination echoed in the air. Kira, a blur of unparalleled speed, effortlessly ascended to the rooftop, her movements a dance of grace and power. With a flicker of her hair, she surveyed the chaos below.
Meanwhile, Theo, his muscles rippling with strength, planted himself before the train's entrance. With a mighty heave, he pulled open the door, revealing a gateway to salvation. The citizens, driven by a mix of fear and hope, surged past him like a river escaping its confines.
"Move," Theo urged.
"Thank you!"
"Thank you!"
"Are you what they call Nexarcs?" a little kid in the crowd asked.
Theo, moved by the innocence of the child, choked back his emotions. "Yes, I hope you can become one someday," he replied, playfully pinching the kid's nose before dashing inside the train.
On the other side, Lennox had already entered the train, guiding citizens outside before turning his attention back to confront the encroaching bramble thorns.