Alexander stepped over the thicker vines, following specific ones that appeared dried and weak. He knew they were just as magic resistant and tough as the healthy ones and resisted trying to break them. They traversed the area with caution, taking care to watch their backs and keep in contact with Max who stood watch at the wall, to far for his drones to watch them.
'These blasted vines continue on this way, towards the north woods. I see another building further up, it may be where these things are coming from but stay vigilant, were still being graded.' Kahawai spoke through Line.
They traveled through the denser woods for minutes north, taking time to mark their surroundings. Alexander didnt worry about that, as he left nanites on the path.
"There's not a single other life form here. It's as if this entire place is devoid of life except for plants." Kai noticed, chopping at leaves and branches that got in their way, with Fox using his large axe.
The group and Sergent Eisenhardt arrived to a collapsing tower of stone. The marterial was similar to the bricks of the wall without the carved faces. The top of the enormous tower was collapsed, but had a different feeling all together from the wall. A drifting sense of mana rose around the tower and attracted almost all attention.
The proctors were strong (A) ranked instructors highered by the association from amongst their best. At the start of the trial which Alexander missed, they gave specific instructions that Alexander didn't hear. One instruction was that the team should not wonder off without a good reason or without telling the group.
Vines spilled from the top of the towers opening like a green vibrant water fall, with light green flowers. With an intense power, the aura coming from them, distorted the area. Powerful vibrations alerted the group to go on guard, looking for anything around them.
During this time, Alexander traveled away from the group, using his enhanced senses to follow his main objective, the withered vines. They lead away from the tower towards the right. He stalked the length of the vines, stumbling upon a well, covered in the vines, leading down into itself.
"Over here, guys! Ive found something." He shouted with agency. When he turned to see why none of the team responded, a thick film of mana surrounded the area. Separating him from his team and blocking sound.
'Max? Kahawai, turn around! Hey, Kalani I'm right here. Can anyone hear me?' He asked over Line, receiving a blast of static and noise.
'I'm trapped. There has to be a way to escape somehow. Since the well is where the vines lead, their could be a way out through there. If not ill have to use that, to breakthrough this thing.'
RUMBLE!
A deep disturbing shook the ground below Alexanders feet, making him wobble and lose his balance. The vibrations made its way towards the well with a quickening pace!
'It seemsss food once again hasss made itsss way into my den. Despair food, for you have entered your grave. Pray to the Mother that your death will come sswiftly, though I have no ssuch intentionsss.' The rumbling ended as a long slender body rose from the well. Green hardened scales adorned its snake like body, with a wide triangular head and pale lightless eyes, it focused at Alexanders small frame.
Alexander realized why there were no animals or living creatures in this forest. He readied his black nanite shield from his back and drew his sword from his side. His hands shook slightly as the same sense of dread from fighting the shadow monster rose from the bottom of his stomach, affecting him.
'So this is the creature? It's nothing like the other one. But I need to defeat it either way to get out of here. Now that I have a chance of winining, let's see how strong I am. Scans say it's hurt, and it hasn't immediately attacked so it's sentient beyond just a common animal.
'You have an intresting aura around you, Childe. I will enjoy absorbing your winning, it will revitalize me! Struggle no more, least you spoil the meat.' The creature rose from the well, revealing a seeping green wound next to a large crest. It's body stood a full length of a building and glistened in green glory, shaking slightly at the strain from its wounds.
Alexander looked at his companions searching with no idea he was just a few meters away.
'I got this.'
"Shadow Chains!"
Shadows around the well darkened from his words, mana swirled and reacted as chains rose from around the area to latch onto the snake like creature, holding it down. The creatures scales slightly sizzled from the contact with the dark metal, making it difficult for it to move around.
'What is this trickery, Food? Do you think something as silly as this can hold me?' The creature dashed against his restraints, unable to free itself, except for a few broken chains out of the tens of tens holding it. 'How can this be, me, trapped? I was created personally by the endles Hunt! You will know unceasing suffering for this disgrace.'
'Is this thing serious? It's chained up and nearly dead from what ever wounded it, and it's spouting complete nonsense. Let's finish this, Lunaris.'
A mist of silver rose from behind Alexander, a legion of nanites gliding on Air magic towards the snakes wounded midsection, invading the creatures insides. The vines and creature were nearly impenetrable to Alexanders magic and the nanites attacks, with its thick scales even bouncing off the small flames Alexander flung at it. However, whatever caused the creature it's injury, also gave Alexander the greatest hope.
The nanites swarmed the creature like locusts, seeping into its wound like nats to open meat. Before it could think they burrowed into its insides, free to cause as much damage as possible. Severing flesh and anything else they could get their timing serrations onto, causing untold damage and weaking it.
ARGHHH!
The creature thrashed and broke more of the chains, twirling in the well to get free of the painful shadows. The sound of metal scraping brick echoed wildly as the painful thrashing increased and the creature wailed. It's body was trembling with oozing green liquid pouring out of its wound seeping into every thing.
The already dried vines became ash as the creature bled more and weakened. Alexander noticed that the creature must be the source of the vines, and it's wound was what made its vines so weak. But something also occured to him in that moment that made his determination even more fierce.
Alexander took the opportunity to get on its left side, closest to the well and stabbed his nanite sword deeply in its ozing mid section. His black gleaming blade sank deeply through the wounded flesh, opening the armored skin.
'I'm stronger now! My stats prove it. Im faster and stronger than I ever was. I can defeat this thing and go warn the others, something about this creature is worrying.'
Alexanders blade carved through the creature, receiving screams and dosing him in green blood. He continued his attack while his nanites ravaged its insides. The nanites carved through its long body, excavating towards its head, where they attacked its brain. The small creatures attacked relentlessly and with surgical precision.
The creature wriggled in its weakened state, falling over with a squishy thunk against the barrier, careening its neck with a crack as it fell. It's long body twitched with the continued attack of the nanites within. Its dying breath was hushed but foreboding in its intensity.
'You believe my defeat is my end... but it is the beginning of your Compleation!'
The creatures stoped moving, the dried vines withered further, into brittle twigs. Alexander stayed alert but eased up and wiped the icore from his face as the nanites fed readings of the creatures demise. 'That wasn't as easy as I would have hoped it would be. My stats being so high really helped me, but it was wounded. But this barrier is still up, so was it the one who placed it?'
Alexanders nanites rejoined him from the creatures body, as he began searching around for anything it had dropped. It had a large yellow mana crystal embedded in its chest above its wound, which he grabbed and placed in his Dimension Crystal. Its body stretched from the well,flowing into the well in dried vines.
Alexander leaned over to see down into its dark endless hollow. The white stone was bleached, with the dried twigs in vaded every inch of the crevices that lined the well. "Nothings out of place, but then what's powering the barrier around this place?" Alexander used the augmented sight to see further down into the darkness, seeing everything the well had to offer and more.
What he saw was a lone body of what looked like a drained humanoid inside of a magic formation. The dried vines had invaded and wrapped around the skeleton like a nest, only becoming visible due to the defeat of the creature and the subsequent weaking.