Meanwhile, Silla was surrounded, fighting off beasts from every side. His main body coiled and lashed, knocking back a pack of armored wolves and giant centipedes that tried to swarm him. He was doing everything he could to protect Seojun, but the sheer number of beasts was overwhelming. His body was covered in cuts and bruises, and his muscles burned from exhaustion.
Silla gritted his teeth and thought, "After this, I have to get stronger. I can't let this happen again. Next time, I won't be struggling like this."Just then, Huno, with all his might, let out a powerful howling roar that echoed across the battlefield.
The sound was deafening, and the beasts on top of him were thrown back, unable to hold their ground against the sheer force of his voice. Some flew away, crashing into trees and rocks, while others staggered back, disoriented.
The beasts around Silla also stopped in their tracks, momentarily stunned by the roar. But it was only for a moment. They quickly began to recover, snarling and growling as they prepared to attack again.
Huno and Silla were both breathing heavily, their bodies heaving with each breath. They were exhausted, but they knew they had to keep fighting. They couldn't let any beast get past them and reach Seojun.
Above them, several flying beasts began to circle. Huge, eagle-like creatures with sharp talons and glowing red eyes screeched as they swooped down, aiming directly for Seojun's barrier. Huno and Silla both knew that if only they could use their original size, they could easily block these attacks. However, the highest size they could grow for now was 15 feet tall.
"Master!" both Huno and Silla shouted in unison as one of the flying beasts slipped past their defenses, diving straight toward Seojun's barrier. The beast was a terrifying, bat-winged creature with a long, spiked tail. It screeched as it crashed against the barrier, causing it to ripple and shake violently.
Inside the barrier, Seojun winced in pain. His eyes closed as he felt the barrier tremble, his connection to the ritual wavering with every blow. His concentration was breaking, and the ritual itself began to shake, its energy fluctuating dangerously.
"Not good!" Huno roared, leaping at the bat-winged beast. His powerful jaws snapped around its nape, and he threw it away with a powerful jerk of his neck.
Another winged beast—a giant serpent-like creature with fiery wings—dove toward Seojun's barrier. Silla's main body, struggling to fend off a pack of razor-clawed wolves, spotted it and hissed. He launched himself at the flying beast, coiling around it and squeezing tight. The beast screeched in agony as Silla's powerful coils crushed its bones, but more beasts were coming.
Suddenly, Lord Sorgar, a tall, thin figure draped in dark robes, raised his staff. His eyes glowed with a cold, blue light. With a swift motion, he cast a spell that sent out a wave of ice shards, piercing the beasts around him and freezing others in their tracks. "We have to keep them away from the barrier!" he commanded. "The tree's revival is our only hope!"
Beside him, Lady Zhogla, the half-woman serpent , gracefully weaved through the beasts with her dual swords in hand. Her serpent's tail crushed anything in her path as she fought her way toward Silla's main body. She saw the silver serpent struggling to maintain control amidst the chaos. With a sly smile, she approached Silla, her eyes glittering with interest.
"You fight well, Lord Silla," she said with a hint of admiration. "Perhaps after this, we should see who is truly stronger...or perhaps...closer?" She winked, her tongue flicking out playfully.
Silla, not missing a beat while snapping at a beast's neck, gave a low growl, "Now is not the time, Zholga! Focus on the battle!"
Lord Vrok, the bull demon, charged through the battlefield, he bellowed. "We will push these beasts back together!"
Lord Balor, a towering, one-eyed demon. He raised his hand, and a beam of destructive energy shot out, vaporizing the flying beasts above Seojun.
For a moment, the beasts halted, dazed by the sheer power of Huno's roar. The Clan Lords took this opportunity to press the attack. Lord Sorgar unleashed a barrage of magical blasts, freezing and shattering the nearest beasts. Lord Vrok plowed through them like an unstoppable force, while Zhogla slashed and twirled with deadly precision, her eyes always glancing back at Silla with a smirk.
Breathing heavily, Huno and Silla regrouped. Both of them were battered, their bodies covered in wounds, but they still stood strong. As they looked around, they saw a giant eagle-like beast fall from the sky, slammed to the ground by Lord Kazrak. The Clan Lords were all fighting together now, their combined power pushing back the seemingly endless wave of beasts. Huno and Silla's hopes rose.
"Don't let them break through!" Lord Kazrak roared, swinging his axe with great force.
Together, the Clan Lords, Huno, and Silla formed a tight perimeter around Seojun. The beasts kept coming, but now there was a united front pushing them back.
Inside the barrier, Seojun felt the attacks cease, and a wave of calm washed over him. The barrier was no longer trembling, and he could focus once again. The ritual stabilized, the essence flowing more smoothly from his hands into the roots of the Aeternum Yggrith.
As Seojun concentrated, the essence began to pulse with a bright, steady glow. It seeped deep into the tree's roots, spreading out and touching the very soul of the ancient tree. He could feel the tree responding, drinking in the essence like water to a parched desert. The bark glowed with a soft, warm light, and the once-faded leaves began to regain their lush green color.
The process was slow, delicate. Seojun was guiding the essence with careful precision, helping the tree rebuild its strength from within. He could feel the deep roots of the Aeternum Yggrith stretching far and wide, absorbing the life essence and sending it throughout the domain, healing the wounds that had weakened it over time.
He felt connected to the tree, almost as if their hearts were beating together. He could sense the pulse of life returning to the tree, like a great heartbeat resonating through the earth. The essence continued to flow, revitalizing the ancient being with every passing moment.