Echoterra: Rise of the Verdant King-Chapter 82: Treacherous journey [6]

Journey to Arizona?

More like Sun Wukong’s journey to the West.

After all, not only had they encountered Behemorphs, they’ve encountered monster plants too that want to gobble them up, they’ve had to fight against Genesis spores trying to corrupt them, and now even warlords.

The journey was an eye-opening experience for Clayton.

On day fifteen of the 60-day trek to the Scorchpaths, Clayton crouched by a smoldering campfire in a rocky hollow, ash drifting under a starless sky.

His Shedskin cloaked his Verdant Lord aura as a scavenger’s rags, Regalia of the Verdant Warden in bow form slung across his back, ready for bone or root arrows.

The Thornshade Dagger, venom-coated and stealth-enhancing, hummed at his hip.

His Architect Aspect thrummed, restrained to blend with Torren’s team.

Their Mycoglyph-etched pagers pulsed faintly, linking Aspects across the 2,890 kilometer journey to former Arizona, a step toward Africa’s Ashen Covenants.

Clayton’s Aphid Network, over 50 minions, lurked far behind under Veil of Verdant Shroud, his Rootsite a distant anchor.

The Earthcore Nexus’s pulse throbbed, warping the Expanse into volcanic fissures and fungal ruins.

The hollow, a brief respite, like many other locations they’ve encountered bore Scorched Clans traces; charred Mycoglyphs on bone fragments, hinting at their raids.

Clayton’s Territorial Sentience faintly sensed Ashen Covenants’ Ember Witches, their fire rituals a distant call. Soren, on night watch, scanned the dark, Emberblade ready.

The team slept, masks off, trusting the quiet.

But then, a shadow moved...

When they were not fighting Behemorphs and not evading them, Torren was telling his stories and jokes, and one of them was about nocturnal Behemorphs, those abominations who unlike their day buddies stalk and hunt at night.

They were one of the worst dangers that an adventurer team can encounter, simply because most times you don’t see them coming.

Tonight, they encountered one of these night walkers, and they were not ready.

No one saw it coming, but something did.

Territorial Sentience screamed!

It was a Luminous Seed Behemorph, and coincidentally, it was another Dual Crown, the 2nd of such existences that they encountered in this journey.

It was a Dual-Crowned Wraith (10-meter, thorned skull with twin fungal crowns, Spore Crown and Ash Crown). It slipped past Soren’s watch, its stealth cloaking heat and spores.

It lunged at Lorn, claws blazing, spores choking.

But Clayton’s Architect reflexes snapped as Territorial Sentience woke him up with such urgency that his sleepy head couldn’t ignore.

Nocking Regalia in bow form, he let loose an arrow in a heartbeat, piercing the Wraith’s crown, staggering it.

And that... saved a life.

Lorn rolled free, unharmed, heart beating crazily, Clayton’s shot her salvation.

"Wake up!" Clayton roared, Shedskin flaring against spores.

The team woke up and reacted immediately, acting on instinct.

Torren’s Flamevine Wrath erupted, pyro-roots lashing the Wraith’s flank, flames clashing with its Sporeflame (Spore and Ash Crown).

Veyra’s Thornstrike arrows struck its second crown, roots bursting. The light from the moon made the Behemorph slightly visible, working in their favor.

Lorn’s Sapflow Healer shielded Soren, whose Emberblade slashed, sparks deflected by the Wraith’s shroud.

Kaelin’s Ashveil Cloak smoked, daggers grazing, but spores burned his arm, forcing a retreat.

The Wraith’s crowns pulsed, spores igniting, driving the team back.

Clayton switched Regalia to root arrows, Embers fueling explosive impact.

Two shots slammed against the Wraith’s chest, roots erupting, cracking its hide. He quickly darted in, Thornshade Dagger slashing, venom sizzling through spores, weakening its Sporeflame.

For a moment this night, Clayton was truly tempted to unleash Core Maw and his Aphid Network.

Lorn almost died!

Without knowing it, he already began caring for this adventurer team like family. It was weird, but human feelings were like that.

Despite his emotions though, he managed to hold himself back, maintaining his wanderer guise.

Torren’s pyro-roots bound the Behemorph’s legs, Veyra’s arrows pierced its core, but the Wraith shrieked still, breaking free, fleeing into the dark, ash trailing in its wake.

Kaelin, furious, sprinted after it, Ashveil Cloak flaring.

"I’ll gut it!" He snarled.

But Torren reacted fast and grabbed him, Flamevine Wrath sparking.

"Stop, fool! Listen!" He growled.

As soon as Torren growled, silence briefly followed as time seemed to freeze, then...

A rumble grew; hooves, claws, shrieks.

Torren’s head snapped back, looking into the distance, eyes wide in horror.

A Behemorph stampede roared toward them, Initiate Ember and Luminous Seed Behemorphs fleeing in panic.

DING!

Clayton’s Territorial Sentience did its magic and revealed the cause: two Verdant Warden Thorn Crown Behemorphs (50-meter titans, spiked carapaces), were clashing kilometers away, their battle shaking the Expanse, driving the stampede.

Clayton revealed his findings immediately.

Torren’s eyes flickered, desperate.

"Survive the night!" He ordered, voice steel.

"Find cover, now!"

The team scrambled, Earthcore Nexus’s pulse a deafening dirge, the hollow no longer safe.

DING!

~----~

[Behemorph Engaged: 1 Dual-Crowned Wraith (Luminous Seed, Escaped)]

[Genesis Embers Acquired: 0]

[Genesis Embers Total: 2,275]

[Aspect Strain: Moderate]

~----~

Huddled in a crevice, ash falling, the team caught their breath.

Torren gripped his pager, Mycoglyphs flickering. "That Wraith nearly had us". He looked to the side, at Clayton. "Clayton, you saved Lorn".

Clayton smirked, Regalia stowed. "Can’t let the healer go down. Bad for business". He said, his humor masking the Nexus’s dread.

Lorn, sap-vines pulsing, touched Clayton’s arm. "Thanks, Clayton. I owe you". Her calm held gratitude, eyes sharp with trust.

Veyra, cleaning her brow, frowned. "How’d you spot it so fast? This your Aspect... it’s truly extraordinary. You’re no ordinary scavenger". Her probing softened, curiosity deepening.

"Instinct," Clayton said, deflecting, humor sharp. "Feral world’s a harsh teacher".

Kaelin, nursing his arm, snapped. "I almost had it! Why stop me?" His recklessness flared, but guilt flickered.

Torren glared. "You’d be trampled, fool. Stampede’s coming, Thorn Crowns are no joke".

He softened, clapping Kaelin’s shoulder. "We need you alive".

Soren, Emberblade sheathed, spoke low. "Saw a Scorched Clans shrine once. They’d laugh at this chaos". His gruffness eased, then he threw a nod to Clayton. "You’re quick, Clayton. It’s honestly impressive".

Clayton grinned, Shedskin hiding his Verdant Lord power. "Quick’s my middle name".

The team shared a tense laugh, bonds tightening, hooves thundering closer, survival their only goal.

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