Echoterra: Rise of the Verdant King-Chapter 86: Treacherous journey [10]

Past midnight, the team staggered through a fungal gorge, the Verdant Warden Thorn Crowns’ Thornstorm shockwaves splitting the earth, Earthcore Nexus pulsing like a dying star.

Clayton led, Shedskin cloaking his Verdant Lord aura, Regalia in bow form, Thornshade Dagger ready to strike at a moment’s notice.

With his Territorial Sentience, he was the best scout in the team, and the best person to lead them through the night.

Torren, Veyra, Lorn, Kaelin, and Soren followed him, pagers barely functioning due to the energy disruptions of the clash of the 2 Thorn Crowns.

The Aphid Network, now 43 minions, hunted the stampede, Spore Crown reaping Embers, losing two Initiate Ember minions.

Territorial Sentience pinged Ashen Covenants’ Ember Witches and something else... a Scorched Clans band nearby.

A Scorchshrine loomed, its embers flaring as eight Scorched Clan scouts (Initiate Ember) and a Luminous Seed Scorchlord, suddenly attacked, seeking Genesis Embers. Clayton noticed them just in time.

He didn’t know what Aspect or Artifact they used to mask their movements, but they almost deceived his Territorial Sentience.

That realization left Clayton’s heart cold.

It told him that his ability was not omniscient after all. Even with Territorial Sentience, there was a chance that people could bypass his detection and approach.

That didn’t matter right now though, what mattered at the moment was that they were in danger.

Clayton alerted Torren, who reacted immediately.

"Defend!" Torren roared, Flamevine Wrath binding a scout. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓

And of course, Veyra was always the first to react once danger was detected, after Torren acted.

WHOOSH!

She nocked and let loose an arrow almost instantaneously after Torren called, leaving her target no chance.

Her Thornstrike arrows felled another Scorched Clan Awakened with lethal accuracy and blinding speed.

Almost at the same time, the other Luminous Seed Awakened in the group, Lorn reacted by shielding Soren, whose Emberblade clashed with a Pyreaxe.

Kaelin’s Ashveil Cloak hid him, enabling him to dodge a scout, but he did not escape the detection of the enemy Luminous Seed Awakened.

As soon as he attacked, the group recognized his Aspect immediately, it was Emberheart Surge, just like Soren. Kaelin’s back was scorched by the powerful attack, leaving him screaming in pain, but he didn’t die.

This was because Lorn already reacted, diving in to shield him.

Kaelin’s back was shredded and scorched, bleeding heavily as he collapsed to the ground, groaning in pain.

He was alive, but barely. If he didn’t receive treatment soon, he would die.

But Lorn could not heal him yet, not with enemies looming, ready to strike her down if she made any reckless movement.

The enemy Luminous Seed was charging towards her.

Lorn looked around, desperate.

Torren? He was preoccupied as the enemy Initiate Ember Awakened swarmed him, coordinating to keep him restrained.

Veyra let loose one arrow after the other. She was also preoccupied.

Clayton?

Clayton still used Regalia in its bow form, unleashing one arrow after the other, and so, like Veyra, he had a big view of the battlefield and saw it all transpire.

He could also see how much pain Kaelin was in currently, and the reality that his life was in danger.

Death... that became the trigger.

BZZZ!

Clayton unleashed Core Maw, Architect power slipping deliberately as roots erupted from the earth, crushing two scouts in an obliterating grip.

At the same time that he unleashed Core Maw, he moved with nimble steps, firing Regalia’s root arrows, shredding a scout’s chest in the process, even as he threw himself at the enemy Luminous Seed Awakened, blocking Lorn and Kaelin.

Torren always warned Clayton to never face a Luminous Seed alone.

Could he survive it?

Well, doesn’t matter.

Clayton’s hands moved with nimble deftness, holding Regalia with his left hand, even as with his right, he unsheathed the Thornshade Dagger, and then...

WHOOSH!

Clayton’s hand swung with speed, slashing with Thornshade Dagger as the Luminous Seed Artifact’s venom disrupted the enemy Scorchlord’s flames.

And so, Clayton was face to face with a Luminous Seed Awakened.

Not that it was his first. But to the onlookers, his teammates, they must have been pretty terrified.

Clayton?

Facing this Scorchlord, and feeling the pressure of his aura, Clayton felt tempted to recall his Aphid Network, but he fought the temptation.

Instead, he switched his weapons; Regalia to his right hand, and Thornshade Dagger to his left, then...

A green glow erupted as Regalia shapeshifted, becoming a spear.

Veyra’s eyes flickered with surprise, but Clayton already exploded into action as he threw himself at the Luminous Seed Awakened.

BAM!

Who was the reckless one now?

Clayton lost himself in the flow of combat, dodging fire, piercing fire, roots erupting to aid him in his quest to survive a clash with a Luminous Seed Awakened.

The result?

Clayton stood his ground against a Luminous Seed Awakened!

To the onlookers, it was most likely the most shocking event of their journey of the past 15 days.

With Clayton singlehandedly keeping the Scorchlord in check, the others became free. Lorn focused on healing Kaelin, Torren and Veyra focused on dealing as much damage as possible to the others.

A few minutes later...

Veyra’s arrows and Torren’s pyro-roots downed four scouts, Soren felling one with assistance from Veyra’s arrows.

The Scorchlord? He fled, disappearing into the night just as silently as they appeared, thorns raining, Scorchshrine collapsing.

Then...

DING!

~----~

[Enemies Defeated: 7 Scorched Clans Scouts (Initiate Ember), Kharis (Luminous Seed, Escaped)]

[Aphid Network Losses: 2 Initiate Ember Minions]

[Genesis Embers Acquired: 42 (Team Kills)]

[Genesis Embers Acquired: 220 (Aphid Network Stampede Harvest)]

[Genesis Embers Total: 3,764/6,000]

[Aspect Strain: High]

~----~

Clayton collapsed to the ground, exhausted after the grueling clash against a Luminous Seed Awakened that pushed his body’s physicality to the limit.

"So, his name was Kharis huh?" He muttered.

It was only now that Clayton realized that none of the others said a word even as Lorn added the finishing touches to healing Kaelin.

Surprised, he inclined his head to look at them, and Clayton saw one of the funniest looks on their faces.

Mouths agape in clear shock, they just stared at him.

In the end, the still aching Kaelin broke the silence.

"Clayton, what the f*ck!"

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