QT: Against My Will-Chapter 567 - 8.84 - Their Underlings - Monster Heist
After halting the trees with his precise bursts of flames, Liam stomped on the ground, summoning molten lava from beneath.
With a wave of his hand, he directed the lava to encase the roots, solidifying them in place. This not only stopped any potential regrowth but also added an obstacle to the roots.
Three more figures emerged from the periphery, each bringing a unique skill set to the urgent repair effort.
Zara (Liam’s underling) froze sections of the water momentarily, making it easier for the team to access and repair those areas without the pressure of flowing water.
Raj (Juliet’s underling), shaped solid stone pillars and supports, seamlessly integrating them into the structure to fortify weak points.
Hank (Liam’s underling), teleported through the air with his superhuman strength to assist in tackling down the roots.
Amidst the chaos, a shout pierced the air, "Move away!" aimed at a civilian car near the waters.
The car door swung open, and Bertha emerged, defiant.
Using her unique water ability, she summoned moisture from the air, wrapping it around her feet in a swirling vortex.
The water coalesced into powerful jets beneath her, lifting her from the ground.
Bertha started weaving her hands in intricate patterns, commanding the water with an authority that few had ever witnessed.
"Isn’t that Shina Night’s pet?" a few whispered.
"Bertha?" Laura looked in her direction.
Slowly, Bertha started turning the vortex’s direction upwards, pulling the swirling mass away from the dam and redirecting it into the sky.
The sight was nothing short of breathtaking. The once-threatening water vortex now resembled a glistening water spire, reaching skyward, shimmering under the moon.
As the pillar of water soared higher and higher, Bertha then released it, dispersing it into a fine mist that rained gently down, turning a potential disaster into a tranquil shower.
The strain in Juliet’s muscles eased, her breaths came more naturally, and the trembling in her hands subsided. She allowed herself a brief moment to catch a breath before quickly repairing the dam with her teammates.
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Nathaniel ascended to the top of one of the colossal trees that towered over the land, ’It’s finally happening, hm?’
As he perched on its highest branch, he gazed out into the distance, knowing these towering giants were merely the beginning. They were but sprouts, a sign of the imminent danger that loomed inside their protective barrier.
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While the events began to unfold, a subtle change began to ripple through the air. Magic energies from the outer layers started to seep into the inner layer through the ripples in the earth.
The air became charged with an otherworldly glow, and an enchanting aura enveloped the landscape.
The evacuated citizens looked up to the sky with wide-eyed wonder as the magical currents danced in hues of brilliant colors.
Joyful murmurs spread among the evacuees.
A young boy tugged at his mother’s sleeve, pointing at the sky. "Mom, look! The lights are like the stories grandpa used to tell."
"I never thought I’d live to see the day when magic would return to us," an elderly woman exclaimed, her eyes misting with tears.
"Could this be a sign? Is magic finally coming back to us?" a man mused aloud, hope evident in his voice.
"This isn’t right," some whispered, "Magic returning this way... It feels forced, not natural."
Others nodded, their eyes squinting against the luminescence. "Agreed. It’s like an overflow, not a gentle stream. It’s beautiful but chaotic."
Aria’s expression tightened as she exchanged a knowing glance with her team members. While the townspeople were revealed in the enchanting spectacle, they contacted the higher-ups.
Shina’s image was projected live on the screens as she began her report. "We’ve successfully completed our mission in the damp. The locals have been briefed, and..."
Blood spattered across her mask as shadowy figures emerged from the very magical currents that had once seemed so mesmerizing.
Within moments, individuals were lifted off the ground, their faces twisted in terror, before being ripped apart by the malevolent forces.
"AAAARRRRRGH!" The citizens screamed.
"HEEELP!"
Shina’s heart raced, her eyes widening in horror. The place that was filled with awe and wonder a while ago now ran red.
The LADs reached for their own weapons to fight the enemies.
Everywhere they looked, the scene was one of chaos and carnage. Families were torn apart. Children’s screams echoed, shrill and unending, as their parents were violently dismembered before their innocent eyes.
Liam, his face pale, tried to conjure flames to fend off the attackers but found the magic currents now working against him. The flames either fizzled out or turned on him, scorching his own hands.
Shina’s voice tried to bring some order to the chaos. "We need to get out of here! Laura, Elias, send everyone inside your spaces!"
The commander narrowed his eyes at the black screen, "Shina Night! Report, what the hell is going on?!"
The briefing room was flooded with the harrowing sounds of screams ─ both distant and near, filled with terror and pain. The intensity of the screams was bone-chilling, causing everyone present to grip the edges of their tables or consoles.
"Shina! Do you read me?!" the commander yelled into the microphone, desperation evident in his voice, "Fucking answer me!"
Douglas’ voice crackled with fear, "How did they get here?!"
Shina wiped the blood splatter from her mask, "They’ve breached our barrier. We need to push them back and ensure no more get through!"
Leon stepped forward, his boots digging into the blood-soaked earth.
Limbs lay strewn, severed from their bodies, and the metallic scent of blood mixed with the acrid smell of fear, permeated the air. The ground, wet and slippery, was a treacherous mix of gore and debris.
"Go! Run towards the portals!" Shina placed both her palms on Leon’s back as he began to mutter an incantation under his breath, each word imbued with power.
Almost immediately, the air around him charged with a powerful energy.
The colossal trees surrounding them started to wither at an alarming rate, their vibrant greens turning to shades of gray, then black, as the life was drained from them. The once towering giants shriveled and bent, as if bowing in submission to Leon’s will.
The very atmosphere seemed to pulse and quiver as the magic-infused air began to be drawn toward him. A swirling vortex of energy formed around him, visible streams of light and magic spiraling into his outstretched arms.
The once crisp and invigorating air grew thin and stifling, as Leon extracted every ounce of magic from it.
The energy emanating from Leon grew more potent as Shina’s touch seemed to magnify it. Together, they became a conduit, with Shina helping to stabilize and focus Leon’s immense reservoir of absorbed magic.
Nearby creatures and flora caught in this powerful vacuum gasped for life. Their energies were stripped, and redirected into Leon’s form.
Birds plummeted from the sky, their feathers devoid of color, and small critters collapsed, their tiny hearts stilled by the overwhelming force.
The ground beneath him cracked, unable to withstand the pressure of the immense power he was channeling.
When the process was complete, an eerie silence settled. The landscape was transformed — a desolate expanse where life once flourished.
As the team frantically tried to run away, the looming question remained: How did this happen, and how would they ever recover?
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"Hey...that’s enough. You should stop, please..." Bing Shi’s plea echoed hauntingly as the glow surrounding Leon intensified. She reached out towards him, but the force emanating from him was so strong it pushed her back.
The air around him pulsated with shimmering waves, each pulse stronger and brighter than the last. His silhouette blurred, distorted by the immense energy writhing within and around him.
With one final scream from Bing Shi, a brilliant flash of white light exploded from Leon, consuming him. The deafening blast resonated for miles, shaking the earth and obliterating everything in its immediate vicinity.
When the blinding light faded, and the rumbling stopped, all that remained of Leon was a smoldering crater.
Bing Shi, thrown back by the force, lay several feet away, her clothes torn and face streaked with tears and ash.
Her eyes, vacant and filled with pain, ran back toward the spot where Leon once stood, her heart irrevocably shattered, "I’m sorry...I didn’t mean to...I’m sorry."
|"Why are you sorry? I’m not dead,"| Ru Quan whispered inside her head, his voice tender.
But the warmth of his words barely penetrated her anguish. Bing Shi reached out her hands and began to sift through the blackened remnants, hoping against hope to find any trace of what had once been Leon.
Her voice was barely audible amidst her heart-wrenching sobs, "I’m sorry. It’s my fault. Because of me..."
Despite the grim situation, a playful smile appeared on his face. "You know," he said softly, trying to lighten the weight of her sorrow, "Maybe next time I should put a leash on you. Keep you out of trouble."
"Deal," Bing Shi, tears still streaming down her face, nodded vigorously, "Anything to keep you close and safe."
