Unbound-Chapter Nine Hundred And Ninety Five – 995

Firecrackers of glass snapped as jeweled facets were hurled to the bark. The chrysalises split open, whatever magic that held them closed pushed to its limit as its green-gold glow dimmed. Felix spun in a slow circle, mesmorized by ninety-nine dog-sized creatures crawling free, slick with liquid that evaporated almost instantly. It became iridescent vapour that swirled around twitching wings and lashing tails, shimmering across Bodies born anew.

They had changed a great deal. Felix recalled that each of the Hatchlings had originally taken after their elemental attributes, with their scales reflecting the color of their magic, but all that was gone. The Hatchlings were still covered in sleek scales, but all of them were clad in shades of iridescent green. Manes of seafoam and moss hung from their necks, and their small, twitching wings looked like trefoil leaves attached to their backs.

Wait. Is that…?

Vines coiled around them. At first glance, Felix thought they were tangled up in some aspect of their chrysalis, but no—the vines began and ended in their flesh. Each one sprouted from between scales to wrap their limbs in maze-like configurations that reminded him of nothing so much as Celtic knotwork. Green buds and countless sprouts sprang up from those mazes as if the Hatchlings were more plant than creature.

"The living earth," Yin said, his voice a quiet rumble.

The Hatchlings' eyes blinked, and they looked around themselves with curiosity and no little confusion.

Unseen Beholder.

Name: Grove Warden

Type: Wild Dragon

Level: 1

Lore: The Hatchlings have chosen to imbue their cores with the power of the Atlantes Grove. Due in part to their deep connection to the Green Wilds, the Grand Harmony resonates with their cores. In return for protecting the Grove, they are granted great power in accordance with their progenitors: Vessilia Dayne, Yintarion of the Cerulean Skies, the Atlantes Anima, and Felix Nevarre, Emperor of Nagast.

“Still kinda weird that I’m one of their progenitors,” Felix muttered. “And why aren’t they…bigger?”

"Their chrysalises were small, dear. I can't imagine they would have grown much. They've merely changed.” Vess reached a hesitant hand out, pulling it back when one of the Grove Wardens made a lurching step. “And what a compelling change. I did not expect this.”

“Looks like their Lore hasn't altered since the last time we checked, and their Skills are still being resolved. I figured that’d be done now.”

“All in due time." Vess leaned down to get a better look at one of the Grove Wardens as it found its legs. The creature shook, trembling like a newborn foal.

Felix flared his Perception, looking at them all. Other than the slight differences in hues in their scales, there was little else to differentiate them from one another. He imagined that would be hectic later on—how do you guide a bunch of unnamed Dragons? Is that what it meant that their Type was listed as “Wild Dragon?” Were they feral beasts, or just affected by the Green Wilds? He watched them closely, hoping none of them decided they wanted to take a bite of him. Not for his sake, but for theirs—their teeth wouldn’t find his skin very agreeable.

Vess and Yin had no such compunctions. They leaned toward the Grove Wardens, putting their hands and claws to shaking backs and trembling limbs. Yin nudged them with his snout, his whiskers tickling at the back of several of the Wardens, who gave a soft, bugling cry, their Spirits radiating with pleasurable irritation.

They’re ticklish. Huh. Big plant Dragons and they’re tick—

Felix felt a tug. He narrowed his attention, seeking the source, only to find it closer than he expected.

Atlantes?

The Tree pulled at him, drawing his attention down. Images of elderly animals crawling amid thick roots to quietly die, their Bodies rapidly decomposing as the Tree flourished.

I see. It wasn't hard to understand what the Atlantess wanted. Felix had given them power to breach their chrysalises, but they needed more. Once Felix had seen a Memory of ancient songs sung around young Spirit Trees, entire groups of magi coming together to pour visceral potency into their roots. The Chant had furnished those Trees with far more than simple Mana.

Alright. I trust you, Atlantes.

There were no words that came through the Spirit Tree, just a Need. Felix connected to it, reaching out with his Will and honing his Intent against the aperture. It was like stepping into a rushing river, as immediately he was yanked forward, Essence, Stamina, Health, and even significance was siphoned away.

Most of it drained quickly, vanishing in great gouts, but his significance quickly slowed to almost nothing. Felix understood intrinsically that the Grove Wardens were too new to take much on. The rest of it, however, poured out of him faster than he could track. Felix sucked in a ragged breath, suddenly dizzy as thousands of points dwindled.

Warning!

Your Health And Stamina Have Dropped To 40%!

Your Health And Stamina Have Dropped To 30%!

"Felix, are you..." Vess flinched back, holding her hand as if burned. "I can feel that. Your health, your stamina, it's draining like a sieve. Where is it going?"

"Dragoon." Vess turned to Yin, but the worm was pointed at the Grove Wardens. All around them, they swelled. Before, they were the size of a medium dog. Now, each and every one of the ninety-nine former Hatchlings ballooned well past the biggest of great Danes. Felix saw through eyes that darkened at the edges as they kept going.

Your Health And Stamina Have Dropped To 20%!

Sovereign of Flesh!

His Skill fought for him, mustering within his chest and taking a measure of Essence for itself to fuel his regeneration.

Your Health And Stamina Have Dropped To 21%!

Your Health And Stamina Have Dropped To 23%!

Your Health And Stamina Have Dropped To 18%!

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Health and Stamina limped upward, fell back, before fighting valiantly for a handful of percentages as both resource pools threatened to gutter out. The Grove Wardens squawked, their Bodies grown huge enough to rival the largest of warhorses. Each one was half the height of Yontarion and a full six inches taller than Vess at the shoulder. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

That’s enough. With a shudder, Felix cut off his connection.

Atlantes creaked, clearly pleased.

"Glad you're happy," he muttered.

The buds across the vines on the Grove Wardens had now bloomed into bright blossoms across their bodies. Each was distinct in pattern, shape, and color. Their necks arched upward, holding wedge-shaped heads that looked both powerful and sleek at the same time. Their wings were massive now, easily on par with the average tenku or wyvern, though they still looked distinctly like leaves, veins and all.

"Matriarch," one of them said, its voice a tumbling of high and low chords, a teenager unsure of itself. "Where are we?"

Vess reached up and cradled the Warden's head. "You are home." Big violet eyes closed, leaning into her touch. "What is your name, little one?"

"I am Vorthos. I bear no Title."

"Not yet," Yin said, his head raised high. "All of you will have a chance to earn them soon, for trouble stirs against us.”

“Against the grove, Patriarch?" another asked.

"Aye.”

Vorthos stamped his feet, a perfect picture of eagerness. “We agreed to help the grove. Against all things."

Vess turned from Vorthos to encompass them all in her words. "The Ruin is set to destroy us, Spirit Trees included. But before that, we have other Threats that deserve our attention."

"Yes," Yin confirmed. "We go to war."

The Grove Warden stood taller, each and every one of them stomping the ground with their emerald claws and thick tails. Several spoke up together, their voices overlapping. "When?"

Felix cleared his throat. "Soon enough. But first, I think you all need to take a bit of a rest."

Vorthos peered at him before his violet eyes widened. All at once, he lowered his front half until his head touched the ground. "Emperor!"

Like a wave, bows spread amongst the ninety-nine Grove Wardens. Cries of "Emperor" and "Fiend" echoed from their throats, each voice unique, distinct, and possessed of an earnest gravity Felix hadn't expected.

"You know who I am?"

"Of course we do. You, who created the Grove. The Atlantes Anima has told us much in our sleep," Vorthos said, rising back to his feet. "Our days before feel like a bit of a dream. But now, we are awake."

Vorthos flinched, a movement that passed through all of them, all at once. Even Vess and Yin pulled back, spear at the ready and fangs bared as emerald light welled up around them before it sparkled and burst, cascading in liquid sparks from the edges of their wings.

"Oh," Felix said, "it looks like your Skills have finally finished cooking. Let's take a look.”

Unseen Beholder.

Spirit Bloom (T) - Calls forth glowing blossoms that explode into radiant, Green Wild attuned Mana storms. That is life, death, shadow, light, air, earth, fire, and water elements all at once.

Leafveil Glide (T) - Flight is enhanced by leaf-like, trefoil wings that mirror the Atlantes Anima. Their speed is doubled normally, and quadrupled when under the influence of a Spirit Tree.

Chorus of the Wild (T) - Summons spectral animal spirits to assist in battle or protect allies. Spirits are always half as strong as the summoners.

Echoing Roar (T) - A roar infused with the Wild Threnody, disorienting enemies and causing spikes of pain directly to their Minds and Spirits.

Wildstep (T) - Allows them to slip into Spirit Trees (root, branch, or trunk) and emerge from another within the Grove. Works with the saplings summoned by Green Wilds Resonance.

Cocoon Renewal (T) - Healing allies by sealing them in a protective cocoon, regenerating wounds and cleansing status conditions over time.

Green Wilds Resonance (T) - Summons temporary Spirit Tree Saplings, creating fields of growth that expands the influence of a Spirit Tree and expands their own powers. Increases effects of Echoing Roar, speed while using Leafveil Glide, the healing potency of Cocoon Renewal, range of Wildstep, and damage from Spirit Bloom.

"Whoa," Felix said, sharing the Skills with Yin and Vess. "It seems they all have the same set of Skills, but what a set."

Yin's tail undulated in a joy the Wyrm could barely suppress. "This is incredible! Power pulled straight from the Green Wilds itself. Highly specialized indeed, but amazing. A power I've never seen Dragons possess. And all of them are Transcendent rarity. How?" Yin looked between Vess and Felix. "How could a mere Evolution through our collective power bring them to such heights? Even at level one, as they all are, they'll be powerful indeed."

"That," said a new voice, a familiar one, "is a result of a good bargain."

Felix knew its owner immediately. They all did. Every time he heard it, however, it was from a different shape. He cast about, and his Perception immediately pinged upon a creature that stood stark against his Authority. Where Felix’s own power should stand, there was a wash of flickering life—a wildfire filled with frozen fields and gale-torn forests. It was as much beyond his Authority as the sun in the sky.

The creature was small of stature, no larger than a very fat cat, but it stood out like a black spot on white linen. A Copse Grub. It folded up onto its hindquarters, wriggling stumpy appendages and clacking its dagger-sharp mandibles at them. The Grim Nightshade tipped its bulbous head.

"Why did you pick that form?" Felix asked, unpleasant memories resurfacing. "I'm not a fan."

"All creatures are emanations of the Green Wilds, Felix Nevarre. No matter if you have a bad history with them or not."

Felix wrinkled his nose, and Vess patted him on the shoulder. "What brings you to call upon us, Grim Nightshade?"

"I came because of them." The Grim wiggled a tiny arm toward the Grove Wardens. "I approve of what you have done here. They are our Bargain made manifest. The Green Wilds flows through them, and in turn they will protect it, much as you promised me, Yinterion of the Cerulean Skies. It is not often that a Dragon keeps their word. I am happy that I chose to trust you and Vessilia Dayne."

"We are the ones that are honored," Yin said, bowing low. Vess joined him, though Felix just watched the wriggling thing crawl closer. He had to fight off the urge to boot the nasty thing off of his Spirit Tree. The Grim moved faster than any Copse Grub Felix had ever seen, and that somehow made it worse. It wriggled toward the Grove Wardens as they leaned forward, sniffing in curiosity.

"Their growth will be faster as a result of their connection to me. This may cause problems, especially with their ability to be directed and commanded. The Wilds, well, we are not called the Green Order. They will seize upon the flow of things. Their powers are a reflection of their nature as much as their connection to me.” The Grub wiggled. “What I had not expected, however, was their immediate growth. That was a surprise."

"Courtesty of Atlantes Anima,” Felix said proudly.

"Yes. Your Ruler of the Grove made a wise choice. I appreciate it. The Green Wilds feel stronger than ever here. And in fact, all across your empire, your Grove binds your Authority to the land itself. Even on the precipice of destruction, we grow hardier by the moment. None of you can grow complacent. Especially you, Nevarre. You must protect all, for that is what the Wilds encompasses.”

“I already have a plan for that,” Felix assured the Grub.

“The Empyrean Regalia." The Grub nodded, its squishy little body clearly approving. "You are smart to go looking for it. But it will not solve this issue alone. Neither will your arrays and cleverness."

"And what do you suggest," Felix asked. “Surely a creature as old and as wise as you are would have some idea how to turn this around."

"You must seek out the source."

"The source? What’s that?"

The Grim moved as if it wanted to speak, but no words issued forth. The Grub struggled to breathe, its manibles clacking with obvious frustration. “Look to the start, Scion of the Unseen Tide. There you will find all the answers you need."

“The start of what?”

The Grim went still. “Of everything.”