As I bent down, positioning my body towards Fiona’s direction, I launched myself forward with a tremendous burst of energy. Two hand-sized craters formed where my feet had firmly stood moments ago. Lightning crackled and surged in both of my hands, extending and flickering with a destructive glow.
Gradually, that raw energy combined, taking shape on either side of my hands. Two distinct blades emerged, crafted from bluish, ever-moving lightning that undulated like serpents, aimlessly seeking out a possible victim. These blades resembled machetes but without their handles.
“BOOM!” The impact reverberated through my body as I landed, my right leg plunging deep into the fleshy mass of a two-star Vylkr vine. The blackish spikes pierced through my feet, sending a searing jolt of pain up my spine.
Notwithstanding the initial shock, I gritted my teeth and quickly adapted to the force, harnessing it to my advantage. Twisting my body slightly, I unleashed a whirlwind of motion, my legs smashing through the organic flesh and tearing apart the two-star Vylkr vine. The spike that had impaled my leg snapped in half, leaving behind a numbing cold sensation that threatened to cripple my limb.
“SHIITT!!” I exclaimed, my voice echoing with both frustration and pain. Utilizing the momentum of my spin, I extended my hands upwards, feeling the bluish lightning blades mirroring my movements.
The blades effortlessly pierced through the stubborn resistance of the two-star Vylkr vines. However, when one of the blades became lodged, I clasped my hands together, channelling both energies simultaneously. I watched as the lightning flickered, splitting and merging like a force of nature, combining with the trapped blade to form a larger, more oversized blade.
“CRACKKKLLEE!”
I released the force of my injured foot upon the ground, and with a booming, “BAAAAMMM!!” my feet sank into the earth, sending another jolt of searing pain up my spine. My widened eyes mirrored the shock and agony I felt at that moment. But without missing a beat, I summoned my resilience and grit.
With another resounding “BAAMMM!!,” my foot struck the ground once more, serving as my anchor and launching pad. Utilizing the strength of that foothold, I hunched my body down and propelled myself forward, entering a full sprint.
“CRACCCKLLEE!!”
“BAMM!!!” The ground cracked open once again as I propelled myself forward with sheer force. With each step, the excruciating pain reverberated through my body, causing my teeth to clatter in agony. As I tore through the surrounding two-star Vylkr vines, the aching pain overwhelmed me. Unable to contain it any longer, a resonating scream escaped from my throat, “AAARRGGGHHHHHH!!”.
Nevertheless, I continued running, maintaining my focus on her well-being, ensuring she was safe as I quickly manoeuvred around her. Whether she stood there in disbelief or shock, I pressed forward with a stubborn resolve, brandishing a towering three-meter blade forged from lightning. With each precise cut, I left behind a trail of scorched and dissected Vylkr vines.
Finally, I came to a sudden stop in front of Fiona with a deafening “BBOOMM!!”. My chest heaved as I struggled to catch my breath, releasing a loud, exhausted exhale, “Haaaaa!!! Haaaaah!!”. As I loosened my grip on both hands, the blades of lightning separated into their previous distinct forms, hovering near each side of my arms and pointing downwards.
“O…O…Orion,” I heard Fiona’s weak, dull voice, and I turned my head to look at her. Regardless of her battered figure, I knew Aunt Greta’s gift would be able to mend her injuries.
“Considering how mature you are, I expected a more mature decision from you,” I said, still trying to catch my breath. “….Nonetheless, the promise I made to you wasn’t simple, so I apologize.” I refocused my attention on the scene before me, observing as the remaining two-star Vylkr vines in the area swarmed towards us, accompanied by swarms of one-star Vylkr vines emerging from the forest to join them.
Looking to my right, I witnessed the same chaotic scene spreading. The same held true when I glanced to my left. Even behind me, though on a smaller scale, because Fiona had been holding her ground before my arrival.
“This is torture,” I muttered to myself, feeling the searing pain in my leg amplify. Too frustrated to look down and examine the gaping hole left by the spike that had pierced my foot, I focused my attention on the Village Chief. I witnessed just in time as his wings sliced through one of the four legs of a three-star Vylkr vine.
He then clamped his enormous talons onto its tangled mass of vines that served as its head, resembling more of a twisted decoration. However, even as the Village Chief tore it free, the monstrous amalgamation of Vylkr vines persisted, unceasingly extending its tendrils toward the Village Chief with alarming accuracy.
Sighing once more, I could finally witness firsthand the immense impact that an endlessly overwhelming enemy like the Vylkr vines could have on one’s psychology. .
“Orion… what are you doing here?” Fiona’s voice trembled as she spoke, her words punctuated by cracks of emotion. “Don’t worry…run…. save…. yo..ur life….. I… I have forgiven you.” Her voice continued to falter, and I turned my head to face her, taking in her fearful and conflicted expression.
It was a stark contrast to the fierce and aggressive attitude she had displayed when I proposed to her. With an exhausted smile, I stretched my arms apart, allowing my lightning to scatter into countless tendrils, forming a net-like structure that poured backwards, making it appear as though the sky itself had woven a dome-like net to envelop Fiona.
Seeing that the net had been created, I finally opened my mouth to speak “Fiona, whether you like it or not, I am your partner…. So. I. will. Not. Leave. You..”
I noticed her trembling, shivering intensely at my words. “Orion… the vines,” her eyes shifted away from me, and when she refocused her gaze and said, “Please… run… run,” I could hear the desperation in her voice.
“Fiona… I came to rescue you.”