The temple remains standing with the effort of Grand Ecstasy and Natsuko. Cutting out the vines attempting to touch even a single pillar. The earth dome who once held the horde of infected are now crumbling down due to the intense overgrowth of plants caused by Buchan.
And the intensity of the growth is just becoming more severe as Mr. Buchan is closing in on the temple. But it's all according to everyone's plan.
"What his current location?!" Beltrand's question as he kills an infected beast attempting to bite him.
A row of wild trees and vines sprouts and wishes to entangle Natsuko. Natsuko deforms her nine aqua tails in a form of sharp scythes and decimates the trees like they're just mere weeds.
"Still far away. If we try to dash towards him, he will surely get us." Mateo's report.
"Then we need to hold a little longer until he's on visual range." Claustrine's words.
Claustrine fails to notice the group of pointed vines attempting to stab her from behind. She only find out after a golden barrier appears behind her, blocking the attack.
"Thanks!" Claustrine's gratitude.
Sophia continues to block more vines with her barrier, protecting their flanks. Helyna and Mateo cuts the rest that Sophia unables to block while. Beltrand is reponsible for deflecting and killing the few infected beasts as Claustrine and Natsuko use their magic to cut down the overgrowth attempting to engulf them.
"He's really close to us if he can now send attacks in any direction. The temple is probably already over his area of influence." Claustrine's report.
After an intense defense.
"I finally have a vision of Mr. Buchan!" Helyna's report as she points on a direction recently hit by Claustrine's wind cutter. There, everyone sees Mr. Buchan again in a closer distance. So close that they can clearly see more details of his tall form.
Only for Buchan to got hidden again after a batch of trees sprouts again. Blocking their view.
"That's good enough! Let's prepare for a dash!"
"Ok!" Everyone's response to Mateo's call.
Facing the direction they see Mr. Buchan. The group prepares their wild dash towards the enemy. Natsuko on the front with all of his aqua tails deformed and prepared.
"LET'S MOVE!"
And with a scream. Grand Ecstasy and Natsuko dash forward with tenacity. Natsuko slices and dices the overgrowth blocking their path as Grand Ecstasy follows behind.
A horde of pointed vines appears in all direction. All aimed towards the party. Sophia protects the back while the swordsmans and Claustrine cuts down the vines on the sides.
The group is closing the distance with ease only for them to suddenly feel the ground beneath their feet rumble.
And their formation shattered after wild trees sprouted beneath their feet. Seperating them.
"Regroup immediately!" Mateo's command.
They cut down the area and clear the surroundings as they repair their formation and move forward while cutting the trees and dodging the ones growing under.
And with a one clean sweep of her tails. Natsuko clears a wide space on front and they once again have a face-to-face with Buchan who answers their entrance with a faint growl.
Natsuko wince on the sight, followed by a pained frown.
"You poor thing." She softly speak.
Buchan surrounds himself with tall twisted trees to protect himself only for Natsuko to cut down the newly grown plants.
"Move close to him. Be careful." Natsuko's words.
As Natsuko continues to clear the foliage and branches, Grand Ecstasy move forward even further. And their persistence bear fruit as Mateo, Helyna and Beltrand finally reach a striking distance.
And without words, the three use their mana, enhancing their legs to boost them and leap forward to finally send a synchronized attack.
CLANG!
The blades of Mateo, Beltrand and Helyna mades a loud metallic sound after hitting the skin of Mr. Buchan. Not even cutting a single hair like their blade is just a slab of unsharpened metal.
"Ughhh.... AAAAAAHHHH!!!" Helyna use more power in attempt to push her sword. Yet it doesn't even dig even a millimeter on its thick hide.
"Back down!"
Mateo's order is followed as the three leaps away just seconds before they almost get caught by spiked vines sprouted around Mr. Buchan.
"Tsk! This is more difficult than I expected." Beltrand's dissapointed words.
"What's wrong?" Natsuko's queastion as she continues to clear the sprouting trees and vines.
"Our blade can't even cut his skin!" Beltrand's report.
"We're fighting what the beastfolk's considered as a Deity. Of course it's not going to be that easy." Sophia's contemplation.
"I know that! But I atleast hope that our blades can potentially do something." Beltrand's rant.
Natsuko becomes concerned and she think of her options. Their slim chance of victory lies on her to unleash all of her power.
Yet she stare on Grand Ecstasy around her. Natsuko feels that going all out with them nearby and risky. Besides, she's scared that her powers might not be enough to defeat Buchan and she becomes a threat once become infected.
Natsuko shakes her head and put her trust to Grand Ecstasy or the elves. Hoping that their combined power puts down the problem.
"Is Mr. Buchan resistant to magic?" Claustrine's question.
"I don't know. But perhaps he is in some degree." -Natsuko.
"Well. It's worth the shot, Mateo, Helyna and Beltrand, Distract him. Sophia protect me as I prepare something." Claustrine's sudden orders.
"You have plan?" Mateo's curious question.
"Yes. Just give me time."
The three melee fighters just nods in agreement as they resumed facing Buchan again. Claustrine then prepares her mana for a impromptu experiment. As the wild growth continues, Natsuko just maintain clearing the area for Grand Ecstasy while Sophia planted her barrier ward near Claustrine, Casting a yellow dome around them as Claustrines mana accumilate outside.
"Natsuko! Clear his cover!"
With a swipe of her singular tail. Natsuko cut the trees protecting Buchan, giving way for Mateo.
With his sword infused with electricity. Mateo dash forward while dodging the vines attempting to hit him with efficiency. Until he finally close his distance, facing Buchan face to face.
Without warning, Mateo inleashes a fast furry of slashes to Buchan's face. Each hit creating loud sparks as the shock travels on Mr. Buchan's body.
Yet Buchan just stand and eat all the attacks without even flinching. Then he raise both his front arms and slam the ground where Mateo us standing.
Mateo escapes the danger zone. On the slam area, spiked vines sprouted, all rushing towards Mateo who still escaping. Only for the chasing vines to get cutted down by Helyna.
"Thanks!"
Helyna and Beltrand swaps with Mateo as they attempted to distract Buchan. Buchan sends a row of trees towards Helyna who run aways, it only stops after Natsuko interfere and clear the agressive vegetation again.
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Helyna runs directly to Mr. Buchan and after dodging an array of vines. She makes a slide under Buchan and cut his belows. Again, her blade didn't do anything as Buchan now ready to trample Helyna who still in middle of standing and leaving away.
Helyna sees the feet going to crush her only to see Beltrand appears in front of him and with his shield, blocks Buchan's feet.
Helyna quickly use the opportunity to leave as Beltrand resist the slam. The shield bent as the pushing power is becoming stronger. Beltrand gritting his teeth as his feet now digging deep on the soil due to the force.
Helyna and Mateo attacks Buchan and unleash contant attacks while the beast continues to push Beltrand to the ground like he's just a nail. The constant vines appearing around them makes thing more conplicated as it still attempting to ensnare Grand Ecsasy.
An aqua tail hits Beltrand and sending him away as Buchan's feet finally slam the ground. As expected, a forest of trees sprouted which make Helyna and Mateo makes distance again.
Beltrand tumbles to the ground before regaining footing."
"Thanks!" Beltrand's gratitude while checking his arm where his shield is. The shield bent inward to his dismay.
Beltrand remove his shield on his arm and throw it away. And alongside Mateo and Helyna, attacks Buchan again. Despite how futile their attempts are, it's fine as long as Buchan remains transfixed on them.
The three continues to attack Buchan who no longer trying to defend itself but instead send hundreds of vines, all aimed to trap the three and let the other infected animals to do their job.
The three are also aware on the risk as the make sure not a single strand of vines touch them as they continue to dodge and cut them alongside Natsuko who continues to give support until finally.
"Everyone get out of there now!"
And with Claustrine's singular shout. The three melee fighters of Grand Ecstasy hastely leave Buchan's vicinity and as they leap backwards, they saw a concentrated yellow orb above Buchan.
In the distance is Claustrine standing proud, his staff pointed on on yellow orb hovering in the air. She gently move down the end of his staff and alongside it, the yellow orb drops to Buchan who not shows any reaction either due to the infection.
The orb collapse on impact and in an instant, a thick yellow smoke spreads around Buchan.
"Get inside the barrier! Now!" Sophia's warning.
Without question, everyone outside the barrier rush inside and watch as the yellow smoke spreads everywhere. Despite not seeing the the effects due to how thick the smoke is, Grand Ecstasy and Natsuko can feel that the smoke is something dangerous.
And their assumptions are proven correct after they gain a faint vision of Buchan when the smole is thin enough. They watch as it struggled to breath while clearly in pain as he rampages around. Followed by plants around him growing in overdrive.
Yet it still not enough, it might affecting the beast but it still alive and kicking. Thus Claustrine continues her attack as just higher on the Buchan, a white orb drops with great velocity which just like the yellow orb before, got destroyed on impact.
But it's different. The white orb instead contains an extremely sticky fluid that coated Buchan like superglue. Buchan ignores the white fluid coating its body as he still in pain due to the smoke, an oppotunity for Claustrine who push her end of her staff outside the barrier with Sophia's control.
Claustrine is breathing heavily, clearly used extensive amount of mana yet she persevere and send a miniscule fire orb towards Buchan. A spark yet...
When a collision happened, Buchan is instantly engulfed by flames so thick and strong that he's just like a burning mess.
The flame roars and even spreads to the white fluid around. Burning the wild vines surrounding Buchan, creating a hell as the flame continues to burn deep and in absurd amount of time. Lasting minutes.
After observing the flame might spread uncontrollably to the entire Savagery Forest. Claustrine finally use her last remaining mana to send a powerful gust of wind to snuff out the flames and sweep away the remaning smokes in the vicinity. Only leaving the hot charred vissage of Buchan still standing.
Claustrine almost lost her balance but thanks to Mateo who gives support, she managed to remain standing.
Buchan's burned body twitch and finally move. Grand Ecstasy's dissappointment are apparent after seeing that everyhing they throw to the forest guardian have no effect.
"H-he's still... Alive. U-unbelievable."
And with that words from Claustrine. Grand Ecstasy reach a conclusion.
"Let's retreat. It's clear that he's something we can't easily defeat in our current state." Mateo's conclusion.
"I-I think that's our o-only option. Afterall, we s-successfully did our original mission here." Claustrine's tired words.
Natsuko almost tried to refuse but she understands that their firepower is not enough to defeat a powerful being like Buchan. She gritted her teeth out of frustration before calming herself by breathing deeply before reaching an ephipany.
"You're right. Let's retreat and wait for the el-"
Everyone feel the ground beneath their feet shakes with such force that instantly makes them concerned. And Natsuko, sensing danger swiftly acts.
Grand Ecstasy just find themselves flying away after they got hit by something.
"W-what?!" -Mateo.
Yet they didn't even managed to find the reason, or they did as in front of them. A wall of gigantic trees sprouted with absurd speed. In the aerial view, it's a huge circular wall of gigantic trees completely creating a huge zone.
And the trees continues to grow like it doesn't have a limit. It bypass the forest's height entirely and the trees even touch the clouds.
"WHAT'S HAPPENING?!" Beltrand's disbelief.
Mateo successfully recollects his thoughts and finally noticed something.
"WAIT! WHERE'S NATSUKO?!" He asked.
Then they stares on the wall and Grand Ecstasy reach a conclusion - Natsuko is in the otherside of the tree walls.
Mateo attempted to cut the thick trunk of the trees but not only his blade can't even reach halfway due to how thick the trunks are, they're also durable to Mateo's surprise.
The walls of tres are still growing upward and completely breaking how tall trees supposed to be until it finally stops. Becoming a looming tower in the middle of the Savagery Forest.
"NATSUKO!" Mateo shouts.
"Inside the giant ring of ironwood trees, Natsuko remains calm as she felt relief successfully saving Grand Ecstasy by pushing them away. But she's also filled with concern as she stare eye-to-eye to the infected Buchan as they stand meters away in the middle of the wooden cage.
Natsuko is trying to read Buchan who didn't show any sign of emotion as they remain in a silent stand still. Buchan's mouth is foaming worse than before with lump of bubbles falling on his mouth. His eyes are more sullen and deceased, showing a very late and advance stage of infection.
And then, Natsuko is dumbstruck after seeing tears flow outside of Buchan's eyes. She almost got hit by grief but she strenghten her resolve and gritted her teeth out of wrath and sympathy to the one he treated as a father figure. With a pained breath, Natsuko gives an understanding nod to Buchan.
"I-I'm sorry, I will not hold back anymore..."
Natsuko then suddenly got engulfed by a white mist that even seep out fron the wall of trees where Mateo can see.
"Farewell Mr. Buchan."
"Something is happening inside the wall..." Claustrine's comment.
The white smoke rise up and dissapears, revealing a majestic yet terrifying creature. A gigantic elegant beast with black and white fur, its nine tails waving slow and gentle while bluish aura ring floats above its shoulder.
The beast is a giant nine-tailed fox staring monotonely towards Buchan who respond with a growl and alertness. Natsuko feel that the fear response is not from Mr. Buchan but from the virus' survival instincts as Buchan or the disease controlling him is also prepared to go all-in.
Outside of the ring of trees. Grand Ecstasy are unsure on what they supposed to do on such situation. Knowing that Natsuko is in risk of getting infected.
"Should we cut it down and make an entry point?" Beltrand's suggestion.
"That would take a long time." -Mateo.
"And climbing it is also not an option, I think." Helyna's thought as she scale the absurd height of the trees.
They suddenly hear a loud commotion behind the cage which make Grand Ecstasy concerned. They know Natsuko is now fighting Buchan alone and they can't do anything to help.
"Well then, Claustrine use your magic. Burn it, cut it. I don't care!" -Beltrand
"I don't have any mana left. Beside, I can tell it's something my magic would never damage." Claustrine's answer.
Suddenly, they sense someone landing behind them and with their quick reflexes they wielded their weapons. When they face the threat, their alert is replaced by relief after seeing a tired Shirna breathing heavily.
"SHIRNA!!!" Sophia's delight as she run towards Shirna and give him a tight hug.
"I-I can't breath..." Shirna getting suffocated by her breast as Sophia's hug become tighter.
"Why you took so long? And did you successfully call for help?" Mateo's inquiry.
"Haaa yes. Sorry if I'm late. Convincing them is so difficult but I managed somehow."
Behind Shirna, from the forest reveals the elves of different variety. Wielding their weapons of bows, swords and staffs as they watch the gigantic trees with awe. Mateo is surprised to see the amount of elves that came to help and as he observes the strangers. He notices two elves completely different from the others.
A male Light Elf mage and Dark elf Rogue is seen showing professional interest to the gigantic trees. Their appearance and clothing are more intricate showing a higher status compared to the rest. The Light elf shows intrigued while the Dark Elf is more annoyed than usual as she tap the ironwood trunk with her blade.
"This trees is going to become an eyesore to the entire forest. We gotta get an influx of humans once they find out about this." The Dark Elf sighs.
"They going to need to deal with this disease first. And I'm sure they might get scared to venture in the forest with this new threat looming around them." The Light Elf answers with joy.
Then he walk towards Grand Ecstasy and with friendly demeanor starts to introduce himself.
"You must be Grand Ecstasy. Nice to meet you, My name is Fishan and that grumpy lady there is Tiasha. We're the commanders sent to help you."
"Who you calling Grumpy?" Tiasha's annoyed words.
"Ah... Yes. Thank you for responding on our call." Mateo's show of gratitude.
"Then tell me what makes the Forest Guardian to create the structures around us? Especially this tower of trees?" Fishan's question.
Mateo becomes serious and there they explained eveything that happened as the loud sounds of fighting continues. Fishan shows sadness and sympathy. Even Tiasha is shocked on the revelation
"I-I see... So even the mighty Forest Guardian got... Infected." Fishan's solemn words.
"I-I can't believe it... And you said Natsuko is now inside fighting Buchan?"
Mateo gives a sad nod.
"Please we need to help her!" Sophia begs.
"Calm down. I think she's going to be fine." Fishan's calm opinion.
"How can you say that?"
"Look. You humans just known her from a very brief moment of your lifetime but I knew her for centuries now. I believe she will be fine."
Grand Ecstasy watch as Fishan's expression becomes more pained and sorrowful.
"I can't say the same on her mind once it's done."
Grand Ecstasy then notices that the sound of combat behind the wooden cage is now gone. It quickly make them concerned on what might happened.
Then their concern is turned confusion after they suddenly felt few raindrops hitting their skin.
"Huh? Rain?" Beltrand's question.
The trickle of rain slowly becomes a sudden downpour despite the sun still brightly shining above them.
"A sun shower?" -Claustrine.
"It's done. Well then, let's go inside."
Grand Ecstasy can't even ask Fishan and just watch him walk towards the wall of trees. And then he tap the wall with his staff which is just a branch of a tree. And with that simple gesture, the trees contorts and moves to create an entryway for them.
Without saying a word. Grand Ecstasy and the elven commanders enters the cage. Grand Ecstasy watch the aftermath of a brutal battle and destruction. Deep clawmarks ans cuts are visible not only on the ground but the walls are also damaged intensely. Teling that just standing near on what caused these carnage is a death sentence.
The scene of destruction is continued to get washed by the pouring rain. Everyone stares with sadness as in the middle of the arena lies the mangled remains of Buchan. In front of it is where they found Natsuko in human form.
She's kneeling and crying with great pain and grief. Her sobs mixing with the sound of the rainfall.