Calistis and Valen walked out of the small camp, navigating their way to the stream; far downstream from where Talen, Henry, and Kestis were.
When they arrived at the stream, they decided to take a break; drinking water and having a rest.
As they continued on their long journey upstream in search of Talen, Valen asked, unable to bear the silence any longer. "Calistis, how is it having a tail?" However, just like all his other attempts of conversation, Calistis shut it down.
For some reason, she only spoke to him when it was absolutely necessary.
'A simple no would suffice.' Valen thought, as he continued walking in silence.
Their rest of their journey wad fortunately fruitless, with no Chaos Monsters attacking, and less fortunately clues of Talen.
That was until, movements from across the stream interrupted Valen's second attempt at a conversation.
They heard leaves rustle, branches and twigs snapping and even trees, parting and bending to make way for something. And that something was by no means small.
Hearing the unnatural sounds, Valen tensed, clenching his Viking war hammer in both hands. He glanced at Calistis.
Similarly she was tense, gripping her knight sword in both hands, eyes locked on forest ahead, her tail calmly laying on a pile of leaves.
Tightening her jaw, Calistis began walking towards Valen.
'This is my golden chance.' She thought.
Standing next to him, she ordered with a flat tone. "Stand down." Eyes still on the forest ahead.
Valen glanced at her, pupils diluting in confusion.
Why would she want him to stand down, what ever was approaching is most likely a tempest. "Are you crazy?." He whispered.
Eyes still on the encroaching danger, she replied. "I said stand down." She replied, her tone laced with pride.
Just as Valen was about to repute, the creak of bending trees grew louder as the forest across from them parted like curtains, making way for a Chaos Monster.
It was a giant caterpillar encompassed in vibrant green armour, with soft red flesh beneath visible through the cracks. Beneath it's nearly invisible eyes, was a mouthful of razor sharp teeth.
It shrieked, as it craled.
Gazing at the Chaos Monster, Valen's face hardened, his grip on his war hammer iron- hard. All kindness in his eyes died, in their place; indescribable hate.
He began walking to the Caterpillar with slow measured steps. "I will kill you." He cursed, voice raspy.
Calistis flipped her sword holding it by the tip, then she swung the hilt at Valen's ankle. Upon impact, his body slow became paralysed, he fell on his knees.
Using only his sheer willpower, Valen prevented himself from falling flat on his face.
On his knees, Valen clenched his fist, a wave of confusion and betrayal washing over him. 'Calistis why.' He thought, still struggling to stay on his knees.
Looking back at him, Calistis spoke. "Talen slayed the spider alone, I will slay the caterpillar alone." Her tone flat.
She turned around, sprinting at the Wood Caterpillar.
As she sprinted, Calistis whispered a phrase foreign to her, one she never imagine herself uttering, a phrase so foreign she physically flinched as she whispered. But, at the same time it felt natural. "I am sorry."
Growing closer to the stream she went into the Zone, preparing to jump over the stream.
The whites in her eyes turned a cold piercing shade of black, her pupils and iris mixed into an intense shivering shade of blue.
Her mind became sharper, clearer. Thoughts flowed faster, as the world around her slowed by a fraction of a second
'Ten minutes.' Calistis thought.
She jumped high, soaring across the stream. The wind creasing her pure white hair.
Landing on her knees, Calistis stood up sword in both hands, she sprinted at the Wood caterpillar.
Noticing the small creature lunging at it, the larvae shrieked. Commanding the trees at Calistis.
Trees groaned as they were unearthed, dirt flew in the air as roots rose with a creak.
As the trees were ripped away from their homes, they molded like molten metal, defying all law of physics as they gave up their rigid form for a snake like form.
One was lunched
As the projectile flew at her, it caught her eyes. She gripped her sword with one hand, by her side.
She ran faster, to met the tree.
The moment it came within reach, Calistis jumped onto it. She dashed to the tail end and launched herself again, sprinting towards the Caterpillar.
'This is cannot be all a Tempest can do.' Calistis thought, suspicious of the ease she dodged with.
However, before she could get far, she saw a rain of trees descending at her.
Smirking, Calistis stepped to the side attempting to dodge the in coming tree, as she did she ducked dodging two at once. More were coming.
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However, before Calistis could continue her sprint, she heard trees cutting through the air with a whistle, hurling towards her from behind.
Turning around, Calistis saw all the trees she had dodged coming straight back at her. 'It controls the trees.' Calistis thought, coming to a profound realisation, that made defeating the caterpillar infinitely harder now.
Gritting her teeth Calistis focused harder, tracking and predicting the trajectory of as many trees as she could; however, that was for naught. As Calistis's body could not match her mind's speed.
Calistis was stuck; unable to move advance or retreat. Twenty trees now endlessly assaulted Calistis, she could only stand using her sword, jumping, side stepping, ducking, and even using her tail to dodge as many trees as possible.
Valen, meanwhile, on the other side of the stream, watched as Calistis struggled against the caterpillar's ranged assault, her bruises slowly piling up. 'That stupid pride of yours.' Valen thought, struggling to stay kneeling.
Calistis, on the other side, kept struggling to survive the Wood Caterpillar's assault, her mind slowly adapting to the rhythm of the battle she began pushing forward. Unfortunately, her body was not co-operating.
Her push incurred more bruises.
Although the battle taxed Calistis's mind, it was enhanced, unlike her body. Feeling her body slow down, Calistis thought. 'Move dammit.' As she struggled to dodge another tree, adding to her bruises.
Emotions began to seep into her cold logic.
Calistis's mind again adapted to the caterpillar's rhythm. But, her bruised and fatigued body betrayed her.
She could see openings to attack, openings to dodge. But, she could not utilise them.
Nevertheless, Calistis kept pushing dragging her body with. "Move will you." She roared, grinding her teeth.
More emotions seeping into her cold logic.
Seeing Calistis adapt to its attack pattern, the caterpillar shrieked, its attacks growing more ferocious and erratic.
The slight disruption in the rhythm, took Calistis's mind a few minutes to disect. However, in those few minutes more bruises piled on her body making it more of a burden. The sound of her teeth grinding growing louder.
Calistis began seeing less openings. "He can do it, so can I." She declared, her once sharp mind now foggy with her pride, and frustration at her body.
Calistis saw the caterpillar's attacks become even more ferocious and erratic but, in fact it was her mind becoming duller and foggier.
Calistis jumped trying to dodge a tree but it was all a facade, as she was hovering in the air, Calistis saw at the corner of her eyes, another tree swinging at her.
Calistis had no ground to dodge the tree. 'Deflect.' She thought, straining her bruised body. Calistis spun around, bringing her knight sword Infront of her ready to deflect.
The swinging tree met with Calistis's sword, a dull clack resonating through the clearing, her sword creaking.
Due to the position of Calistis's sword, the force from the impact was mostly deflected. However, enough of the force made it through, sending Calistis flying. Her bones groaned, threatening to break.
On the other side of the stream. The paralysis on Valen's body began to fade.
Immediately Valen went into the Zone, his eyes changing; the whites turned black, his iris and pupils turned a fierce shade of red. Immense strength surged through his body, adding to his already great power.
Springing to his feet Valen saw Calistis flying through the clearing. "Your pride is going to get you killed." He roared, getting in position to catch her.
Calistis landed comfortably in Valen's wide arms with a groan.
Looking at her Valen sighed. Her body was bruised all over, some bruises bleeding. "You owe me an apology." Valen said, putting Calistis down.
Grabbing his Viking war hammer, he turned around ready to clash with the caterpillar. However, before he could move Calistis held his leg.
Turning around, Valen spoke hurriedly. "What are you doing? It's about to attack." Turning his head back to the caterpillar, Valen saw it shriek raising its trees.
Using her sword for support, Calistis stood up groaning. Her fight with the caterpillar had forced her to accept something she did not want to; she could not defeat it alone. She could see all the openings and more, infact she had already formulated a plan to slay the caterpillar. However, she needed help, help from Valen.
Her tail dropping, from the physical and emotional fatigue.
Calistis hated to admitting that, even in thought. But, her most recent encounter made it painfully clear. She could not deny it anymore, taking a deep breath Calistis said. "Distract it." She then turned around and began walking away, denying Valen the chance to argue.
Valen chuckled hearing Calistis's words, there were better than an apology. Turning around, Valen sprinted at the caterpillar, the blade of his hammer reflecting the light of the sun. "Thank you for the break." He declared, jumping across the stream.
Landing, Valen began his own struggle. Though for him it was not much of a struggle, using his great physical strength Valen; deflected, dodged and even sliced some trees.
Valen completely dominated the space he was in, truly distracting the Chaos Monster.
Seeing that, the caterpillar shrieked . Its attacks increasing in ferocity however, that did nothing.
Valen continued dominating, none of the many trees touching him. The caterpillar shrieked.
Valen continued however, just like Talen; his zone enhancement was too potent for his body to handle. 'Four more minutes.' Valen thought, splitting a root in half.
Calistis watched Valen as she swam through the stream, she finally saw what made him rank first.
When Valen fights, he doesn't power through with raw strength like most Body Zoners. Rather, he controls the space around him, skillfully at that. 'Dangerous.' Calistis thought, arriving at the other end of the stream.
Pulling herself out, Calistis began sneakily approaching the caterpillar.
Chaos Monsters, like the caterpillar, were defenseless at melee combat, so Calistis was going to exploit that weakness.
The caterpillar kept shrieking, focusing solely on killing Valen. Calistis walked behind it quietly.
Now standing directly below it, it's soft lemon flesh facing her. Calistis gripped her knight sword, preparing to stab at its heart.
Taking a deep breath Calistis took one step back, going into the zone to use what little physical enhancement it provided. Calistis stabbed the caterpillar.
Her sword went through the soft flesh of the caterpillar with a squelch, facing no resistance, straight to its heart. Crimsom blood sprayed out.
As Calistis sword plunged into its heart, the caterpillar let out a devastating shriek.
Its head began spinning around as it shrieked some more.
Calistis pulled her sword out, more blood spilling.
She continued stabbing the caterpillar, losing count of how many times, only stopping when the caterpillar stopped.
It was dead.
Leaving Calistis drenched in its blood.
Pulling her sword out Calistis ran to the stream, jumping into it.
Plunging into the cold water, Calistis saw the blood of the caterpillar swirling around.
Today, she saw what her pride can do, when left unchecked.