The sound of their footsteps echoed faintly as they stepped into the chamber.
Roots climbed the walls like veins, weaving up into a canopy of tangled wood.
The ceiling shimmered faintly, a dull green light pulsing from the artificial sun high above.
The air was thick, humid, heavy with mana that pressed against Alex's skin.
At the very centre stood the Elder Ent.
It was enormous; its trunk wide enough to swallow a house whole, branches reaching toward the false sun like arms.
Moss draped across its bark, and faint pulses of light rippled through it, almost like it was breathing.
Alex stopped a few paces inside.
The air was so still he could hear his own heartbeat.
Olivia moved a little closer, both hands clasped together as she whispered a prayer under her breath.
Soft silver light pooled around her.
Alex's gaze flicked to the faint message that had appeared before him.
.
[Use my power.]
.
He exhaled slowly, lowering his sword.
'Only if I have to.'
Alex never enjoyed relying on 'that power'; he wanted to grow on his own, to show his own strength.
Soren stood ahead of them, eyes locked on the tree.
His left eye flickered faintly, glowing translucent for a moment before fading.
Olivia noticed, so did Alex, but neither said a word.
Then Olivia's voice filled the quiet.
"I call to you, goddess, hear my name and help thy champion. 「Minor Blessing of Agility」"
A warm light wrapped around Soren's legs.
"I call to you, goddess, hear my name and help thy champion. 「Minor Blessing of Strength」"
His shoulders tensed slightly as the divine energy sank into him.
"To the one who watches over me, see my strength and give your blessing for my victory. 「Blessing of Fire」"
The light deepened to red before fading into his skin.
Olivia stepped back, breathing softly.
"That's all I can give for now."
Soren gave a short nod.
Alex adjusted his grip on his sword and stepped up beside him.
"Ready?"
"...Yes."
His tone was flat, steady, but there was a faint tremor behind it.
They exchanged one last glance before walking forward.
••✦ ♡ ✦•••
Soren Arden POV
Soren raised his hand and gave a silent signal.
The three of them spread out slowly, boots pressing into the damp earth.
Every step was careful, measured.
The smell of soil filled the air.
The Elder Ent stood still.
For several seconds, nothing happened.
Then, suddenly, the ground shifted.
Roots rose from the dirt like snakes, curling and twitching, and the air vibrated, a deep groan echoing through the hollow.
Dust fell from the ceiling as the "tree" moved.
Two amber lights flickered open in the bark.
They were eyes.
A low creak rolled through the chamber as the Elder Ent's roar rumbled, ancient and strained.
Then it attacked.
The ground exploded with motion.
Thick roots shot upward, tearing through the soil like spears.
Soren leapt backwards, whispering a spell.
"「Breeze」"
A burst of wind shot from beneath his feet, throwing him backwards just as a root burst where he had been standing.
He hit the ground in a crouch, rolling to absorb the impact.
He raised his axe, mana swirling faintly around the dull blade.
「Einhardt Axemanship – Crescent」
The edge lit up in a blue-white glow as he swung, the arc slicing cleanly through one of the roots, splitting it with a crunch.
The Elder Ent roared, its branches whipping forward like living whips.
Soren moved through the attacks in silence.
Each motion was cold and mechanical; he parried smaller roots with his buckler, ducked under the larger ones, and countered with bursts of flame from his palm.
"「Ignition」"
Flames erupted where his strikes landed, charring bark and searing the vines that reached for him.
He didn't think, only acted.
Every attack was a calculation: range, weight, timing.
There was no fear, no hesitation.
A massive branch slammed into the floor beside him, sending shards of bark flying.
Soren slid across the dirt, rolling to his feet and swinging again.
The blade carved through the side of the Ent's trunk, but the cut was shallow.
His breathing quickened, but he didn't stop.
Behind him, Alex and Olivia joined the fight; Alex slashed through smaller vines reaching from the ground, and Olivia chanted softly as silver light shimmered around them.
The Elder Ent's mana flared again.
Thick vines burst from the walls, twisting toward them like tendrils.
Soren clenched his jaw, casting another spell.
"「Shockwave」"
An invisible burst of force erupted from his hand, slamming into the nearest vine and knocking it back into the wall.
But there were too many.
He gritted his teeth, raising his arm as another vine cracked against his shield, sending him sliding backwards.
He steadied himself.
"Alex, right flank! Olivia, stay back!"
His voice echoed flatly through the chamber, tone calm despite the chaos.
He didn't look back to check if they obeyed; he already knew they would.
The Elder Ent let out another groan, and the ground began to quake again as the battle shifted into full motion.
••✦ ♡ ✦•••
Olivia POV
The moment she felt the tremor, Olivia began praying.
Her hands glowed faintly, the light silver and steady even as roots whipped overhead.
"My shield is my weapon. My shield is my strength. My Goddess protects me. 「Divine Barrier」"
A barrier shimmered into existence over Alex as a branch swung down from above, splintering harmlessly against it.
He didn't even look back; he just nodded slightly and kept fighting.
Olivia exhaled, whispering another incantation.
"Stitch thy flesh, I end thy agony. In the name of Aryn, 「Heal」"
Silver light flowed from her hand to Soren's side as one of the smaller vines grazed his arm.
The wound closed instantly, though he didn't even react.
Her eyes followed him; his movements were too sharp, too efficient, like his body was running on instinct alone.
Even the way he didn't flinch at pain only made him seem all the more broken.
The ground shook again.
"Barrier!" Alex shouted.
"My shield is my weapon. My shield is my strength. My Goddess protects me. 「Divine Barrier」"
A dome shimmered into place just in time as the Elder Ent slammed both massive arms into the ground.
The impact sent a shockwave tearing through the dirt, but the barrier held.
Cracks spidered across its surface before fading.
Olivia's breathing grew faster.
'It's hitting harder now…'
She saw a faint opening, one of the Elder Ent's lower plates shifting, revealing glowing green bark beneath.
"Soren, left flank! The core is exposed!"
He didn't hesitate.
"「Breeze」"
Wind exploded from his feet, propelling him across the chamber.
He palm into the glowing weak point, flames bursting from the impact as he triggered [Ignition] mid-swing.
The creature roared, rearing back.
Olivia turned toward Alex.
He had stopped moving.
His sword was lowered, his stance solid, and mana shimmered faintly around him.
She recognised it instantly.
She changed her chant immediately.
" I call to you, goddess, hear my name and help thy champion. 「Minor Blessing of Strength」"
A faint light wrapped around Alex as he exhaled and tightened his grip.
••✦ ♡ ✦•••
Alex POV
The Elder Ent's chest split open.
A glowing green core pulsed inside, veins crawling up through its trunk.
Roots lashed wildly in every direction, trying to protect it.
Alex planted his feet, raising his sword, as golden light gathered around him in thick waves.
Soren moved between him and the incoming vines, blocking one with his buckler and severing another with a glowing strike.
"Now!" he shouted.
Alex stabbed his sword into the ground.
The world froze.
Time itself seemed to halt; the rain of dust suspended mid-air, the roots frozen mid-swing.
Even the faint shimmer of Olivia's barrier stopped moving.
Alex's breathing was the only sound.
He stepped forward, his body heavy but his movements smooth.
In an instant, he was before the Elder Ent, sword raised high.
He swung.
Time resumed.
The slash landed.
The glowing core split open, light spilling out in blinding waves.
The Elder Ent screamed, its voice echoing through the hollow like thunder.
Vines burst from the ground in retaliation, shooting toward everything in reach.
Olivia gasped, stumbling backwards, but before she could react, Soren grabbed her arm and yanked her aside.
A thick root slammed down where she had been standing, cracking the earth.
"Fall back!" Alex shouted.
But Soren didn't move.
He took one step forward, eyes burning faintly behind his hair.
He pressed his hand to the ground, the magic circle beneath it glowing faintly.
••✦ ♡ ✦•••
Soren Arden POV
"「Gaia」"
The ground around the Elder Ent softened instantly, turning the thick soil into mud.
The monster's roots sank half a metre into the earth, its movements slowing as the terrain shifted beneath it.
"「Freeze」"
Blue light spread from Soren's feet.
The mud crystallised into ice in an instant, locking several roots in place.
The moisture in the air crackled as frost spread across the ground.
"「Ignition」"
The frozen roots exploded, shards of ice scattering as flames erupted from the cracks.
The smell of burnt sap filled the air.
Soren's body trembled as he stepped forward, axe raised.
His breathing was heavy now, but his movements never faltered.
Each step was exact, controlled.
Olivia watched from behind, gripping her staff tightly, noting his trembling body.
She saw his leg falter for half a second, his balance slipping before he caught himself.
"Soren, wait—!"
"Don't waste time. I'm fine."
The words were calm, but his voice was strained.
His lips were pale.
The Elder Ent roared, raising one massive arm of tangled branches.
The shadow fell over Soren.
He braced himself, both arms rising.
"「Shield」"
A translucent wall of light shimmered between him and the falling root.
The impact was deafening.
The ground cracked beneath his feet, dirt scattering, but he held his ground.
His arm went numb from the impact, and his whole body ached.
Still, he didn't stop.
"「Shockwave」"
The air pulsed.
A deep thrum echoed through the hollow as the invisible blast struck the Elder Ent's torso.
It staggered backwards slightly, its form swaying.
Soren exhaled sharply.
Blood trickled from his lip.
He raised his arm again.
"「Hemokinesis」"
The blood he had lost lifted from the ground, swirling around his hand in crimson streams.
It hardened instantly, shaping into blades that wrapped around his axe.
The weapon glowed a dark, living red.
His vision blurred at the edges.
「Einhardt Axemanship - Crescent」
He swung.
The dull axe howled to life, tearing through air and wood alike.
The glowing red slash ripped across the Elder Ent's chest, striking the wound Alex had already made.
The gash deepened, splitting bark and flesh until the exposed core pulsed wildly.
The entire chamber trembled.
The Ent's scream was deafening.
Its branches twisted wildly, smashing against the walls.
Soren dropped to one knee, gasping for air.
The crimson aura faded from his weapon as the blood dissolved back into the earth.
He tried to push himself up, but his leg buckled.
Olivia was already running toward him when the next roar came.
••✦ ♡ ✦•••
Alex POV
The Elder Ent's body convulsed.
Roots erupted from every surface, crashing through the ground and ceiling alike.
"Move!" Alex shouted, pulling Olivia close as one massive root smashed down beside them.
The entire chamber shook; bits of debris fell from the ceiling, breaking apart as they hit the floor.
Olivia chanted her barrier in reflex.
"My shield is my weapon. My shield is my strength. My Goddess protects me. 「Divine Barrier」"
A massive dome of light surrounded them both.
Roots slammed against it from all sides, sparks of divine power scattering like rain.
The barrier cracked under the pressure.
"Alex!" she shouted, her voice breaking. "If you have something, anything, use it now!"
He grit his teeth.
His sword hand trembled; he had already used that power once in this fight, and he didn't know if he could do it again.
Then the message appeared before him again, glowing faintly through the chaos.
.
[You can do it.]
.
The worry he felt dissipated at the Goddess's simple words.
If he couldn't trust the Goddess, who could he trust?
Light swallowed his vision, and time stopped once more.
The vines froze mid-air, droplets of dirt suspended like stars.
Even Olivia's barrier hung motionless, light rippling but unmoving.
Alex exhaled slowly, the sound echoing unnaturally loud in the silence.
He stepped out from behind the barrier; his muscles felt heavy, like he was wading through water.
Across the frozen battlefield, Soren's body was half-collapsed, one knee in the mud, blood dripping from his chin.
Alex moved to him first, grabbing his shoulder and dragging him a few feet back.
Then he turned toward the Elder Ent.
Its body loomed above everything, the open wound in its chest glowing like molten glass.
'Let's end this.'
He raised his sword and ran.
Every step felt like moving through mud, but the stillness made it possible.
He closed the distance in seconds that didn't exist, then he thrust his sword forward, straight into the glowing core.
The moment the blade made contact, light erupted from the wound, flooding the frozen scene in blinding green.
Time resumed.
The sound hit all at once, a deafening roar that shook the chamber like a collapsing mountain.
Alex was thrown backwards, landing hard on the dirt.
The Elder Ent staggered, its body splitting open as energy poured from its chest.
Soren forced himself upright, gripping his axe tightly.
His arms were shaking, but his eyes were steady.
"Move!" he shouted, voice raw.
He pushed past Alex and stumbled toward the monster.
••✦ ♡ ✦•••
Soren Arden POV
He could barely see straight.
The air was thick with mana, glowing dust swirling in the air, but he didn't stop.
He reached the base of the Elder Ent, planting his foot on one of its roots to steady himself.
Blood still dripped from his hand, and he forced it into shape again.
「Hemokinesis」
The crimson aura wrapped his weapon once more.
He raised it over his shoulder.
「Einhardt Axemanship - Crescent」
The blade swung down in an arc, cleaving through the split in the trunk.
The red light carved deep, reaching the pulsing core that Alex's sword had pierced moments before.
He pressed his palm against the handle.
"「Ignition」"
The world turned red.
The blood coating his axe ignited, erupting into a blaze that consumed the core in a burst of fire and light.
A shockwave tore through the chamber.
The roar that followed was almost human; a sound of agony and finality.
The Elder Ent's massive body convulsed once, then began to crumble.
The glowing veins across its trunk dimmed. The roots that had been thrashing moments before fell limp, retreating into the ground.
Ash and smoke filled the air.
Soren swayed, almost losing his balance, but caught himself on the haft of his axe.
Behind him, Olivia watched in silence.
The massive tree finally fell, the sound echoing through the hollow like a dying heartbeat.
Then there was quiet.
The air smelled of smoke and sap.
Soren stood there for several seconds, head bowed.
Olivia dropped her staff and ran forward.
"Soren—!"
He looked up, his face pale but calm.
"I did it," he muttered softly.
His legs gave out, and he sank to his knees.
The false sun above flickered faintly, then began to dim as the chamber slowly filled with silence.
————「❤︎」————