Chapter 402: The Mad Queen Acts
"Well, that was scarily fast," Cassian’s voice came from behind me.
I gave a short nod. "Yeah. They don’t get tired, and they’re not bound by feelings like we are."
He rubbed his chin, eyes narrowing. "How is that even possible?"
I shrugged. "As long as I have Essence, they can keep going. They’ll keep tearing through everything until nothing’s left standing."
Cassian hummed.
Without wasting more time, I pushed the thought toward the three of them through the link. Move to the next level.
"Let’s go," I said aloud. My wings spread wide, feathers catching the dim light. With a powerful beat, I shot forward into the shadows between the trees, the wind cutting sharp against my face as I plunged deeper into the forest toward the next level.
The moment we reached the second level of the alpha zone, I could feel the energy thickening in the air. The trees grew taller and denser, their branches tangled like claws blocking the sky. Without wasting time, I sent my summons ahead.
And also started absorbing more and more energy through my channels.
Silver took to the sky with a sharp screech. His wings beat hard, stirring the air as he soared above the forest.
Then, with no hesitation, he fired a massive crimson beam from his beak. The beam widened quickly, growing into a sweeping wave of destruction that crashed down into the thick undergrowth.
Trees exploded into splinters, the ground cracked and burned, and a huge horde of abominations—hundreds of them—was wiped out in one devastating blast. The forest shook from the impact, and the silence afterward was absolute.
Knight melted into the shadows, his black fur blending perfectly with the dark underbrush. Without warning, he burst out like a shadow made real, claws flashing and tail lashing. But he didn’t just slash a few enemies.
Tendrils of pure darkness shot from him, snaking through the trees like living chains. They wrapped around dozens of abominations at once, tearing through flesh and bone, ripping entire groups apart before they could even scream. The shadows swallowed their bodies, leaving nothing but silence.
Lyrate moved with calmness. Unlike before, she didn’t just call on the forest, this time, she made her sword come alive.
Crimson blades shot out from the edge of her sword, slicing through the air like lightning. They flew fast and sharp, cutting down dozens of abominations at once, their bodies falling apart before they even had a chance to react.
Then, with a sudden shimmer, her form dissolved into a swirl of crimson mist.
She moved like the wind, flowing swiftly through the trees, almost invisible. In a blink, she reformed right inside a horde of abominations and unleashed a powerful slash with her sword. The monsters were sliced clean in two, their limbs flying as she moved effortlessly through them.
Watching her was like watching a fierce storm sweep through the forest, swift and unstoppable.
In less than ten minutes, the entire second level was cleared. The forest floor was littered with the remains of those creatures, but the air was clean again.
"Next level," I said, spreading my crimson wings wide.
We flew quickly over a rocky ridge and narrow river, heading into the third level. Here, the forest opened up, but the danger was far from over.
Silver rose high into the sky, soaring effortlessly as he circled above the forest. His sharp eyes scanned the ground below, searching every shadow and patch of grass for movement.
Then, with a sudden flare of his massive wings, the air around him began to shift. Strong gusts whipped through the trees, carrying the sound of rushing wind.
Around his wings, small vortexes spun rapidly, gathering energy from the air itself. From these swirling pockets of power, razor-sharp wind blades burst forth, slicing through the thick grass and striking down groups of abominations hiding in the open.
The blades moved fast, cutting cleanly through flesh and bone, leaving no chance for escape.
The force of Silver’s attack was immense. Hundreds of creatures fell within moments, their twisted bodies scattered like leaves in a storm.
The wind blades left a clear, burning path across the battlefield, stripping away the enemy in a sweeping, unstoppable wave.
Lyrate hovered in the air for a moment, watching Silver’s whirlwind of destruction below. I could feel a shift in her emotions. Then, without a sound, she gently touched down on the forest floor.
The moment her feet met the earth, a wave of energy pulsed out from her, spreading quickly across the entire Level 3 area. For a brief moment, the forest fell completely silent, as if holding its breath. Then, without warning, chaos erupted.
The trees themselves seemed to come alive. Deep, thunderous roars echoed as thick roots burst from the soil, twisting and writhing like giant serpents.
Branches snapped sharply, transforming into jagged weapons that sliced through the air. The forest turned into a living hunter, pursuing the abominations relentlessly, its wooden limbs sweeping through the creatures like a storm.
Through our bond, I sensed Lyrate’s silent question: "Where are they hiding?"
I quickly scanned the area and sent her the locations. She nodded, eyes sharp and ready, as the battle between nature and monster began in full force.
The moment I sent the locations, the forest seemed to respond as if it understood perfectly.
Thick roots snaked through the underbrush, bursting out of the ground and wrapping around the spots I marked.
They crushed and pulled abominations from their hiding places, dragging them out like prey caught in a trap. Sharp branches sliced through the air, sweeping across the ground with deadly precision, cutting down any creature that tried to flee.
The trees groaned and creaked, but their movements were swift and precise. It was like watching a living weapon, one that knew exactly where to strike. The abominations panicked, their growls turning into screams as they found no safe corner.
The forest’s reach stretched far, enveloping entire groups in its grasp.
Lyrate moved with the rhythm of the forest, her crimson blades flashing like lightning through the green chaos. She appeared and vanished in a blur, each strike shredding abominations into pieces before they could react.
"Seven minutes," Cassian’s voice came from behind me, clearly surprised.
I glanced back at him, feeling a mix of pride and excitement. We had cleared the entire third level in just seven minutes. That was faster than I expected, honestly.
Most of the credit went to Lyrate, she had suddenly gotten very competitive after seeing Silver’s powerful attacks. Her move was like a storm in the forest, sweeping through everything with deadly grace.
But that fierce burst of power came at a cost. It drained huge chunks of my Essence—more than I liked. Thankfully, I was still generating Essence faster than she could use it, at least for now. It was a delicate balance, pushing my limits while keeping enough energy for what was next.
I turned back toward Cassian and said with a small smile, "Well, she’s definitely a walking disaster whenever she’s in the forest."
He chuckled quietly, shaking his head. "A force of nature, for sure. But that kind of power... it’s what we need."