Ashborn Primordial

Chapter 116: Aranya Forest

Though Haymi insisted shed recovered enough to fight, the rest of the partyincluding Virdisagreed. While her bones had mostly been mended by the Life mejai, Haymi still flinched when she walked. Powering orbs took concentration, and any distraction could break that. Losing their armor or weapon enhancements mid-battle could very well spell the partys doom.

But Vir and the rest of Spears Edge didnt waste their time. They continued to train on the shores south of Avi. Theyd sometimes fight with Haymis magical enhancement, but more often than not, theyd fight only with their own powers to ease Haymis burden.

Soon, theyd fallen into a routine. One that Vir appreciated far more than he expected. After a morning meal, theyd head out and practice until late afternoon, trading blows and learning about each other's combat style.

Virs was by far the most nuanced, but both Vason and Tia were masters of the Matali school of combat. While Vir preferred to stealthily attack his opponents, leveraging the speed and mobility of the Kalari Arts, theirs focused far more on party-based combat. Whether Tia attacked, defended, or distracted an enemy depended more on what the enemy was doing, rather than some preset style.

Sometimes, shed be stealthy, and at other times shed come in charging like a madwoman. Vason was the same. Though his role was defense, his attacks were polished and strong, and he never hesitated to take advantage of an opening.

It reminded Vir a bit of the tactics Minas scouts had used against him in the Godshollow, after hed taken down the Clutch Rachna. Those two had complemented each other perfectly, acting more as a single unit than two individuals.

Though Vir still had a long way to go, he was beginning to learn the basics of fighting that way. It had been an incredibly jarring experience. Sometimes, hed be forced to let openings go to focus on defending his ally. At other times, hed opt to take a hit for a teammate, rather than disappearing into the shadows. It was counter to his instincts and training, and so it took Vir some time to adapt.

Tias favorite tactic was to have Vir charge ahead using his incredible speed, attacking with an Enhance Speed orb slotted into his katar in a whirlwind of destruction. The Aprabomb.

Vir wasnt a fan of the Aprabomb. First of all, the name struck him as dumbhe wasnt a bomb and he had no intention of becoming one. And the tactic didnt sit right with him. He really didnt enjoy lunging headlong into combat, preferring the use of shadows instead. Old habits died hard, and hed developed that habit for a reason; it had kept him safe.

It took a whole week for Tia to sign off on Haymis health. At times like these, Vir felt like Tia acted as the partys mother, rather than just its leader. She certainly had a tendency to dote on those she cared about.

While some may have found it stifling, her behavior reminded Vir of Maiya, and that always made him feel warm inside.

But time marched on, and Vir stood with Neel and Spears Edge at the edge of the Aranya Forest south of Avi. Time was running out for their subjugation contract; Vir itched to put his new weapons to use. Neel felt no different, eager to be around so many people who petted and pampered him.

Apramor, can I have your blood rods? Its been some time, and I want to refill them going into battle, Haymi said, extending her hand out.

The katars rod was easy to remove, but the one in his cuirass was less so. It was positioned on his back in a pocket sandwiched between his body and the metal, so he needed Vason to help remove it.

Thanks. Use these instead, the mejai said with an embarrassed look, handing him a fresh pair. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Not at all.

Vir still hadnt gotten used to the idea of carrying around vials full of Haymis blood. But the results were irrefutable, so he ignored it.

Since were up against an unknown, I want us prioritizing healing over a specific defense, said Tia. We can only protect against one type of damagepiercing, slashing, or blunt forcebut a Life orb will heal any wound within its capacity.

Vir slotted a Grade C Heal Skin orb into his armor, and a Grade C Enhance Speed orb into his katar. All members of Spears Edge could use the partys orbs whenever they wanted, so long as another member didnt also need that same orb. Luckily, they had multiple copies of most C grade spells, so that was rarely an issue.

Just remember that Heal Skin can repair cuts, but it wont mend bones or heal deeper injuries. So please do your best to remain uninjured, said Haymi.

Even with those restrictions, the power was incredibly useful. Wounds that wouldve forced him to retreat before would only be a small distraction now.

I want everyone on their guard. Todays goal is reconnaissance. Were not trying to attack the enemy, we only want to find out more about it. How does it attack? What are its capabilities? Where are its weaknesses? Apramor, well be relying on you here. With your scouting skills, Im hoping we can find this monster by the end of the day.

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Easier said than done, Vir thought. The Aranya Forest was massiveeasily as vast as the Godshollow. The beast in question was said to make its lair deep within the forest, so theyd need to travel a good distance before encountering it. And the forest was simply too unwieldy to bring their Ashva, which meant walking.

Even worse, unlike the Godshollow, Aranya was packed full of trees of all sizes, competing for dominance. Critters, moss, and vines covered the ground, while the trees themselves were packed densely. Strange animals made constant sounds, and Prana Vision blazed with a myriad of different affinities. The colors nearly overwhelmed Vir until he learned to tune them out.

The minutes turned into hours as they penetrated through the brush. Vason, Vir, and Tia took turns clearing out the foliage, making for slow progress while Neel followed behind with Haymi. Just a year ago, hed have fainted from exertion.

As it was, the task was more of an annoyance than anything. With Dance of the Shadow Demon, he couldve raced ahead, but the others didnt have that option, and bringing them would be difficult. The shadows werent dark enough and large enough during the day to pull others along with him.

Its odd, Vason said upon arriving at a small brook. Theyd passed several similar features on their way inrivulets and sometimes even streams that flowed from the great Legion Mountains into Daiya Lake near Avi. Weve seen so much water, and so little in the way of animals. Beasts always hang out around watering holes.

I noticed that too, Tia replied, frowning.

You think

Tia nodded. Its likely the Lord of the Forest, thinning out the local fauna.

I thought it had made its residence deeper into the forest, though? Haymi asked. Has it been moving?

I dont know, Vir replied, just as Neel started barking. But I expect were about to find out. Look sharp! Weve got incoming!

Prana Vision had picked up a group of somethings, headed their way. They were heavily laden with Life and Water affinities. Whether the beasts could use powers from those affinities or not, Vir didnt know.

What is it? Can you tell? Tia shouted.

One moment. Vir sank into the shadows. From within the shadow Realm, he gazed at the beasts who rapidly closed in on the partys position.

For a moment, he wasnt quite sure what he was looking at. The only feature he immediately identified was the sharp pincer claw that protruded from the front of their bodies. But everything else was it was almost like a Prana Swarm. Indistinct and amorphous. But unlike the Swarm, these beings absolutely had a physical form.

Vir exited the Shadow Realm.

Theyre blobs? With claws.

What color were they? Tia asked immediately.

Crimson. A deep red.

Tia paled. No. How is that possible?

You know what they are?

Haymi! Lightning orbs. Now!

I only have two Arc spells. Where should I deploy them? asked Haymi. Vir barely followed the conversation.

Apramor. Slot his katar with Arc! You wield the other.

Before Vir could ask Tia to clarify, the first of their enemies burst forth out of the foliage.

Broodling scouts! Tia shouted as the rest of its friends emerged. Theyre impervious to most physical damage. Only blunt force and magic works. Vason!

On it! the warrior said, charging the enemy with his tower shield while Haymi tossed Vir a C Grade Arc Orb.

Neel was right beside Vason, sinking his teeth into the nearest broodling. But while his fangs easily sank into the liquidy hide, it seemed to do no damage. The same was true for his claw swipes.

Vir squelched his desire to ask Tia for more details about their enemy. She knew what needed to be said and whenif the information was relevant, shed say something. His curiosity would have to wait.

Leaping into the fray, Vir joined Tia battling against them. Like Neels attack, her spear penetrated their soft bodies easily enough, but left no lasting damage. Vasons talwar fared no better, but then Haymi fired an Arc spell, lancing right through one of them.

The beast spasmed the moment it was hit, flipping upside down, snapping its pincers futilely.

But it wasnt dead.

Apramor!

Vir slashed through the spasming beast with his katar. The instant before he did, the blade became wreathed with Lightning prana.

Its like Prana Blade but made of Lightning Affinity.

Virs blade bisected the beast, but instead of dying, each half began moving independently, occasionally spasming from Haymis attack.

Dont cut them! Tia yelled. They can divide and multiply. And stick together! Dont let them split us up!

That doesnt leave me many options, Vir said. His Chakrams were useless, as was his katar, which could only pierce. Prana Blade only augmented his katars sharpness, and while Haymis Arc orb allowed his blade to do some damage, he had to do it without cutting them apart.

Vir thrust directly into a Broodling, careful not to bisect it in half.

Initially, nothing different happened. The Broodling seized up from Haymis Lightning magic, spasming uncontrollably. If left untouched, it would eventually recover like its brother had.

Then he activated Prana Blade, surging Ash prana out of his hand, coating his katar. It weaved with the Lightning affinity prana from Haymis spell, augmenting it.

The Broodling exploded in a shower of goo.

Virs face went white. Did I just make a bunch more enemies?

But no such thing happened. The pieces stuck to trees, bushes, and dirt, but they no longer reconstituted.

Vir moved like a ghost, blurring between enemies, exploding them one by one.

But when he arrived at the fifth enemy, Haymi shouted an order.

Everyone back! Now!

While Vir had been dispatching his opponents, Vason, Neel, and Tia had corralled the remaining foes.

Into the stream.

Haymi fired an Arc spell, but not at the broodlings. Into the stream.

Apramor!

Vir immediately grasped her strategy and plunged his katar into the water. Lightning prana dissipated through the water body and spread to the remaining five gelatinous beasts.

They instantly spasmed but Haymi wasnt done. She fired Arc again. And again.

By her third spell, their foes spasmed no longer.

That was hard, Tia said, plonking down on the ground as she wiped sweat from her brow.

Tia, what are those things? Vir asked. Those were a little weak to be Ash Beasts, but Ive seen no prana beasts like that either.

Im afraid were up against a Brood Matron, and they are very much Ash Beasts, Tia said. The larger their domain, the stronger they become.

Balar Rank? Vir replied, gazing at the blob-like corpses. Their gooey bodies had already begun to lose cohesion, dissipating into the stream. Only their chitinous pincers remained.

Somewhere between 400 to 700 in the Ashen Realm, depending on their size. And its already dominated this forest.