Reinhard and the others rushed through the forest, their formation tight and efficient. Amiya led at the front, her black Seeker coat streaming behind her as she navigated between massive tree trunks.

Brunhilde ran beside her, violet-blue hair flowing, light blue eyes scanning constantly for threats. Reinhard followed directly behind them, his hand ready to summon Zenuken at any moment.

The Luminous Knights came next with Veryn in front of Casseo, who left his hand holding the hilt of his sword. Marie, Janus, and Joseph brought up the rear as they continued rushing through the forest.

The forest pressed in from all sides. Roots crossed their path like natural barriers, forcing them to leap or duck. Grasses and bushes grabbed at their boots with every step while the branches above blocked most sunlight, making the area darker.

A roar erupted from their left.

"Werefang!" Amiya called out without breaking stride.

The creature burst from the side, its brown fur covered in grass and leaves, with its three tails swishing in agitated patterns.

Brunhilde's figure blurred.

She appeared beside the Werefang before it could fully emerge. Her fist drove into its skull with devastating force, and an ear-splitting sound echoed as the bones of the beast shattered. The creature's head snapped backward at an impossible angle.

But then eight other Werefangs rushed out before all of their heads were bent. As Brunhilde's arms turned into a blur, a fist, hand chop, twisting, smashing, elbow, and all sorts of strikes had already landed on the beasts.

Their bodies went limp instantly, collapsing to the ground in a heap.

"Devour the soul now." Brunhilde.

Reinhard, Amiya, Marie, Veryn, Casseo, Joseph, and Janus quickly placed their hands on the corpse. Light rushed over their bodies before their expressions shifted as emotions and images flooded their minds, but they pushed through quickly.

As the number of souls wasn't a lot to have them groaning.

They continued running as their boots crushed the smaller roots beneath them. But it was then they saw more movements ahead, and then seven Bear-Terrors emerged from behind a massive tree trunk. Their spike-covered backs were covered with moisture while the ground trembled with each step.

They roared simultaneously, the sound stunning several birds into falling from branches above.

Brunhilde didn't even slow as her body flared with brief blue light. She passed between the Bear-Terrors like wind through grass, then behind her, the seven Bear-Terrors collapsed.

Massive wounds opened across their bodies, cuts and stab wounds so precise they didn't bleed immediately. Then blood erupted, spraying across roots and undergrowth.

The others quickly moved, placing their hands on the Bear-Terrors before quickly devouring their souls. Then, a minute later, they continued rushing ahead, and then soon they came across dozens of thick roots woven together. They created a wall fifteen feet high and extending beyond sight in both directions, it was a root barrier.

The roots glowed faintly, that grey light Marie had noticed before shimmering across their surfaces.

Amiya didn't hesitate.

Her crimson-black scythe appeared in her hands before flames erupted along the blade. She swung in a powerful horizontal arc as she ran. The scythe connected with roots, and fire consumed them instantly. Wood blackened, cracked, and disintegrated as she smashed through, creating a gap wide enough for everyone to pass.

They rushed through the opening. Behind them, the roots already began to slowly re-form, but at a vastly slower pace than compared to the roots near the center.

Then everyone noticed the forest shifting around them. Trees grew even larger here, their trunks easily fifty feet in diameter, while moss covered everything, creating surfaces that would be slippery if not for their enhanced physical abilities.

Strange flowers bloomed in impossible places, growing from bark, hanging from branches, and their colors too vibrant to be natural.

Three Autumn Deer bounded across their path.

Their autumn-colored fur gleamed gold, amber, and deep red. Multiple antlers branched from their heads in chaotic patterns, leaves growing directly from bone. But roots wrapped their bodies, piercing through flesh in multiple places.

Brunhilde's hand moved in a casual gesture. Blue flames erupted from nothing, consuming all three deer simultaneously before they collapsed mid-leap, bodies burning away until only ash remained scattered on the breeze.

And leaving only their souls that display multiple souls. All of them quickly went to devour the multiple souls while Brunhilde frowned.

"So even the chimeras are being touched or affected by the roots." Brunhilde said. "The roots are spreading their influence."

After they were all done absorbing the souls, they continued until another root barrier appeared, but this one was thicker, denser. Roots as thick as tree trunks were woven together, extending upward until they disappeared into the canopy, and the grey light was stronger here.

Amiya slashed at it, her scythe blazing as the fire consumed the first layer, but more roots lay beneath. She slashed again, carving deeper, but the roots were beginning to grow back faster on the first layer before they crossed.

Brunhilde stepped forward as her right hand extended, glowing with golden patterns. Her fingers traced through the air before golden words appeared, and hung suspended.

The root barrier exploded before a gap thirty feet wide opened instantly with smoke trailing off.

"Go!" Brunhilde shouted softly.

They rushed through and continued moving through the forest.

A Forest Roots Phantasm Beast rose from the ground ahead with its wooden body creaking. Branches grew from its shoulders, while a Werefang skull was topped by antlers. Six root-like whips extended from its back, lashing the air with sharp cracks.

Brunhilde turned into a blur as she closed the distance instantly and then swung her right hand in a chopping arc. The Forest Roots creature tried blocking with its root whips. But Brunhilde's hand slashed through them like paper before they crumpled to the ground.

And then her second one blasted through the beast's torso, making it collapse in pieces.

They encountered more barriers with roots blocking paths, creating mazes within the forest. But Amiya or Brunhilde destroyed each one, their combined power making obstacles temporary at best.

A Kungala appeared by releasing a roar that shook trees, branches falling around them. But Brunhilde's spear appeared, the massive eight-foot spiral weapon with gold wings and sword symbols. She hurled it forward, leading the spear into a streak of blue light, crossing the distance instantly. It punched through the Kungala's chest, emerging from its back.

The creature staggered, then toppled backward with ground-shaking impact.

Brunhilde's hand extended as the spear dissolved into light.

They continued running, devouring souls when possible, leaving corpses when necessary. The formation held despite constant combat.

But then it wasn't long before they saw smoke appear ahead, thin wisps rising above the canopy.

Amiya slowed slightly, her violet eyes narrowing. "Fire?"

The smell of burning wood hit them before they soon emerged from the dense forest into a clearing.

A village spread before them, or what remained of one. Buildings burned, flames consuming wooden structures while roots writhed through the flames, seemingly unburned, dragging things into the forest.

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