— POV Gods —

- Karma

Sin, you fucked up again. It was supposed to only take us a few minutes to reeducate them for 100,000 years. It has clearly been a couple weeks out here.

-Sin

You’re blaming me! Hmmph, you’re the one who got too into it. The time dilation was correct, I think we just spent way too long in there.

-Both … We both messed up a little bit.

-Karma

Whatever. Sigh, we better get going. Who do you think we should go see first? Mother, or Father?

-Sin

Definitely Father. For two reasons. First, he might help us sweep this whole thing under the rug. Second, his punishments are extremely harsh, but quick. Once something is done, it’s done.

-Karma

Ok, I agree with you on that. We need to hurry though. Looks like something is about to happen to Mr. Grass-man. Do either of you two have any opinions?

-Grimm and Fate

… Ugggh, my head hurts!!!!!

-Sin

I think we broke their minds a bit. Throw them in a wheelbarrow and let’s go.

—————————————————————— POV Mathias —————————————————————————————

Things seem to be moving in slow motion, letting me think faster. One of my abilities must have activated. The slowing down of events, or me speeding up, is allowing me to see some holes in my current plan.

I definitely need water veil activated, as all-around fire suppression.

I also need to somehow remove the abundant fire mana in the vicinity. From what Livily was saying, same type mana boosts spells and the nature of things around it. I need to immediately start converting all of my mana into water mana and earth mana. Both can suppress fire, and I can use it more readily in my spells for defense.

Lastly, it is really idiotic to just cover myself with the mound and fire shield. With my [One of Many] title, I need to stay as [One of Many]. I need to make them appear everywhere in random spots.

Wait! Shit, I should just let the dragon kill my tree. The dragon is still a little bit aways, I’ll pump it with nature energy, put a thick mana crystal in the middle, and let it go down in flames. I’ll put my mound of earth back down for now, and deactivate my mana fire shield, but be ready to activate it at any time.

Damnit, if only I had more time! I am still oh so close to upgrading my energy quality, I just finished working on regular fire, next was magic fire. Why is a level 100 boss fighting a newbie lvl 5 grass sage?

I need to do something, be active in my defense. The dragon hasn’t truly hit me yet, so I can create a simple honeytrap. A large, shining, magical fruit should at least make it hesitate. From what Livily has said, nature energy and mana are treats to magical beings. Maybe I can buy myself out of this predicament.

Then comes the question… Should I poison it with every poison I can think of? From my previous experience, my poisons didn’t affect magical creatures higher than a certain level. I also have the possibility of pissing off the dragon if it detects poisons if it eats it.

The dragon is getting closer. Weird though, the fire is golden-red with crimson flares, much different from the black flames from before. I wonder where these flames came from then?

Okay, trap complete. Lustrious orb of perfection created within eyesight of the dragon, and it looks like the dragon has seen it. Now all I need to do is wait.

..

Shit! My companions are coming back! They could be in danger, I need to warn them away! Stay away! Don’t come near!!!

— Dragon (Sheal) POV —

Is… the tree trying to buy me off? Why is there a delictable looking fruit brimming with mana and energy that was just grown by the tree? I.. Wonder what it tastes like? Buuuut I am also full, and the tree itself looks wrong. To flames it goes! Besides, I need to use up a bunch of this mana inside of me anyways.

—————————————————————— POV Gods —————————————————————————————

-Sin

Uggh, this pressure. As expected of Father, he already looks quite angry.

-Karma

Does he know? How much does he know? What made him so angry?

-Father

…

-Karma

F. F. Fa. Father, um…

-Father

…

-Sin

Uh-oh. Looks like Karma can’t stand the pressure. I can’t either. But this is going in a bad direction. I need to fix it somehow.

Father, Karma and I found out that Grimm and Fate messed up big time. They let a unique soul into the world, who created a new species and a black mist appeared! They let it go too!

-Karma

No! You stupid piece of shit! He can read lies and punishes accordingly! I was trying to get his sympathy! Don’t drag me down with you!

Dad, um, please, can you help us? Um, we don’t want Mother to hear about this. We can’t stand how guilty she makes us feel, so we came to you. Can you please help us fix this mess and not tell Mother?

-Father

…

-Grimm

Ugggh, where am I?… Oh, hi Father. How’d I get here? Oh, that’s right, can you come destroy something for us? Just real quick, nothing serious.

-Fate

Uggh, no more mind-games…… Grimm? Ah! Please Father, help Grimm and I! Sin and Karma said they’d help us, but it’s gotten bad! They made it sound scary that a new species was created. There was some black smoke! Dad, I’m scared!

Of mom finding out!

-Father

…

Siiiiiiiigh.

-Sin

Yes! He’s going to help us out! Even he can’t stand the guilt Mother puts on us. He started to stand up and take a step into the world!

-Mother

YOU STOP RIGHT THERE! Where are you GOING! What’s this I hear!?!?!?!?!?

-Father

Grimaces and takes a step back, his feet fading back into this reality.

-Mother

Sniff… Julius! You promised me not again! Wooo. Woooo. My own husband is plotting against me!!!!! And even my children! What did I do to deserve this!! Was I a bad mother? NOT AGAIN! NOT AGAIN!!!

-Father (Julius)

Goes to hug Mother, and sends a glare at the four children, entirely blaming them for this mess.

-Sin and Karma

…You were the one that was going to blow up the planet, weren’t you? You can’t blame us entirely! Only, like, 90%!

We’ll figure this out mom! Don’t worry! There's no need to get rid of the planet, we’ll just get rid of the continent…

-Mother

YOU DARE! Oh, what GREAT kids I’ve managed to raise, sniff, sniff. Oh Julius… what did I do wrong. Where did I err?

-Father (Julius)

Glare intensifies at the kids

-Karma

We’re sorry mom! We really are! We just don’t know what to do! We've never seen this happen before! The only time new species are created is when you help, or guide it to happen on planets with Father by your side! We weren’t prepared. We are trying our best! We can fix this!

-Mother

Really!? Is that what you'll do?!?! Why don't you look at the fate-changer right now! Lot of good you all are doing! Real great children I've raised! You just want the new species to die, don’t you! All for some petty revenge against him, huh? Without a care in the world to how I feel!

-Fate

What does she mean? Last I saw they were fine…

Crap, guys! There’s a dragon attacking that glade right now, and the first High Elf might die!!!

-Mother

You better start Fixing right now. Just you wait for me! And you Julius, I can read you as easy as I can read the flow of life. You were going to remove the planet, weren’t you!

-Father

If glares could kill, the kids would be dead right now. Keeps hugging Mother and patting her back, ignoring her remarks.

-Sin and Karma

... He's totally shameless, and is blaming this all on us! I am pretty sure he just wanted to destroy something too!

—————————————————————— POV Mathias —————————————————————————————

Arrrggghhh! The pain, shit, I should have cut off my tree’s feelings earlier, goddamnit it hurts! My whole tree is on fire, and the dragon is hovering about 100 feet away. I need to act quickly, what can I do!?

Thankfully Livily, Taeya, Jard, and Torgue are out of harm’s way. Livily is coming this way though, she wants to try to talk with the dragon. I can only wait for her to negotiate with the dragon to save myself. The only problem being that my tree, even under cover of the water veil, massive amounts of water and earth mana, and a fire shield, is quickly becoming charcol and melted metals.

I can’t wait for her to come over here. I’ll try talking to it to let me go!

“Dragon! Please stop! Can you tell me what I’ve done wrong!? I’ll try to make amends!”

…

My mental link was blocked, I think I’m too weak or it’s too strong. Damnit! Fuck! I can only let my tree die and wait for Livily.

— POV Dragon (Sheal) —

Seomthing just tried to invade my mind. I see now, why there is a dryad nearby that hasn’t taken any action to remove this threat to the forest. It must have been influenced by this being. I’ll have to investigate how deeply this thing goes.

Hah, there we go, only a smoking husk remains of the tree, and there’s a large mana crystal in the middle of the ruins. Even so, I need to take care of any future problems that may occur. It was using a lot of mana earlier, with some fire shields and mist, and it had to get that mana from somewhere. It must have some deep roots. If I don’t dig them out and burn them, then it might come back to life. I also need to crush that mana core…

“Wait! Please stop! Don’t kill him! He’s a friend and isn’t harming the forest!”

…

Another mental link attempted and blocked, thanks to my years of solitude my mental strength is much higher than others. I think the dryad’s been under control of the plant, I just need to destroy things quicker!!!!

I just can’t relly tell where the roots are, its mana signature is all over the place. I’ll have to tear aprt this whole glade to remove it. I guess I have to do it!

— POV Livily —

Oh my blessed god, what devastation this dragon has wrought on my new friend. Mathias has been made into a ruin. And the dragon isn’t listening to me!

Oh no, she’s trying to kill the last bit of life that I can feel! She’s tearing into the ground with her claws, ripping out the roots and the grass in the ground, and breathing fire everywhere! His life-force is withering! I have to help!

— POV Mathias —

Is this it? Is this the end? I’m regenerating as fast as I can, and have started to lower my real body underground, but I don’t think it will help. I’m moving all my mana crystals here to create a final stand of magic spells, but I don’t hold out much hope. I don’t know how to do this, should I hide and let everything I built die? Or should I fight?

I’ve been feeling light headed for awhile now, my head hurts, and my whole body hurts.

The last thing I should do is to reach out my consciousness and stop the cubs and Taeya from coming, cover them in a rock-like structure with the fire-proof material layered inside with air holes. At least this way they will be safe. I’ll cover myself in that material as well, but the dragon is tearing up the ground and burning everything. I’m losing hope.

When did those few people and cubs become so important to me?

“Mathias!!!!!! Let me help you! Hurry, let me in!”

Ah, it seems Livily failed, but she still wants to help. I don’t think the dragon will kill her, and I can always eject her if I am about to die. Might as well let her in. If anything, I can at least make a pocket of safety for her to escape.

*Crack* *Tinkle* *Crack*

Uggh, my head hurts so much!

It’s a shame I can’t cover myself up, whenever I try, my instincts won’t let me. Ha. I’m losing feeling in my farthest branches too because of the pain.

— POV Livily —

…”Sure... come in when the dragon isn’t looking. My consciousness is weak, come to the shiny spot and try to enter my mind again. But why come help me? You could be hurt. Wouldn’t want to lose you too.”

“I have a plan that might work!” It has to work!

Ok, here I go. 3, 2, 1, now!