Having decided on a course of action, the Great Tree got to work. Although it had learned a great deal during its experiments, only a short time had passed. The man had been continuing to slash away at the barrier protecting the girl, but it would be some time until he broke through.

Several minutes passed. The barrier had several holes in, and the man and girl were able to make eye contact. All the while he had been constantly shouting to the small girl, and although his words were unknown, they were obviously taunts.

Behind the man could be seen a great deal of larger roots which had emerged from the earth; despite their snail’s pace they had after all been moving for several minutes now. The Great Tree’s preparations were almost done, but there was no more time left to wait.

It’s now or never.

Just as it was about to fall, the barrier of threadlike roots trembled. Suddenly, they exploded outwards towards the man, like a wave, trying to throwing him backwards. Although he stumbled, he was able to keep his footing. But the roots didn’t stop there.

They continued forward in attack, but unlike before, where they attempted to snare their opponent, now they were truly being used as whips. Although this did sacrifice many to the man’s blade, they were successful in forcing him backwards. They also surrounded him, and seemed to be herding him backwards toward the field of roots behind.

Throughout his attack on the barrier, and even when attacked by the wave of whip-like roots, the man hadn’t looked behind and so was unaware of the very uneven terrain brought about by the slow moving roots. As such, as soon as he reached them, he immediately tripped onto the floor.

Phase 2.

The thread whips changed back to their earlier behaviour, once again aiming to snare the limbs of the man. Now that he was floored, he made a much easier target, and the roots were able to keep him down and in place. Of course, the Plain One struggled, constantly cutting away at the roots whilst yelling angrily. He would soon be free.

It was at this point that a faint, yet ominous cracking sound was heard overhead.

Pausing what he was doing, the man felt a chill go up his spine. Looking upwards, towards were he thought he heard the noise came from, he was greeted by a strange sight.

Far, far up above, were the colossal branches of the Great Tree. One particular branch, one directly above the man in fact, had a section of itself coiled around by several of its neighbouring branches. Indeed, this was what the Great Tree had been working on as the man had been slowly braking through the barrier.

Of course, this was a great distance up, and the man was not able to see precisely what was going, yet despite this, he was still filled with a great deal of dread, as if there was a dagger held against his throat. Hence, he quickly resumed his cutting of the binding roots, whilst yelling as he had before, but now there could be heard a certain franticness in his voice.

Very quickly though, more cracking noises could be heard from up above. The one branch which was wrapped in its brothers experienced a slight tremble. These noises, being so high up, were quite faint by the time they reached the ground, but to the man they could not be clearer as they resounded through his mind.

At this point, although he didn’t quite understand what was happening, the man was truly afraid, and madly sliced at the few of his bindings that remained. Very soon all the thread roots would be sliced to pieces, at which point he would be completely free, and this moment couldn’t come soon enough. Indeed, it did not come soon enough.

Up above, there were a few more cracking sounds, after which there was a short pause. Although the usual sounds of the forest continued, the small roots continued to make whipping sounds as they moved, and the small girl could even be heard sobbing lightly, to the man this short pause seemed as if everything in the world had gone silent.

This pause was abruptly broken by a loud crack, which was far louder than its predecessors. This crack seemed to echo in the forest for a few moments, and at the same time a very slight tremble could be felt through the earth before everything returned to silence.

Phase 3.

The man had only a short moment to look up to see the huge wooden object hurtling towards him before everything went dark.

At this point, although he didn’t quite understand what was happening, the man was truly afraid, and madly sliced at the few of his bindings that remained. Very soon all the thread roots would be sliced to pieces, at which point he would be completely free, and this moment couldn’t come soon enough. Indeed, it did not come soon enough.

Up above, there were a few more cracking sounds, after which there was a short pause. Although the usual sounds of the forest continued, the small roots continued to make whipping sounds as they moved, and the small girl could even be heard sobbing lightly, to the man this short pause seemed as if everything in the world had gone silent.

This pause was abruptly broken by a loud crack, which was far louder than its predecessors. This crack seemed to echo in the forest for a few moments, and at the same time a very slight tremble could be felt through the earth before everything returned to silence.

Phase 3.

The man had only a short moment to look up to see the huge wooden object hurtling towards him before everything went dark.