Chapter 38: Bane

Elven Soldier: “Lord Edwyrd, up ahead.”

Edwyrd groups, with help from Saria and Iris, had just about reached their destination. However just a small track from them, the mind controlled brothers were now doing battle with living trees. The trees whip their limbs around, knocking back anyone’s attempt to pass. The elves would constantly, cast fire spells, but once the trees were hit, they would burrow beneath the ground and resurfaced wants the flames were gone.

Edwyrd: “Those are Lady Celes’s trees.”

Some of the trees begin to converge on Edwyrd’s group, they were ready to attack.

Edwyrd: “Lady Celes, if you can hear me, please stand down, we are not here to fight.”

The trees advance stop, Celes must have heard, the trees stood aside allowing them to pass. Once they were through, the line was reestablished and the trees reinitiated their attack. On the other side of the line, Celes waited for them to approach.

Edwyrd: “Lady Celes, what on earth are you doing in such a dangerous place, alone?”

Celes tried to explain, but it was hard without a voice. However, Edwyrd got the bottom line, just like Saria earlier, she was preventing anyone from reaching the Gorgon.

Edwyrd looked around, on his way he had notice some of his brothers had been frozen, from the neck down something the Celes could not do. She must be with Iris or Anais, they are still hiding their presence. It looked as though they could handle themselves, he would leave them to it, Saria should be heading this way soon, they will be fine.

Edwyrd: “Lady Celes, my men and I will go on ahead.

Celes stood confidently, she would not let any pass. Edwyrd understood and he and his men left her to her devices. Celes was a little disappointed, she was sure he asked her to come with him. She had the strangest feeling something was wrong.

Anais: “You felt it too, huh?”

Celes turned to Anais, now free to talk since Edwyrd left. Celes nodded to her question.

Anais: “Somethings wrong with Nathan, he’s in trouble, I think we should head back. Can your trees fight while you’re not around?”

Celes nodded, the trees were told not to let anyone pass and they will do that until told otherwise.

Anais: “Alright, lets catch up with that Edwyrd guy, they shouldn’t be too far ahead. I don’t like the thought of them being there with Nathan.”

They both took off after Edwyrd, leaving Celes’s trees to do their work.

_

_

Saria: “Miss Iris, are you sure it was wise to leave that way?”

Iris and Saria, flew across the sky Iris suddenly had a feeling something was wrong.

Iris: “We cleared out most of them, and it will be a while be for they get out of that water. More importantly, I feel somethings wrong.”

Saria: “Is it the Hero, is he hurt!?”

Iris: “He did get hurt earlier, but health has already recovered, it’s something else.”

Wind Nymph: “Big Sister!”

A wind nymph flew up next to the two.

Wind Nymph: “The Hero, he’s trapped.”

Saria: “Trapped!?”

The nymph explained to them, Nathan’s fight with the Gorgon.

Saria: “Despicable, all those people, just to capture the Hero.”

Wind Nymph: “Celes and Miss Anais, arrived moments ago, but our guardians are preventing from getting to him. They keep throwing themselves into their attacks, Lord Edwyrd is trying his best as well, but I don’t know if they will make it.”

Iris: “Hurry!”

Saria: “Right!”

_

_

Nathan: “Ughn, erm, argh, come on dammit!”

Nathan tried in vain to break loose, but the dozen or so statues were just strong for his strength. In front of him, eyes still pulsating, the Gorgon, sight lock dead on Nathan. One of the elves has healed it to the point where it could float again. They also burned down the Uzy that were keeping the sphere pinned, now free it circled the Gorgon. Nathan was at a loss of what to do, the moment the it was done charging its energy, it was over. Making sure it had ample enough time to finish, the Gorgon had several of the mind control elves to place layer upon layer upon layer of barrier around itself and around Nathan. Even if he was able to break free, he’d still have to deal with that.

Nathan: “Come on, breaaaaaaak, ugh it’s no use.”

I was no use, he was stuck, he wasn’t even able to rotate his wrist. His head was the only thing that had any wiggle room and that wasn’t helpful at all.

Looking around he could see several elves fighting amongst each other. Some must have kept their sanity, instead of killing each other, they chose to knock them out cold. Then Nathan caught a glimpse of Anais not far behind them. Using them as decoys, she was moving around the fighting trying to get closer. However, the second she had got too close, the sphere took off toward her.

Nathan: “ANAIS, GET BACK!”

Even with her reflexes, there was no way she was dodging that.

*Smash**Smash*Smash**Smash*

Seconds before impact, several trees popped up in front of her. The sphere smashed through them, but it speed had been drastically diminished, giving Anais more than enough time to avoid it. Activating her Shadow Sneak, she moved away as quickly as possible, wants out of a certain range, the sphere would stop attacking.

Anais: “Shit, can’t get any closer thanks for that.”

Celes smiled to Anais, she had grew more trees and encircled the two of them, keeping the attacks from reaching.

Anais: “Still, with that thing flying around, how are we supposed to get close enough to free him?”

It wouldn’t stray too far away from the Gorgon, plus more than just Anais, others were trying their luck, but without the quick reaction, they were easily smashed through. Along with the sphere, spells were constantly being thrown at them, they could wait for them to run out of mana, but the Gorgon could fire that energy at any time, they couldn’t wait. Anais looked over to Edwyrd in his men, trying to force their way through the line of elves.

Anais: “Oh right him, Celes if he can destroy that sphere, I can get close enough to destroy that barrier, do you think you can convince him to try?”

Celes shook her head.

Anais: “Right, can’t talk.”

It would take too long for her to try without talking and they couldn’t risk it.

Saria: “Celes, Miss Anais!”

Working her way over to the two, Saria was accompanied by another nymph.

Anais: “Saria, where’s Iris?”

Saria: “Up there!”

High above them, Anais could make out Iris’s figure. It take long for her to figure out what she was doing, she was about to unleash hell.

Anais: “Saria, I need you to me two favors.”

Anais explained her plans and Saria took off, first up to Iris. She was building power, careful not to be noticed, before she was ready.

Saria: “Miss Iris.”

Iris: “What is it?”

Saria: “Miss Anais, said wait to fire.”

Iris: “Why?”

Saria relayed the message to Iris.

Iris: “Fine, I’ll wait for her signal, but no more.”

Iris from above could see, Nathan struggling to get free, she wanted nothing more to rush down there, but that was suicidal. She held back her urge and did as Anais asked. Saria hen flew away heading right for Edwyrd.

Saria: “Lord Edwyrd!”

Edwyrd: “Lady Saria, you shouldn’t be here.

Saria: “I have a favor to ask, the thing flying around, could you take it out?”

Edwyrd: “That thing, you mean the sentinel, not now, I can’t leave my men, that will have to wait.”

Saria: “Please it’s a request from Miss Anais.”

Edwyrd: “What?”

Saria explained what was happening to Edwyrd.

Edwyrd: That pile of stone the Gorgon is aiming at, is the captured Hero!?”

Saria: “Yes, if you can take out that thing, we can free him.”

Edwyrd: “…..I understand, I do what I can.”

Saria took off again back to Anais, while Edwyrd explains to his me. He left them to find a more advantage spot to fire. Saria, said he know went to shoot, all he had to do was wait.

Anais: “Hah, He complied much easier than I thought he would.”

Saria: “Yes, his views on the Hero, drastically differ from his father.”

Anais: “Meaning?”

Saria: “He doesn’t wish you dead.”

Anais: “Good to know.”

Anais pulled out the Dagger she was holding, it drained her mana faster, but right now she could not do without. Dagger in hand she took off towards Nathan. With the Dagger in hand, “Shadow Sneak’ was amplified, giving her greater speed and distance when traveling. She made a beeline for Nathan once again, ducking past all completely unseen, except for two. Nathan notice her immediately and so did the Sentinel.

Nathan: “WHAT PART OF STAY BACK, DID YOU NOT UNDERSTAND!?”

Anais ignored and Nathan and continued, darting around the area. The sphere immediately began pursuit, chasing her around Nathan.

Nathan: “(This is no time for Tag, wait do they have Tag in this world?)”

Anais followed a set path, careful not to deviate, everywhere she went, the sphere tried its best to take her out. Anais checked her mana, it was half gone, but she had run enough, by now he should have gotten the pattern down. Anais checked her hand, she had to put the dagger away or risk running out of energy. With the dagger put away, her speed drop dramatically and the Sphere was closing in on her.

Nathan: “ANAIS!”

“swoosh**Smashed*

Nathan: “………What?”

Suddenly, an arrow pierced through the sphere, but it didn’t destroy it. The Sphere swiveled in the air and then, crashed to the ground. With the sphere down, Anais dash towards Nathan. The elves keeping the barrier around Nathan, dropped the barrier in order to stop her, but as soon as they did, Anais Activated Shadow Sneak again, darting past all of them with ease.

Nathan: “Hey, I know your trying to save me and all, but how exactly are you plan on stopping all of them?

Anais: “Shut up!”

Another barrier was erected, stopping anyone from reaching Nathan or Anais within.

Nathan: “That might stop them, but it’s not going to stop that blast.”

The Gorgon was still building power, it was confident that they could not free him in time and Nathan also knew it. He was pretty strong and he couldn’t move an inch inside of the cluster of elves turned stone. Anais ignored him and fired off spell after spell, chipping away at the stone little by little, still it wasn’t going to be enough, maybe if those elves all tried, but he doubted they risk their lives for his. Nathan looked back to Anais, she was breathing heavy again. After running around and now trying to break the stone, she was exhausted.

Nathan: “………..This isn’t working.”

Anais: “I said, shut up.”

Nathan: “Listen, there is no way you’re going to break this before he fires and this barrier not going to hold them back much longer, now that I think about it, since when can you make barriers?”

Anais: “First, don’t worry, when I see that its ready to fire, I will definitely get out of the way, rather your free or not.”

Nathan: “………Ouch.”

Anais: “Second, I didn’t make this and its only here to buy some time.”

Nathan: “For?”

Suddenly, one of the elves trying to get them, was sucked into the air. Then another, one by one they were all lifted into the air. Up above, a funnel of wind had appeared and was clearing away everyone surrounding the Gorgon. The funnel let them out some ways away, where Edwyrd group, Celes and Saria, kept them from returning. There was now nothing protecting the Gorgon, it was open for attack. Nathan searched the sky until he found what he was looking for.

Nathan: “Iris.”

Anais: “Now, she said the barrier she made, won’t be destroyed by anything she does.”

Iris gather a large amount of energy, so much, that it drew the attention from everyone below. It wasn’t how strong it was, it was the amount she had gather within moments. The nymph around trembled, that had witness this before, she nearly did the same thing to them when they first met. Edwyrd’s men were using the moment to take down the rest of their mind controlled brothers, who were distracted by the spectacle. The Grassvalley tribe has always known that Iris was powerful. The fact that she was following Nathan around, calling him Master, was baffling to them.

Anais continued her work, smashing away at the stone. Little by little she was destroying some of the rock.

Anais: “(Alright some progress, I’ll work down from this. With all that energy she’s gathering, all we have to do is get him out before those elves can regroup.)”

Nathan: “IRIS, STOP!”

Anais: “What the hell, you scared me, she can’t hear you from here.”

Nathan: “Run to Saria, get her to fly up and stop her from firing that!”

Anais: “WHY, SHE CAN END IT IF SHE FIRED NOW!”

Nathan: “ALL SHE GOING TO DO, IS SPEED UP ITS FIRING RATE.”

Anais: “What?”

Nathan: “DON’T YOU REMEMBER, THE ARROWS THE GRASSVALLEY SHOT, QUICKLY STOP HER.”

Anais: “It’s too late.”

Everyone watched as the massive ball of energy descended. The ball of mana fell towards the Gorgon, engulfing it in an intense light. However, something was wrong. As the energy drew close to the Gorgon, it was absorbed right into the energy the Gorgon was preparing. With the amount of energy, the Gorgon was moments away from firing.

Nathan: “Dammit!”

Anais: “It didn’t work.”

Nathan: “Of course not, there was absolutely no way it didn’t notice that, do you think it would have allow Iris to continue to make that if it thought it was in danger. Its absorbing all that raw energy, I going to fire sooner than before”

Iris: “Master!”

Iris came soaring down to him, face full of confusion.

Iris: “I’m sorry, that wasn’t supposed to happen..”

Nathan: “Forget it, both of you need to move.”

Iris: “No, I’ll get you out of there.”

Nathan: “No time, just move.”

Anais: “Just give me a minute, I-I can break this.”

Nathan: “What happened to get out the way when its ready to fire!?”

Anais: “Shut up and let me do this.”

Nathan turned to the Gorgon, it was just about done absorbing the energy, even with them both hammering away, he wasn’t getting out. Nathan notice his hand had some wiggle room, they had managed to chip away enough for him to do so, maybe there was a way.

Nathan: “Girls”

Anais: “I said shut up”

Nathan: “Aim for my hand, if I could get it loose, then I can use my plants.”

Iris: “Right.”

They both aimed there spells at Nathan hands, chipping away at it, it was nearly free. Across the battlefield, Celes and Saria was watching the two hammer at the stone, it looked like they were making any progress.

Saria: “Please hurry.”

The energy was finally ready and the Gorgon ready to fire.

*Shatter*

Iris: “It’s free.”

Anais: “Now, do it.”

Nathan threw two seeds to the ground, two snyare plants whipped up and grabbed both girls.

Iris: “What!?”

Anais: “What are you-”!”

Nathan whipped his plants, tossing both girls out of the way. No sooner did they clear the blast, the Gorgon fired the energy. The massive wave barrel down towards Nathan. It was only about three seconds, but it felt like it took an eternity for the energy to reach him. The intense light stole most of his vision, but he swore could make out was a silhouette of something, moving of head of the blast.

Nathan: “YOU IDI-”

The mass of energy engulfed him, takt out everything in its path. The Elves who weren’t fast enough, were erase from existence. Everyone around covered their eyes, the intense light blinding them. As the energy slowly subside, the Gorgon fell to the ground, unmoving.

All eyes turned to the spot where the Nathan should be. The stone elves, the fauna and Nathan, none of it remained. All that was left was the scorch earth left from the energy waves path.

Anais: Dammit, I should of guess, so stupid.”

Anais beat her frustration into the ground, she had known by now that He would do such a thing. Anais grew angry, but it was short lived. A feeling came across her, a feeling of complete fear, so much so that she could barely move. She turned to the source and was surprise to see Iris. She looked normal enough, but Anais knew something was wrong. She had this blink stare, no reflection of light, a deep, dark, void. All she did was stare at the Gorgon, after killing Nathan It just laid there, even as the Edwyrd and his team approached it did not move. After killing Nathan, it seemed its lust for life has faded. Iris raised her hand, and Anais begin to panic. She didn’t understand why she was panicking, she just believes something was about to happen.

Saria: “Miss Iris, Miss Anais?”

Saria flew over to the two and landed in front of Iris’s stretch out hand, completely unaware of her presence self.

Anais: “Saria, get back!”

Saria: “Listen I have to tell you, the Hero wa-”

Nathan: “SOMEBODY HELP!”

That voice was definite and several ears as five heads turned in the wake of it. Nathan was across the battlefield, pulling himself from beneath the ground. His frantically pull himself loose followed by Celes.

Iris: “Master!”

Anais And Iris ran over to Nathan, Anais taking a glimpse at Iris, the feeling she had a moment ago, was completely gone. She wasn’t one to let something go, she was going to have to watch out for her later.

Nathan: “HEAL!”

Anais: “Nathan, what’s…. hollee.”

Saria: “CELES!!!”

Saria screamed hysterically, tears rolling down her face, as she stared in disbelief. Nathan frantically casting heal on Celes, in her ditch effort to save Nathan, though she was able to save him she was mortally wounded. Her leg, all the way to the side of her stomach had been blown away and the attack now Nathan could do nothing but slow the bleeding. Try as he might, his healing could not grow back limbs, she was dying.

Nathan: “GET EDWYRD!”

Edwyrd: “LADY SARIA!”

Edwyrd was already rushing over, he heard Sarai scream and was worried His worry was accurate coming closer and seeing Celes.

Edwyrd: “Lady Celes!”

Nathan “Shut up and help.”

Edwyrd was shocked by the voice from nowhere, but did as he was told. HE cast elven healing on Iris, with his help the bleeding had all slowed tremendously, but it still wasn’t enough.

Nathan: “Celes you idiot, why did you do that?”

Celes: “(Heheheheh!)”

Nathan: “This is not something to laugh about.”

Celes: “(It’s just like you said, I just saved your life and your apologizing, I think you got that backwards.)”

Nathan: “…………Celes.”

Edwyrd: “GET DOWN!”

Iris put up a barrier, just as laser fire got close, the Gorgon who had given up on life, suddenly spring up and fired at them. Over and over, it fired lasers at them, completely ignoring the crowd of elves around it.

Edwyrd: “Why, it had just given up?”

Nathan: “………………………..Because I’m not dead.”

Edwyrd: “What?”

Nathan: “It’s not going to stop, until I’m dead.”

Nathan stop healing for a moment.

Anais: “Where are you going?”

Nathan: “Keep healing her.”

Iris: “Master.”

Nathan jumped from behind the barrier and dash away, but to his surprise, the laser fire did not follow him. Instead, it remained solely on the barrier everyone was behind. It wasn’t after him, it wanted whatever he was, so desperate to protect. Nathan dashed towards the Gorgon, he wasn’t going to let it do what it wanted.

*Woosh**Crash*

Nathan jumped to the side just as the sentinel crashed down.

Nathan: “DAMMIT, GET OUT OF THE WAY!”

Nathan clashed once again with the sphere sentinel, even with an arrow piercing its core, it was still able to stop him. Nathan took a look around, Edwyrd men were pinned by their brothers and everyone else was caught in the Gorgons cross fire, as things stand he wasn’t going to make it in time. Nathan weighed his options and quickly decided.

*Unsheathe*

Everything suddenly stopped, as if time itself stood still. All eyes had turned to Nathan, hair now a shimmering green, holding a blade glowed in enchanting light. Origin the blade of the Hero, drew all eyes to its radiance, except for Nathan, who was extremely confused. He poked at the sword and turned I over a few times, it didn’t look like this before.

Nathan: “………….This is new.”

Anais watched from afar, she to hadn’t seen it like that.

Saria: “So beautiful.”

Anais: “Saria, wait!”

Anais grabbed ahold of Saria, who was moving towards Nathan, completely disregarding Celes. The blade had that much of a hold on her.

Edwyrd: “Lady Anais, is that the Hero?”

Anais: “You can see him, you can see me us?”

Edwyrd: “Yes, I didn’t realize the Hero was a woman.”

Anais: “Don’t let him hear you say that and pay attention.”

Anais held down Saria, who continued to move towards Nathan. The blade was just to enticing, she had completely forgotten Celes, only able to stare at the sword.

Anais: “Iris?”

Iris: “…………………”

Iris was the same as Saria, only she wasn’t moving towards Nathan, she still has some composure.

Anais: “IRIS, FOCUS”

Iris: “YES, R-Right, I’ll help hold her down.”

Anais: “No, I have her, you have to stop everyone else.”

Iris: “Everyone else?”

Iris looked around, out of the forest, hundreds of nymphs were slowly making their way towards Nathan, each completely taking over by the radiance of the blade.

Anais: “NATHAN, HURRY UP, I DON’T KNOW HOW LONG WE CAN KEEP THEM BACK.”

Just like he feared, nymphs were entering the battlefield despite the danger, even Saria wasn’t immune to it, whatever he was going to do he should do it fast. Lucky for him, the Gorgon finally decided to pay attention only to him. It seemed it’s radiance had no effect on it, but the power was a threat.

As Nathan got ready, the sphere came back around for an attack. Nathan didn’t understand if it was the sword or the arrow piercing its core disrupting its performance, but the sphere had slowed down to a point where Nathan didn’t need to even get ready.

*Slash*

With one swing Nathan cut the sphere in two, both pieces falling to the ground and shattering. The Gorgon, fired laser after laser at Nathan, but he just dodged and what he couldn’t, was knocked away by the sword. Nathan was getting close and the Gorgon begin to charge its attack, it couldn’t compare to the last one, but it was better than nothing. Nathan just kept speeding right toward it.

Gaelin, having finished his duty, arrived at the battlefield, just as the fight was ending. He could tell right away the blade, that was radiating power, but was in disbelief when he saw the wielder.

Gaelin: “(Impossible, how could she be here?)”

The Gorgon fired and Nathan took the blast head on. The beam was stopped completely by Origin. The two were at a standstill, the energies would not give way, each pushing one another with everything they had.

As the two clash, the Nymphs were drawing ever closer. Nathan glimpsed around, more and more of the Nymph’s were closing in on him.

Nathan: “(Shit, if I move, it’s over.)”

There were way too many for Iris and Anais to keep back, if they got any closer, he would be forced to stop or risk them getting caught up in the fight.

Iris: “MASTER, LOOKOUT!”

Nathan turned to several of the Grassvalley tribe members aiming arrows at him. Gaelin and several of his men were ready to fire, but it was strange, his Threat Detection wasn’t acting up.

Gaelin: “Fire!”

The arrows completely bypassed Nathan, raining down on the Gorgon. With the sudden attack, the Gorgon staggered and the wave of energy stopped. It quickly got itself together and prepared to fire again, but it was too late. Nathan had already closed the distance.

Nathan plunge his blade deep into the pupil, slicing through the flesh as if it was air. The light from the sword flowed from the wound, as the blade sank deeper. As the light Faded, Nathan pulled himself free, he took a step back to see what had been done. The Gorgon didn’t move, no scream, no sound, just nothing. Nathan stood on guard, expecting the monster to rise again, ready to fight. Then, the body shifted and Nathan lunged toward it, but the body just toppled over to the ground. Nathan stared in confusion, should he attack now or is it readying another surprise attack?

*Ding**Ding*

*Level Increase*

*Level Increase*

*Level Increase*

*Level Increase*

*Level Increase*

*Level Increase*

The tension in his body, slowly began to deplete. He took deep breath, in his effort to stay alert, he had forgotten to breathe. Finally, it was over but he had no time to celebrate. Celes was still injured and he needed to heal her. He quickly re-sheathes his sword, bringing the nymph out of their trance, it looked like the Elves who were being controlled were also stop. As Nathan turned to leave, he notices a blue orb of light floating next to the Gorgons corpse.

Nathan: “What is?”

Before he could react, the orb shot towards him like a splash of water engulfed him with a blue aura.

*Ding**Ding*

Sub Legacy available, do you except?

Yes No

Nathan: “What’s this?”

Saria: “Hero come quickly!”

Nathan: “I don’t have time for this.”

*Ding**Ding*

Sub Legacy “Daemon Eye” Acquired

Saria: “HERO!”

Nathan ran back over to Celes, Saria in tears, as she stood over Celes.

Edwyrd: “……. It’s no use, it’s not working anymore.”

Nathan: “What!?”

Anais: “No matter how many times he heals her, she keeps bleeding out.”

Nathan check her stats, it was true, no matter how much they refilled here health, once they stopped, it would just keep dropping.

Nathan: “We can do it together, with two healers it should be fine, right?”

Edwyrd: “………We can continue to heal her, but we’re just delaying the inevitable.”

Saria: “No…”

Nymphs from all around, now free from Origins trance, gather around, shocked by the sight of their dying sister. Nathan racked his brain, going through his abilities trying to find anything that could help her, but their was nothing, he couldn’t save her.

Saria: “…………Your Blood?”

Nathan: “What?”

Saria: “Doesn’t your blood work on plants and she’s a plant?”

Nathan shook his head.

Nathan: “I don’t think it works that way.”

Anais: “It could, I mean look what it’s done for me.”

Nathan: “Anais, you weren’t dying.”

Saria: “Hero, please try.”

Nathan looked around, eyes on him, he wasn’t sure what they were hoping for, he seriously doubted it would work. As Nathan contemplated his choice, around the battlefield, the mind controlled elves were coming to their senses.

Eleven Soldier: “I KILL HIM!”

Gaelin: “What’s going on?”

Elven soldier: “My Lord, she came out of her trance and began ranting.”

Female Soldier: “This is no rant, EVRYTHING IS HIS FAULT.

She pointed over to the Hero, But Gaelin was confused.

Gaelin: “Let her go.”

The men controlling her let her go.

Gaelin: “Now explain yourself, how is this his fault?”

Female Soldier: “When I was under its control, I was still aware of what I was doing, everything, everything. More so, I could also feel, its hatred, its anger towards that man.

Gaelin: “The Gorgons?”

Female Soldier: “Everything it did, every move it made, was only to see him perish and every time he survived, it’s rage grew, I-i could feel it. Everyone it killed, everyone it made me kill, their blood staining my hands, IT’S ALL HIS FAULT! That image, that one image of him stepping on the corpse of its child, him taking the corpse away, its engraved in my head.

Everyone who was mind control saying the same things, Gaelin wasn’t sure their anger was just. He couldn’t tell if they were angry for their falling comrades or if it was residual anger from the Gorgon. However, he was sure that in this moment, they were out for blood. Either way, he found a means to justify ending the Hero’s life. From what he saw of his appearance, he was doing this world a favor.

Nathan, unaware of was happening around, due mostly to the fact of all the nymphs around him, begging him to try using his blood. He honestly didn’t believe it would work, it wasn’t miracle water, it had its limits. Celes hp was down to fifty and dropping fast. He looked to Iris, she knew what he was thinking, they both nodded and Nathan Made his choice. Biting his finger, he placed it of her mouth and a single drop fell in.

Moments went by, but nothing happened. Nathan looked at his hand, her health was down to the last ten.

Iris: Master, look.”

Nathan looked up to find a single flower sprouting on Celes’s chest. Then, several more begin to sprout all over her.

Nathan: “What is-”

*Ruuuuummmmmble*

All at once a massive tree spring up, Celes’s body disappearing in its wake. Everyone jumped back, not wanting to be caught up in the process. The Grassvalley tribesmen turned to watched the spectacle, surprised by the sudden and beautiful tree. Every branch covered and green leaves and roses of all colors sprouting all over. When it finished, within a hollow, an orange liquid filled it to the brink and then crystalized. Nathan stared at the beautiful sight, horrified at what just occurred.

Nathan: “Wh-what I just do, Saria?”

Sarai walk up to the tree and put a hand to it, the crystal began to pulsate and glow. Several other nymphs did the same.

Saria: “……………..This is fine.”

Nathan: “What, how is this fine!?”

Nathan looked around, the nymphs, the dread they had on their faces, was gone, in fact they seemed happy. How could they act like this, he just turned Celes into a tree, they should be angry, but not one felt that way. One of the Nymphs flew over to Saria and said something to her, something shocking.

Saria: “Hero, you need to go.”

Nathan: “But Celes, I turned her into a tree, shouldn’t you be worried about-”

Saria grabbed Nathan hand and stared him in the eyes.

Saria: “I said so before, this is fine and I meant that. Please, right now my guardians are slowly surrounding you and they mean to kill you.”

Edwyrd: “Hero, what she says is true, they are out for blood, you need to leave. I’m not sure of the situation, but if Lady Saria says so you should believe her.

Nathan looked around, they were really thankful for what he had just done to Celes. A moment later his “Threat Detection” activated.

Nathan: ……..Anais, Iris, hold your breath and close your eyes.”

They both took a deep breath, as they did hundreds of Myfetus plants, shot up all around the area. Nathan had been spreading along with everything else. There was a group gasp from the nymphs, Saria use her wind to send Edwyrd up and then she and everyone else all of them immediately took to the skies. The Grassvalley had no time to react, before Nathan stomped one of the flowers, causing a chain reaction.

*poof*poof*poof*poof*Tsssssssssssssssssssshhhhhhhhhhh*

Spores flooded the area and the sound of everyone eyes and noses being invaded was instantaneous. The stench overtook the senses and blinded everyone around. In the confusion, Nathan scooped up Anais and Iris, then before anyone could react took off.

Gaelin: “*Cough cough*DON’T LET THEM*cough* ESCAPE!”

His shouting meant nothing, by the time anyone could react, the three had left the Garden behind.