In our expedition into the forest, there currently are 29 members split into 6 units. Aside from us, the Champions, each unit comprises of 5 members, and each of them would have at least 1 healer to support the rest. For us, our main task is to deal with the [Demons], and for the other 5 units, their job is to hold the [Demons] back so that they do not flank and overwhelm us.

In combat, Cecilia and Six would cut into the bulk of the [Demons], while Toto would hit the [Demons] with low-tier area-of-effect spells such as [Chain Lightning], [Icicle Rain], and [Aero Blade], rotating between them while the others are in cooldown. Meanwhile, I focus mainly on support while sending out Timothy to backup the troops that are having difficulty holding the enemy.

A little known fact is that [Snow Ligers] are as deadly in the forest as they are in the mountains, as their sharp claws allows them to dig into the surroundings trees and their strong legs let them leap from one tree to another. In fact, it could be argued that it's much tougher to face a [Snow Liger] in the forest than the mountains, as in the forest they have far greater maneuverability. Careless players may find themselves suddenly surrounded by [Snow Ligers] hiding above trees and have their Hp shredded before they could do anything about it.

As for my other creature, the one from the [contract] Cecilia had given to me the other day, I was told to save it for later. It was a creature that is very effective against most enemy types, with more enough defense power to act as a tank. However, since that isn't exactly a run-of-the-mill creature and costs a significant amount of Mp to summon, it'd be wise to bring it out only when I need it.

"There's no end to them!"

Said Six while cutting down one [Demon] after another.

"Is it me or are they more and more of them the deeper we go?"

Said Cecilia as another row of [Demons] were mowed down by her [Counter Blast]

"We must be getting closer"

Said Toto as a cluster of [Demons] were impaled by her icicles.

As we went deeper and deeper, the more numerous the [Demons] become, as if the forest itself is getting more and more desperate to keep us away. However, it's not just the [Demons] getting more severe, but the [Corruption] as well. Despite of the [Holy Ward] applied to us, the deeper we went, the more the [Corruption] status effect stacked on. Right now, next to everyone's Hp bars, an icon can be seen, one representing [Moderate Corruption]. It'll get dangerous once we hit [High Corruption] and upon [Extreme Corruption], it's all over. I imagine that we're all going to switch sides and fight for the [Demons] once that happens, and it'll be all over for the Beastkins. What's worse is that the [Corruption] status is not something that could be cured other than visiting the cathedral back in Elysium Online and there's no cathedral that could do so in this world, at least, not one that anybody here knows about.

The only way to rid ourselves of this status effect is to leave the forest and wait for it to wear off, which we will have to do if we ever reach [High Corruption]. Once that happens, for our own safety, we will have to pull back and return to the village.

Bit by bit, we advanced onward, and we had to fight for each and every step of the way. The [Demons] kept piling against us, either desperate to get in our way or to delay us as much as they can, knowing that we will succumb to the [Corruption] eventually.

"This is bad, Aurelius. At this rate, we won't be able to get anywhere. Any ideas?"

Slowly but gradually, it becomes clear that we're being overwhelmed by the enemy numbers, and Cecilia is the first to realize that we'll be in trouble if we go on like this.

"We either push on or turn back, those are our only options. No tricks can help us against sheer numbers I'm afraid."

"Then how close are we to the goal?"

"Very close, I've just confirmed with Michaela."

Earlier on, before the operation begins, I have already sent Michaela to scout ahead in the air, to search the spots where the commander had marked as possible locations for the power source, and though she couldn't get close enough without the risk of being attacked, Michaela had indeed detected an anomaly, a cluster of something very twisted, something very [Corrupted]. Even now, Michaela is guiding us from above, and she has confirmed that we are indeed closing in onto it.

"Then there's only one thing to do."

Cecilia shoots me a big grin before turning towards Toto.

"Toto, Plan B! Think you can do it?"

"Of course, there are no issues."

Toto raises her staff and a red light emits from the gem attached to the top. Following that, even the sky starts to become red, a scene that I am unfortunately rather familiar with.

From the sky, a gigantic fireball falls towards the earth. It's the highest tier of fire spells [Meteor]. The [Meteor] then crashes several meters before us, sending out a flood of fire around the crater formed at ground zero, reducing everything to ashes. Then once more, another massive fireball falls from the sky, and then another, and another, and yet another. Five [Meteors] in a row, and one landing further than the next, forming a fifty meters long fiery trench that cut across the forest, a path right through the [Demon] horde.

"What the freaking hell!"

Five consecutive [Meteors]... Not only would that drain Toto of her Mp, what's worse is that she went and completely ignored her cooldowns. I've tried it before, since this isn't like the game anymore and since cooldowns are something imposed for balancing back in the game, I thought that I could just ignore it. And sure enough, I found myself to be capable of just that, the cooldown can definitely be ignore, though not without a price. When I tried to push past the cooldowns, I was struck with an incredible pain, as if my body was caught on fire and I thought my skin was about to melt off. The princess told me that it's a phenomenon called "mana burn" something that happens when a person tries to cast the same spell before the body can recover from the first cast. From what I was told, in this world, a person's body develops a mana pathway, something like a magical circuit, for each spell they acquire, and using the pathway before it "cools down" can cause a significant amount of damage to the caster.

"Toto!"

I sprint up towards her and catch her as she fall to the ground, and through my arms, I feel her trembling in pain.

"Au... re......us... fro...st... ward..."

It seems that she's in so much pain that she couldn't even speak properly.

"What the hell, Cecilia!"

"Toto was the one who suggested it. She knew exactly what she was getting into. Now are you going to sit around and glare at me, or are you going to make use of this chance she made for us!?"

We're going to have a talk later, me and Toto and Cecilia, about why wasn't I informed about this, but right now, I need to focus. With Toto still in my arms, I cast [Frost Ward] on everyone, to protect them from the flames. At the same time, Cecilia gave her order.

"Into the fire, now!"

Six arrive by my side to help me with Toto, and together we carry her into the fire as the rest follow suit us. Of course, I'm sure there are those that have doubts about the act of simply diving into the flames, but it's either that or be left behind for the [Demons] to nibble on.

For the most part [Frost Ward] was able to protect us from the flames, and though we could still feel a slight burn, the damage was offset by Michaela who's providing us with the healing spell, [Grand Area Heal], which is a healing that extends to all allies within the same zone, though in the case of this world, I'm not sure how far this "zone" is suppose to extend to, but the range is at the very least sufficient to reach us from all the way up in the sky.

We proceed through the trench of fire, and at the end of it, we come upon at a clearing within the forest, and in the middle of this clearing, is giant plant, about five to six meters in height, and a whole bundle of horror.

***

On the top of the plant we encountered is a blooming flower, red with a sinister shade of purple, and surging from it is a mass of demonic aura. The horrific part however, was the fat stalk connected to the flower, which appears to have several objects entangled within. Said objects were humanoid, or at least vaguely humanoid, as most of their bodies were fused with the plant. The humanoids have pale grey skin, their forms appear to be naturally slender, and their ears are long and pointy. I've heard of them in my lessons, the race with long pointy ears, the ones that live in the western parts of Elgardia, the Faefolks, they call them, a collective of tall slender humanoids and small winged humanoids, all of which have long pointed ears. They're elves and fairies basically.

Entangled within the fat stalk of this sinister plant were undoubtedly the elves, and they appear to be in a vegetative state. Grey fleshed fairies can be seen floating around the vegetative elves, apparently in the midst of attending to them. Dropped on the ground are several jars, seemingly filled with some kind of nectars, I would guess that the fairies and feeding the elves with this, keeping them alive to serve as a constant source of nutrients for this flower perhaps.

"I think we've just found the power source."

I nod to Cecilia's statement. It was my guess that there would be a power source of some kind, something that is feeding the growth of the forest. Never could I imagine it to take such a horrible form. The [Demons], are they actually sapping energy or life force or whatever from actual people? That's all sorts of messed up.

"Steady now, Aurelius, those elves are more likely than not [Corrupted], having spent such a long time in this forest, they have to be. They're [Demons] just like the rest, and we'll have to kill them if we want this world safe and get back to our own."

"I know, Cecilia, I know. I don't need to be told again. Besides, if we don't win this, we're not walking out of this alive either way."

From behind, the [Demons] we have bypassed vie the fiery trenches created by Toto's [Meteors] are catching up to us, and in front of us, the fairies appear to be readying for battle as well.

"Archers take aim at the front! Knights, guard our rear!"

Without missing a single beat, Cecilia gave out her commands, and the troops immediately fall into positions.

"You there!"

From the Knights, I pick out two from the defending lines.

"Watch over my friend for me, will you?"

"Of course, leave Lady Toto to us!"

Leaving Toto in their care, I face forward, Timothy on one side, and Six on my other. I then turn my gaze towards Cecilia. I have a quite a few bones to pick with her for what had just happened, but there's more important things happening. I'll have to take my mind off it and continue to trust her. That's the best course of action.

As I turn towards her, Cecilia too, turns towards me. Her eyes are stern and true, and she gives me a nod before turning her gaze forward.

"Fire at will!!!"

And so begins the third battle.

***

End of Chapter 22