The Inner Odyssey-Chapter 175 - 175: Music to Her Ears

The earth cracked.
Terra could hear its anguished cry as clearly as her own.
The source of the earth's pain roared and snarled, thick miasma rolling off them in vile waves.
…These deplorable leopards.
Terra gritted her teeth.
How dare they stomp on it! How dare they act as if they owned it!
The earth belonged to everyone. It was kind. It was welcoming.
But most of all, it was beautiful.
To Terra, the earth was akin to family. It was just as reliable as a father and just as gentle as a mother. There was no greater refuge.
So, to see it destroyed with such careless abandon, incensed her.
Seething with fury, she tapped into her power.
The earth responded to her will, rippling like an undulating river.
In the next moment, the ground beneath her broke apart, clumps of barren earth rising in the air. The sight was akin to a gargantuan stone monstrosity slowly lifting itself from an underground chamber, intent on punishing those who had disturbed its ancient slumber.
Terra reached out gently with her mind, assuming control of the rocks. They offered no resistance, submitting completely to her will. In fact, the shards of barren earth seemed to rejoice, vibrating slightly to display their delight.
Shaking her head and suppressing a brief smile, the Stonewarden waved her hand.
Immediately, the shards shot off, surrounding a baleful creature.
Terra's grip on her mace tightened.
Tensing her legs, she made a mad dash towards those hateful Force-Devouring Leopards.
Avel and Clay effortlessly kept up with her.
Behind them, the three remaining Stonewardens, all [Adept], summoned strange items from their Dimensional Bracelets. Inscribed on each was a flawless rune.
Activating the Runic Items, the forms of the warriors blurred, gaining a truly incredible burst of speed. They zipped past Terra, currents of wind tousling her hair as they slammed into three leopards.
Of course, the odious creatures absorbed the force contained within these strikes.
However, her fellow warriors had served their purpose.
With a shout, Terra clenched her fist.
Instantly after, the earth beneath one of the abominations shattered, rising to combine with the earthen shards hovering in the air. The result was an air-tight, impenetrable sphere.
With another thought, countless spikes burst within the large, earthen orb.
Terra sensed the Dark Brood eradicate some - unleashing a wave of force - and absorbing the momentum of some others, but in the end, it was still futile.
Very soon, its anguished roar echoed within the Forest of Ash.
…The sound was music to Terra's ears.
Nearby, she sensed Avel and Clay sharing a glance.
In the next moment, the other two Defiled staggered, their legs impaled with spears of mud and barren soil.
They whimpered, experiencing the might of the two Experts.
Not letting up, she and the Stonewardens sought a quick end to a battle which had already dragged on for too long. In the distance, the presence of the newly evolved Djinn hung over their heads like a dark omen.
…Like a deadly scythe.
***
Raphaela observed the fights raging around her, wishing she could join.
Her gaze lingered briefly on the Keeper's Apprentice, taking note of his internal injuries.
However, she quickly decided against interfering - the young man's earlier actions had clearly indicated he wished to receive no help. Besides, he was holding up relatively well, relatively speaking.
Raphaela's grip on her staff tightened.
Suddenly, her brow twitched.
Whirling in the direction of the "ordinary" examinees, a flare of soft, golden energy escaped the her scepter. It streaked through the air, fusing with Conrad, Steel and Sybil. Immediately after, the movements of the three warriors sharpened, their frames renewed with greater vigour.
Any possible wounds they might have also had disappeared in a flash.
Raphaela exhaled, releasing a turbid breath.
She did not like remaining idle while her comrades fought with their lives on the line.
…The least she could do was fight by their side.
Abruptly, Raphaela's senses prickled.
Her neck snapped up towards the ashen canopy, locking eyes with a bloodthirsty gaze.
An intruder had finally entered the fray!
Masking her eagerness and acting on instinct, Rapheala raised her staff with impressive speed. Less than a heartbeat later, a complex circle full of golden runes formed at its tip.
Then, a beam of radiance erupted from the healer's scepter, obliterating half of the newcomer - a foolish ape.
The corrupted creature did not even receive a chance to display its might.
She smirked.
Soon after, Raphaela threw caution to the wind. Moments later, numerous beams of light streaked through the Forest of Ash.
They cast a magnificent splendour over the slowly falling flakes of ash.
It was as if the sky was weeping golden dust.
***
Yuki absorbed the surrounding heat, her frame emitting a piercing chill.
Clouds of steam boiled around her, futiley resisting the scorching air. Yuki paid the magically formed pall no mind, her frigid pupils locked on four troublesome abominations, her brows furrowed and her expression glacial.
Suddenly, she waved her hand.
A ray of debilitating frost energy slammed into Isolde's mirror, ricocheting and colliding with the ground. As the earth beneath the Defiled froze over, the mana fluctuations surrounding Yuki flared.
Steam burst in tandem.
The Force-Devouring Leopards growled hesitantly.
However, it was too late. Their human opponent had encased their front legs in a layer of solid ice. And taking advantage of that opportunity, her partner, an equally cold woman, dashed in their direction, a gelid blade gleaming in her grip.
At the same time, numerous icy projectiles took shape behind Yuki.
Very soon, a vast, roiling fog engulfed the leopards, muffling their final roar.
***
Elsewhere, Steel grunted, desperately trying to avoid getting pushed back.
He gritted his teeth, enduring the horrible strain of having all his muscles contract and tense. Worse still, he could sense they were on the verge of snapping.
In a last-ditch effort, the transmuter summoned the remainder of his strength and released an animalistic roar. Following that, the lower half of his body rippled with a silver light, mirroring his arms.
In the next moment, the ground beneath his feet cracked.
Swooping in to exploit the opening, Devin imbued the creature with a harrowing attack.
Less than a breath later, his halberd promptly finished it off.
Finally, a few paces away, Conrad tugged in the direction of the last abomination.
He swayed, his nose leaking a trickle of blood. However, he had done his job - locking it in place.
"Attack its hind legs!"
Sybil's shout pierced Marion's ears.
Nodding, a surge of mana propelled the handsome youth. He struck from the front; at the same time, the presence of his thralls flared, their features shifting with the influx of power.
Without any hesitation, the lynx and the wolf bit down onto the Defiled's legs. Its agonised roar was cut short as Marion's blade skewered it the eye, forever snuffing out its ravenous light.
As the fresh carcass of the Defiled slumped to the ground, every single member of the Provisional Paladin Squad shifted their gaze.
There, reflected within, their leader battled with every he had.