Echoterra: Rise of the Verdant King-Chapter 92: Treacherous journey [16]

The team exploded into action in sync, moving not like distinct individual parts, but like the cogs of the same machine.

Seamless. Ruthless. Efficient.

WHOOSH!

Veyra’s Thornstrike arrows pierced a Scorched warrior’s shoulder, roots bursting as Lorn already moved to shield Soren, whose Emberblade clashed against another enemy warrior, sparks flying.

Kaelin, restrained, used Ashveil Cloak to flank, daggers grazing a scout, avoiding reckless charges.

Clayton unleashed Spine Bloom, thorns pinning two scouts, his Architect power slipping.

He fired Regalia’s root arrows, shredding a scout’s chest, and slashed with Thornshade Dagger, venom dousing the enemy Luminous Seed’s Emberlash Aspect.

He kept Aphid Network hidden, commanding it to hunt stragglers via Hive-Sight.

Torren’s pyro-roots and Veyra’s arrows felled three scouts.

As for the enemy Scorchlord. This time, they didn’t let him slip through their grasp as with the others buying them the opportunity, the slippery Kaelin and the brutal Soren downed him.

The Scorchlord collapsed, gasping, "You’ll burn in the Scorchpaths".

The system notification synchronized with his gasps.

DING!

~----~

[Enemies Defeated: 6 Scorched Clans Scouts (Initiate Ember)]

[Aphid Network Losses: 1 Initiate Ember Minion]

[Genesis Embers Acquired: 36 (Team Kills)]

[Genesis Embers Acquired: 8 (Random Network Hunts)]

[Genesis Embers Total: 4,267/6,000]

[Aspect Strain: Moderate]

~----~

The team sheltered in a fungal hollow, Nexus’s pulse quieting.

A Codex fragment on the Scorchlord’s Ashfang glowed: "Nexus fuels Scorchpaths’ flames, birthing endless embers".

Clayton’s Territorial Sentience sensed Ember Witches stronger, their rituals matriarchal, whispered in rumors.

Once again, Clayton revealed a new facet of his Aspect, Spine Bloom.

The others noticed.

Torren, clutching his Pyreaxe, eyed Clayton. "I know I shouldn’t even be asking, but that Aspect of yours, it has no limit?"

"Those thorns aren’t scavenger tricks. Where’d you learn that, Clayton?"

Clayton leaned against a spire, humor dark. He felt melancholic.

The closer he got to home, the Scorchpaths Outskirts, the more melancholic he felt.

"Where I learned?" He mumbled, then looked at Torren. "Streets of a dead city".

He smirked slightly, his smirk hiding pain and trauma. "Orphaned at ten, I had to fight ferals for scraps to survive".

"And when I got betrayed by a friend who wanted my stash, I learned to trust my own moves". His voice hardened. "Nexus gave me this Aspect. Keeps me alive, but secrets keep me free".

Veyra, cleaning her bow, softened. "I get it. Lost my sister to a warlord’s raid. Trust’s hard".

"But...," she paused and looked at him, suspicion all over her face. "I thought you are a plant, started as a seed, what’s this orphan thing I’m suddenly hearing?"

Clayton laughed. "Can’t a man have 2 lives?"

Veyra pursed her lips. "No".

Torren palmed his face. "Can the both of you just stop it?"

"Stop what?" Veyra looked at him.

Torren shook his head in sorrow and pain. "My God, I can’t take it. Since yesterday, you guys have been just so bubbly around each other".

"This is a treacherous journey to Africa, not some romantic vacation".

Hearing that, Veyra tried to keep a straight place but she couldn’t help the pink brightening her face. "Boss, you don’t know what you’re saying?"

"Really? You too will call me boss now?" Torren shook his head, dismayed. "She’s gone. Heck, I just lost another reliable teammate".

He glared at Clayton who chuckled innocently.

Lorn, tending Soren’s scratches, nodded. "You’re family now, Clayton. You’re no longer just a wanderer".

Kaelin, calmer, grinned. "You’re a freak, but our freak".

Soren, carving a thorn, spoke low. "Brother was betrayed too. Died for it. You’re different, Clayton". His trust was a vow.

Torren rallied them. "Thirty-nine days to the Scorchpaths. Stay sharp".

The team moved, bonds ironclad, Nexus’s dread looming.

...

Day 59 of the Scorchpaths trek.

Clayton navigated a volcanic pass, its lava-veined cliffs pulsing with Earthcore Nexus energy.

His Shedskin cloaked his Verdant Lord aura as tattered rags, Regalia of the Verdant Warden in bow form slung across his back, Thornshade Dagger humming at his hip, venom-coated and stealth-enhancing.

The pass, scarred by Thorn Crown terraforming, glowed with fungal veins.

Territorial Sentience pinged Ashen Covenants’ Ember Witches, their matriarchal rituals a steady hum, and another Scorched Clans shrine nearby.

By now, they’ve encountered dozens of them.

This time, there was no Scorchlord and his subordinates though. Rather, a swarm of ten Initiate Ember Ash Sprites (2-meter fire wisps) and a Luminous Seed Flameveil Stalker (15-meter, fire-cloaked, Ash Crown) erupted from a fissure, drawn by the team’s Embers.

"Brace!" Torren called, Flamevine Wrath igniting.

His pyro-roots torched a Sprite’s tendril right on time as Veyra’s Thornstrike arrows pierced another, roots bursting.

Lorn shielded Soren, whose Emberblade slashed, sparks deflected.

Kaelin, now cautious, used Ashveil Cloak to flank, daggers downing another Sprite.

Clayton fired Regalia’s root arrows, shredding two Sprites, then switched to Core Maw, roots crushing a third.

The Stalker lunged, but he dodged, Thornshade Dagger slashing its claw, venom dousing its flames.

He kept Aphid Network hidden, commanding it via Hive-Sight to hunt stragglers, Thornweave Sentinels reaping Embers.

Torren’s pyro-roots bound the Stalker, Veyra’s arrows pierced its core, and Soren’s blade finished it, the Sprites collapsing into ash.

DING!

~----~

[Behemorphs Slain: 10 Ash Sprites (Initiate Ember), 1 Flameveil Stalker (Luminous Seed)]

[Aphid Network Losses: 1 Initiate Ember Minion]

[Genesis Embers Acquired: 90 (Team Kills)]

[Genesis Embers Acquired: 8 (Random Network Hunts)]

[Genesis Embers Total: 4,365]

[Aspect Strain: High]

~----~

This was the most haul of Genesis Embers they’ve had in weeks as with more experience, they’ve managed to avoid stumbling into more Behemorphs and Scorched Clan warriors than necessary.

After the battle, the team rested in a cave, Nexus’s pulse calming.

Torren, wiping soot, nodded at Clayton, a mischievous grin creeping up his face. "Clayton, any punchline for this battle?"

Clayton smirked. "Just hate bad barbecues".

"Right on point!" Torren laughed.

Veyra, restringing her bow, shared. "You know, my sister taught me to shoot". She looked at them. "I lost her, but I carry her aim".

Soren, carving a thorn, added. "Brother taught me to fight. Died saving me".

Clayton nodded, voice low. "Since we’re talking tragedy, count me in too". He grinned.

He touched his chin as if in deep thought before he started.

"Streets raised me. Betrayal taught me to hide. Nexus gave me power, but trust’s earned".

"Spittin’ bars". Kaelin laughed.

Lorn smiled. "You’ve earned it".

Kaelin, steady, clapped Clayton’s shoulder. "You’re family, man".

Bonds deepened, the Scorchpaths nearer than ever before.

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