As we ran through the forest, following closely behind the unexpectedly speedy Treant, I decided to take a look at the armour I had received from the Werehound.

  “Fang! Got this for you!” I yelled, transferring the armour to him. It magically formed around his body, shining black metal with red accents that glimmered in the sun.

  “Thanks, boss!” Fang replied, copying Zorrack’s title for me.

  Thuldur led us deeper into the forest, and we slowly approached the clearing where the Dryads lived. The tree suddenly came to a stop, and I nearly ran straight into his massive roots for legs. Without the Treant even uttering a word, however, my jaw slowly opened in shock.

  The entire clearing was in ruins, houses lit ablaze, burned to ash. The arena where Cedric faced the Changeling was destroyed, pillars of wood crackling with an orange glow. The spirits that once flew above the magical lake were darting back and forth in a wild frenzy, attempting to fend off the platoon of elves that had appeared in their forest. Dryads and Treants alike aided in the fight, using various forms of nature skills and magic, but were slowly being pushed back.

  It was a full-on war.

  “What should we do?” Viressa asked, eyes widening in fear.

  “Those bastards!” Zorrack shouted, but I shushed him with a finger. We slowly crept forward, taking cover behind the natural foliage surrounding the clearing. Then, I noticed Ossara, surrounded by a group of spear-wielding Elves who were slowly closing in on the massive centaur. One Elf stood taller than the rest, seemingly their leader. He had on a suit of slim, pure-white armour, as well as a similarly cream colored wooden bow. A flowing white cape blew in the wind behind him, and he had long platinum hair, reaching down to his mid chest. An elegantly curved silver sword hung by his side. The other Elves wore full suits of shining golden armour with helmets that curved into sharp points by their cheeks.

  “You impetuous Elves dare to show yourselves in my forest again?” Ossara spat, then began to channel her skill.

  [Living Forest]

  Branches and roots appeared from the ground around her, slowly strangling the Elves who were too slow to react. The Elf in white armour casually cut down the encroaching magic with two silver flashes, so quick that I could barely track the movement of his blade, even with my newly acquired Lesser Cognition skill.

  “Oh, Ossara, still stuck in the past, aren’t you? You see, this isn’t your forest anymore.” The Elf said angrily. He drew his bow, aiming the tip of an arrow at the centaur, then let loose, activating his skill as he did.

  [Light Barrage]

  The arrow split mid-air, turning into countless flashes of pure light. They surged forward, and Ossara barely activated some sort of barrier skill, blocking a few arrows from landing in her vitals. Unfortunately, several arrows snuck past, embedding themselves in the lower half of her body. She winced in pain, but made no audible sound, still standing strong against the encroaching Elves.

  “You will have to take it over my dead body, Lirien!” Ossara shouted, summoning a massive spear of wood in her hands and engaging in a deadly melee with the surrounding Elves.

  “We need to get that guy,” I whispered to Cedric, “If we can get their leader, I bet the rest of these cowards will turn tail and run.” The demon nodded, activating his Ring of Shadows and disappearing into thin air. The small rogue was faster than he used to be, reaching directly behind the Elf in only a few moments…

  The Elf whirled around, grabbing Cedric by the throat and hoisting him into the air.

  What the fuck? Does he have eyes on the back of his head?

  [The demon was invisible; why would eyes help him?] Joshua reasoned.

  “What’s this?” Lirien snarled, gripping Cedric tighter, the boy's hands tearing desperately at the suffocating grip. “A demon? In this age?”

  Ossara’s eyes widened in recognition, but she was preoccupied with the Elves directly surrounding her, unable to offer any immediate assistance. Zorrack charged forward without hesitation, activating Warrior’s Might and a new skill of his.

  [Rage]

  I wasn’t sure of the exact effects, but the demon seemed angrier than usual.

  “Let’s go!” I commanded, and we sprang into action. Viressa used her skill, now evolved from Lesser to Greater Fire Ball. A huge bolt of flames leapt forward, but Lirien raised an arm, summoning a shimmering shield of light. Fang followed shortly behind Zorrack, crashing into a spear-wielding Elf and tearing limb from torso. Thuldur bounded forward, helping the ruler of the forest in her fight.

  I wasted no time, knowing that we had to end this fight fast to avoid any more losses to the forest's inhabitants. My claws sharpened as I burst onto the battlefield, much faster than any of my other companions. I passed Zorrack, aiming a claw right towards the arm holding Cedric into the air.

  Lirien recoiled, dropping the demon to the ground, but struck me in the back with a silver flash. Pain cascaded from the wound as I tumbled to the ground, the blow dealing a significant portion of my total HP pool.

  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  [He’s dangerous, Carter. Let me help you.] Joshua said, a tinge of worry lacing his words.

  Do not do anything besides helping me beat him, or I swear I’ll kill you.

  Even as I replied to the parasite, however, I knew that I had no choice. I had a feeling Lirien was on another level compared to the foes I had directly faced in the past.

  [Parasitic Manifestation]

  [Willing Host]

  Joshua leapt forward, and we closed in on the Elf from separate angles. I was still faster than the parasitic clone, and I arrived at the same time as Zorrack, who was charging at the Elf with murderous intent. Lirien slid beneath the demon, vaulting off Zorrack's back and firing an arrow of light towards him. Zorrack reacted fast, spinning around and deflecting the arrow with his hand. I leapt into the air towards Lirien, the still suspended Elf having no way to propel himself to dodge my next attack.

  My claws met his blade of pure silver, sparks flying as we flew towards the ground.

  He’s fast.

  But Joshua was already there, directly beneath where the Elf would land. He jumped upwards, impaling Lirien in the back with his claws.

  “You lowly beings!” The Elf raged, flourishing his blade and cutting Joshua's arm to shreds. The limb fell to the ground, landing only a second before the three of us returned to the forest floor.

  Azazel leapt, biding his time in the foliage, activating his Dragon’s Will skill and glowing with a blue aura. Lirien drew his bow, firing off a barrage of arrows, but the dragon’s aura seemed to nullify ranged attacks. Arrows harmlessly reflected into the surrounding environment, two of which struck a pair of Elves fighting Fang, Thuldur, and Ossara. A third arrow launched directly towards my head, but I was just fast enough to dodge it. Lirien barely acknowledged his failed attack, turning to face me as Joshua and I bounded forward, but Lirien spun his blade, deflecting both strikes in one motion.

  He doesn’t even give a crap about his own companions.

  Azazel flew towards the Elf, but was batted away with a casual backhand.

  [Greater Fire Spirit]

  [Blood Chain]

  Two Fire Spirits burst alive, followed by a pair of blood-red chains that latched onto the wound Joshua had managed to inflict. The parasite and I worked together to wrap the Elf tightly, restricting his movements as the Fire Spirits lit him ablaze with flames. Viressa added to the onslaught, channeling a second fireball. A plume of thick smog emanated from the Elven figure.

  “Did we do it?” I wondered aloud.

  The cloud of smoke subsided, revealing an unharmed Elf, although a fair bit angrier.

  “I have no time to waste on pathetic creatures such as you,” He spat, raising his arms and breaking the two chains with ease. Zorrack rushed forward, sending a fist careening towards the Elf.

  Lirien held out one palm, halting the strike as easily as I had once stopped the Goblin King’s club. He gripped Zorrack’s arm tightly, tossing the giant demon overhead like a stuffed animal.

  “What the fuck do we do?! He’s too powerful!” I yelled out in frustration.

  “We aren’t ready for someone like this,” Joshua admitted, spitting blood from his mouth. Only thirty seconds remained on the skill’s timer, while a minute and thirty seconds remained on Willing Host. Once those ran out, the disadvantage would only become greater than it already was.

  But Ossara suddenly entered the fray, having made quick work of the other Elves with the help of my companions. Lirien was suddenly face to face with the full might of Mount Boom as well as the ruler of the forest, who possessed strength that I was not fully aware of.

  “You are lucky, Ossara! I could kill you myself easily!” Lirien eyed me and my companions with contempt, turning with a casual flourish of his cape.

  Zorrack rose from the spot where the Elf had tossed him, shouting in a daze, “Don’t run now, you bastard!”

  “Zorrack!” I warned, but it was too late. Lirien’s blade flashed, cutting into Zorrack's torso with a splatter of blood. The Elf continued to walk, his stride not even slowing a step as he walked past the falling demon. The warrior landed with a heavy thud, unmoving, as blood pooled beneath him.

  “You idiot!” Viressa was first, running up towards the demon lying on the ground. She grabbed his huge head, staring desperately into his eyes. “Don’t you dare die on me.”

  Zorrack coughed, blood flowing from his mouth.

  His HP’s getting low, and we have no way to heal him…

  Ossara jumped, landing softly beside the pair of demons. She held out an arm, her hand glowing with a gentle green energy.

  [Nature’s Blessing]

  Zorrack seemed to relax, laying his head back and closing his eyes. His chest rose and fell, even if shallower than normal.

  “He will be okay, but the effect of my skill is not as… effective, on demons like you.” She said softly, letting her hand return to her side as the healing effect came to an end.

  “Thank you, Ossara,” I said gratefully, slowly approaching the large demon and the girl beside him, tears slowly falling from her eyes.

  “It is I who should be thanking you, demon.” She replied, bowing her torso elegantly. “Without you, the forest would have been leveled to ash, and I would likely be dead along with it.”

  “Who was that guy?” Cedric gasped, gripping his throat, only now being able to move from the crushing weight of Lirien’s grasp.

  “The Elf Prince, Lirien. I have a long history with that one.” Ossara said regretfully, taking in the sight of her destroyed home, as well as the remains of the treants and Dryads who fought valiantly against the Elven attack force. They gathered around their ruler, tears falling from those who had lost their loved ones.

  “Prince?” I questioned, “So, you’re saying there’s a King as well, even stronger than Lirien?”

  Ossara nodded, then began to explain, “Once, the Elves were allies with the spirits and beings of the forest, myself included.” She paused, choking down a sob as she recalled the memory. “Lirien was… a friend.”

  “What changed?” Azazel asked, having returned to my shoulder and eyeing the centaur empathetically. Despite not having his memories, it seemed like they shared some type of bond in his previous life.

  Ossara stood silently for a moment, barely able to speak. “He came into the forest bearing a message from the King, that we were to assist them in their battle against the humans,” She began to explain. “Wanting to help those I thought were our friends, I rallied the creatures of the forest, allowing them to go with the Elves.” A quiet pause, stretching for what seemed like eternity.

  “None returned.” She said solemnly. My companions gasped in shock, but stayed silent, waiting for her to continue. “Lirien returned with his wife, telling me the horrors of the war and what became of my people, but I…”

  “You were angry?” I asked, reading the expression on her face. The centaur nodded.

  “In my rage, I cast an enchantment, creating the Trials of the Verdant Accord. To test the will and nature of those who entered the forest. Lirien had to complete the trial, which he did, but his lover…”

  “She failed.”

  Ossara didn’t move, but I could tell my assumption had been correct. She began to speak once again, “He never forgave me. We have been at odds with the Elven kingdom since that day, but they have never been so bold as to mount an assault on my territory before.”

  “Then why now?” I questioned, tilting my head curiously.

  “I’m not sure,” Ossara answered. The fires of the Elf attack continued to spread outwards around us, engulfing the once beautiful homes of the Dryads. “But we cannot stay here, it’s too dangerous, and the Dryads' heartwood trees must be moved away from the destruction…”

  A thought shimmered into existence in my mind. “How would you like to become residents of Mount Boom?” I offered.