Chapter 276 Keng’s Path

Roots and vines flew straight for Zixin, Keng and Ritsuka. The black glass-like blade flew up, blocking the roots. The roots smashed into the side of the blades as Zixin continued to clear the path for Keng.

"Spellcasters, get ready!" Lady Vix'i instructed. "Hold it down! The rest of you keep the ents off of us!" Cosmic energy surrounded Lady Vix'i as she lifted herself up into the sky with Nabi. Nabi's form turned into pure water. Her eyes became fully white as she lifted her hand towards the ent.

"Fire Rage Mode: Ballistic Entry!" Zixin blasted forward leaving a path of flames behind him. He began to accurately strike the spots of captured foxes, releasing them from the ents grip. Water sprayed down the flame line, giving Keng and Ritsuka an easy way towards the ent.

"Go!" Ritsuka shouted. "I got you!" Keng nodded as he disappeared from his spot. Fire and silver energy grew around his limbs as he appeared mere feet away from the ent.

Keng leapt into the air, aiming straight for ent as Zixin fell back to the ground. The ent swung straight for Keng, a watery hand blocking and grabbing the attack as Keng clawed at the ent.

"Ignition Horizon!" Blasts of silver flames ignited the ent. The ent shrieked as the holy flames ate away at its body. Curse energy blasted in all directions, pushing everyone away. Keng went flying backwards, trying to catch himself with his gravity ability.

The curse pulse forced the void back into Ritsuka as he was shoved backwards. Ritsuka screamed as he flew straight into a field of stars. The space quickly stopped him as Ritsuka began to look around. Lady Vix'i had managed to catch most of her allies as she winced.

"Lady Vix'i!" Nabi shouted. Nabi had been pushed backwards, getting caught at the end of Lady Vix'i's cosmic grip. Her form flickered as black-purple energy started to grow across her body. Ritsuka looked up and realized Lady Vix'i had taken a direct hit. Corruption was eating at her as she held the cosmic grip.

"Is everyone fine?!?" Lady Vix'i asked.

"M'lady!" People began to shout.

"Don't worry about me. As long as you don't get fully damaged by it, we're fine!" Lady Vix'i quickly shouted. The cosmic energy set everyone down and shattered around them. Blood spilled from Lady Vix'i's wound. Ritsuka winced. He looked down, pulling his shirt to reveal the curse energy eating him.

"Keng, are you alright?!? Zixin?" Lady Vix'i shouted. She watched the ent grow large bark around the cursed orb. Smaller ents seemingly jumped into their big partner, expediting the process as well.

"I'm fine…!" Zixin grunted. Zixin's body was filled with small black-purple cuts. He thrown himself in front of some other Foxes to lower the blow to them all, but corruption seemingly was on all of them. Ritsuka turned to look for Keng. A large pulsing black-purple energy laid in the ground. Dirt had pushed upwards as the black-purple energy's body moved up and down.

"K-Keng!" Ritsuka ran towards Keng.

"Don't go near him!" Nabi blocked Ritsuka's path. Ritsuka looked up to protest but Nabi was watching the cursed Keng's body, too. Ritsuka watched as Keng's body pulsed with the most cursed energy.

"Did he…?" Ritsuka muttered. He looked over at the ent. The ent had fully repaired itself and let out a loud scream. Roots flew straight for Keng. "No!" Red energy wrapped around Ritsuka. Ritsuka ran straight through the water wall, water pulling into him as he reached for Keng.

'Come on, come on, come on!' Ritsuka's thoughts shouted. He grew close to Keng as the root suddenly shifted and hit Ritsuka. Ritsuka watched as he flipped in the air, followed by a root wrapping around him.

"H-human!" Nabi shouted. The foxes advanced on the ent, only to be met with bigger corrupted ents. Nabi flew forward, roots blocking her way.

"Come on! What is this!?!" Zixin growled. He slashed at the ents. They were regenerating just as fast as the huge ent.

"I-it grew stronger?!?" A fox shouted. The medium-sized ents blocked the majority of the Foxes as they tried to sever the roots. Ritsuka hung upside down. His arms free. He glanced at the roots and took a deep breath.

"Please tell me I can grow the blade anywhere!" He desperately prayed. The Angerfang armor glowed bright as he lifted himself up and slashed down at the roots. He could feel Angerfang pulling so much more energy than it could before. The curse energy flew into Angerfang, its red eyes on Ritsuka's shoulders and blade beginning to glow purple and red.

"Let! Me! Go!" Ritsuka slashed with each word. He continued to feel the corruption pull into him. He could feel it eating at him now. Ritsuka watched as the huge ent opened its mouth. It laughed at him as he grew close.

SHING!

RAWR!

The ent screamed as it split in half. Ritsuka felt himself dropping. The roots loosened around him, falling away as he fell into someone's arms.

"Got you." A female voice forced Ritsuka's eyes to look straight at her. She had pink hair.

"T-the corruption!" Ritsuka threw himself off of her, hitting the ground with a thud.

"H-hey are you okay?"

"I'm fine! Don't touch me. You'll get infected!" Ritsuka scooted away, not noticing she didn't have any corruption on her. Angerfang's red eyes continued to pulse purple. He could feel the pain hitting him in the stomach. He toppled over, grabbing at his stomach.

"H-hey, h-human, are you sure you're alright?" The pink haired Fox woman asked.

"Do-don't come close." Ritsuka struggled to tell her. He threw his hand up to wave her away. Ritsuka pointed over at Keng's glowing purple body. "Y-you should worry about him… He's been like that… For awhile." The pink haired woman turned as Chimera dropped next to her.

"What's the situation?" Chimera asked.

"I think that's the Savior." The pink haired woman pointed.

"Lily, do you think your abilities can combat this curse?"

"Not the full effect of it. The Savior needs to do that. I can only handle small doses of it." Lily turned to face Chimera. "Commander, I should be able to cleanse Lady Vix'i and the human if you command it."

"Do what you need to. Protect our allies." Chimera motioned. Keng's purple body pulsed, pulling Ritsuka's attention. The purple curse energy flickered like a flame. Keng's body slowly began to twitch.

"So this one has chosen his path, too." Vox'su's voice echoed in Keng's mind. "Now show me you're worthy of my Blessing." Keng's eyes shot open. He sucked in a large breath, pulling in curse energy from all directions.

"What in the name of the gods is happening?" Lily's watched as the cursed energy from the forest and her allies began to pull into Keng. Ritsuka watched as purple energy flew out of him, Angerfang forcibly pulling off of him. Keng rose to his feet as he let out a breath, coughing. He pounded his chest as the huge ent finally snapped back to its original form.

"I was out longer than I thought I'd be." Keng shook his head. He noticed Ritsuka with Chimera and a strange pink-haired Fox woman in traditional garb. She moved her long sleeves to cover her mouth as she looked at Chimera.

"RAWWWRRR!" The ent threw its arm straight for Chimera. A cosmic wall blocked the attack mere inches from Chimera's face. Chimera didn't even react to the attack.

"Commander, this is Lady Vix'i's doing, correct?" Lily asked.

"Mm, it is." Chimera nodded.

"Oh, it's been ages since I've seen her cosmic magic!" Lily turned to look for Lady Vix'i. She was happy. Chimera watched as the ent split in half, again. They didn't move. They simply just watched is split open. Keng leapt past Chimera, giving them a small wave.

"Thanks for protecting, Ritsuka!" Keng smiled.

"No, problem." Lily smiled back.

"They've chosen their paths." Chimera spoke.

"Has it split even more?" Lily asked. Chimera didn't speak. They watched Keng fly straight for the large orb sticking out of the ent's body. Keng attached himself, slowly slipping as he reinforced himself with gravity to stay latched onto the orb.

"I dunno who spoke to me, but I guess it's someone important. For now," Keng threw his head back. "Let's purify this sucker!" Keng smashed his head against the orb. The orb cracked with ease, Conqueror's cursed energy pouring out. Keng stuck his head and took another breath. He watched silver light pour into the orb through his body while he sucked the cursed energy like nothing. Conqueror shrieked as it forced Keng away with a thick wall of wood. Conqueror repaired the ent, screams bellowing out as Keng slid to a stop.

"I didn't finish eating, yet." Keng wiped his mouth.

"Ke-Keng? What're you doing?" Ritsuka's voice popped up next to him. Lily glanced and realized she let Ritsuka go.

"Oh, I let him go!" Lily exclaimed.