Chapter 277 The Child Musician

"Oh, I let him go!" Lily exlcaimed. She tugged on Chimera's clothing, pointing at where Ritsuka was followed by where he went.

"It's fine, Lily. You stay with me." Chimera told her. Lily beamed an innocent smile and nodded.

"Chimera!" Lady Vix'i appeared beside them. "You've arrived in time! It was about to get nasty." Lily stuck her hands into her long sleeves and turned to Lady VIx'i. She beamed with excitement as Chimera moved to allow her to tackle Lady Vix'i in a hug.

"Lady Vix'i! It's been a long time!" Lily chuckled. Lady Vix'i was caught off guard. She didn't expect the grown Lily to tackle her with love and affection on the battlefield.

"Lily, you have not changed much at all. Why are you with Commander Chimera?" Lady Vix'i asked. Lily pulled away and tapped her chin.

"Commander Chimera said I'd be helpful so I came!" Lily exclaimed. She pointed at Ritsuka. "I saved the human, too!"

"Ahhh, that's good." Lady Vix'i nodded. She turned her attention to her eldest sibling. "Where did you find her?"

"Wandering in the forest. She kept saying she felt a large energy in two different directions and chose the way we were going." Chimera answered. They kept their eyes on the two boys in front of them. Another slash appeared across the ent. It's bark immediately formed back and Chimera shook their head in disapproval. "It's growing stronger. Lily, go protect the others. Your abilities will negate the curse, right?"

"Yes, sir it will!" Lily clapped. She bowed and ran off towards the others who were fighting medium-sized ents. She whipped her long sleeve at an ent, immediately destroying it.

"She still holds her child-like heart even after all these years." Lady Vix'i observed. "Did she mention how many tails she has now?"

"No," Chimera shook their head. "She says she doesn't have tails. She's as human as can be."

"What're you doing?" Ritsuka's voice popped up from besides Keng. Keng turned to look at him, caught by surprise. Ritsuka was holding Obsidian Glass in his hand, propping himself up.

"Dude, can you even stand?" Keng asked. He grabbed Ritsuka, light pouring into him. Keng could feel his energy coming back.

"I can't believe you can restore Dark Matter energy and heal." Ritsuka watched as his strength grew back. Keng removed his hands and turned his attention back to the ent. A strike flew across the ent, but its wooden body immediately healed it instantly.

"I have so much energy in my body, I wish I could get rid of it." Keng told Ritsuka. "I need an opening to get to its core and not get ripped out, again." Ritsuka twirled his sword and watched another strike quickly open and stitch back together.

"That's the third strike I've seen." Ritsuka readied himself. "I think if I time it just right, it'll stay open for you to get an opening. Plus, I can augment this strike to force it open with the blades."

"You sure you should be using your DM like that?" Keng asked, concerned.

"Why're you so concerned for me now?"

"I don't want Lee Seng's friend to die over the weekend."

"Your friend, too." Ritsuka smiled. Another strike flew across, opening for a second and immediately repairing itself. The ent couldn't attack them. It was spending all of its time trying to mend itself.

"My friend?" Keng asked.

"Well, yeah." Ritsuka nodded. "You and him are two different humanoids right? So you're my friend, too. Even if you were born from him… That sounds so weird to say aloud." Keng stood in disbelief. He didn't ever think Ritsuka considered him a friend. He just thought he was friendly and that was it, but Ritsuka amazed him and passed his expectations. "And now." Ritsuka moved and jumped as another strike appeared across the ent. Ritsuka slashed at it, forcing the void onto the ent.

Obsidian Glass swords appeared like toothpicks across the ent's body. It held a small opening as Ritsuka landed.

"Go!" Ritsuka shouted.

"Oh, yeah." Keng snapped out of surprise and ran. He jumped upwards, arcing straight into the ent as the wounds tried to close. Keng landed at the bottom of the ent. Its hollow body swarmed with Conqueror's cursed energy. Keng covered his face as he moved closer to the orb. Whispers grew louder as cursed energy formed humanoid bodies.

"You think that'll stop me?" Keng asked. The cursed bodies ran at him. Keng let them hit him. His silver aura grew brighter, instantly pulling the energy into him. His aura grew brighter as he reached his hand out to the orb. Conqueror and the ent screamed, Ritsuka's Obsidian Glass swords snapping as the wound instantly closed.

Ritsuka readied for the next strike when the earth around him began to shake. Lady Vix'i's spirit flew out and grabbed RItsuka, pulling him back as she returned to her body. A cosmic barrier appeared around them as the earth crumbled below them.

"Hop!" Lily exclaimed. Hundreds of drums appeared in place of the earth, protecting her allies and herself from the ground's disappearance. She mimicked drumming as all of the drums began to make a melodic beat. "Flutes!" Flutes appeared at her command as music started to play.

The ent and Conqueror grew irritated by both the pink haired Fox and the Silver fox within it. They roared as corrupted energy flew at Keng and towards Lily. Blossoms appeared all around Lily, a pink and golden mark appearing on her cheek.

"Song of Two." Lily's cheery voice spoke. The notes of the drums and flutes grew into a melody, blocking the attack with ease. Notes began to pull around her backside, mimicking tails. She started to count the beats with each flick, increasing the spell in front of her. "Ode to the God King."

A large magical circle appeared around her, instantly moving past Chimera and the ent. Lady Vix'i watched in amazement as Lily continued to cast spells.

"No, don't tell me she's–"

"Blessed by Rox'su and Tear'a." Chimera answered.

"You knew this whole time?"

"She radiated so much energy, how could I not know?" Chimera watched as the pink magic circle came to a stop. Sounds of an orchestra grew loud as Lily began to strike at the ent.

"Today I'll meet the two Captains, huh?" Lily wondered aloud. Each motion created music, counting the beats as music notes and pink energy flew out and hit the ent. The foxes watched in amazement as the human-looking half-Fox Spirit easily made the ent look like child's play.

Keng continued to devour the energy. He could hear something outside starting to play. He dodged out of the way, watching as the cursed energy crashed. He would throw punches, sucking in some of the energy and dodging. His empowered devour ability allowed him to get his foot into the door, but it didn't mean he was indestructible.

He couldn't leave himself defenseless while he devoured the energy. He would need something to help him devour it without getting hurt. Music moved into his ears as he dodged.

"What's that? Is that the Lily girl's doing?" Keng whispered. He continued to dodge, watching as the music began to fight against the cursed energy. "Woah… I can feel Holy magic from that!" The dark energy crashed into him as he blocked. He could hear the music grow louder. It began to switch its tune. The ent and Conqueror began to scream in pain. Keng sucked in the cursed energy and quickly plunged his hand into the orb with ease.

"Burn like the Silver sun." Keng's eyes glowed bright silver as the cursed energy lit like gasoline.

Lily chuckled as she continued to play. The music grew louder. Lily could feel the crescendo coming. The song would definitely be pleasing to the ear. The ent began to light up in holy silver light. It lit up in flames as Lily continued to conduct the song.

"It's here! It's here!" She listened to the music grow into a fortississimo (very very loud). The strings, flutes, and drums played to their hearts content as she began to spin around, giggling. "Fortississimo!" The musical energy pulled into her as she flicked her finger behind her. The music circle pulled into her as she flicked one last strike at the ent. A beam of music notes pierced the ent and Conqueror orb. The orb exploded, lighting the area up in white light.

Everyone screamed as the light blinded them. Ritsuka turned away. Chimera covered Ritsuka as Lady Vix'i increased the shields.

Keng had never felt this much energy before. He could feel his aura growing large as he pulled the energy in.

"Come… On!" Keng screamed. The explosion of light pulled into him, funneling in like a tornado. The energy continued to pull for a long time, slowly dimming as Keng continued to pull it. Suns began to appear all over Keng's body. The suns began to glow bright as Keng felt himself collapse onto his knees. "Sooo… Much… Energy…!"