Flora narrowed her eyes. "This is your last chance. Who are you?" The pressure from Flora's body intensified, making even the Verdant Wardens near her feel suffocated.
Canna didn't know if Flora was bluffing or could truly see his stats and title, but he believed in Tonitrum's words that only demigod ranks could see through his facade.
"You won't say it, huh?" Flora paused, her aura suddenly decreasing. Canna thought the whole ordeal was over. He sighed and was just about to continue talking when ... he suddenly saw a fist aiming at his gut.
In a matter of seconds, Canna's body flew like a baseball, hitting multiple trees before stopping crashing violently against a massive stone wall.
"If you won't say it, then I'll beat it out of you," Flora stated before transforming. Her hands turned into sharp vines that had a purple hue, and her body continuously produced spores.
Kael, unable to comprehend what was happening, was suddenly being carried away by Tiberius. "Don't inhale now! Those spores will weaken you once you smell them. The more you inhale, the weaker you get."
Meanwhile, Flora was suddenly in front of Canna again. She moved with a speed and grace that seemed impossible for her form, her body a blur of green and purple. Canna barely had time to react as she lashed out with her vine-covered fists.
Flora's strikes were relentless. Her fists, now covered in sharp vines, hit with the force of a hammer and the precision of a master warrior. Each punch sent shockwaves through Canna's body, making him stagger and lose his footing. Her movements were fluid and calculated, as if she were dancing rather than fighting.
Canna tried to counterattack, but Flora's spores were taking their toll. Each breath he took filled his lungs with the weakening particles, sapping his strength and slowing his reactions. Flora took full advantage, her strikes becoming more aggressive and punishing.
Flora's fist came down again, smashing into Canna's gut with a force that made him gasp for air. He could feel his ribs creak under the pressure, the pain radiating through his body. Flora's relentless assault was pushing him to his limits, and he knew he couldn't hold out much longer.
She lifted him once more, her vine-covered hand wrapping around his throat. "This is your last chance," she said, her voice a deadly whisper. "Tell me who you are, or I will end this."
Canna's vision darkened as he struggled to breathe. He could feel his strength slipping away, the spores and Flora's relentless attacks taking their toll. He had never felt so powerless, so outmatched.
As Flora's grip tightened, Canna realized that he had to make a choice. He could either reveal his true identity and risk everything, or find a way to turn the tide of this battle, even in his weakened state.
With one last surge of determination, Canna summoned all the strength he had left. He focused his mind, trying to find a way to break free from Flora's grasp and turn the tables on her.
Just as Flora was about to strike again, she swiftly ducked to avoid a greatsword that swung at her neck. A red portal had opened behind her, and out stepped a black orc, clearly infuriated. The skies darkened, causing Flora to question what was happening. Their village had never experienced a storm, as they could manipulate the weather.
The clacking sound behind her made Flora quickly create distance.
She turned to see an individual in a grey robe, its form vibrating with power. "How dare... How dare you... HOW DARE YOU!" The pressure released by the figure in the grey robe was chilling, and a black pillar shot towards the sky, with the robed being at its center. Despite being only a mid-calamity rank, the pressure it emitted felt far higher.
Flora then looked at the black orc, who also exuded a menacing aura.
The orc glared at Flora and spoke, "Our master endured so he could make a good impression, he was looking forward to this meeting, yet look at what you did to him." Flora's danger senses went into overdrive. This orc was a great-calamity rank, and a very strong one at that.