Act 2: World Beyond - Chapter 347: Overturning The Mountain

Act 2: World Beyond - Chapter 347: Overturning The Mountain

Grovekeepers were made from humans. Oscar knew the fact from seeing the ones wearing miner's outfits in Tectusen. Gol-4 speculated they were the remnant people who became twisted by the environment. Then what was this abomination in front of him?DiiScôver new stories on no/v/e()/lbin(.)c/o/m

The strange hybrid of Grovekeeper and human wailed and failed its arms around, taking a step. Before it could make a second step, its legs broke like the snapping of twigs, and it fell, disturbing the pool of thick green liquid.

Oscar watched in silence, terrified of the cruelty before him. He backed away, unable to tear his sight away from the poor aberration. It swung its arms and squirmed violently, thrashing to stay above the strange liquid. It lacked the strength even to hold itself up and slowly drowned.

Seeing the limp body of the wretch, Oscar lost control of breathing, trying to meditate. However, his face only strained further. Relaxation and calm couldn't return to him. He was distraught, overcome by nausea.

"I...never believed such disgusting and mockery would exist. I've heard tales of some very horrific deeds, but this is right up there with them. And all in my realm!" Gol-4 cursed without reservation.

"Everyone who was left behind...in all the previous times that people traveled into this realm...became like this?" Oscar placed his hands on his knees, gagging from the reflux. Erden knocked Oscar's head with its antlers, sneezing to rouse him, and Oscar refocused. Quickly he knocked Gol-4 on the head, who was still rambling about the horrific theories of how such a transformation could occur.

"Snap out of it, Gol-4. We can't stay here. I'd rather be up there with all that drumming and chanting." Oscar said.

"You're right, my dear lad. There's only so much time before they finish their sacrifices. Let's get out of here and never return to such a place again." Gol-4 darted its blue eyes to the entrance.

Oscar returned the way he came, up the winding paths of vines and bark, and heard the chanting and drumming grow louder with each step. Reaching the ground level, Oscar turned to his left, facing the path out, and to his right, where the sacrifices took place. Leaving like this didn't sit right with him.

"Lad? What's that look for? We need to get out of here." Gol-4 noticed Oscar's darkened expression. "Don't think about it. The Grovekeepers are quite weak, but they are vast in numbers. You'll be overwhelmed."

"Maybe not. Sorry, Gol-4. I can't just let this go." Oscar faced the right path, having chosen his battle. Erden's teal crystal hooves stomped on the weak branches of the path and scraped its antlers against the sides, ready for carnage. Considering the sleeping gas, Oscar drank some of the blue potion looted from the clawed Grovekeeper and gave some to Erden.

"This should be interesting or completely reckless. Sometimes I find being with you to be very exhausting." Gol-4 said.

"The least I can do is avenge those who had fallen and put the unfortunate out of their misery." Oscar blinked, squinting from the bright red light from the other end of the path. In a single thought, his deer anima manifested by his side, grunting at Erden, who grunted back. Flanked by two deers, Oscar strapped the shield to his arm, entering the sacrificial chamber instantly.

Gatherings of Grovekeepers awaited him. Most focused on the main altar where a dead Exalt Beast lay, spilling blood into crevices. Their deep and incomprehensible chanting stopped with a single blow from Oscar. Several Grovekeepers fell apart instantly, unable to regenerate from the destructive force behind his fists.

A completed Adamasreis went beyond Oscar's expectations. Rather than having a simple additive growth, his physical power and Reis exponentially spiked when he completed the Adamasreis. His transformed muscles stored more Reis than ever before.

'Ripple Shroud' 'Ripple Shroud' 'Ripple Shroud'

Oscar pulled his arm out of its bindings with a loud snap. More roots whipped around to tug his arm back into place. Oscar frowned at how annoying they were, constantly writhing around as more sought to claim him. Suddenly, the burly Grovekeeper rushed to him and punched Oscar's face with its bark fist.

'Eirin Silver Sheen'

Oscar heard a loud, dull sound from his chest where the burly Grovekeeper landed its fist. Tremors came from the blow, shaking his silver armor. His spell was unbroken and withstood the powerful blow; Oscar sensed the other move behind with quick speed. In an instant, several slashes scraped across his silver armor. A moment later, thin slits cracked across the silver.

'Quite powerful and dangerous. I should avoid these blades for now. Right now, my focus is this brute.' Oscar smirked as the burly Grovekeeper wanted to continue punching him. A powerful mix of Eirin, Ripple Shroud, and Shattering Wave expelled from all over his body. Roots turned to dust, and the two Grovekeepers blasted away.

Spores floated over to the two injured Grovekeepers from the one who used the roots. They instantly healed back to normal, faster than the normal regeneration rate. Oscar realized the staff Grovekeeper was a specialized support. Without wasting a moment, Oscar dashed to the healer.

The other two special Grovekeepers stood in his way, an irritating yet understandable notion. These Grovekeepers were created from humans, so their tactics should be similar. Their seemingly human actions grated on Oscar's nerves, and he flared his nostrils with hot anger flowing through his head.

Taking in the Reis from the burly Grovekeeper's wide swing, Oscar spun with his shield, deflecting the six-armed Grovekeeper's swings and sending it flying away. With a kick to the chin, the burly Grovekeeper was flung upward.

The staff Grovekeeper threw away its staff and scurried away on its thin legs. Oscar never allowed such a retreat and pursued it, surpassing it in speed and facing it with bloodshot eyes. He pierced it in the chest and traveled all over its body, riddling it with so many holes that it might as well have been burned into ashes.

Next was the burly Grovekeeper. It roared with what seemed like anger and grief. Oscar guided its fist to the side and used the momentum to toss it onto its back. Its back landed on the ground in a loud quake. Oscar released an Eirin Silver Star into its body, which exploded with the force of a Shattering Wave—another dead pile of scrap wood formed by his feet.

"And lastly, you." Sweat beaded down Oscar's brow, and he breathed out with a smile. He used his Shattering Wave multiple times with portions of his Adamasreis, an exhausting task.

The six-armed Grovekeeper moved strangely like an exotic dance. Each limb and finger seemed to move independently from one another. Oscar focused his Prinstyct, seeing through its movements easily. In a final step, Oscar cut off its arms and pulled the core from its chest.

"Erden should be almost done," Oscar controlled his deer anima the entire time, seeing the progress on the other side. Erden looked tired and had several wounds but kept its strides healthy.

"That Reis of yours is a wonder! I wonder if it'll be possible to make golems with the Reis forging you mentioned." Gol-4 exclaimed with great interest, glancing all over Oscar's exposed upper body.

"Maybe in the future." Oscar glanced at the pockets of Grovekeepers trying to escape. "I can't allow all of you to escape."

After a long battle, the entire mountain was cleared of Grovekeepers. With a safe place secured for the night, Oscar stood before the sacrificial altar.