Kapitel 17: Treants Vs Gnome Riders III

"Healing Aura."

Nimble hastily created a cloud of green energy, surrounding both him and Adan. There was no time to lose. As soon as the spell took effect, erasing their wounds, the druid looked at the enemy with daggers in his eyes.

He was furious.

Theodore was his best friend and now the dryad killed him just as he tried to end the fight peacefully. At this moment, Nimble felt as if the world had completely turned against him.

Not only did he lost a fight over the woman he desired, but he had also been sent into a dangerous mission as punishment. Besides, the group had also accidentally wandered into fey held territory with disastrous effects.

Nimble felt really cheated, as paranoia started fueling his heart. Could all of this be a ploy of Lord Douwe and that Alston brat?

"This isn't good. I need to go back now more than ever. To think my precious Ella could end up being married off to such a despicable person. It's really important for me to go save her as quickly as possible."

Thinking so, Nimble decided to use this anger. In order for him to go back and save his beloved, first, he needed to kill this dryad and its many minions.

"Victory is not impossible. If we fight desperately enough, there is still a chance."

The druid stepped forth, increasing his speed gradually as he advanced towards the dryad. Somewhere along the way, his body began to undergo severe changes. First, his size, which increased fivefold. Than brown hair sprouted all over, leaving no skin visible.

In the end, Nimble's form gave place to a giant bear.

"ROOOAAAAARRRR!!!!!"

This was no ordinary beast. While beginner level druids could only transform themselves into common animals, as they progressed on their craft, this form would also be improved little by little.

Nimble hadn't turned himself into a bear. He turned himself into a personalized version of this beast, which carried great might.

But the dryad was now shielded because several treants took this opportunity to detour around the walls of fire, attacking through the south.

So, before he could strike against the main nemesis, first it was necessary to deal with those minions.

With a red glow, his sharp claws grew tremendously and one of the unattentive treants was slashed.

However, the damage wasn't too bad and the creature wasn't put out off combat.

But, as Nimble left to fight the others, many parasitic mooshrums sprouted from the wound.

In front of everyone's eyes, this enemy just withered away.

This was the effect of a particularly nasty spell, which was infused in Nimble's animal form, "spore claws".

One, two and three more enemies we're taken out of the fight.

It was now much easier to reach for the treants themselves, because at this point most animals had ran away. After all, the fire was spreading, making it very difficult for them to keep breathing.

....

There are three kinds of spells, which can be divided according to the relation they had with their conjurer.

First are the ones which are dependent on the caster's concentration. In other words, it's necessary to refresh it frequently with mana, new formulas, or both. Those tended to be more powerful than other spells with equally complex formulas.

The reason is simple. If they were not powerful or useful enough, it would be much simpler just to find a replacement, instead of going through this hassle. Especially if the spell was combat-related.

Second, are soul dependent spells. Those will be automatically undone when its caster dies because they were built upon a will imprint.

An example of this are the golems Morgana made. If the will to which they were bound disappeared, the result would be their destruction.

And the third and most common type are instantaneous. Those act immediately in the world. Its effects are permanent and no matter what happens to the caster, they won't vanish until something or someone actively tries to destroy it.

As such, the walls of fire Adan created, being concentration-dependent, required the sorcerer's attention to be maintained. Not that the fire would be extinguished in case he could no longer keep focus.

Quite the opposite, actually. Fire, especially in such a dangerous environment, was a very serious thing. Adan was trying his very best to keep this "safety pocket" he had made for himself and his companions inside this blazing inferno.

Not only he had to keep the fire itself away, but it was also necessary to maintain a stable influx of oxygen inside.

"Fortunately Nimble has now taken up the front. I wouldn't be able to keep this going if I also had to fight."

In fact, leaving aside the possible necessity to fight, the pain alone caused by Nimble's failed spell almost proved to be an unbearable challenge.

"But it's all worth it. The animals are all gone and now even the treants themselves are starting to burn. That dryad made a mistake. We are going to win."

Adan reassured himself, trying to rebuild the lost confidence.

.....

"Bash."

After smashing another treant, Rosalyn looked calmly at a pile of defeated enemies.

"I think things are over on this front. Adan, let the flames consume this area when I leave. Nimble needs help."

Since a strong wind came from the south, it was guaranteed that as soon as Adan stopped trying to protect it, the whole area would be swallowed.

The berserker strode south as fire engulfed the terrain between her and the few treants which remained at the north.

As she approached the enemy, Rosalyn lightly patted her dearest weapon.

"I think today is the day, Meatgrinder. Is this the enemy against which I can truly show my true potential?"

An evil smile blossomed on her lips as her shadow flickered. For a moment this dark reflex on the ground showed a terrible premonition of things to come.