Chương 11: Chapter 11: The Heart of the Forest (MODIFIED)
Chapter 11: The Heart of the Forest
The dryad moved with unnatural speed, her limbs weaving through the air like a tangle of vines. Adam barely had time to roll out of the way as one of her branch-like arms lashed toward him, gouging deep scars into the earth where he'd stood a moment earlier.
The dryad's vine-like branches lashed out.
Stefan blurred forward, dodging each strike with Enhanced Reflexes. He struck a vine with an energy-charged punch, snapping it like a whip.
"Over here, big tree!" Stefan taunted, drawing its focus.
Josh activated Stone Skin, shielding Elijah from incoming roots while hurling explosive energy blasts.
"You hit like a twig!" Josh shouted, laughing as roots splintered on impact.
Elijah moved with calculated precision, dodging attacks while targeting the dryad's glowing core. He formed an energy pulse in his palm and struck.
"Your suffering ends here," Elijah said softly, as the blow sent the dryad staggering.
Stiles weaved through the shadows, creating false images of Stefan to confuse the dryad.
"Can't catch what isn't there," Stiles muttered, smirking as the dryad flailed.
Adam finished it off by activating Wind Burst, sending a blade of wind slicing through its core. The dryad let out a final, mournful wail before collapsing into dust.
"We're getting better," Adam thought, watching his team breathe heavily but victorious. "But this is only the start."
"Careful, Adam," Elijah warned, his eyes narrowing. "This forest is her domain. The more we fight, the more we risk awakening something far worse."
Adam gritted his teeth. "We don't have a choice. She's not giving us one."
The dryad straightened, her golden eyes blazing with fury. "You dare use magic against me? You are no better than the others who defile this sacred place!"
She raised her arms, and the ground beneath them began to quake. Thick roots burst from the soil, writhing like snakes as they shot toward Adam and Elijah.
Elijah leaped out of the way, but Adam wasn't fast enough. A root coiled around his ankle, yanking him off his feet and slamming him into a nearby tree.
Adam groaned, his vision swimming as he struggled to free himself. The root tightened its grip, cutting off circulation.
"Elijah!" he called out.
Before Elijah could respond, the dryad turned her attention to him, sending another wave of roots in his direction. Elijah dodged again, his movements a blur as he closed the distance between them. In a swift motion, he grabbed one of her branch-like arms and twisted, snapping it off with a sickening crack.
The dryad let out an ear-piercing scream, her golden eyes blazing with rage.
"That was unwise," she snarled, lashing out at Elijah with renewed ferocity.
Meanwhile, Adam activated his system again, focusing on the root binding his leg.
<System Alert: Copy and Cut System Activated – Cutting Ability from Target.>
The root around his ankle glowed faintly before disintegrating into dust. Adam scrambled to his feet, breathing heavily.
"Elijah, keep her distracted!" he shouted, reaching for a nearby tree branch. He quickly infused it with the wind magic he'd used earlier.
The branch began to hum with energy, its surface crackling with faint currents of air. Adam hurled it at the dryad with all his strength. The makeshift weapon struck her in the chest, detonating in a burst of wind that sent her flying backward.
The dryad crashed into a clearing, her glowing form flickering like a dying flame. She struggled to rise, her voice trembling with anger and sorrow.
"Why?" she whispered, her molten eyes dimming. "Why can't you leave us in peace?"
Adam approached cautiously, his weapon lowered. "We're not here to hurt you. But people are dying—innocent people. We need to know why this is happening."
The dryad's gaze softened slightly, though her posture remained tense. "They came with axes and fire. They tore down the sacred grove. My sisters... my sisters are gone."
Adam's heart sank. He could feel the dryad's grief, raw and unrelenting. "I'm sorry," he said quietly. "But hurting people won't bring them back."
"...for what they did to your home," Adam continued, his tone gentle but firm. "But punishing everyone in this town won't bring your sisters back. Let us help you stop this, but without more bloodshed."
The dryad hesitated, her glowing eyes searching Adam's face as if weighing the sincerity of his words. Her form flickered, the sharp edges of her branches retracting slightly, though the tension in the air remained thick.
Elijah stepped forward, his voice calm and measured. "Your anger is justified, but it blinds you to the truth. Not all mortals are destroyers. Some seek to protect, to preserve. If we were your enemies, we would not offer you peace."
The dryad's golden gaze flicked between them. Her glow dimmed further, and the roots around her seemed to retreat into the ground, as if responding to her emotional state. "You... would aid me? Mortals have never cared for what they destroy."
Adam nodded. "We'll find out who's responsible for destroying your grove and stop them. But you need to trust us—and stop hurting the people here."
The dryad's posture softened further, though her expression was still clouded with mistrust. "If you speak truly, then I will cease my vengeance. But if this is another lie... I will unleash the wrath of this forest upon all of you."
"Deal," Adam said, his voice steady. "We won't let you down."
The dryad gave a slow nod, her golden eyes dimming entirely as her glowing form seemed to melt back into the trees. The forest, which had felt oppressive and alive moments ago, returned to its natural stillness.
Adam let out a long breath, his adrenaline ebbing. He turned to Elijah. "That could've gone a lot worse."
Elijah adjusted his cuffs, ever composed despite the ordeal. "Indeed. Your approach was unorthodox, but effective."
The sound of footsteps approaching drew their attention. Caroline and Stefan emerged from the northern trails, their expressions wary.
"What the hell happened?" Caroline demanded, her gaze darting between Adam and Elijah. "We heard screams and saw the forest going crazy."
"We made contact," Adam explained, running a hand through his hair. "The dryad agreed to back off for now, but we need to find out who's responsible for destroying her grove. If we don't, this truce won't last."
Stefan frowned. "Any idea where to start?"
Adam checked his system for updates, hoping for a clue.
<System Alert: Rumor Tracker Updated.> <Rumor Refinement: Local logging company suspected of illegal deforestation near the sacred grove. Possible ties to supernatural activity. Investigate further.>
He shared the update with the group. "Looks like we're paying a visit to a logging company."
Caroline sighed, brushing dirt off her jacket. "Great. Nothing says fun like corporate villains."
Stiles's voice crackled over the walkie-talkie they'd left him. "Uh, guys? Hate to interrupt, but Josh and I have company back in town. Big, burly guys with weapons. Pretty sure they're not here for a friendly chat."
Adam's stomach tightened. "We're on our way. Stay low and don't engage."
"Yeah, because I totally planned on fighting them alone," Stiles replied sarcastically.
As the group headed back toward the town, Adam's mind raced. Whoever was behind the deforestation wasn't just stirring up the dryad's wrath—they were willing to escalate.
And that meant this was far from over.
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