Unfortunately for that hidden attack, Sophie saw him in time.
"Don't."
Her voice was not particularly loud and could hardly be called a command. But outside the barrier, where the forest's natural mana had not been severed, the ground exploded.
Five massive roots burst from the earth. One struck the ritualist from the side. The other four wrapped around his arms and legs before suspending him in midair.
The man struggled frantically as protective mana erupted around his body, but the golden green light covering the roots only grew stronger.
Crack!
His wrist broke first.
"ARGH!"
His scream echoed through the forest.
The roots tightened again, and this time, his shoulder twisted at an unnatural angle, while another root began coiling around his chest.
Upon seeing this, Sophie froze. She had wanted to stop him. She had not wanted to crush him to death. But the forest did not seem to understand the difference.
...Or perhaps it understood perfectly and simply did not care.
