Tsuyoshi's POV:
"Could you lot pick up the pace already? Why is this taking so long?" Asked my impatient brat of a commander.
"Apologies, Sir Jol, but to not alert the enemy, we must carefully scout the path ahead to avoid being discovered by any outposts! So please have some patience!" I spoke, trying my hardest not to let my anger show.
"Hmph! Well, you are still moving too slowly! Now pick up the pace!" He said as he slapped my cheek.
"Well maybe I would move a little faster if you could walk yourself! Sir!" I said through gritted teeth as I resisted the temptation to throw the waste of space riding on my shoulders into the mud.
If you are wondering why I am currently trudging through a swamp with a brat of a magician on my shoulders, after I was caught by the sage of runes, I was forcefully conscripted to serve as the attendant and direct subordinate to his shameless disciple who's currently having me carry him around because he doesn't feel like walking himself.
Our current goal is to lead a surprise attack on an enemy stronghold suspected to be at the center of this region's communications network. As we nascent souls have the power of flight, it becomes easier and faster to move an army from one location to another as we do not have to struggle as much with the uneven terrain below. Because of this it's common practice to place a myriad of watchtowers and sentries to keep an eye out for invading forces. As such, the dark empire has countless outposts constructed by past civilizations it can use for surveillance of incoming threats to its territory. Additionally, they're communication network allows for them to quickly relay information of enemy movements, giving them time to prepare in advance to defend against an incoming assault. This has caused the sages' advance to slow to a crawl in certain areas, wasting much time, manpower and resources.
You see, the dark empire has implemented certain security measures and encryptions into their means of communication that has made listening in or sending false messages rather difficult compared to if they were using an average communication crystal. However, this increased security came with some limitations. According to what we've been told the messages have a limited range, and all messages have to go through one specific location first before being relayed to its intended target.
So long as "it" stands, they'll be able to quickly detect and respond to any large-scale force moving through the area, but if it goes down, they'll effectively be blind. Fortunately, an obscure route not under the dark empires range of detection was discovered, and so, with a little help from a borrowed spy, this small force was sent to conduct a surprise attack on the stronghold suspected of being the communication center.
"What nonsense! You're an immortal right! Even in this heavy armor, to you, I am still as light as a feather! So, pick it up, you fool!"
"If I am so slow, why not ride a golem instead?"
"Hmph! I would if I could! For whatever reason, my master retracted my golem privileges for this mission! Leaving me with this sad lot!"
The "sad lot" as he put it, was the group of soldiers with dreary expressions, marching alongside me for the sake of their friends and family. They are all conscripts who were affected by the sages' mass-recruitment events happening all around the territory they seized. Most of them have had their loved ones taken away to be used as hostages to make them comply with the sages' orders, hence the dreary expressions. As for those whom did not have any loved ones to take, but proved too valuable to overlook, like myself, we were branded with a permanent mark that can be used to track us down should we choose desertion. As I would rather not spend my foreseeable future looking over my shoulder for fear of seeing a certain armored dwarf wielding a battleaxe, I have chosen to demonstrate some patience until I either earn my freedom or discover a means to remove this mark by myself.
"Can you not simply craft a golem for you to ride on?"
"With what resources, you fool? There is little more than mud and tree as far as the eye can see! Crafting a golem up to my standards would require both time and high-quality materials we do not have, you oaf!" He said, pulling on my hair.
"Whoops! This oaf just tripped!" I said as I dropped the guy into a pool of mud.
*Splash*
"DAMNED OAF!" The guy screamed, his face covered in wet dirt.
*Chuckle*
It would seem like my actions had a positive effect on morale, based on the smiles directed towards the once shiny armor now stained with mud. Of course, the brat himself was not very amused about this.
"WHO LAUGHED?! WHO DARED LAUGH AT ME?!" He screamed as he tried to wipe away the mud from his eyes.
As we all feigned ignorance, I noticed a slight movement in the corner of my eye and quickly stabbed my spear into the mud next to the guy.
"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING?!" He screamed at me as my spear had nearly hit him.
Pulling my spear out of the mud, there was something long and wriggling stuck to it, which suddenly sprouted spikes.
"Hm? A tentacle? No, this is-!"
*Splash**Splash**Splash*
Before I could finish that sentence, a multitude of other such wriggling ropes emerged from the swamp-water around us, entangling themselves around the men, seemingly attempting to pull them under the muddy waters. However, …
"Ugh! What is this crap?!" Someone said as he started tearing at the muddy rope coiling around him.
"Whops!" Someone else uttered, as he stumbled forwards due to something tugging at his leg.
*crash*
"Whoa! Ah, crap!" Another person blurted out as a soldier trying to regain his balance accidentally bumped into him, pushing him over and into the mud.
*Splash**Bubbling**Splash*
"*Cough**Cough**Ptui* Argh! Gross! I got mud in my mouth! Hey, why'd you push me?!" The person that fell, uttered upon surfacing in spite of the thing tugging at his torso.
"Sorry! My foot slipped!" The man who pushed him apologized.
To ensure our mission succeeds, this task force was assembled from some of the strongest conscripts the region had to offer. Our group was picked with quality over quantity in mind to minimize the risk of being spotted on the road while maintaining the required strength for the task we were given. Though, I might be the strongest man present, the majority of this group consists of indigo cores with a handful of blue cores here and there. Nobody here is weak enough to be forced to the ground by just a single one of these things. If it was just one per person that is.
"Tsk!"
"Argh! Shit! Get these things off of me!"
"Ugh! Oh, shi-! *Splash***Bubbling*"
If it was just a single one per person, these things would pose no threat. At most, they would be an inconvenience, but there were far more of these things than there were of us. As more and more of these things began to cling to us, some of the men were forced under the muddy waters.
*Sigh*
"I guess I do not have much of a choice!" I muttered as I unleashed my external technique, "Shadow Grounds", engulfing the ground in my qi to drain the muddy water, taking special care to avoid my allies, as anything that touched my technique would be consumed by the darkness.
When I pierced that tentacle earlier, I did not see any blood leaking out, and just as more of them sprouted out, I had noticed it didn't seem to be made of flesh like any animal should have been, but that was because it wasn't. It was a plant, specifically, a root belonging to the mangrove trees in our surroundings.
After seeing this, I took advantage of having shadow grounds active to use another technique called "Void Maker", allowing me to create, shape and control figures of pure darkness, deadly to the touch. As such, I sprouted tentacles of darkness, which I used to free the men by severing the roots from the trees they extended from, however, not long after.
"Ouch, ouch, ouch!"
The severed roots, still entangled on the soldier's bodies, suddenly sprouted thorns, reminding me of an old memory that prompted me to look closer at the tangled mess of roots at the tree's base, to confirm my suspicions.
"What kind of monstrous trees are they?" My mud-stained superior asked.
"They are Mangrove Corpse Eaters!" I said as I saw the skeletal remains of some kind of alligator nestled under one of the mangroves.
"Hm? You know of these things? If so, then why did you not warn us?!" The muddy brat said, looking at me with accusatory eyes.
"Forgive me sir, but I only encountered it once a very long time ago, so I did not immediately recognize them!"
A few decades after I decided to become a hermit, I had been forced to relocate due to my previous residence being leveled as collateral from some kind of conflict that took place nearby. As such, I sought places famously devoid of people, and amongst them was a mangrove swamp forest much like this one. Ultimately, I found a more suitable location, but while assessing that swamp for things of note, I came to learn of the insidious nature of these plants, specifically how they reproduce.
The thorns that spring from their roots are not really thorns, they are injectors, which they use to reproduce through parasitism. While some remain rooted in the ground, a number of its other roots will try to stretch as far and wide as it can, acting as an obstruction or rather a net. If the roots are damaged enough by some poor creature trying to get past it by for example stepping or chewing on the roots, the thorn injectors will shoot out and plant its seed in their flesh. The animal will then go on, carrying the seed to who knows where before eventually dying as a mangrove tree sprouts out of its corpse.
"However, this is not the root of our problem! No pun intended!" I said, sprouting another void tentacle break the whip-like root lashing at me.
"Are you blind?! Can you not see what these idiotic trees have done! How are these trees not the cause of our problems!"
Ignoring the brat shouting in my ear, I expanded my senses to look around the area, after which, I took a stance, and threw a punch, using the Dark River Fist technique to unleash a stream of darkness qi that tore through the swamp. However, as my attack was about to reach a statue covered in vines, defying all common sense, a multitude of plant life suddenly moved in front of it. As I tried to pierce my way through the wall of vegetation, more and more plant life moved or sprouted in the way of my attack in ways that normally should not be possible, all the while I was also defending against the whipping of the mangrove roots. Eventually, I relented my attack, as I was getting nowhere.
"What are you firing at?!"
"I think there is some kind of abandoned cursed artifact commanding the plant life in this area! I recommend you take the soldiers and flee, while I take care of things here!"
"Hmph! As if! If there is an artifact capable of this, then I'll be taking it as a souvenir! All of you, get up, and raise this place to the ground! I do not want to see a single tree standing by the end of today!" The idiot magician shouted at the others.
"I believe that would be unwise, sir!"
"Hmph! And why is that?"
"The purpose behind entering the swamp was to use the environment to conceal our march! Would it not draw more attention to us if we erased this biome from the face of the earth?"
"…! Tsk! Fine! We'll come back for it later!" he said, as he gestured for me to bend down.
Realizing he wanted to sit on my shoulders again, I came up with an excuse to avoid the horse treatment.
"Uh … Sir, if I may?"
"Unless that may is to bend down on your knees, then you may not!" He said, trying to shut me down.
However, I just ignored it as I continued speaking.
"Would you not prefer to take the artifact with you as soon as possible? I mean, given the turmoil of this conflict, there is a good chance that some enemy forces might stumble back here while fleeing and claiming the treasure for themselves!"
"Hm?"
Seeing as he didn't immediately start reprimanding me, I assumed he didn't disagree, and so I continued.
"So, may I propose I stay behind to collect it for you myself whilst you take the rest of the men to continue the mission?"
"Hm? …!"
I waited in anticipation, using Void Maker tentacles to fend off the plants attacking from the side as his next words would decide if I was either going to get an earful while treated like a horse, or be spared that fate entirely.
"Hmph! That might be the only good idea you've ever had!" He said much to my delight.
Afterwords, he got on top of the unfortunate soldier who ended up replacing me as his mount. Shortly thereafter, I expended an absorbent amount of qi to clear a path through the swamp.
"Once you've collected my artifact, you are to follow suit! If you have not caught up by the time we've reached our target, we'll proceed without you!" He spoke before riding his subordinate out of the swamp, unobstructed.
As I was finally alone, I let out a tired sigh, as I turned my attention back to the cursed statue in the distance.
To tell you the truth, this mission is probably already a bust. Even if they don't spot us, there is a decent chance someone somewhere nearby would have noticed the energy from my attacks, and sooner or later, people will show up to investigate. When they do, they'll likely increase their vigilance. It's very unlikely they'll make it to Gray Water Fort before being discovered and when that happens, anyone who gets captured will likely be executed by the dark empire, but if they make it back alive after failing the mission it will likely not end well for their friends and family, especially if they do so without the rune sage's disciple.
"Me on the other hand, have perfect excuse, having been ordered to stay behind to collect you!" I said, as I stopped holding back my qi pressure while beginning to take this seriously.
As if in response to my qi pressure, the assaults of the mangrove roots stopped as something massive took shape above me.
"Well! I will admit I am impressed by the size!"
Constructed from nothing but plants and trees, all tangled up together, there was a mountain sized arm, looking ready to crush me. However, before it could, I used Void Maker, to sprout an equally large hand from the shadow bearing down on me. As the two massive arms struggled against each other, at some point or another, it turned into an arm-wrestling match for the ages.
As I mentioned, the darkness element tends to break most things down upon contact, so one might imagine the void hand would instantly destroy its counterpart, but there are three reasons why that hasn't happened.
First of all, the hands are basically just grabbing each other's palms, so the destruction is limited to the palms of their hands, and if I'm not mistaken, whatever is controlling the plants is either filling in any damage with other vegetation or speeding up the growth of what already is there to fill in any holes. I could try fixing this by altering the shape of the Void Hand, but that brings me to my second problem, my energy reserves.
Void Maker is a technique that lets me create and puppet sculptures of darkness, but if I am using an external shadow, it becomes more energy efficient and less mentally draining to just copy the existing shape of the shadow itself rather than forcing it into something else. Additionally, while some of the energy is drawn from the shadow itself, it is not nearly enough to erase the one casting the shadow in the first place, hence, I need to supply it with some of my own qi to make up the difference. With how large this hand is, even the massive power reserves of an immortal such as myself is starting to run dry.
And finally, there is-.
*Woosh**Snap*
"That!" I said as I grabbed the spiked wooden whip out of the air and destroyed it.
*BANG**RUMBLE*
If I ever let my guard down, I'll find something trying to attack me from my blind spot. At this point in the battle, there was not much vegetation left in my immediate surroundings, as most of the forestry has been absorbed into that massive arm, but that is not to say there is none. Every now and then, some buried plant root or buried seedling would shoot out of the ground at random, trying to mess with my concentration whenever I start to get the upper hand.
*Sigh*
"This isn't good!"
It would be best if I brought this cursed statue back with me as physical evidence of my orders and their completion. If I don't there is a chance, I'll either be branded a liar or I'll be punished for failing to complete my orders all the same.
"Tsk!"
Seeing as I was running low on energy, I decided to retreat to a safe distance to recover while I still had the option. I then tried to think of a solution to my problem.
"Should I try to run? I'll be making an enemy of the sages! I could try rescuing the sage's disciple once he gets discovered, that could work, but I'd have to wait in the shadows for him to get caught first and there is a chance I'll run into an expert on my level, after all, it is not as if the dark empire doesn't have any such individuals! If I get caught, I could be sent to the frost palace and I wouldn't want that! What to do? What to do?" I pondered while meditating on the matter.
I eventually decided that if no empire scouts showed up before I recovered, I'd give it another go at the statue, but if that fails, I'll catch up to the others and watch from a far while waiting for the right opportunity to swoop in to rescue the brat.
…
The next day.
*Huff**Puff*
"I did it! It took everything I had! I erased every plant, down to each strand of grass for several miles, but I did it! I got the-!"
*Crack**Crumble*
"Statue?" I said, as the blasted thing just crumbled to dust in my hands.
As my hopes literally slipped between my fingers, I stood in silent disbelief while trying to process what just happened, and when I did.
*Inhale*
I have never shouted any words louder than the curses that left my mouth that day.
…
Somewhere further to the east, a silver haired woman was sitting at a table on a hill, wearing a sad clown mask pouring herself a freshly brewed cup of tea while enjoying the distant view of the psychedelic continental barrier isolating the 3rd martial continent from the rest of the world. However, down the hill and just shy of the beach, there was a gray fortress covered in a forcefield, standing tall in the face of a hail of elemental attacks.
*Sigh*
"I wonder if they'll get here soon!" She muttered as brought the cup up to her mask.
However, before she could tilt up the bottom of the sad clown face, a glowing green plant emerged next to her chair, immediately catching her attention.
"So, how did it go?" She asked, returning her attention to the psychedelic horizon as she took a sip of her tea.
When she turned her gaze back, the green plant was gone, and in its place stood a naked man with green skin plants growing out of his body, and a face resembling a recently destroyed statue.
"…!"
"That bad, huh! Plan B it is! You're dismissed! Hm?"
Suddenly, there was a holy light in the sky, as a portal to another realm was opened.
Seems I've got some company! Shame! If I knew someone was coming, I'd have prepared more tea! Uh! You wouldn't mind growing me some more-! He left! Oh well!" The clown said, taking another sip of tea, a blue flame bursting from one of her eyes as she glared up at the divine entity descending to the mortal plain.
Soon after, a number of ominous black chains manifested around her body.