Oko Egan stood a towering mass of gnarled wood and grasping branches.
Its roots tore through the earth, leaving trails of upheaved soil.
Two hollow black eyes fixed on Sadia.
A low, grinding growl emanated from it.
Sadia could tell by the level of ase emanating from this creature that a single direct blow could spell her doom.
She couldn't afford to hesitate.
Already weary from travel, every spell would cost her blood.
She spread her hands, whispered the harsh words of black magic, and a visible wave of dark energy pulsed outwards.
The nearest vines recoiled, their unnatural growth halting for a moment.
"I will not let you spread your filth any further," she said, her voice a low hiss.
Oko Egan roared again and lunged.
Its massive, root-like fist crashed into the ground where Sadia had been standing a moment before, leaving a crater of earth.
Sadia reappeared several yards away, her movements fluid and swift.
She extended a hand, and a stream of viscous, black liquid shot towards the creature.
"Withering Grasp!"
The liquid struck Oko Egan's trunk, and a patch of bark began to blacken and crumble.
The creature howled—a sound of splintering wood and tortured life.
But its leaf-shield shimmered faintly, drinking in the entropy and turning parts of it back ordered and sharp.
Sadia pressed her advantage, but each spell tore deeper at her.
Still, she leaped onto the creature's trunk, her bare feet finding purchase on the rotting bark.
"You are going to die here," she hissed.
She placed her hand on Oko Egan's surface, and dark energy flowed from her, tendrils of black and purple spreading like veins across its wood.
"Death Bloom!"
Oko Egan convulsed, flinging Sadia off.
Cracks appeared in its trunk, and a sickly green light pulsed from within.
Sadia extended her hand, black poison swirling around it, thickening into a grotesque, bubbling mass.
Oko Egan reacted.
A surge of green energy erupted from its form.
It thrust a mass of leaves from its head, creating a large shield shimmering with green energy.
Sadia launched her attack.
The force of the blast sent Oko Egan staggering backward, but its shield deflected the curse into the nearest living conduit.
Leonotis screamed as black poison erupted from his mouth and eyes, collapsing to the ground.
Sadia froze as she realized her own spell was reflected back.
"Mirror-ward," she whispered in horror.
Razor-sharp leaves followed, one tearing into her gut.
She cried out, collapsing to the ground.
Oko Egan turned its attention to Leonotis, who had been frozen in terror.
The creature paused as if deciding, then carefully reached into its core and pulled out a pulsating green seed.
"Wait, no—" Leander began, but Oko Egan only growled, savage and intent.
His pupils glowed green, words spilling out not wholly his own.
"Son, do not worry. It won't hurt. It will be over soon."
"Mother…" Leonotis whispered, fading.
Oko Egan thrust its arm, now a mass of writhing branches, towards the boy's chest.
"Stop it! You will not touch my son!" Sadia screamed.
She lunged, grabbing Oko Egan's arm.
The creature's arm sprouted more appendages, plunging into her flesh.
Sadia screamed in pain, and with a desperate surge of effort said the words:
"Dark Decay!"
The deadly magic spread forth, severing the arm of the creature.
But it was too late.
The seed was already embedded in Leonotis's chest.
As if having a mind of its own, it buried itself into the boy.
The seed attempted to close the wound, but the amount of poison in the boy paralyzed it—leaving a gaping hole.
Sadia fell, the severed arm of Oko Egan withering into dust beside her.
She looked to Leonotis, lying on the ground, his face contorted in agony.
Then he lost consciousness.
Oko Egan, weakened and maimed, turned and lumbered towards the forest, its form shrinking.
Leander staggered after it, as if pulled by root-strings, vines tightening around his wrist.
He looked back only once, torn, before vanishing into the shadows.
The world narrowed to pain and choices.
Chinakah, the village healer, rushed to them, panic in her eyes. She had slept for days under the creature's thrall, waking only now as the earth split with the battle's final convulsion.
She reached the fallen mother and son.
She began to use her magic, trying to heal them both.
"No, don't, Chinakah," Sadia gasped, her voice thick with blood. "You don't have enough ase to save both of us."
"Save him," Sadia gasped, blood bubbling in her throat.
She pressed her palm over Leonotis's wound.
The poison flowed out of his body and into hers, black tears streaking her face.
Her strength crumbled.
"Now… heal him. Take care of my son."
And then she was still.
Chinakah's hands shook as she poured what little ase she had left into the boy.
Against all odds, the wound closed. His breath steadied.
Leonotis lived.
But as Chinakah looked up, she saw the wreckage—
Sadia's body.
The empty space where Leander had run after Oko Egan.
And the monstrous shadow of Oko Egan retreating into the forest.