The branches didn't stop coming.
They multiplied—racing from every direction—crashing, twisting, splitting the air with a furious rhythm.
Each impact cracked like thunder through the forest, raining bark and splinters everywhere.
It was chaos made of wood.
Keal: "Oh, so that's how we're playin' it, huh?"
He ducked under one branch, flipped over another—laughing the whole time.
"Guess somebody really doesn't like guests!"
The branches came faster—overlapping, smashing together like living beasts fighting to crush him.
Keal sprinted through the madness, eyes wild, grin wide.
His laughter echoed across the forest like a spark refusing to die.
Keal: "Come on, don't be shy! You've got what, a million of these things? Use 'em all!"
The forest answered.
Branches twisted and writhed as if alive, swaying in rhythm with his movements. The air filled with the groan of bending wood and the hiss of tearing bark.
FWOOOSH!
White flame burst beneath his foot—the shell shoe roared to life.
Keal blasted forward, landing on a moving branch.
TIK! TIK! TIK!
Each step struck clean, slicing through the storm of creaks and crashes. The heat from his shell scorched the bark beneath him, leaving a glowing trail.
Keal: "Ooooh, you see that balance? You'd think I rehearsed this—spoiler: I didn't!"
He leapt, twisting mid-air. His hand shell fired—
CLACK!—the grappling claw shot out and locked onto another branch. The sudden jolt rattled his shoulder, but his grip held.
Keal: "Gotcha! Man, I should charge rent for all this branch-swinging!"
He swung forward—flipping once, twice—then landed perfectly, sparks scattering under his feet.
Branches lunged from every side, closing in like a living cage.
No room to dodge.
Fine.
We do this the loud way.
Keal: "Ohhh, here they come! Group hug!"
He pulled his arm back—flames coiling around his hand shell like molten ribbons—then slammed it down.
BOOOOM!
A flaming shockwave ripped outward. The explosion shattered the wooden cage, hurling debris and smoke into the air and launching Keal skyward.
The force rattled his teeth and left his ears ringing.
Keal: "Whoops—too much power! That's gonna mess up the landscaping!"
He twisted mid-flight, spinning through the smoke. Both shells ignited at once—
FWAAAH!
Twin bursts of white fire propelled him higher, his body trailing flame like a shooting star.
He burst through the shattered canopy and crashed onto a nearby cliff—
THUD!
Dust and embers swirled around him as he stood, brushing bark and soot off his shoulder.
Keal grinned, chest heaving.
"Phew. That all you got, branch boy? 'Cause honestly… I was starting to have fun."
Below, the forest hissed. Branches writhed and tangled, climbing upward like a nest of angry serpents.
Keal's grin only widened.
"Yeah, that's right. Keep dancing! I've got plenty more where that came from."
But the branches didn't stop—they began overlapping again, crawling toward the cliff like a wave of living wood.
Keal sighed, watching them rise.
He glanced down at his shell shoe—thin wisps of smoke curled lazily from its vents.
Keal: "Guess it's time…"
He exhaled softly, a tired smile tugging at his lips.
"What bad luck."
He crouched and unstrapped the hand and shoe shells.
With a click, he pressed the metallic handle on the hand shell, fusing the two pieces together.
Metal shifted, gears locked, and a deep hum filled the air—the shells merging into one.
He lifted the shell gun, its barrel glowing faintly white.
Without hesitation, he started running again—laughing like a maniac as the cliff trembled beneath his steps.
Wind whipped through his hair as he charged toward an old, broken bridge ahead—its ropes creaking, its planks rotted and half gone.
He skidded to a stop just long enough to pull out his compass.
The needle twitched—pointing southwest.
He smirked.
"Still southwest. Perfect."
Spinning the compass once between his fingers, he pocketed it and muttered with a half-grin,
"Alright then. Let's see if the old bones can still hold."
Then he charged the broken bridge, full speed
his laughter echoing across the canyon like a promise.