Chapter 9
The Phoenix unit could see the Soul Forest ahead, shrouded in thick fog.
She thought, 'The forest of unfortunate souls... I wonder who angered the soul goddess enough to cause this.'
"Alright," she pointed to a soldier. "You will be my Vice Captain. I don't know much about our enemy, but I believe we can find a way out of this."
"Captain..." the vice captain responded. "Isla is at your disposal."
"Good," Aenzil replied. "Stay alert and prepared; I've heard stories about this place."
They entered the forest, and soon, the scattered bodies of soldiers appeared around them. Souls, glowing faint green orbs, hovered nearby, some drifting toward them.
Aenzil signaled for them to stop, her eyes scanning the area as if searching for something. Suddenly, she saw an object rushing toward them at breakneck speed.
She summoned a wall of fire that destroyed it.
She wondered, 'What is she doing here?'
Meanwhile, the Arcanum unit reached the village by the shore, and it looked run down as if it had just been attacked. They slowly went through the village.
Blood painted the roads and buildings, and bodies of old and young lay on the ground. Even the bodies of soldiers who were sent earlier were among them.
In the middle of the village stood a girl; she had long, black hair that covered her body.
Clara bit her lips.
She looked around and saw that some of the villagers were hiding in their houses.
"Louisa," Clara muttered under her breath.
The girl raised her head, her eyes glowed pitch black, and her skin was pale. She wore an unsettling grin, revealing bloody, sharp teeth.
She stretched her hand at them, and an army of souls rose behind her and rushed forward, their whispers echoing through the village.
Clara created a dome of air, and the souls clashed into it.
Back at the Soul Forest, Aenzil and her soldiers defended themselves against humanoid tree-like monsters. Aenzil looked at the chaos happening around her.
"ENOUGH," she said.
She launched a fire attack, which killed the enemy. She then turns to her Vice Captain.
"Isla... " she said. "Lead the wounded and survivors to the village. I will catch up."
"But- "
"It's an order." Flames sparked in her eyes.
This caused the soldiers to hesitate.
Aenzil gave a deep sigh. She created a ball of fire.
"This helps fend off any enemy you encounter," she said. "Secure the village first. After that, return if you can."
The Vice Captain nodded, the ball led, and the soldiers followed.
Aenzil planted her sword into the ground.
"Show yourself," her voice sounded calm.
A figure emerged from a nearby tree, a woman. She had pale green skin, her hair was like leaves, and her body was partially covered by leaves.
"Well, if it isn't the spirit of vegetation herself, Edith," Aenzil said, placing one hand on her sword.
Edith smiled, "Is this how you greet me after all these years. I feel like you are not happy to see me."
"Why should I, after you helped him out?"
"Things we do for love"
"Tell me something," she pointed her sword at Edith. "If you are here... where is the Soul goddess?"
"Playing with the village I offered to her. You know, she has been lonely lately, and I can't stand to see a girl so lonely."
"You disgust me."
Aenzil dashed towards her, and she swung her sword, which released a fire attack at her. Thick roots rose from the ground, forming a wall and blocking the attack.
Edith pointed towards Aenzil, sending thick roots towards her. Aenzil cuts some down and dodges the others; she uses one to leap into the sky.
She forms a ball of fire in her hand and throws it at Edith; a huge explosion ensues.
From the village, the soldiers could see it.
"Don't lose focus," Isla said as she took down a monster.
The smoke cleared, and a ball of roots and branches could be seen. For a moment, there was no movement, then-
Edith shot out at a blurring speed. She grabbed Aenzil by the face before she could notice it. She slammed her into the ground, causing a little tremor.
"It seems once again I underestimated you," Edith said, her eyes glowed faintly.
Aenzil lay on her back, blood flowing down the corner of her mouth, and she smiled.
"C'mon, do it."
Edith raised a brow. "Oh my, you really are a crazy thing after all."
Edith smiled menacingly, her eyes shimmered. She stretched her hands.
The ground shook, followed by cracks. Then-
A beast rose, humanoid in appearance, skin like tree bark with glowing green lines. It gave a roar which could be heard in the village.
Aenzil managed to get back on her feet. She looked at the beast and smiled; her eyes burned with a fire-like aura.
"Teras de Viridis," she said under her breath.
She dashed towards the monster, leaving a trail of fire behind her. The monster, Teras de Viridis, swung its hand at her at blinding speed. Aenzil blocked it. She slid back, and her smile widened.
At the outskirts of Erimos of Spero, the Voltspire could see something up ahead, a dark, standing figure. The closer they got, the more an army camp began to appear behind the figure.
There was no movement from within the camp, only thin smoke rose weakly. When they were closer enough, the figure they saw earlier was a soldier with its head impaled on a pole.
"Sir Marcus," a soldier said.
"You know him?" Tezuka asked.
"He was a Knight just three days ago."
Bodies were scattered around the camp, and most of the tents were destroyed. As they moved through the tents, they could see footprints of beasts.
Hell hounds, Tezuka thought.
"Hurry, men, we must reach the village now," Tezuka ordered.
"RIGHT!" the soldiers responded.
They rode out of the camp, heading towards the nearby town.