CHPT 300: Wings of Chaos, Claws of Vengeance...
The forest that was once their battle ground had now joined the fray...
As they ran and held the flow of combat at a deadly high in many ways, tree's became weapons for all parties, bushes full of thorns ripped through feather and fur indiscriminately-- even the icy waters of rivers cutting through the green biome worked against all high speed predators within.
But neither slowed down. Instead, they climbed.
While the battle waged on, Claude's change rose with every painful cut and tear dealt by the Harpy's deadly talons. They scored his leathery grey-black flesh, caused his teeth to lengthen into fangs and his muscles to explode to life with each passing second.
The Harpy's stopped referring to him as human a long time ago....
"We!.....Will!....Kill YOU!....and your DRUID!!"
"The Armaments! GIVE them to usssss!!"
The Harpies roared in a spinning cyclone of vocal screeches as they zipped through the forest around them at nearly untraceable speeds. They had a base speed faster than his own-- meaning he needed to rely on his strength and elemental advantage.
One of which was already proving to be a bit ineffective.....
He realized that as he sat in the forest, trying to will the woodlands to close in on the flashing forms of the creatures as they flew around with an expert level of monstrous grace in the distance.
"Fuck! They're too fast.."
Frosty growled beside him with a matching level of anger while blood dripped from his fangs, his overwhelming bulk and strength was proving dangerously effective against them..he just didn't have the speed.
They stayed in their circle, despite this. He had a plan.
"You scared, little monster?? HAAHAHA!!" The yellow Harpy screeched in her booming almost androgynous voice.
Claude snarled, "You'll all die the same. Just like your weak ass sister!"
The winds howled as if to intensify the scream that ripped from both the Harpies throats before they charged in a blood-red rage.
WOOOSH!
The yellow Harpy exploded from the denser portions of the forest in the distance, twisting through the canopy, divebombing beneath low hanging branches and sending ponds waving overboard with her heavy wingbeats. The black Harpy with skin as white as snow followed behind like an unholy shadow.
He welcomed her charge, commanding the pack to split and let her in uninterrupted. As they all sidestepped and bounded out of the way, she smashed into him like a skybound freight train.
BOOM!
"Ashe!" He yelled over the impact, spurring her into action with little else needed to be said.
In response, the Phantom Wolves closed in behind them, stepping in front of the black Harpy who was now flapping her wings in a fright as the Phantom Legion swirled to life in front of her, swatting away the Monster like a shadow-cloaked bear straight out of hell.
Claude and the leading Harpy were off the ground in seconds with him flying back-first into a tree while her claws tore his flesh to ribbons with every swipe and slash.
"You'll pay for what you did!" She screeched as twigs and branches sliced and snapped across his back like a dozen wooden lashings.
"You talk too much!" He snapped before sinking the claws of his freehand into her feather-covered side.
"AHHHH!!" A cry of pain exploded from the Harpies hideous face before she let their built up momentum act as a way to throw him into the giant stiff oak tree's behind them.
He had other plans.
While he flew through the forest like a discarded item, he reached out for the still-flying Harpy. In a flash, the chain-like tattoo's that spiraled down his left arm burst to life in a puff of green flame that shot straight at the creature in a snaking line before materializing and double wrapping around her arm.
"Come here!" He growled as he yanked on the chain as hard as possible, working as a way to stop his own momentum and pull her to him once again.
"AH--!" She yelped over the sound of the grisly popping sound her shoulder made from being ripped out of it's socket.
Dirt and wet grass fluttered through the air in a cloud as he skidded through the dirt with the Harpy barreling toward him helplessly. Constant use and physical memory of how he used the Malevolence Tether in the Astral Realm flooded his mind and body.
FWWSH!
A flash of green lit the forest with the disappearance of the chain, leaving his hands free to grab hold of his spear and slam the back end of it into the Harpy's stomach.
POOM!
"GWAHHH!" The creatures body folded inward as the spear stab deepened and more wind fled from her lungs.
By the time her feet hit the ground, he was already twisting and moving the blade of the spear in an upward arcing slice that she had no time to avoid.
"N--"
SSSHHCLLCK!
The blade of the spear moved in a silver flash, starting at the base of her stomach before being guided by his hands up through her chest and hideous face.
The Harpy flew backward spewing a geyser of blood from the gruesome slice that ran directly down the middle of it's feathery frame.
In an attempt to flee, it rolled with the attack and made a move to run back into the thicker woodland.
"RAGH!!"
Frosty was on her in a flash, latching his incredibly powerful jaws over her dislocated shoulder with a sickening crunching sound.
"AHHH!...You filthy mutt!" She roared before swiping at the PitWolf.
But, Frosty had already learned how deadly their talons were. With a final tug, he pulled away and barely evaded the attack aimed at his eyes.
SHRIP!
"ACKK!"
He bounded away from her fleeting frame with a feathery arm in his mouth that did nothing to hide his wolfish grin.
She was moving on borrowed time.
"Gil, she looks cold.."
The HellSlaying Hound-- now standing beside him, let out a snarl/hissing reply before spitting a volley of green flames into the forest.
None of the flames touched the fleeing Harpy. Instead, they landed on the trees and bushes around the creature, lighting up the forest with its bright verdant lights...and putting the Harpy in a dangerous situation.
Claude raised his hand and closed it into a fist aimed at the Harpy in the distance. Now boosted by Natural Flame, every aspect of the forest around the Harpy mocked his fist and smashed the creature in a crushing hold.
FWSH!
SCRNCHCHHCH!!
"....haa...." The Harpy let out a shaky sigh as the wooden tendrils, uprisen roots and coiling vines twisted through her insides more aggressively with the steady pour of Wild Magic.
He was barely able to let out a breath before the chaotic cries of the final Harpy bombard his sensitive ears.
"You bitch!!!" The words escaped her beaked lips as he spun to face her, the steady scent of blood was only making him stronger.....the growing scent of fear was icing on the cake.
He took off, blasting from his previous position in an explosion of dirt and blades of grass.
Gil and Frosty moved close behind as the Harpy closed in, uncaring of the disadvantage in numbers or strength. The look in her beady yellow eyes was mindless.
With a avian screech, she lashed at his face and the creatures flanking him.
SWIP!....SWIP. SWIP!
All misses-- as if they'd avoided her purposefully. She skidded to a halt in the grass breathing raggedly with a grin on her face.
"Run all you want...I'll still cut you pieces." She snarled.
Steady low growls were all she heard to confirm that they weren't running. In fact, they seemed to be waiting for her. Like they were waiting for her to learn.....
Her heart sank as she realized the Lunar Artifact held in her talons was gone....
The scents of fear and anxiety flooded the field.
When she turned, the last thing she saw was an eight foot wolven monster cloaked in muscle and fur, the necklace in his left hand let off dozens of whitish blue tendrils that crawled and soaked into his flesh like an ethereal parasite.
Claude didn't make a sound as he lunged forward and front kicked her square in the chest.
FWOO!
CRACK!
As soon as his hybrid foot smashed into her chest he felt her ribs shatter and flesh rip under his claws.
FWOO!
The force sent her off her feet and rolling through the grass like a feathery wheel.
Bones snapped, talons broke, cuts opened even larger with every gruesome tumble until she came to a halt sitting on her knee's unevenly.
The life was already fading from her yellow eyes, disappearing behind the shadows her jutting inhuman brow-ridge cast over the rest of her hideous face.
"...M--.....My m--...My moth--"
SHLCK!
He wasn't able to hear the rest of her final words after he threw his spear across the field and punctured her lung.
As she fell backward, the wolves descended without an ounce of mercy, leaving nothing recognizable to be found in the forest. The last thing he saw was Frosty ripping the Harpies head off and smashing it with his massive paws.
She was gone in seconds...
[+150 EXP]
Ding!
[You have Leveled Up! You are now Level 23]
[6 Stat Points Available!]
Ding!
[Your Companion has Leveled Up! Your Companion is now Level 20!]
[Companion Link Strengthened!]
Ding!
[Companion Link Evolution Skill Unlocked: (Beastial Combo-Skill Link)]
[Your Companion's Evolution Level is near.....]