Chapter 158: The Runback

The Beasts continued in their assault, with the Wendigo whistling its tune to trigger the illusion, and the Marrow weaponizing the branches once more to prepare the strike. Despite barely meeting one another, they seemed to be aware of each other's magic, and woven an expert plan to try and take them all out at once. By utilizing the whistling tune to catch them, it would act as a mask for the branches, so that once they'd lunge out and try to attack such illusions, they'd be wide open for a barrage of branches and roots to stab and ensnare them, ripping them apart in the process. To further set this plan in motion, the Marrow was quick in growing more roots at the ground, so that when the group evades the first strike, they would be forced to deal with the roots entangling their legs, leaving the Wendigo a wide-open chance to strike. If both of such strikes would fail, then the Marrow would simply grow out the roots into more branches and weaponize them further, ensuring either the first or second plan to go off without problems. It was almost foolproof, however, it would require them to preserve their energy as much as possible.

The worst case scenario for them would be made into reality almost instantly as Stolas burst forth from the barrier and creating his stars to explode the entire forest.

He would bundle the stars together into a singular orb, aiming it straight for the Marrow, identifying it as the main threat, whilst having a smaller cluster of stars coat his body with Aquarius to avoid the roots from reaching his body. He'd grab the orb with his hands and wound up his throw, so that when it flies out of his hands, it would be a direct hit for the Marrow's oak-like skull. As soon as the ball was launched, however, the Wendigo would intervene and tank the shot, trying to catch the Star with its hands, burning the beast alive, but being durable enough to withstood its damage. The Stellar Magician simply smirked before snapping his fingers, causing the ball to expand further and further, scorching the vicinity with no warning. The beast's war-like cries became mere whimpers when compared to the volume of the star's sizzling heat, burning it, cooking it alive, even. It became a charred husk, the scent of singed fur left amidst its carnage. Stolas believed it to be dead, yet it twitched as if it still had thought. Spontaneously, it began to regrow itself.

The Marrow has attached itself to the Wendigo and supplied it with nutrients and wood. A proxy for its body, leaving its soul the only thing left to wake it up again. Naturally, it returned, its hungered eyes ready to strike again. 

The Marrow would try to counterattack, with its hardened face showcasing concern, as if it felt guilt. It stretched and sharpened its claws to try and scratch at Stolas, to which the Stellar Magician merely dodged and sidestepped out of harms way with each attempt. The Wendigo would try to create its illusion once more, yet as it does so, Stolas would prepare Orion to shoot at the beast, trying to prevent it from casting its magic. Solomon, keeping an eye out on both sides, and knowing the Marrow would try to take advantage of Stolas' attacks by striking without the latter's awareness, would already set up his magic in the form of more gnats, having them crawl and bite at its wooden body, weakening it, controlling its movements by such bites, even. He would be somewhat amazed that the monster was flinching, indicating it had actual nerves embedded in the bark. In retaliation, The Marrow would cause the leaves to sharpen and break off, trying to both cloud the vision of Solomon and Pria, whom was busy supplying Solomon with as much energy as possible to linger his effects, while having the sharpness slowly but surely carve away at the shield, ensuring that once they're exposed, they will be shredded alive.

Pria, knowing that both parties are now forced to focus on the opposition and seeing the slow burn, would try to leave the barrier as well, rushing forward at the Wendigo and strike at its throat with a meaty chop, followed by a knee in the solar plexus and a left hook. Despite such movements being easily evadable, the factor of Stolas' arrows firing, thanks to the current Constellation he's wielding, he would be given a limited space to properly fight back. Thus, not only would the hits connect, but one of the arrows would make impact as well, piercing through and silencing the Beast. Pria would shift her focus towards The Marrow, yet the moment she turned around, the Wendigo somehow managed to bounce back from such a lethal blow, its wounds already healing, nay replaced by a wooden substance. It would try to lunge at her, aiming to stab straight through her chest to hit her beating heart. Pria, taking notice thanks to Stolas' expressions of fear, would use her healing magic again, preparing for the penetration.

SHIKK!!

A Direct stab through, yet once again, the wound was healed almost instantly, with the Wendigo's arm now locked within her heart. The beast desperately tried to hack and slash her, yet it would be in vain, as Pria would keep her movements in rapid, unpredictable switches to make the hits forced to miss, trying to contort the Wendigo's body around to make it give some effort in landing the blow. With the Mage having full control over the Wendigo's situation, Solomon and Stolas could focus their efforts directly back onto the Marrow. Stolas would create the constellation of Leo, a Lion's head to bite down and chomp at the woodland's body, burning it while tearing its wooden flesh apart, watching the fire slowly coat it alive. Solomon fanned these flames further by having a new plague spread upon the beast, a plague of hail and fire, coating the beast well and watching it become a living bonfire. The boys believed that they might have a chance at actually surviving such an encounter. So much so that Solomon would leave the barrier and prepare Harvard to get out as well in order to have the recovery done swifter.

SPLASH!!

A Splash of red-hot sap flew directly at Solomon's eyes. A Scream of pain was made as he'd fall down, clutching at his burning face, with the source being of the monster, rolling among the grass, and expelling his viscous liquid all around, lighting the area ablaze. When The Marrow realized it hit Solomon, it pushed that notion further by expelling more sap at Solomon.

It was planning to melt the boy alive.