Ethan moved with blistering speed, leaving no space for hesitation.
Neither his allies nor the creature itself had time to react.
Yaya's warning echoed clearly in his mind. The thing was monstrously strong, far beyond what its grotesque form suggested. Her vines and roots could restrain it, but only briefly. Every second that passed pushed the situation closer to failure.
Before leaving Ascension Isle, Ethan had considered capturing it alive. There was value in answers, in understanding how something like this existed. But the chaos in Magnolia Valley had erased his patience for drawn-out plans. A creature that turned living people into puppets, something so fundamentally twisted, did not deserve the luxury of study. It needed to be erased, quickly and completely.
It was still midday. He needed to stabilize Ember City before afternoon. Tonight, he intended to log into Ethereal and experience the Energy Pool system for himself. There was no room for delays.
The air screamed.
