"So what's the plan here?" Kai asked Kion. "I'm assuming you know more about it than I do."
Kion vaguely tried to recall the abilities of an Egovore. It was a sentient plant monster. One as big as this couldn't be anything below B-class. It had wood-mancy abilities and could also control other non-sentient trees around it.
Like other beasts, it also had a trump card, a groundbreaking ability that monsters used as a last resort. This was the last bit of information Kion didn't seem to remember. He'd hoped that it wouldn't have to get to that. Most monsters didn't usually get to use their trump cards in a proper battle.
Kion also knew some of its weaknesses. Just like normal trees, Egovores were prone to fire, so any fire-mancer would fare just fine in a fight.
But Kion didn't have his sword. A swordsman could only activate his special swordsmanship skills with his weapon.
Which meant that he was practically useless in this battle.
He took a look at Kai, who had his broadsword ready in a charging stance.
- Egovores were least vulnerable to light-mancy attacks. -
Kion remembered reading that line of text in Shaman's scroll.
Which meant that they were both screwed over.
"Do you have any illusion-based skills?" Kion asked after a brief moment.
"Only [Vanish] and [Mirage]. Why?" Kai asked.
"Your light-mancy would be next to nothing against it, and in this form, it would basically be impenetrable to your sword attacks. Use your illusion-mancy to distract it, while I find a way to get my sword back. Keep away from the other trees, and try to avoid the ground as much as possible."
"Alright. So be a fucking magician then, got it."
"I'm serious." Kion yelled.
"I can't fly. How do you expect me to do all of that?!" Kai snapped back.
"No time, just go!"
The brothers split up as the Egovore's branches shot forward like massive spears from a ballista, crashing deep into the earth where they once stood.
Kai dived to the left, narrowly avoiding being skewered, while Kion rolled to the right.
[Mirage]
Kai activated his first skill, stabbing his sword into the ground. A burst of light erupted around him—and when it dimmed, there were two of him.
One took to the air, flying towards the tree monster with its sword raised.
The other drove his broadsword into the earth again, activating another skill.
[Vanish]
The second form faded into obscurity, invisible to the naked eye.
Kion smiled at the strategy his brother deployed. His brother was clever when it mattered
Any half-brained soldier could've seen through the trick—after all, a light-mancer, even a swordsman, couldn't fly. But Kai was making his illusion do just that, keeping the Egovore distracted while staying hidden himself.
This would all happen while his main body, which was currently invisible, would make its way across the clearing to inflict some real damage.
Meanwhile, Kion knew that this was his opening. That illusion wouldn't keep up for long.
The Egovore's tendrils recoiled and lashed out like whips, clawing at the flying form of Kai's illusion, which dodged and weaved effortlessly through the air.
Kion was correct in keeping off from the ground, as the Egovore struggled to maintain equal footing with an aerial battle, its branches finding no form of anchor in the earth below or the other trees around them.
Meanwhile, Kion sneakily made his way along the right flank. He had no idea where his brother was, but he was sure that he was doing something useful as well.
In just mere moments, Kion was within reaching distance of his sword.
Suddenly a twig snapped to the left side of the Egovore.
Kai had not been careful enough.
The Egovore shrieked, realising the deception. It's rage surged as it completely ignored the illusion and sent half a dozen razor sharp branches in Kai's direction.
"No!" Kion yelled as the branches slammed into the ground where Kai stood. Kion was almost sure his brother had been gutted, as the whole scene had happened so fast.
Too fast…
"Urghhhh!" Kion's eyes darted to his brother's form flickering back into sight. Kai's invisible body shimmered, revealing his blood-soaked chest—cut open by the Egovore's branch.
Kion let out a sigh of relief. It seemed his brother was still alive, albeit it was a narrow escape.
He lunged forward, his hand clamping round the hilt of his sword.
[Fire Blade]
The sword was suddenly coated in fire, burning just between the eyes of the Egovore.
The creatures screamed as Kion ripped his sword free from its bark, the area where it had been smouldering with ash.
When I'm done with your you'll be used as fire wood for our camp.
Kion though to himself as he gathered all his mana to the core of his chest, activating his most critical skill.
Let's finish this once and for all!
Kion felt his mana spike at his centre. The techniques he'd learned from that talent scroll coming into play for the second time since his iconic fight with his brother.
This time, he would use the skill in an efficient way. It wouldn't take as much a toll as it did on his body when he'd initially deployed it on Kai.
This time, he would follow Shaman's advice.
They say that the third time's the charm, but Kion only needed the second.
The younger prince's amber eyes blazed crimson.
[Fire Storm]
A swirling vortex of bright, red-hot flames spat out like a raging tornado, making its way towards the Egovore in a deadly fashion.
The monster wouldn't be spared, whatever class it was. Even if it could somehow defend itself, half its focus was still targeted at Kai.
There was nothing it could do to stop it.
It would be a fatality.
Kion felt the tug of a smirk as he saw the monster's eyes widen—desperate and frightful, aware of its end.
Truly what happened next was ineffable.
Just as the swirling hurricane of fire was about to connect, the creature let out an earth-shattering roar.
It was a sound so forceful that both princes were knocked back several meters.
They scrambled to their feet, hearts pounding, weapons drawn, expecting the final blow.
But something was wrong.
The sky shimmered in a sickly pink hue. Cinders drifted like glowing snow. Every tree, every blade of grass—even the soil—was dyed in deep black.
"Where are we?" Kai asked the pressing question.