Gaia's Champion Ch. 22

"You hear that?" Xaera questioned.

"Yeah! Any idea what it could be?" Sheena asked.

"The corruption of the forest must be more serious than we thought! Keep pressing on!" Phalmina called from above, as she brought forth her fairy magic to aid her friends and lovers.

"Heads up! We've got company!" Emalia called out as they passed the three-hundred-meter mark.

"I see them!" Jason roared as the screaming children charged at them.

A small group of about four of them leaped out of the dank foliage to drive their clawed hands into the druid. Jason was ready for them and unleashed a small ball of exploding fire at them. The ball detonated much like an explosive would, bathing all four of them in flames. They squealed and clawed at themselves, trying desperately to put the fire out, but Jason wouldn't let them.

Jason brought another spell to bear, but this one was more like concentrated bolts of fire. The power of it was so intense that it melted what was left of the children, turning them into ash on the forest floor. Sheena did her own thing and surrounded a trio of children attacking her in a circle of flames. They panicked as they saw the fire, before Sheena willed the circle to shrink, slowly burning them down to nothing.

Xaera brought her ice magic to bear, as a greater portion of children came right for her. Summoning her will, she chanted a brief sentence in Trollish, before placing her iced hands in front of her face and blowing hard. The breath was magically amplified to where it was a literal cone of frigid ice that bathed the dozen children in its embrace. In seconds, their charge was halted as most of them were frozen into place.

A couple of those on the outer edges of the spell were caught in the blast but could still move. Xaera then summoned her Troll fire, which burned hotter than even the Gaian's fire, and pushed it from her hands. Like a wave, it poured from the troll woman's hands and rose over the frozen children. Steam poured off them for a moment, before they were immolated in the fire's heat.

The steam cleared away after a few seconds, and Xaera chanted for the fire to cease. As it did, she could see that the skeletal structures of the children remained, but only for a second. The wind blew through gently, but it was more than enough to turn what remained of the children into clouds of ash and dust. Even Xaera was amazed as she witnessed the pure destructive power of her magic.

Shaking herself back to reality, Xaera called upon her ice magic again, as she heard more screams from incoming children. Steeling her mind, the troll woman kept her eyes open for anyone who would attack them. Amy and Eva continued their clean up efforts behind Jason, as he and Sheena led the charge.

"Watch your left flank there, Jay! Another group of children coming at you! Looks to be about a dozen of them!" Luke told his friend through the earbud comms.

"We've got them, Luke!" Sheena replied, mimicking Jason's flamethrower spell. The children squealed in pain as they were caught in the blast. The smart ones fled the moment they felt the flames lick their flesh. The steadfast ones died in mere heartbeats, falling apart as they tried to get close.

"How are things looking back there, Darren? Any creatures coming for you at the moment?" Jason asked.

"Nothing right now. Seems like all their attention is on you and what you're doing," Darren responded.

"Good. Daelina, head on back and keep an eye on Darren. We need to be sure that our way back is still covered if things get dicey out here," Jason ordered.

"I'm on it!" the fairy woman replied, before she flitted back to the house and the barrier where her fiancé waited.

"Looks like these spells are more than enough to keep these children at bay! What else can this corrupted Nymph throw at us?" Amy exulted, as she watched the children retreat. In answer, howls filled the air, which chilled everyone to the core at how... foreign they sounded.

"You had to ask!" Eva groused, while she smacked Amy upside the head.

"Luke, can you see anything coming at us?" Jason queried, eager for some intel on the coming attack.

"Negative! You guys are too far away for me to get a good look!" Luke replied.

"You didn't bring the drones?" Jason wondered.

"Well... I've been spending a lot of time at Karla's so..." Luke started.

"We get it! Just keep an eye on our rear and watch out for anything that might give Darren and Daelina trouble," Sheena snapped.

"You got it, sista!" Luke said.

"Jason, on your right!" came Phalmina's warning.

Snapping his head in that direction, Jason saw what appeared to be a swarm of animals coming at them. The moment they got close enough, Jason lit them up as he had the children, not waiting to see what they were. He heard yipping and howling as the animals were engulfed in flames, and Jason stopped for a moment to get a better look. They were indeed animals, or they had been at one point.

What Jason saw nearly turned his stomach, as the animals coming at them were supposed to be dead. There were large tears in their flesh, scabs filled with maggots, and even parts of bone poking up through the skin. The Dark magic that flowed through them had given them life once more, but as slaves to the one who controlled that magic. Re-igniting his flame spell, Jason burned them, putting the poor animals out of their misery.

"I knew the darkness had corrupted much, but this is beyond what I believed was happening here!" Jason groused as he kept tossing flames.

"There's a lot more happening here than even I thought possible! Keep burning through! We need to get to the grove and eradicate what remains of it!" Phalmina yipped as she blasted several corrupted bears with fairy bolts, reducing them to scraps of flesh and bone.

"Move!" Xaera called from the back.

Everyone turned to regard the woman, and their eyes widened in amazement and alarm. In her hands, Xaera held a sphere of cold magic, the size of a large medicine ball. As quick as they could manage, the Gaian spell casters stopped flinging fire and got out of the troll's way. Seconds later, Xaera chanted and icy runes appeared all over the sphere, before she launched it in front of her.

More animals, reinforced by the children, took the halt in fire spells as an advantage and charged in. What they didn't see coming was their doom, in the form of a sphere of ice magic. The moment it neared one of the creatures, it exploded like a supernova. Cold magic wrapped up all who were caught in its blast, in an icy cocoon, freezing them. None of them had the chance to turn back, as the effect was instant.

"Fuck, Xaera! That's really damned impressive!" Emalia called out from above.

"Thank you! I saw the spell in the book and wanted to try it out!" Xaera replied as she drew on more of her troll magic.

"This makes things much easier for us!" Phalmina laughed as she used her fairy magic to shatter every creature caught in the icy blast.

"Indeed, it does!" Jason rumbled as he drew upon more fire magic to incinerate what remained of each creature. The flora and fauna were likewise torched, returning to the dirt from which they had once sprouted.

"How far in are we?" Sheena questioned.

"Hold up a second!" Jason replied as he turned his head to look back at where Darren and Daelina were standing. "I'm guessing about eight-hundred meters or so, maybe a full klick. Time flies, eh?"

"That it does! Luke, any updates on how things are on your end?" Sheena asked out loud, tapping her earbud.

"Nothing to report! Whatever it is you guys and girls are doing, keep doing it! It's making our job over here easy!" Luke responded.

"Copy that! We're going to keep progressing, hopefully we'll hit the halfway mark before the day is over," Jason stated.

"No, you won't!" a feminine voice shrieked. Everyone turned to the source of the voice and saw the Dark Nymph, Felicitae, standing there, looking furious.

"Was wondering when the queen bitch was going to show her pretty little face," Sheena said, cracking her knuckles.

"You will all pay for this transgression! You will pay with your lives! Hurt them, my pets! Destroy them!" she called out, raising her arms, as though giving a signal.

Seconds later, a massive group of animals burst from out of the foliage, as did what remained of the children. The Gaians quickly fired spells of stoneskin at each other, armoring themselves for the fight ahead. Though many of the attacking creatures were immolated or frozen in the attack, some broke through, hitting the Gaians directly.

They were all thankful for the defensive spells they had readied, which kept the creatures from doing anything more than superficial damage. Seeing how he had little time for casting any additional spells, Jason settled for empowering his fists and legs, making use of them. Though he had no real martial training, Jason knew enough to hold his own in a fight, which served him well here.

Every time he swung a fist or kicked with his legs, more and more creatures fell to the forest floor. Had they been alive, they would have been mortally wounded, with all the damage the Druid was doing to them. Jason pulverized them to where even the Dark magic was having trouble keeping them up, as their very bone structure was shattered.

"Leave my pets alone!" Felicitae screamed as she charged Jason, flinging bolts of black energy at him.

"Whoa!" Jason yelled as he danced out of the way, bringing up a glowing green magical shield. The bolts smashed into the shield, causing it to sizzle for a moment, but it held strong. More bolts were launched at him and Jason poured more power into the shield, praying to Gaia that it would hold.

"Bitch! You leave my man alone!" Sheena screamed as she mustered a powerful life-giving bolt of magic, before firing it at Felicitae. The bolt hit the Nymph full on in the chest, but it barely stung her as she fired back with more Dark magic. Sheena brought a shield of her own up, which kept her safe. Phalmina zipped in, firing her fairy magic at the creature, scoring her armored flesh.

Felicitae screamed in defiance as she lashed out at the dancing fairy, trying desperately to hit her. Sheena's attacks stung, but Phalmina's bolts truly hurt and the Nymph didn't know how many she could take. She was thankful that the other Gaians had their hands full with her pets. The Nymph was horrified to see that they were making quick work of them and turned back to the Shaman, needing to end this now!

The Nymph kept firing bolts of Dark Magic, sending her adversaries scurrying away, but not Sheena. She charged, magical energy lashing out from her like a whip, driving Felicitae back. Shrieking in hatred, she gathered all the magic she could muster and channeled it into a singular bolt of darkness. Felicitae flung it at Sheena, hitting the woman's shield, disintegrating it instantly.

The force of the blast was enough to put Sheena on her back and send the nuisance of a fairy careening away from her. Smiling at her handiwork, Felicitae sauntered over to Sheena, her hands blazing with Dark Magic. Smiling like a cat who caught the mouse, the Dark Nymph raised her hands to end the Shaman. Before she could even fire off the spell, Felicitae heard a bloodcurdling roar. Moments later, she was violently thrown, her world going all topsy-turvy.

She hit the ground hard, crumpling in a heap, but scrambled to her feet. She screamed in rage and raked the charging Druid across the chest, but he didn't slow down. Terror was painted all over the Nymph's face as Jason launched an earth shattering punch, hitting her square in the chest. The blow staggered Felicitae as she wavered and Jason capitalized on it, hitting her in the same place with a roundhouse kick.

A massive crack sounded through the immediate area, and the Dark Nymph was once again thrown through the air. She sailed backwards, flying back into the forest and fading from sight. Jason breathed heavily as he hit his knees and looked down at his chest, which was oozing blood. Felicitae had gouged him good and he could see the dark tendrils of Dark magic, trying to get a hold on him.

"Jason!" Sheena cried out, rushing to his aid.

"Fucking... bitch! Is... that all... you got?!?" Jason growled as he slumped forwards. Sheena raced to his side and cradled the man in her arms. He was breathing, and he still had a good color in his face, but the moment Sheena looked at Jason's wound, a horrified gasp escaped her.

"What the fuck?!?" she screamed, staring at the ugly gash. Jason's once powerful chest had been marred by a rapidly blackening gash that had cut him from shoulder to hip. It was deep enough to where he started bleeding everywhere, and Sheena could see that Dark magic was trying to work its way into him.

"Hold on Jay! You're gonna be OK!" Sheena breathed as she dismissed her fire powers and called upon Gaia's magic to heal instead.

"Shit! Jason!" Phalmina cried out, zipping down to join her lover as she tended to Jason. His breathing was still strong, but fast becoming shallow. Sheena's magic driving away the darkness of the wound, but the moment she healed it, it started creeping back into the man, angering and frustrating her.

"His wound isn't healing!" Sheena cried out in sadness.

"It won't heal here, surrounded by all the darkness! We need to get him back to the house! We can heal him there!" Phalmina told her friend.

"Help me with him!" Sheena implored, and Phalmina jumped to, helping Sheena pick Jason up. Between the two of them, they carried him back towards the house. Eva, Xaera, Amy and Emalia stayed on their rear, making sure that nothing would attack the retreating Gaians.

"Oh shit! What happened??" Darren called out, rushing to meet his friends.

"Jason went toe to toe with Felicitae. He knocked her pretty good, but took a hard hit himself," Phalmina stated as they dragged Jason across the barrier.

The moment he was on the grounds, surrounded by the magical power of Gaia, Jason started breathing easier. The corruption of his wound stopped dead in its tracks, its access to the source of its power cut off. Sheena noticed this and brought her healing magic to bear, which quickly cleared away the Dark magic from the wound.

"Thank Gaia! He's healing properly!" Sheena sighed, happy to see that Jason would be all right.

"Yes, he is! But it looks like the wound is taking its time in closing. We need to let Jason rest," Phalmina told her.

"Why can't we heal it like we normally do?" Sheena wondered.

"The Dark Magic that Felicitae wields is the polar opposite of what Gaia's magic is. Instead of healing, it corrupts and kills. Jason took a pretty serious hit, and the magic was on him long enough to affect his ability to heal. It's good that we got him back when we did, or we'd have more than just the slowness of his healing process to deal with," Phalmina explained.

"You sound as though you speak from experience," Sheena stated.

"Yes, I do. Saw many wounds like that during the war. Like I said, we got lucky like that, bringing him in so quick," the fairy woman said.

"We should have the others get back in here," Sheena replied.

"Yup! Girls! Get your butts back in here! Darren, you too!" Phalmina called out.

The rest of the crew were still outside of the barrier, keeping an eye out for any additional attacks, but saw none. They had turned away from the pathway of scorched earth and moved to get back on the protected grounds. A piercing scream hit the air, and everyone turned to see Felicitae charging at them, her hands black with Dark Magic.

Xaera roared and cast a spell of Obsidian Skin on herself, making her the perfect bulwark against the Dark Nymph. She stepped up and blocked the Nymph's attack, before punching back at her, clipping the creature and sending her sprawling. Felicitae picked herself back up and shrieked at Xaera, before firing bolts of dark energy. Xaera cast her runes quickly, bringing up a yellow shield to absorb the draining bolts.

She then lowered the shield and brought forth her cold magic, before firing it at the Nymph. Felicitae dodged out of the way, but like it had with dozens of children and creatures, it exploded, catching her in its icy grip. She screamed at the extreme cold and drew upon her Dark Magic to melt the ice encasing her. Slowly, flakes of ice fell away from her as the Dark Nymph moved once again.

"Oh no, not today bitch!" Amy screamed as she charged forward, ready to end the Nymph as she empowered herself with her Shamanistic magic.

"Amy! No!" Eva screamed, concerned for her daughter.

"It's OK, mom! I got this!" Amy crooned as she rushed in, pulling her arm back to hit the Dark Nymph.

Felicitae saw the attack coming, but could do little to stop it, as she was still moving too slow. She was trying to bring her magic to bear in stopping the raging Shaman, but it was occupied with thawing her out. Amy took aim, thinking to pulp the Dark Nymph's head, but then noticed an even better target.

Right at the center point of her chest was a large crack in the Nymph's armor, which was leaking green energy. Thinking this would be the best place to hurt her, Amy punched the rend as hard as she could. Instead of the armor cracking further, the green energy from the wound lanced out, striking Amy in the head. Stunned by the attack, Amy was thrown back like a rag doll, crumpling near the feet of her mother.

"AMY!!!" Eva screamed as she kneeled to see if her daughter was all right.

"Is she going to be OK?" Darren called out, nearing tears.

"She's breathing. She's breathing!" Eva squealed as she scooped up her daughter and hustled across the barrier. Darren did as well, as did Daelina, hoping that her future sister-in-law was all right.

Xaera, however, turned back to face the Dark Nymph, only to find her retreating. The troll woman smirked as she saw the look of terror etched on Felicitae's face. It was clear that the Dark Nymph had underestimated Xaera's power and overestimated her own. Xaera was certain that should they ever cross paths again, that she would end the Dark Nymph, without a doubt. Seeing that there were no more attacks coming, she crossed over the barrier, joining her friends.

"How's Jason doing?" Xaera asked, worrying about the man's fate.

"He'll be all right. We got him in here fast enough to stop the spread of the Dark magic, so we could cleanse it. Thankfully, he'll make a full recovery, but it will take a day or so before he's on his feet," Phalmina told the troll woman.

"Maybe we should start upgrading our defensive spells when we're out there clearing things. Bitch hit me a few times, but it didn't do a thing," Xaera replied, displaying her flawless obsidian skin.

"I'm afraid that spell might be exclusive to your kind, Xaera. Though obsidian exists in nature, it's not a part of the natural magics that Druids and Shaman can cast," Phalmina lamented.

"There has to be a way for you to at least strengthen what you know. I need to read those books some more. Maybe they could offer a key to opening up other branches of magic," Xaera thought out loud.

Before Phalmina could respond, Xaera was already on her way through the back door of the house. Clamping her mouth shut, Phalmina shook her head and went back to overseeing their two fallen friends. They were already moving everyone into the house where Daelina and Emalia were using what blankets and pillows that Xaera had there to make comfortable places for them to lie down and rest.

"What happened to Amy?" Phalmina inquired.

"She went to hit that fucking Nymph but was instead thrown back from her!" Eva explained, mystified at what she had seen.

"Thrown back? How??" Phalmina queried.

"That's what I'd like to know! How in Gaia's name was it possible for that damned Nymph to hurt Amy like this?" Eva fumed.