Gaia's Champion Ch. 25

"How often can you use that spell?" Felicitae/Amy questioned.

"The spell can be draining, as it requires a lot of magic to channel and cast. I can cast it three times before it gets taxing," Xaera responded.

"All right, then. Set it on Patrok and Vahlen, but keep the third one in reserve, for now," Felicitae/Amy told her as the group moved to the backyard.

"You don't want the third one cast right now?" the troll woman wondered.

"Something tells me we'll need it cast before the day is over, but not yet," the human/Nymph told her.

Shrugging, Xaera stepped outside with everyone, but only after she placed the daylight resistance spell over herself. She joined the rest of the group outside and motioned to the male Nymphs. They smirked and gave her bedroom eyes, which made Xaera giggle and roll her eyes, but she smiled all the same. Marching to where she was directing them, both men stood still as she drew upon her magic.

The yellowish Troll magic burst into being, wreathing her arms as she called upon it. It obeyed her bidding, the runes for the Obsidian skin spell coming into being. In a few seconds, she had the first spell formed and placed it over Patrok. Wasting no time, she brought the same spell back into her hands before firing it at Vahlen.

The moment each spell touched them, the Nymphs' skin hardened and turn black. Both men were a little perturbed at the transformation that was happening, but neither one resisted it. In a few seconds, both men were encased in the spell, their skin shining in the sunlight. When they turned to look at each other, they were shocked at what they saw.

"This... wow! We look like living stone!" Patrok told Xaera as he flexed his hand experimentally. Vahlen nodded as he looked at his friend with a sense of awe at their transformation.

"That's more or less the point. To turn your skin into living stone, so neither of you can be hurt by anything that would rend flesh," Xaera stated.

"You have tested it against Dark Magic?" Patrok asked.

"Not defensively. But I decked the Dark Nymph while in stoneskin form. It was enough to send the bitch flying," Xaera giggled.

"How strong is this form?" Patrok wondered. In answer, Xaera picked up a nearby stone and lobbed to Patrok. The Nymph caught it easily and held the stone in his hand, rolling on his palm. His eyes caught Xaera's, and she smirked before speaking her mind.

"Crush it."

Mildly surprised by her command, Patrok tried his luck, anyway. He held the stone in one hand and squeezed gently. As nothing was happening, he squeezed harder, and the stone fractured, before disintegrating in the Nymph's hand. Patrok was shocked at this, not expecting to have the raw strength to crush a rock into sugar!

"Convinced?" Xaera asked with a chuckle.

"Um... yes!" Patrok gasped, thunderstruck, yet delighted with this new power he had.

"Take care, though. Obsidian skin will eventually fade away, so if you see a chance to crush anything that could hurt anyone here, do not hesitate," Xaera told them.

"OK, kids! You all ready to go?" Jason asked as he stepped out of the house.

"Yup! Just waiting on your sorry ass to get here," Sheena quipped as she giggled to herself. Jason walked on by her and pinched her ass, making her yelp. Everyone guffawed at this, and Sheena glared at her boyfriend.

"Punish me for that later, if you wish," Jason laughed. Sheena's gaze narrowed, and a smile bloomed on her face.

"You're going to be sorry you said that," Sheena giggled, fixing her man with an evil gaze.

"Luke, you got your drones going?" Jason asked, tapping his ear and raising his friend on a comms bud.

"Look above the house," came the reply. Jason looked up, and he saw all three drones hovering above the roof.

"How is he controlling three of those things at the same time?" Sheena wondered.

"He says that he has a basic program in each drone that allows it to fly independently of his control. Luke monitors all three of them and makes any necessary adjustments and course corrections as he needs to," Jason informed her.

"He can hear us?" Phalmina questioned.

"Like you were right there in the room with him," Jason stated. "Everyone got their runestones?"

Hearing everyone chime in with a yes, Jason then bent over and picked up a pair of blank stones. Drawing upon his magic, Jason formed runes of protection upon the stones. Once the runes were formed, he filled the runes with the protective magic of Gaia, then sealed the magic within them. He then handed one stone to Patrok and the other one to Vahlen.

"Keep these on you at all times. The magic from the runestones will give you an additional layer of protection from Dark Magic," Jason informed the Nymphs.

"Thank you!" Patrok replied with a grateful smile.

"You're welcome! All right, let's get going!" Jason called out.

Everyone turned towards the forest and walked over the barrier, heading for the spot they stopped at the day before. The group kept their defensive magics up, half expecting an ambush. Nothing came at them or accosted them as they made the quick jaunt to the burned ground. Once they arrived, the group was surprised to see that no Dark Magic lingered in the areas, nor had it taken root in what they razed.

"Is it just me, or does the foreboding around here feel... less than it was before?" Sheena wondered.

"You're not wrong there. It feels like the ground is... bare... clean... I don't know any other way to describe it," Phalmina replied.

"The scorched earth tactic seems to be working! I sense no Dark Magic in the soil! It's only coming off the surrounding forest!" Felicitae/Amy responded.

"Then let's keep burning! The less Darkness there is here, the less power Dark Magic has to draw from!" Xaera stated.

Without any further prompting, the group got to work. Sheena brought out a small flame to draw from with her shamanistic magic. Jason drew upon the flame, as his arms were wreathed in Gaia's magic. Drawing deeply from it, runes came into being around his arms and pure flame encased them.

Jason then raised his arms and slammed them down on the ground, kicking up a small shockwave from the impact. Fire erupted from his arms, engulfing the corrupted foliage in front of him. When he stood up again, his arms were still encased in the fiery mass of energy. Even Sheena, who had been raised with Gaia's magic and had seen in action, was both impressed and a little turned on by her lover's display.

"Easy there, Jay! Save some of that enthusiasm for the battle ahead," Phalmina told him as she flitted to his shoulder before planting a kiss on his cheek.

"Just testing out some new theories is all," Jason grinned.

"Care to share those theories?" Eva asked, similarly impressed by what Jason had just done.

"Keep a sharp eye on the runes I use. I'll demo each idea as we go," Jason told the Druidess.

The Gaians moved forward, keeping their magic at the ready as they burned down the fetid corruption. As per the plan, Darren hung back, supported by Daelina, while Elizabeth and Karla stayed on the other side of the barrier. Phalmina and Emalia stayed aloft, keeping their eyes peeled for incoming threats while helping with the purge. Xaera lent her aid as well, while the Nymphs stayed close to the center of the group.

Jason, of course, took point with Sheena, using what fire magic she conjured to aid him in his casting. Sheena wasn't idle though, as she too had some gnarly spells of her own to put to use. Eva and Amy, who was now in charge of her body again, mimicked the pair in front, using their magic in a similar fashion. They burned through a good chunk of the rotted foliage, pushing a fair way ahead, before they even heard anything coming for them.

"Guys, you've got incoming!" Luke warned over the earbuds.

"I hear them coming!" Daelina called out, warning the group of the impending attack.

"As do I! Sounds like those damned children again!" Sheena grumbled.

"I hear something else too! Sounds like... wolves!!!" Phalmina shouted in warning.

Not a second later, a pack of wolves and coyotes burst out of the underbrush, charging the Gaians. Thanks to Phalmina's warning, they were ready for the attack and brought their spells to bear. As the animals moved against them, Jason couldn't help but note how drawn and emaciated these poor beasts were. The darkness had surely corrupted them as it had the children, so ending them was a mercy.

The animals were quickly incinerated, many of them burning down to ash before they even got close to the group. They attacked with no hesitation and no mercy, looking only to end the lives of the offending Gaians, no matter the cost. What they did not understand was that they stood no chance of fulfilling the command of their mistress. The Gaians were on guard and not letting one of them through.

The last of the group, a massive hulking brute, leaped to tear Sheena's throat out, but Jason intercepted the beast. He caught it by the throat with both hands and held it aloft, letting his flame wreathed arms do all the work. The wolf snapped at Jason, trying to bite his arms, but all that did was light the creature's snout on fire. Seconds later, the beast was engulfed in flames and burned down into nothing, coming apart in Jason's hands.

"You always know how to impress a woman," Sheena grinned, pecking Jason on the cheek.

"I aim to please!" the Druid grinned back.

"That was just the first wave, fam! We've got another wave coming, and it looks bigger than the last one!" Luke warned as his drones picked up the movement.

"Defensive spells! I don't want anyone getting hurt today!" Jason called out.

"On it!" Sheena replied, invoking a ring of fire around them. It wasn't a full shield, but it would do to at least keep their attackers from sneaking up on them.

The next wave appeared in a rush, trying to charge through the flames, while others leaped over. This wave was much bigger than the first one, consisting mostly of wolves and coyotes, but there were also weasels, along with a few bears. Sheena drew upon her magic and extended her arms, sending the ring of fire rolling across the animals. This change was unexpected, and many of the fallen beasts were caught in the flames.

Xaera stepped up and blasted the bears with small fireballs, driving them back. Jason continued to use his magically enhanced arms to punch at and incapacitate any that strayed too close. Amy brought her magic to bear on a grouping of weasels, sending the critters scattering. Sheena pulled upon her magic and had flame pouring from her hands, like a magical flamethrower, burning all in her path.

Not even a hundred feet away, the Dark Nymph walked out of the forest, observing the fight in front of her. It was going much like she expected, with the Gaians holding their own, but barely. She smirked as she was flanked by a phalanx of the children, which would see her safe from any attack. She then turned and looked up at her newest creation.

Standing next to her was a massive behemoth, her newest and most prized creation. It was a true abomination, crafted of dead and dying animals and some fallen children. She had shaped in the grotesque caricature of human and bear, making the hulking brute stand out wherever it went. It turned its gaze down to its mistress, and she gestured with one hand, pointing at the Gaians.

Without so much as a second thought, it obeyed, charging into the fray. It roared, long and loud, catching the attention of everyone there. Shock rippled across the group as the behemoth picked up speed as it came for them, thirsting for blood. At the last second, it leaped into the air and came crashing down among them, sending the tightly knit unit scattering.

"What the fuck is that thing?!?" Eva cried out, fear marring her features.

"Whatever it is, it is flesh and flesh is mortal!" Jason cried out, charging at the creature.

With his empowered arms, he swung at the beast mightily, looking to destroy it. The behemoth swung as well, its own arms engulfed in Dark Magic. The moment both of them connected their fists, both magics resonated, creating massive, magical feedback. The result was a colossal explosion that flattened everyone and everything surrounding them, sending both of them flying.

"Holy... shit..." Jason groaned as he picked himself up.

He stared over at where the abomination was lying and saw it sluggishly get to its feet. Jason allowed himself a small smile of satisfaction as he saw this thing could be slowed down. Grinning, Jason called upon the earth and it obeyed, rising up around the behemoth. The earth ensnared the creature, binding it in place so it couldn't move, and Jason let out a small whoop of triumph.

The victory was a short-lived one though, as the Dark Magic which gave it life eroded Jason's spell. After several seconds, the behemoth pulled its arms and legs out of the soil and roared defiantly. Seeing little in the manner of options, Jason called upon his magic and brought up a magical shield. He fortified it with additional runes, giving him the protective measures he'd need as the behemoth closed in on him.

The behemoth charged and smashed its claws down on Jason's shield, who had just brought it up in time. The shield Jason had conjured held, but the impact of the blow was enough to send him flying. Jason fell to the ground in a heap, the magical shield fizzling out with his concentration gone. The behemoth wasted no time and closed the distance towards the man.

Before it could get near him, both Sheena and Xaera intercepted it, bringing their own magic to bear. They engulfed the beast in their magical fire, hoping to get it to back down. The creature just stared at the pair of them, looking more annoyed than angry, and struck at them.

Both women took the blows as they came in too fast to block or deflect. They cried out in pain at the attack, both women falling to the ground. Jason roared in anger and charged in, hitting the behemoth with his fists, forcing it to back away from the wounded women. Sheena and Xaera stood up, both of them sporting nasty and wicked looking gashes from the behemoth.

"By Gaia! I'm surprised all you took was the physical blow! The Dark Magic should have wounded you more seriously than that!" Patrok breathed, as he and Vahlen dashed to the ladies, enacting their healing magic.

"That's why I said these would be important," Sheena told him, gesturing to her runestone, which was tied to a bracelet she wore. The green magic inside the rune was somewhat diminished, but it still held.

"What are we going to do?" Xaera asked, an undercurrent of fear in her tone.

Phalmina and Emalia were helping Jason with the behemoth, and they were keeping it occupied. So far, the behemoth had its hands full and Jason was not taking any foolish risks in battling this thing. He would wade in, deliver several quick blows, before dancing away before the creature could strike. While the beast was taking damage, nothing that was being done to it was slowing it down.

Amy/Felicitae surveyed the battlefield and noted how many of the creatures had retreated. There was still a score of them giving her mother some trouble, while the Nymphs aided her with their healing magic. Sheena and Xaera were jumping in to help Jason, but the behemoth just kept fighting, not stopping for one second. She then turned her eyes to the last group that was almost out of sight, and she seethed.

Felicitae, or the physical form of her, was watching the fight with mild disinterest. It was clear to the young Shaman that the Dark Nymph would not engage unless it was necessary. Her rage then turned into mirth, as they must have hurt the bitch a little during their last encounter.

Thinking quickly, Amy/Felicitae knew that Dark Magic was powering the beast that Jason was fighting. From the Nymph's soul, she also knew that the Nymph's body was acting as a conduit for the Dark Magic that was being funneled into the behemoth. If she could bring down the Dark Nymph, or at least wound her, then she'd give her friends a chance at defeating the behemoth. Steeling herself, she charged towards her enemy's position, looking to end this.

The Dark Nymph turned her head to hear screaming warcry and watched as Amy came at her. She smirked in indifference, believing that this woman was simply running to her death. With a lazy flick of her hand, she dispatched several children to deal with this interloper. She yawned as she felt she would soon be done with these pesky Gaians and repair the damage they had done to the forest.

Xaera looked over at her friend and saw what she was doing. The troll woman would have cried out, telling the young Shaman to stop and back away. She knew full well just how powerful the Dark Nymph was and moved to do something about it. Instead of trying to stop her, Xaera went into a casting motion, bringing up spell she had recently used.

Once the runes surrounded her hands, Xaera knew what she had done and prayed to Gaia that it would be enough. The spell completed, and she fired the black tinged bolt of yellow energy at Amy. It struck her like a heat seeking missile, going to work on the Shaman's body instantly. Within seconds, Amy's body became that of pure obsidian, granting her the protection she'd need to survive this encounter.

Amy felt the blast hit her and staggered for a moment, as it had thrown her off balance. She glanced down at her hands and smirked, thinking this would help even the odds in the fight. Briefly, she turned her head and nodded to Xaera, before turning her attention to the children that were running to her.

The children yelled with glee as they closed in with the sprinting Shaman. Though Gaia's magic was surrounding her, they were confident they could break through and end her life. Amy slowed down for a moment to deal with the oncoming rush of attackers, but was too slow to get her defenses up. The children leaped and squealed as they thought to bite and claw this woman's flesh, but it didn't happen.

The moment they closed in with Amy, they were repelled by some unseen force. It was as though a giant hand had swatted them away, like leaves in the wind. The grisly blows they had hoped to land on the Shaman were no longer a possibility. Shocked at this development, the Dark Nymph sent the rest of her entourage at Amy, thinking it an anomaly.

The rest of the children charged at Amy, thinking they'd get through where the others didn't. Amy didn't know what had just happened, but she figured she might as well keep going, as the children were just a distraction. The real prize was the Dark Nymph and the magic she controlled. Like it had with the others, the children just bounced away from Amy, like they had been kicked.

The Dark Nymph stared at the flying children in wonder and turned to face her assailant. It was then that she understood why the children couldn't get close to her. She saw in Amy's eyes the iridescent green glow, one she was all too familiar with. Turning as quickly as she could, the Dark Nymph bolted, trying to get away from the vengeful Shaman.

"Not quick enough, bitch!" Amy shouted as she kicked out, tripping the Dark Nymph.

The evil creature flailed her arms, trying to bat Amy away, but she didn't even bother with them. Amy's hands shot straight to the Dark Nymph's carapace, seeking out the rent in her armor. Once she had her hands on it, the Shaman pulled it apart, using her Gaian strength to tear the armor off.

The Dark Nymph screamed in pain as the carapace was a part of her, much like a second skin. Her attempts to push Amy away were forgotten as the sheer pain of the attack overwhelmed her. With a sickening ripping sound, Amy shattered the carapace on the Dark Nymph, tearing her armor away. Beneath, lie her skin, which was pale as that of a slug's, and it pulsed with magic.