Emery retreated several steps, refusing to let the swarm pin him in place. He thrust his free hand toward the ground, and dark green vines burst from the earth. The Elysian Roots spread rapidly, twisting and intertwining into a dense defensive barrier around him and the five weakened grand magus unit.
The living fortress bought them a few precious moments, but the Scourge showed no intention of stopping. Their branches trembling as hundreds of creatures crashed, climbed over one another, clawing at the vines and forcing their way through every opening.
Soon, they were completely submerged beneath the surging swarm. From the outside, the green barrier had disappeared beneath a writhing mountain of Scourge, leaving no sign of the people trapped within.
Watching from the fortress, King Valder's expression shifted slightly. A trace of disappointment crossed his face.
Then the king noticed something emerging above the mass of Scourge.
