The entire forest trembled as if it were waking up angry.
Aeliana's inhuman screams tore through the sky above, a raw, echoing sound that made the very air vibrate. The corrupted mana in the forest reacted instantly. Monsters all across the land froze for a heartbeat—then went completely berserk.
Ogres, trolls, and mutated beasts howled as their eyes turned blood‑red. They began rampaging wildly, destroying anything in their path, tearing apart lesser monsters, smashing ancient trees, and ripping up the blackened ground. The forest itself seemed to respond.
The earth shook.
Roots writhed. Trees twisted and groaned, their trunks bending as if they were alive. Vines lashed out like whips, and thorny plants crawled across the soil, reaching for anything living.
Out of the fortress, Elaria finally managed to escape, stumbling down the massive trunk and reaching the ground with the help of the remaining pathways and magic.
She looked up—and her blood ran cold.
