CHAPTER 78: TREACHEROUS JOURNEY [2]

Day 2.

It was already Day 2 of the treacherous journey to the Scorchpaths.

By the end of Day 1, they simply found one of the numerous toppled skyscrapers in their path, scouted round it to make sure it was free of fungal and Behemorph infestation, before settling for the night to rest.

Like Torren said, the journey to Africa was a marathon.

Wasting all their energy on a sprint, and ending up exhausted was a simple recipe to die in the wild.

This was why rest time was so important during their journey.

Of course, while the others slept, at least one of them stayed awake, keeping night watch at 5 hours interval per person.

That way, they went through the night without a Behemorph suddenly stumbling on their hideout and gobbling them up, or a monster plant stirring to life and swallowing them from underneath.

And now, it was a new day.

They continued their journey.

Clayton trudged through the fungal outskirts of the Forgotten Atlanta Expanse, his Shedskin cloaked as a scavenger’s rags, concealing his Verdant Lord aura still, both from his companions and hiding Behemorphs.

After a day with the team, he was more relaxed, but his Regalia of the Verdant Warden in bow form still hung ready to conjure bone or root arrows, while his Thornshade Dagger hummed at his hip.

Their Mycoglyph-etched pagers pulsed, linking Aspects across the 2890-kilometer trek to the Scorchpaths, former Arizona, a 60-day gauntlet to their ultimate goal: Africa’s Ashen Covenants.

Clayton’s Aphid Network, over 50 minions, hunted far behind, cloaked by Veil of Verdant Shroud, his Rootsite a fortified anchor.

Day 2 of the journey led the team into a fungal-choked ravine, steel ruins tangled with sentient vines, Earthcore Nexus’s pulse erratic.

Torren’s map marked it as an unstable domain, once a highway, now a predatory maze.

Clayton’s Territorial Sentience pinged carnivorous vines, Sporevine Reavers (3-meter sentient flora, Initiate Ember rank). They stirred, their Mycotoxin Lash Spore Crowns dripping corrosive sap.

Eight vines erupted, tendrils snapping, aiming to ensnare the team, Mycoglyphs flaring wildly as soon as they stumbled into range.

"Flora’s hungry!" Torren roared, Flamevine Wrath igniting, pyro-roots torching a Reaver’s tendril, sap sizzling.

Veyra’s Thornstrike arrows pierced another, roots bursting inside.

Lorn’s Sapflow Healer shielded Soren, whose Emberblade slashed, sparks igniting vines. Kaelin’s Ashveil Cloak smoked, dodging a tendril, but sap grazed his leg, burning through his cloak.

Clayton moved, Shedskin deflecting sap, Architect reflexes sharp.

He nocked Regalia’s bow, channeling Embers for bone arrows; light, piercing.

Three shots shredded a Reaver’s core, sap spraying. A tendril lashed, aiming for his throat, but he drew THornshade Dagger, venom slicing through, dissolving the vine’s Mycotoxin.

He kept Core Maw and Aphid Network hidden, posing as a skilled wanderer.

Torren’s pyro-roots and Veyra’s arrows felled the rest, the ravine quieting, Nexus’s pulse steadying.

DING!

~----~

[Flora Slain: 8 Sporevine Reavers (Initiate Ember)]

[Genesis Embers Acquired: 24]

[Genesis Embers Total: 2189/6000]

[Aspect Strain: Low]

~----~

The team regrouped, panting, sap and ash staining their gear.

Torren kicked a charred vine, Flamevine Wrath dimming. "Damn flora’s worse than Behemorphs. Good shots, wanderer".

Clayton showed Regalia, smirking. "Just pruning the weeds".

Torren grinned. "You’re quite the funny one, huh?"

Clayton smiled.

Veyra wiped sap from her bow, eyeing Clayton. "You’re too calm for a scavenger. Seen domains like this before?" Her tone mixed suspicion with curiosity, a step toward trust.

"Enough to know plants don’t play nice," Clayton replied, humor dark, deflecting. "You handle that bow like a pro".

Veyra’s lips twitched, a rare smile blossoming on her face. "Practice. Verdis Hold’s ranges aren’t soft". She paused, softer. "What’s your real story, wanderer?"

"Thinking back, I never saw you in Verdis Hold before now".

"Surviving," Clayton said, sidestepping.

Lord knelt by Kaelin, sap-vines healing his leg. "Hold still, hothead," she teased, voice warm. "You owe me for this".

Kaelin grimaced, but his eyes softened. "Yeah, yeah, Lorn. Thanks". He glanced at Clayton, less hostile. "You’re quick with that dagger".

Soren, cleaning his Emberblade, grunted. "Heard Scorched Clans prowl these paths. Fire-crazed bastards’d love this ravine". His gruff tone hid a spark of respect for Clayton’s skill.

Earth post-Genesis Protocols respected strength and composure in battle, especially among Awakened, and Clayton clearly had both.

He was beginning to command more respect from his teammates.

Torren checked his pager, Mycoglyphs steady. "Scorched Clans burn everything; settlements, Behemorphs. If they’re near, we’re in for hell". He met Clayton’s gaze, testing. "You ready for that, wanderer?"

Clayton’s grin was sharp, Shedskin cloaking his Verdant Lord power. "Hell’s my kind of party".

The team laughed, a fragile bond forming, the Scorchpaths’ ash and whispers of Scorched Clans looming as they marched on.

"Speaking of the Scorched Clans," Clayton looked at Torren. "You only told me about general knowledge about them, and their origin. You never told me about their culture and beliefs".

Hearing that, Torren grimaced. He glared at Clayton. "Are you a psychopath?"

"Huh?"

"I mean, why else would you be so intrigued by such a crazy group?"

Clayton shrugged.

Torren groaned. "You’re a handful, aren’t you?" He sighed. "I’m beginning to regret letting you join my team".

Despite his words though, Torren felt different. He felt secretly glad that someone was interested in hearing his stories.

He started.

"The Scorched Clans have beliefs and a culture as eccentric as their origin".

"They revere fire as a sacred force, believing it cleanses the Earthcore Nexus’s corruption and defies the Verdant Invasion’s fungal dominance".

"Their rituals involve Ember Forging, where warriors burn their flesh with Genesis Embers to gain resilience, scarring intricate Mycoglyph-like patterns that channel Aspects".

"They view Behemorphs as both threats and resources. Well, they’re not wrong." Torren looked at Clayton. "Do you know that big cities in Europe have Artifact-building companies and clans?"

Clayton shook his head. "I have no idea man".

Torren grinned. "Well, they tame fire-aligned Behemorphs to bolster their warbands. Unlike the Rootbound’s pacifism, the Scorched Clans are aggressive when provoked, raiding settlements for Embers, Verdant Relics, or supplies".

"But they avoid total annihilation, valuing survival over conquest. At least, they’re smart, unlike some crazy groups that I know of, or once knew".

"Anyways, their creed fosters a fatalistic pride..."

"Every scar is a badge, every flame a prayer".