8 Descent of the Nightmare

Humming a little tune to himself, Jasper weaved through the roots. The sun in the sky felt wonderful on his scales. It might have been the freedom talking, but being out of that pit was the best. He was enjoying himself so much, that he completely neglected just how lost he truly was.

As he was slithering around, he was stopped in his tracks when something out of his worst nightmares happened. From the branched above, not one, not two, but three fruits came tumbling down. As if a joke form the universe, the three fruits bounced around him before coming to a stop, forming a perfect triangle with him in the middle.

Seeing this he nearly fainted. Was this some kind of cruel joke!? His vision swirled as the overwhelming scent of the fruits assaulted him. Even the part of him normally desperate to eat the fruit was at a loss, which one to go for first? His rational mind didn't even bother trying to fight his instincts, he was so done.

Completely at a loss, his body just froze as he descended into a stalemate.

Up above, Humil was laughing so hard he nearly fell out the tree. His wheezing laughter shaking the branches around him. Clutching his stomach with one hand he used the other to wipe the tears from his eyes. After watching Jasper suffer for a bit longer he decided to show pity and with a wave of his hand, a gentle breeze blew one of the fruits closer to him.

With one of the fruits now closer than the others, Jasper sighed in relief. Not waiting to see if the heavens might try him again, for the first time he completely agreed with his instincts and pounced on the fruit. Stretching his jaw as far as he could, he used his fangs to pulled the fruit into his mouth.

Flexing his muscles, he slowly but surely swallowed the fruit. It took a bit of work, but with a little head shaking, he managed to get the fruit all the way down without smashing his noggin on the ground. A deep wave of accomplishment bubbled up within him, he did it!

Caught up in his sense of victory, he didn't notice that he was subconsciously nearing the next closest fruit. He got a sense of deja vu as he felt his teeth sink into the next fruit. With no other choice, he proceeded to down this fruit as well.

As the second fruit sank into his belly he started feeling really sluggish. Yet even if he wanted to stop, the third fruit sitting just to the left of him, wouldn't allow that. His eyes were starting to cross as he slid up to it. Opening his mouth once more he leaned forwards to sink his fangs into it.

However, maybe the heavens were showing pity because his fangs failed to pierce the fruit's surface. With no energy to continue, his teeth just slid off the fruit, and he flopped to the side. He was overcome with fatigue as an intense heat spread out from his stomach. Fog started spilling from his scales and with a smoke lined burp, he passed out.

As he watched everything happen, Humil couldn't help but feel just a bit guilty. Yet he couldn't worry about it for long as from the forest an ear-splitting caw rang out. Furrowing his brow, he clicked his tongue. Without time to think about it, he wrapped Jasper with his spirit power before scooping him up and hiding him away back inside his original pit.

Once Jasper was stored safely back inside, he used his roots to cover the pit, completely shielding it from view. Mere seconds later an army of crows arose from the forest with the Demon King Luka at the helm.

"Luka," Humil called out, not bothering to hide the disdain in his voice. "Is all this really necessary?"

"If you simply hand over your fruits it wouldn't be." King Luka replied, not bothered at all by Humil's tone.

"I've already told your son, I won't be giving out any fruits this cycle." Humil scoffed as gaze began to darken, "Or did you really think your little feathered army was enough to make me change my mind?"

"Of course not," King Luke said while shaking his head. "But it is enough to keep you busy." Not waiting for a response Luka raised his head and gave a loud bellow. In response, the army of crows surged forward.

Scowling Humil shook his body and vanished, a feeling of dread filled King Luka's heart as he did. As Humil's form disappeared the entire Sanctioned Fruit Tree began to vibrate. On the tree's trunk, the bark began to twist and turn, before slowly forming a large earthen face.

"I was just thinking that I needed some more inner cores to supplement my fruits," Humil's voice came from the earthen face on the surface of the tree. "I'll thank you in advance for your prompt delivery."

All along the branches of the tree, the many green leaves wrapped around the fruits closest to them. The next moment all the branches of the tree looked like they were covered in thick green orbs. Then from the crown of the tree seven long pitch black branches covered in violent purple lightning arose.

"Let's see just how you plan to get my fruits you old bird."

The seven lightning coated branches zoomed out into the approaching army, and instantly a slaughter began. Like unleashing a tiger into a flock of sheep, mournful cries rang out unendingly as crow after crow was smashed into pieces. Witnessing this King Luka was enraged. With another sharp cry, he flew forward to intercept the seven trashing branches.

A gruff laugh filled the air as the seven branches ignored the soldier crows and turned their attention towards King Luka. With the black branches going to attack their King, the rest of the army closed in on the tree. However, no one in the massive army seemed to notice the slight smirk on Humil's tree face.