324 [Bonus chapter] A New Challenger

"What was that?" said Mollusk, but even as he asked that question, everyone present - all battle hardened - got into defensive form.

Aldrich's magical energy swirled around him. Valera raised her shield up and stood in front of him. Chiros held his flaming saber up. Mollusk's arm tentacles wriggled around him, ready for action.

Refraction, now free to display his skills, got into a shoulder width stance with open hands held out in front of him. A martial arts stance. Some form of kung-fu, Aldrich recognized.

"I see," said Aldrich. When he looked to the direction where the sound came from, he saw that it emanated from one of the giant trees. The one that Mollusk smashed through.

The entire sixty meter tall tree was shaking, giant leaves and branches falling from above with its thrashing. Some insect variant eggs fell as well, splattering on the forest floor into goo.