Chapter 20

One hand to another, Lavinia twirls the GroveStaff as the Goblins menace their way closer, tightening their encirclement. Out of the five, two of them are significantly smaller than their counterparts and about the same size as Lavinia herself. Her eyes narrow on the [Lvl.4 Goblin] inching towards her along the others, twirling a long chain with a spiked bulb at the end of it.

It catches her glower and grins balefully, "Niak nal!"

Whatever it roars signals the others Lavinia has a quick glance at into a mad charge. Startled for the split moment, Lavinia sets her foot in and executes a partially formed plan of attack.

With a synchronized intensity the three Trirax blast Essence beams as Lavinia sprints towards the [Lvl.4 Goblin]. It releases the spiked-bulb, letting it snap at Lavinia— a massive burst of Essence spreads throughout her pathways and she swiftly sidesteps the attack, springing from the ground on all fours as she pounces the [Lvl.4 Goblin]. 

[{Blood Rush} Active!]

Heaving, Lavinia crushes through the goblins chest with the GroveStaff, blood splashing over her as she stands to swing wildly behind her, catching an approaching [Level 3— Goblin] by the jaw.

Lavinia lurches for it only to retreat as she narrowly avoids a precision-guided Essence beam aimed at her head. She narrows her sights on the perpetrator standing on the other side of the moat, flanked by Seraph and two other Trirax. She starts off running for the target when a goblin snatches her mane, with a heave the goblin launches her skyward where the world spins and twirls relentlessly.

Her descent comes swift but she rights herself midair with the GroveStaff, flinching as the goblin brandishes its metal club and slams it through her hastily defended side with devastating force. Lavinia splashes across the swamp, smashing into the side of a tree with a sickening crack in her back and shoulder. Her body slides down the trunk as her senses ring away with the still spinning world, blood drips out her gasping mouth, her breath stained with its strong scent.

The bolstering effects of {Blood Rush} quickly put her back on her feet, her enemies cackling as they sprint into the thick of the forest she's been thrown into— an indirect respite from the Trirax precise Essence Beams.

Lavinia strengthens her shaky grip around the GroveStaff as the largest of the goblins marches in, dragging the offensive metal club through the slush of the swamp.

[Level 7— Goblin]

Nothing but rags hang about its loins as it struts forward, swinging its club forward it yells the same words again, "Niak Nal!"

Two goblins surge out behind it one of them being [Level 5— Goblin] and almost as large as the [Level 7— Goblin]. Chattering, the goblin lunges at Lavinia with a wooden spear. Lavinia skirts back, leaping away from its jabs and the swinging short swords of a [Level 3— Goblin] that joins the fray. Her agile footing keeps them at bay while she commands a roaring orb of Essence to life within her free hand.

"Wave Shot!" callously swinging the unstable orb towards the [Level 7— Goblin] Lavinia catches her pursuing goblins off guard, watching with tired delight as her powerful orb erupts in a flash of blinding light and expansive energy. The explosive force delivers a nasty blow to the goblins within its arcing blast.

The thin shockwave cut deep into the [Level 3— Goblin], nearly ending it outright as it gasps for air, with its torso split open and pouring into the swamp. Lavinia sprints past its body not bothering a glance as she leaps from root to root with the GroveStaff poised. Essence coursing through her arm as she prepares to smite a dazed [Level 5— Goblin]. Leaping off a root she two-hands the GroveStaff descending with all the force of her jump, "Reais Smite!"

The GroveStaff crushes through the goblin, shattering its skull into a grotesque mess as Lavinia's devastating blow threatens to split its limp body in two. With keen pleasure Lavinia notes how the GroveStaff shimmers and bristles, lapping up her Essence and delivering it with possibly triple her usual strength— double without {Blood Rush}.

"Rawwrr!" The [Level 7— Goblin] slams its metal club around, sending mud splattering through the air and toppling a nearby tree with a single swing as it huffs and puffs. A meaningless display to Lavinia setting her GroveStaff behind her and sliding out the dagger in her other hand. The blade shimmers to life, wispy tendrils of smog gathering around its edge.

The goblin takes a step only to fall face first into the mud right after— Lavinia stands behind it, dagger slick with blood and the goblins backside slit open like a fruit, exposing its spine and ribs. She breaths with some relief, "Crimson Blink." 

[{Blood Rush} Disabled!]

A wave of exhaustion washes over Lavinia as her use of {Blood Rush} comes to an end, push it any further and it'll burn through the core of her Essence and leave her more vulnerable than triumphant.

As she looms over the dying goblin, bubbles ripple out from where its face sinks into the mud. Lavinia's ears perk at the creep of a twig snapping behind her and she turns dagger first to face any challenger.

"Hey!" Seraph's voice calls from another direction. She growls, inching away from her spot as she scans the trees for extra company.

"Stop!" Seraph calls out again, "Nope, not there. Here…oh, not there either. Hahahahah."

Her laughter rings throughout the swamp— she's close, so close. Lavinia sneers and taps into her diminishing pool of Essence to activate her weapons when an Essence Beam knocks her shoulder apart, shredding into it from behind and flinging the dagger out of her hand. Stifling a scream Lavinia throws herself to the side, finding refuge behind a large tree she quickly tends to her slipping left arm— without her shoulder to keep it in place only a couple bloody sinew and tendons have it still attached to her.

With her right hand she squishes her left back onto where it's supposed to be, drowning the area with Essence and hoping for the best as her healing kicks in to high gear.

A shadow blocks out what light peers into through her tree's canopy, Lavinia looks up and finds a Trirax hanging upside down, it's single eye red with bolstering Essence— a beam ready to let loose upon her head.

"That's not the proper way to tend to a wound." Seraph's voice whispers right into her ears this time and before she can turn to confirm the phantom, she snatches Lavinia's arm, tearing it off completely and tossing it into the swamp.

An anguished moan passed Lavinia's lips as she rolls over on her side, her mind boggled with the sundering agony. Seraph appears in her sight, snatching her chin from the mud so Lavinia looks up at her as she spits in her face, "There how does it feel?"

"Seraph!" A booming voice hollers out from the direction of the city. "What is this mess all about? You return and have my expensive security force slaughtered!"

The voice sends a chill through Seraph, changing her fierce glare to one of meek obedience and gait as she straightens up in search of a proper response with Lavinia scratching for an escape at her feet.

"Uh, I...I meant to get rid of the one that almost killed Jonn and I!" she yells.

"Don't yell at me! Bring yourself and the one responsible to my feet!"

Seraph shares looks with the Trirax in the tree, it gives her a shrug and hops down. With its help Seraph hauls Lavinia through the mud, letting her blood mix and swirl with the dirt and plants.

Lazy eyed and covered in mud, Lavinia spares a final glance around, making eye contact with the curious looking Trirax clad in full robes and floating above their heads. She blinks and the soft darkness within her eyes overwhelms.