Fruit of Malevolence (1)

As the tree undergoes its grotesque transformation, its form becomes a true embodiment of malice. The once eerie visage now bears a wide, grotesque grin, its jagged bark twisted unnaturally to resemble furrowed brows and wrinkled, glaring eyes. The face radiates an unsettling intelligence as if the tree is mocking them.

The golden hue of its roots fades into an abyssal black, pulsating faintly with evil energy. Newly regrown roots emerge like dark tentacles, weaving through the ground with purpose. 

The oppressive atmosphere around the battlefield grows thicker, as though the air itself is suffused with the tree's vile intent.

Robert surveys the team, grim determination masking his exhaustion. 

"Even though I've ascended, I'm running low. I've only got three clones left, and my essence is nearly depleted."

The others aren't faring any better. The earlier hex from the tree's cursed rain hadn't just toyed with their minds, it also drained their essence, sapping their strength and feeding the abomination's growing power.

Kiaran glances at Seren, his face pale and drenched in sweat, the toll of the tree's oppressive presence clear in his strained breathing. His voice comes out hoarse, his words laced with disbelief.

"How is it that you seem completely unaffected?"

Seren meets his gaze briefly, her icy blue eyes calm.

"It's kind of my Stigma. It protects me but, there's no time for explanation."

Kiaran's brows furrow, his exhaustion momentarily giving way to confusion. He opens his mouth as if to ask another question, but Seren cuts him off, her voice sharper now.

"We have bigger problems," she continues, motioning toward the tree with a pointed nod. 

"Focus on the fight. Whatever it's doing, we can't let it finish."

Before anyone can respond, the ground beneath them trembles violently. It's no ordinary tremor. The earthquakes with alarming intensity, nearly knocking the team off their feet. 

Deep, thunderous cracks echo through the forest as the evil tree's roots burrow and expand underground, carving through rock and soil like dark, serpentine veins.

The tree itself begins to grow rapidly. Its trunk thickens, gnarled, and grotesque, while its height doubles in mere seconds, continuing to grow. In the end its towering above the battlefield at nearly 80 meters, it looms like a dark deity, casting an oppressive shadow over the team.

Then, without warning, the roots erupt from the ground. One strikes with blinding speed, shooting up directly beneath Ahri. It wraps around her torso, lifting her high into the air with terrifying force.

"Ahri!" Finn's voice pierces the chaos as he sprints toward her, desperation etched into his face.

Ahri thrashes against the root's crushing grip, her hands glowing faintly as she tries to summon her Stigma, trying to control or at least slow the tree down. 

But the root tightens mercilessly, the sound of cracking bones echoing through the battlefield. Blood spills from her mouth as her scream is cut short.

Robert sends his remaining clones to attack the root. They explode in bursts of light and fire, scorching the bark but failing to sever it.

Seren clenches her fists, her mind racing. Every second counts. The tree's growing power is too much to handle without drastic action.

She takes a deep breath, stepping forward as a faint golden aura begins to shimmer around her. Her movements become deliberate and precise, each motion charged with an otherworldly energy. She raises her hands and begins forming intricate, ritualistic signs in the air.

"Elyon, the Eternal Light," she intones, her voice resonating with an unearthly clarity. 

While Seren is channeling her power, Ahri's eyes meet Finn's one last time, filled with pain and an unspoken plea. 

The root twists sharply, and her body collapses inward with a sickening crunch. Blood splatters across Finn's face.

"Grant me your strength to stand against evil. Let your judgment pierce through this abyssal corruption!"

The root tosses Ahri's broken body aside like discarded trash, her body hitting the ground with a hollow thud. Her lifeless eyes stare blankly into the sky above, her face frozen in the agony of her final moments.

Robert freezes, his usually calm demeanor shattered. 

"No… no…" he mutters under his breath, his voice hollow. 

Kiaran slams his axe into the ground in frustration, his shoulders heaving. 

"Dammit!" he roars, his fury barely masking the grief in his voice. He turns his back to the scene, unable to watch any longer.

Finn falls to his knees, his hands gripping his head as tears stream down his face.

Seren's expression remains cold, her lips pressed into a thin line, but her trembling hands betray her. She still has to continue the ritual.

Her voice carries across the battlefield, cutting through the oppressive air. Her team watches the unfolding scene in horror, but also awe as the golden aura around Seren intensifies, transforming into radiant beams of light. 

The ground beneath her feet glows faintly, forming a circle etched with divine runes.

As she finishes the last of the ritual hand signs, she clasps her hands together and bows her head. A moment of silence hangs heavy in the air, followed by an overwhelming surge of energy. The golden light erupts from the circle, spiraling upward like a beacon of hope in the darkened forest.

"By your name, Elyon, I call upon the Sword of Light to sever the wicked and cleanse this tainted ground!"

The radiant energy coalesces in her hands, taking the form of a massive, glowing blade. The weapon pulses with divine energy, its edge shimmering like the first light of dawn. Seren's form is bathed in the glow, her silhouette exuding an aura of unmatched power.

Robert looks in awe.

'Impossible, she is merely a Sparkbearer...'

The tree, sensing the threat, releases his power, it's roots thrashing wildly in a desperate attempt to stop her. But Seren stands firm, her grip on the luminous blade unwavering.

"For the lives this corruption has claimed, and for those it threatens still—I will end you."

With a powerful leap, Seren surges forward, the Sword of Light blazing in her hands. The air around her hums with energy as she charges straight toward the towering abomination, ready to deliver the judgment it deserves.