Denizens of the Labyrinth

The group moves cautiously through the Venom Fields, their senses heightened as a cacophony of buzzing wings and skittering legs surrounds them. A sudden explosion of movement reveals a swarm of gigantic venomous hornets, their stingers dripping with greenish fluid, accompanied by serpentine centipedes that undulate through the underbrush with alarming speed. Siromi, Aino, and Shinuo immediately step forward, their blades gleaming as they prepare to meet the attack.

The group moves cautiously through the Venom Fields, their senses heightened as a cacophony of buzzing wings and skittering legs surrounds them. A sudden explosion of movement reveals a swarm of gigantic venomous hornets, their stingers dripping with greenish fluid, accompanied by serpentine centipedes that undulate through the underbrush with alarming speed. Siromi, Aino, and Shinuo immediately step forward, their blades gleaming as they prepare to meet the attack.

Jazmel hung back, watching how Siromi handled the battle, but also how strong he could be. He wanted to know if Siromi was genuinely capable of being the vice leader of the Kuzuryu prefecture.

Zephyr Strike

Siromi darts forward with a burst of speed, his blade becoming a blur as he unleashes Zephyr Strike. The wind around him howls, whipping through the trees as he slashes through the swarm of hornets in a single, fluid motion. His katana slicing cleanly through the air, sending razor-sharp gusts of wind outward that tear the wings off several hornets mid-flight. The insects drop to the ground, twitching helplessly as Siromi lands lightly, already scanning for his next target.

Arrow Slash

A large, chitinous scorpion, its stinger raised to strike, charges toward the group. Siromi steps forward and channels Arrow Slash, his blade glowing faintly as he swings it in a swift, horizontal arc. The energy from his strike travels like an arrow slash, whistling through the air before slicing cleanly through the scorpion's armoured body. The creature crumples, split in half, its toxic ichor seeping into the tainted soil.

Weeping Wyvern

When an enormous, snake-like centipede rears up, its mandibles snapping at Shinuo, Siromi focuses his energy into Weeping Wyvern. His sword hums as he channels the technique, and with a single, deliberate strike, he unleashes a serpentine wave of energy shaped like a dragon's head. The glowing wyvern made of air energy barrels forward, crashing into the centipede with a shriek, tearing through its body and leaving only shreds behind.

Glade of Itsuru

As the group is surrounded by venomous spiders descending from the canopy above, Aino steps forward, her blade held steady. With a deep breath, she activates Glade of Itsuru. Her katana glows softly with a verdant light, and with a sweeping motion, she sends an arc of energy outward. The slash towards the spiders blooms with spectral flowers and vines, which explode upward, ensnaring and crushing the spiders in their deadly embrace before fading back into the earth.

This strike drew much of Jazmel's attention. After all, his Mana eyes allowed him to see life energy inside of her skill. It was as if she infused the essence of life into her strike and somehow used that to attack the venomous spiders that attacked. They shot webbing and silk strands filled with venomous toxins. But Jazmel wasn't surprised at how agile she was, she simply dodged and darted from beneath their webbings.

Marked Martyr!

When Siromi is momentarily overwhelmed by the sheer number of hornets, Aino activates Marked Martyr. A faint, golden sigil appears on her chest, pulsing with light as her blade ignites with radiant energy. She charges forward into the thick of the swarm, slashing with devastating precision. The insects seem drawn to her, as if compelled to attack, allowing Siromi the chance to regroup. The sigil shatters into a burst of light as the last hornet falls, its body cleaved in two.

Jazmel hadn't seen a skill like that before, it was new to him. but interested him all the same, she drew all the attention of the insects. Making a martyr of herself.

Sunset Atop the Mountain

As a massive, grotesque moth rises into the air, its wings scattering toxic dust, Aino centres herself and prepares Sunset Atop the Mountain. With a sharp exhale, she performs an upward slash, releasing a burst of fiery energy that rises like the setting sun. The attack slams into the moth, burning through its wings and sending it crashing to the ground in flames, its screeches echoing through the poisoned forest. Plumes of dust and glittering poison falls to the ground. Jazmel watches as they all disperse and try to get out of the fall radius.

Fujin's Fury

The earth trembles as Shinuo activates Fujin's Fury. Her blade crackles with electricity, arcs of lightning dancing along its surface. With a powerful downward strike, she sends a surge of electrical energy rippling through the ground. The charge races toward a cluster of oversized beetles, engulfing them in a storm of electricity. The beetles convulse and explode, their shattered shells littering the battlefield.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

"She is strong." Sadé mumbles as she stands beside Jazmel.

Storm Surge

When an enormous, snake-like centipede charges from the underbrush, Shinuo channels Storm Surge. She spins her blade in a circular motion, creating a vortex of wind and lightning that grows stronger with each turn. The centipede is caught in the maelstrom, its segmented body torn apart by the sheer force of the storm. The remnants are flung across the battlefield, leaving nothing but scorched ground behind.

Sky Break

A massive, lumbering mantis emerges, its sickle-like arms glistening with venom. Shinuo grips her katana tightly and leaps high into the air, activating Sky Break. Her blade crackles with raw energy as she descends, bringing the sword down in an arc of a mighty strike.

As the battle rages on in the heart of the Venom Fields, Sadé and Charme step forward, their presence commanding the attention of the venomous horrors. Their movements are precise and deadly, each attack unleashing a devastating wave of destruction against the relentless tide of creatures.

More insects came out of the fields. Rushing towards the group and Jazmel urged Charme and Sadé forward this time.

Storm Crown

Sadé raises her hands, and above her head forms a swirling crown of crackling lightning. Each arc lashes out in different directions, striking the swarms of hornets and spiders trying to close in. The electric tendrils hit with pinpoint accuracy, reducing the creatures to charred remains before they even get close. The crown pulses with power, creating a protective barrier around Sadé as she continues her assault.

Thunderstorm

Facing an enormous, venomous serpent coiling in the toxic undergrowth, Sadé channels the raw energy of a Thunderstorm. Dark clouds form above the battlefield, roiling with thunder and flashing with violent bolts of lightning. The storm unleashes its fury directly onto the serpent, the repeated strikes of lightning stunning and scorching its scaled body. The serpent writhes helplessly before collapsing in a smouldering heap.

Foxfire

As a cluster of glowing beetles launches itself at her from the trees, Sadé channels Foxfire. Small orbs of blue flame appear around her, their flickering light mesmerizing and deadly. With a flick of her wrist, the orbs streak forward, homing in on the beetles and igniting them in bursts of supernatural fire. The flames cling to the creatures, burning even the venomous ichor they release as they fall to the ground in heaps.

Charme stepped forward; she brought the great foreboding strength of the tyrant. Her martial arts is great, her stance firm and formidable.

Dark Axis

Charme steps into the fray, her weapon glowing with a dark, swirling energy as she activates Dark Axis. With a wide, sweeping motion, she slashes through a horde of centipedes and hornets, leaving a shadowy trail in her blade's wake. The air itself seems to warp around the strike, and the creatures caught within the arc are disintegrated into dust, their remnants scattering on the wind.

Tyrannical Wrath

A monstrous mantis, larger and deadlier than the rest, charges toward Charme with venom dripping from its scythe-like limbs. Charme smirks and calls upon Tyrannical Wrath. Shadows rise around her like a living entity, bolstering her strength and speed. She strikes the mantis with a series of rapid, brutal blows, each one hitting with the force of a battering ram. The mantis shatters under the onslaught, its shattered limbs and carapace scattering across the battlefield.

Cardinal Tyrant

In the thick of battle, Charme activates Cardinal Tyrant. A crimson aura envelops her as her movements become almost imperceptibly fast, each step creating shockwaves that ripple through the poisoned ground. She leaps toward a massive scorpion that towers over the fray, driving her blade through its thick carapace with overwhelming force. The energy from her attack erupts outward, obliterating nearby creatures and leaving a crater where the scorpion had once stood.

The combined ferocity of Sadé and Charme turns the tide of the battle, their relentless assault carving through the venomous monstrosities with precision and power. Their skills complement one another perfectly, leaving nothing but devastation in their wake as the group pushes forward through the Venom Fields.

Something stirred the winds and Jazmel watched as a large moth. Massive in size and diameter far bigger than the ones that had bothered the group before. Paldane snarled and leapt from Jazmel's shoulder. He burst through flame and expanded in size. Jazmel leapt after him, bounding high and leaping onto the tail of Paldane. He drew his sword, flaring his Mana.

"Take me up." Jazmel calls and Paldane rushes forward.

Paldane soared into the sky, his wings flapping heavily. The moth was doing the same, rushing towards them.

Aeonic inferno!

Flames blazed the skies, burning the air up and rushing towards the moth full throttle. The moth flapped its mighty wings till they almost touched in front of it. Dust particles burst free, colliding with the flames, and exploding on their own. colours streaked off and it reminded Jazmel of fireworks.

Now! Paldane roared into his mind, almost causing him to wince.

Black dragon talon!

Jazmel drew his sword back and with a swing, a swathe of Mana blackened by his tyrant aura and Mana. Cleaved the moth in too, it fell to the ground with a crash and Jazmel watched as its body let loose a shower of dust.

DING!

YOU HAVE KILLED A TIER IV VENEMOUS MOTH!

EXP ACCRUED!

…

Jazmel felt his exp climb a little, he was nowhere near the next level up. But every little helped, as always. Paldane descended and Jazmel leapt from his perch to land beside Sadé and Charme.

"Collect what you can, I am sure the alchemist could use these toxic and venomous items." Jazmel explained, both ladies moved off to pick through the corpses and take what they could. Soon Aino and Shinuo joined and Jazmel scanned the area around to make sure they were safe. Siromi came over to stand beside him.

"You are strong, even without your companion and retainers. Singular, you are strong." Siromi said, it didn't sound like a compliment. It was a realisation, Siromi was attesting to what he could see.