SSS Class Mythic Beast Master

The amalgamation tried intercepting them, its multiple arms reaching out with root-whips extended. But crimson stakes erupted from the ground beneath it, blasting through the creature's arms with devastating precision.

The limbs severed, falling uselessly as the King Root roared in frustration.

Reinhard glanced back, seeing Vlad smirking while crimson energy gathered around him in waves.

The last Ancestor looked completely confident despite facing a First Class threat alone. Then Reinhard turned forward, continuing with the others and Saint Lucian at the front.

They rushed toward the towering tree, dealing with occasional roots that lashed out from buildings or burst from beneath golden stones. But they managed them easily, weapons destroying the threats before they could impede progress.

Saint Lucian suddenly paused, his posture shifting. His masked face tilted as if listening to something beyond physical hearing, and then he turned his head, looking towards the western direction.

Brunhilde noticed immediately and asked. "What's wrong?"

"The forest is enraged." Saint Lucian said softly. "It's now aiming to attack Naraku Town."

Amiya's eyes widened in shock, color draining from her face. Janus's expression shifted to horror, his hands clenching into fists. Reinhard grimaced, understanding the implications immediately.

Marie, Joseph, and the others showed similar reactions, recognition that civilians were about to suffer because the forest was desperate.

"Didn't you see this in your vision before?!" Janus shouted.

Saint Lucian said softly without any anger or irritation. "I did, but it was supposed to be a last-ditch effort after we reached inside. By then, the Seekers and Luminous Knights would have rushed back to the settlements."

"But they didn't?" Reinhard asked, piecing together the safety nets the Saint had planned for the towns and villages.

Saint Lucian nodded. "They needed at least ten more minutes to return. But by the time they reach it now, it might be too late."

Janus trembled, his gaze dropping to his shaking hands, while Reinhard inwardly sighed as he glanced at Janus. He could imagine the turmoil and memories that must be swirling in Janus' mind right now.

Amiya bit her lips hard enough to draw blood. "Isn't there anything you can do? Please!"

Saint Lucian fell silent before slowly nodding. "I left behind my bag, which holds some of my magic inside. I can use that to transfer someone toward Naraku-"

"Okay!" Amiya interrupted immediately. "Transfer me then! I'll-"

Janus shook his head. "Everyone still needs your navigation skills, Amiya. I should go. I'm not much help-"

Amiya shakes her head and says. "The Saint is here, so I am not needed here. But I'm going to the town, which will be better since I know the emergency drills I had in the town were done before-"

Janus says quickly. "But we don't know if the Saint will always be with us. Another of those First Class Beast-"

Casseo sighed in resignation mixed with determination before he moved toward Saint Lucian. "Send me, Saint. I'm strong enough to keep the townspeople alive until reinforcements arrive."

Veryn blinked before her expression displayed concern. "Casseo... Are you sure?"

Janus clenched his fist as he said, "But Casseo, everyone will need your strength-"

Casseo shook his head, cutting off the protest. "It's the job of the Luminous Knight to protect others and reward those who they asked for help from. You helped us find the Star Jewel and made reaching here possible. Let me repay the favor by protecting your home until you return."

Janus's eyes widened, emotion threatening to overwhelm him. He bit his lips, looking down as he struggled with the decision while Amiya trembled, tears forming at the corners of her eyes.

Both of them nodded. "Thank you," they said together with gratitude and guilt.

Casseo nodded once without needing further acknowledgment. Before he looked at Saint Lucian.

Saint Lucian sighed lightly, then tapped Casseo's shoulder. Black-white light shined, the Grafting sigil appearing beneath them both. Casseo vanished instantly, transported across miles to Naraku Town, where civilians needed a defender.

Silence stretched for several seconds as everyone processed the loss and the reality that their formation was now weaker.

Reinhard turned around and said quickly. "Let's go and reach the top so we can end this even a second faster."

Everyone nodded before they continued moving with Saint Lucian at the front.

More root-constructs, Night Terrors, and Phantasm Beast rushed towards them. The Inquisitors smashed through them without slowing, each strike fast and devastating. The golden Melo warriors laughed while fighting, their voices carrying joy despite the violence.

The ground shook violently. Cracks spread across golden stones, widening until massive fissures opened.

A terrifying Night Terror emerged from below, larger than any they'd encountered.

It was standing twenty feet tall with a body that seemed to incorporate every previous variant. Black and crimson auras mixed across its shadowy form, creating patterns that hurt to observe directly. Four arms extended from its torso, each one wielding shadow-forged weapons. Multiple faces crowded its head, all bearing different expressions of rage and hatred.

The aura it radiated with First Class Beast Master level magic power.

"Lost Night." Saint Lucian identified before he glanced at Brunhilde, a question implicit.

Brunhilde nodded with a smile. "Leave it to me and keep going."

Her fingers traced through the air rapidly, golden words blazing into existence faster than before. She sent them forward, and where they struck the Lost Night, its form froze.

It was locked in temporal stasis that prevented movement.

Saint Lucian rushed past immediately, with the others following. The Lost Night remained frozen behind them, Brunhilde's power holding it immobile while she prepared more devastating attacks.

They closed in on the towering tree, its pale bark filling vision until nothing else existed. The trunk's base was impossibly wide, easily large enough to contain buildings within its hollow interior.

The ground trembled again, but it was different from before, more violent, suggesting something massive was approaching.

A towering Chimera crashed through a nearby building, demolishing the structure as it emerged.

It stood thirty feet tall, its body a horrifying fusion of every Phantasm Beast they'd fought. It had a Bear-Terror bulk with Werefang limbs. Autumn Deer antlers mixed with Tonothus horns. Bumbodusk tusks protruding from Cheronos's jaws. Forest Roots covering the Tetan armor. Kungala proportions supporting Kabas mushroom growth.

It roared!

The sound combined every creature's cry that made space tremble.

First Class Beast Master aura radiated outward, crushing everything nearby with overwhelming pressure.

"Chimera Prince." Saint Lucian said softly. "The last real big threat." He turned to the others. "I'll deal with this one. You go ahead, and the others will catch up before you reach halfway."

Reinhard and the others trembled, recognizing they were losing their third powerhouse. But they nodded, understanding the necessity before they rushed forward towards the towering tree.

The Chimera Prince tried stopping them.

Its mouth opened impossibly wide, and noise erupted, which produced a vibration that stunned their minds. Reinhard's head felt like it was splitting, as primal and overwhelming fear rushed through him.

The others stumbled, some falling to their knees.

But then countless swords rushed out, blasting through the air. The blades smashed into the creature, dispersing parts of its fusion body and stopping the noise instantly.

Reinhard and the others quickly recovered before they continued rushing ahead while Saint Lucian engaged the towering Chimera. His twin swords were moving in patterns that kept the creature's attention completely focused on him.

They continued forward, smashing through smaller enemies and roots. The pale tree's trunk loomed directly ahead now, its bark showing intricate patterns that suggested more than simple wood.

They reached the base.

The trunk stretched upward beyond sight, disappearing into clouds overhead. No obvious entrance existed, just solid pale bark that appeared impenetrable.

But that didn't deter them as Reinhard thrust out the Star Jewel, the artifact blazing with golden light in his palm. The radiance swept outward, washing over the massive bark, and then everyone saw the trunk tremble.

Then, the bark began parting with the wood, pulling aside like curtains being drawn, revealing darkness within. The opening widened, creating a passage large enough for their entire group.

"Let's go!" Reinhard shouted.

Reinhard, Marie, Joseph, Honor, Amiya, Janus, Veryn, and the golden Melo warriors all rushed inside. Darkness swallowed them as they entered the pale tree's heart, leaving the ruined city and their separated allies behind.

The final ascent had begun.