SSS Class Mythic Beast Master

Consciousness returned slowly, dragging Reinhard from darkness into dim awareness. His body felt heavy, as if submerged in water, each limb requiring concentrated effort to move.

He opened his eyes to see roots interwoven so densely they created solid barriers overhead, but with gaps allowing illumination through.

Reinhard realized he was lying on pale roots that formed a platform beneath him, their surface smooth and slightly warm to the touch. The entire area glowed with faint pale light, enough to see clearly despite no obvious light source.

Something moved on his shoulder, which was small and light, with claws that pricked through his uniform without penetrating skin.

Reinhard's head turned sharply, before blinking and then smiling as he saw Mimir perched on his shoulder.

The black crow with golden horns, staring at him with eyes that held far too much intelligence, narrowed its eyes.

"Good, you're awake." Mimir said, his voice carrying relief mixed with urgency. "I was worried you would be gone for good, forcing me to try more drastic measures."

Reinhard's lips twitched despite the situation, caught between gratitude and curiosity about what 'drastic measures' might entail. "How long have I been out?"

"About ten minutes." Mimir replied, shifting his weight on Reinhard's shoulder. "The roots have covered a bit of the others, and it would have come to you soon."

Reinhard's gaze swept the surrounding area, and his stomach dropped.

Everyone lay scattered across the root platform; they were all sleeping, and all being slowly consumed.

Marie rested nearby, her platinum hair splayed across pale wood with roots wrapped around her legs like serpents. More roots crawled up her arms, thin tendrils that would eventually thicken and secure her completely.

Joseph lay on his back, Arondight fallen from his grip. Roots covered his stomach in a dense spread, rising and falling with his breathing. Smaller tendrils explored his chest, seeking positions to anchor before growing thicker.

The golden Melo warriors weren't spared either. Their spectral forms remained solid but unmoving, and roots passed through their incorporeal bodies before solidifying inside them. The effect created disturbing images of warriors with wood growing through their torsos, limbs pierced by multiple tendrils, and faces half-covered.

Amiya slept curled on her side, roots wrapping her legs together like binding, while Janus had roots covering his right arm completely, the limb encased in pale wood from shoulder to fingertips.

Veryn's grimoire lay open beside her, pages held down by thin roots that prevented it from closing. Honor's massive form showed the most coverage with roots wrapped around his torso in layers, creating something approaching a cocoon.

Reinhard frowned, his mind raced rapidly. "If the roots have already wrapped around them, then even if I wake them up..."

Mimir nodded grimly. "They'd be controlled, forcing you to fight and possibly knock them out."

Reinhard sighed as he rubbed his forehead before pushing himself up slowly, checking his body for signs of root infiltration. His legs were clear, arms free, torso untouched, and he didn't sense anything off on him.

Whatever had protected him had kept the roots at bay long enough for consciousness to return. "Did you do something? Or was there a reason for it not reaching me first?" Reinhard asked.

"It's most likely the Star Jewel that helps deter them first. From what I can tell, these roots were moving on instincts and not being controlled like the others." Mimir said, leading Reinhard to blink and then reach into his pocket to feel the Star Jewel.

Amazing as always.

"Then I should focus on rushing toward the top and destroying the flower," Reinhard said after stretching his arm.

Mimir nodded, claws gripping tighter on his shoulder. "I already know everything about that, and I can say there aren't many enemies around here."

Reinhard raised a brow, surprise flickering across his face. "You scouted around?"

"I thought you guys were just sleeping normally." Mimir explained with a sigh. "So I went to check it out. So far, I've only seen some Night Terrors and root humanoids around, although they were all pale grey in color."

Reinhard nodded, processing the information. Pale grey suggested the enemies here are variants adapted specifically for defending the tree's heart. Fewer enemies made sense if most of the tree's forces were focused on keeping the three powerhouses Inquisitors out.

"Then that's good." Reinhard said, summoning the black-blue jagged sword in his grip, wisps of energy trailing from its surface. "Let's put an end to this thing."

He began moving immediately, boots pushing off the root pathways that spiraled upward through the tree's interior. The platform where the others slept fell away behind him, disappearing into the dim light as he climbed higher.

The interior revealed its true horror as he ascended.

Bodies appeared throughout, dozens at first, then hundreds as his elevation increased. He saw people covered in roots, sleeping peacefully despite being slowly consumed.

Men, women, elderly citizens with weathered faces, young adults barely into their twenties. All wrapped in pale roots that grew through their clothing, penetrated their skin, connected to their bodies in a soft embrace.

Some showed minimal coverage with just their legs or arms wrapped like his friends below. Others were nearly complete cocoons, only faces visible through gaps in the wood. A few had been here so long that roots grew from their mouths and noses, the parasitic growth having fully integrated with their bodies.

Reinhard gritted his teeth as he passed them, each victim a reminder of what would happen if he failed. But it was then that he saw even Phantasm Beasts appear among the human captives.

Bear-Terrors wrapped in roots, their massive forms reduced to sleeping giants. Werefangs with three tails bound together, the appendages wrapped so tightly they'd fused into single masses. Then Autumn Deer with antlers serving as anchor points for multiple root tendrils.

Even Tonothus lay sleeping with roots penetrating their grey hides.

Reinhard frowned at this, but he kept on moving ahead. Ahead, he saw the Seekers and Luminous Knights Inquisitors.

Warriors in black coats with the silver crow insignia, their weapons fallen beside them as roots claimed their bodies. Some showed evidence of struggle, such as torn clothing, damaged armor, and positioning suggesting they'd fought before succumbing.

Others appeared peaceful, as if they'd simply given up and accepted fate.

Luminous Knights in their armor lay scattered throughout. White robes tangled with roots, and black armor pieces scattered where the growth had torn them free. The swirling circle symbol with a star and half-moons visible on some, marking them as defenders who'd failed their mission.

Reinhard continued upward with increasing urgency. The victims served as motivation, each one another reason to reach the top, another life depending on their success.

But it was then that he began seeing root humanoids rising up from the walls. Not the brown or golden variants from outside, but pale grey constructs matching Mimir's description.

Their wooden bodies blended with the interior coloring, making them difficult to distinguish until they moved. Faceless heads turned toward him, tracking his approach with eyeless awareness.

Behind them drifted Night Terrors, which were the standard black variants with white glowing eyes.

The Crimson One and the Towering One should be outside, dealing with Brunhilde and the other two.

Reinhard gripped Zenuken tighter as he narrowed his eyes and didn't slow his approach.