Puddles of dark poison splashed as vehicles roared past, shielded by shimmering blue force fields powered by glowing mana cells.
Drakna drove, glancing at the elite soldier beside him. "You sure the plant's got poison left?"
The soldier gave him a flat look before answering. "It's as big as a five-story building. It's got plenty."
Drakna chuckled. "Maybe it sprayed all its poison in that last attack and is defenseless now."
The soldier rolled his eyes. "Your whole race is dim-witted, huh?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Drakna snapped. "Dwarves are the bravest—"
"And the most short-tempered," the soldier cut in.
"Damn you—" Drakna began, but the soldier interrupted.
"Quiet. We're here. Time to work."
Drakna grumbled but focused on driving.
As the convoy neared the green poison mist, a blue forcefield shimmered to life around each vehicle.
The moment they entered, the mist hissed and sizzled against the barriers, as if trying to eat through them.
***
On the far side of the Eclipse Orchid, Jacob and Dr. Henry reached their designated post.
Inside the protective field, Jacob knelt and scooped up a handful of blackened soil.
It crumbled like ash between his fingers, a faint sting seeping through his glove—a sharp reminder of the Orchid's corrosive power.
"Careful," Dr. Henry warned. "That soil's still toxic."
"Is this where a major root is?" Jacob asked, brushing off his glove.
"Yes," Dr. Henry said. "We've found ten major roots. When we tried cutting them, the plant fought back with the new poison."
Jacob nodded. "So, we dig up the soil first, then cut the roots all at once."
"Exactly," Dr. Henry agreed.
Jacob tapped his earpiece. "Report. Is everyone in position?"
"East Team, ready."
"West Team, ready."
After confirming, Jacob gave the order. "Mages, set up mobile barriers. Everyone else, dig around the plant. Don't touch the roots until I say. Start now!"
The soldiers worked fast, the dry dirt making digging easy.
In under 30 minutes, they exposed the major roots, and the mages raised barriers.
"On my signal, cut the roots!" Jacob shouted. "Three, two, one—now!"
Swords, magic, and grenades sliced through the roots. Sure enough, the Eclipse Orchid shuddered, spraying thick green gas from its roots in retaliation.
"Don't stop! Keep cutting!" Jacob yelled. "Mages, hold the barriers!"
The poison mist slammed against the dome-like barriers, sizzling loudly. The soldiers held their breath but kept cutting, their blades flashing in the dim light.
Seeing that its poison mist was ineffective, the Eclipse Orchid stopped, and in the next moment, its smaller roots swelled like balloons, turning dark green.
Sensing danger, an elite soldier shouted, "Fall back! It's gonna explode!"
Realistically, one small exploding root wouldn't break a barrier, but hundreds could.
A chain explosion of poisonous roots erupted, showering the soldiers with spiky, toxin-coated thorns.
"Grab the injured and retreat!" Jacob ordered. "Fall back 40 yards. Use long-range weapons to finish the roots."
"Understood!" the teams replied, retreating and firing grenades into the root pit.
Now out of the Orchid's attack range, the plant could only vibrate its roots desperately, shaking the ground.
A massive earthquake rippled through its root network, and the forest fell eerily silent.
Jacob tensed, scanning the trees for movement, his instincts screaming that something was wrong.
"Something's coming from underground!" a mage shouted. "Toxcarvers! Thousands of them!"
Jacob's face hardened, but he stayed calm. "Retreat! Everyone, back to your vehicles! Retreat and regroup!"
As they fled, Jacob's earpiece buzzed. "Jacob, what's happening?" It was General Isaac.
"We felt an earthquake, and the Behemoth and Mountain-Eater Prince are charging toward the Orchid."
"It's an ambush," Jacob replied. "Thousands of Toxcarvers were hiding under the Orchid, likely summoned by its roots. I've ordered a retreat."
"How's the uprooting?" Isaac asked.
"We've damaged its roots, but it's stronger than we thought," Jacob said. "We need one final push."
"Then let's end this," Isaac said. "This expedition's gone on long enough. Let's finish it while everyone's here."
"Understood," Jacob said, relaying the order. "General's orders: regroup and prepare to re-engage." He paused, glancing at his team. "Stay sharp. We're not done yet."
***
High above, General Isaac soared through the air, bruises and dirt covering his battered armor.
His face was set in a scowl, determination burning in his eyes.
"You sure you can handle both enemies?" High-Mage Gerald asked, flying beside him. "You haven't gone all out, but neither have they. You could die."
"We're here for the Orchid," Isaac said. "One big magical push, and we'll rip it out. This is our shot."
Gerald nodded, and they sped toward the monsters.
A massive crocodile, glowing red with raw energy, tore through the forest, flattening trees in its path.
On its head stood a two-foot-tall, bug-like creature in bulky crystalline armor—the Mountain-Eater Prince.
They rushed toward the Orchid as soon as they felt the earthquake.
In the distance, they spotted a group of fleeing black vehicles. Without a second thought, the Behemoth crocodile glowed red as it prepared to charge at them.
But before it could propel itself, a huge blue force blasted it back.
Landing straight from the skies, Isaac stood in front of them, fists clenched with faint blue mana glowing around him.
"You're fighting me," he declared, his voice steady despite the odds.
***
Meanwhile, Gerald flew toward the Eclipse Orchid, where thousands of Toxcarvers swarmed. Hovering above, he exhaled deeply, gripping his staff. "Let's end this."
He chanted a spell, channeling mana from the air. The gemstone in his staff glowed orange and red, runic words forming around it. The air grew hot, shimmering with power.
"By the Power of the Sun: Solar Flare!" Gerald shouted.
Fiery whips lashed from his staff, striking the Orchid's major roots and nearby Toxcarvers.
Each whip triggered chain explosions, scorching dirt and life in its path.
Without pausing, Gerald's staff and eyes turned purple.
A massive pulling force gripped the Orchid, lifting it from the ground as its roots snapped under pressure.
On the sidelines, the Behemoth crocodile and Mountain-Eater Prince noticed the commotion. Ignoring Isaac, they charged toward the plant.
"Trying to escape? Not today!" Isaac shouted, unleashing a booming explosion that shook the ground.
The Orchid, barely clinging to the earth, resisted Gerald's gravity spell.
"Stubborn plant," he muttered, pouring more mana into the spell. The five-story Orchid rose higher into the sky, its roots snapping.
But the spell was suddenly neutralized.
"Damn it! So close," Gerald cursed, glaring at the Mountain-Eater Prince, now perched on the fallen Orchid in blue crystalline armor.
"Jacob, finish the extraction," Gerald said through his intercom. "I'll handle the Prince."
Gerald commanded as he unleashed rapid fireballs at the creature, each one bursting with heat.
"Understood," Jacob replied. "All units, charge for extraction!"
Vehicles roared toward the Orchid, mowing down surviving Toxcarvers.
The semi-trucks' payloads, powered by glowing mana cells, hummed as they positioned themselves.
Four trucks took corners around the Orchid, while mages and soldiers dug to free its roots.
As the massive plant was lifted onto the trucks with magical assistance, Jacob's earpiece crackled.
"Lieutenant! The Mountain-Eaters broke through the frontline! They're heading your way! We'll send backup immediately!"
"No!" Jacob ordered. "Prepare to retreat. We have the Orchid. Gather all soldiers and rendezvous at the fallback point."
He turned to his team, urgency in his voice. "Finish loading the plant! The Mountain-Eaters are coming. We're leaving now!"
With the threat looming, mages and soldiers worked frantically to secure the Orchid.
They boarded their vehicles, forming a box formation, and drove off, slowed by the plant's massive weight.
Moving at 50 miles per hour, the semi-trucks, led by four bulldozing vehicles, plowed through the forest's dense foliage.
"Lieutenant, at this speed, the Mountain-Eaters will catch us before we reach the rendezvous," an elite soldier warned.
"I know," Jacob said. "Aren, can we make the trucks go faster?"
"The trucks are at max mana output," Aren replied. "But we could boost them with more mana cells… by sacrificing some vehicles."
Jacob hesitated only for a split second before deciding. "Do it."
Four armored vehicles were chosen.
Soldiers swiftly transferred to other vehicles while four elite soldiers removed the mana cells from the running vehicles to save time.
The abandoned vehicles slowed visibly as the soldiers leaped out.
"You loaded those vehicles with explosives, right?" Jacob asked Aren.
"Yes," Aren confirmed.
"Good. Install the mana cells in the trucks," Jacob ordered.
The semi-trucks surged faster, their new mana cells humming with raw power.
Jacob, stationed at the rear, stayed vigilant, scanning the forest for signs of pursuit.
The rumble of engines and the rush of wind were the only sounds, an eerie calm settling over the trees.
Then, without warning, a massive wave of magical energy swept through the unit.
The ground shook violently. A red glow erupted beneath them, revealing the Behemoth crocodile emerging under a semi-truck, its glowing jaws wide, ready to crush it.
The Behemoth's jaws tore through the truck's thin forcefield, crushing its body and crippling it.
"Why is it here?" he shouted, panic flashing across his face as he braced for a fight.