Chapter 158: Talking Shadow.
The deafening boom drowned the chaos of the rioting crowd, and as the pale green glow washed over them, they all turned their eyes to the rising green flames, a hint of recognition shattering the veil clouding their minds.
A massive log dropped to the ground with an audible thud, followed by the sharp clang of the heavy tank. Swallowed by the flames, the giant tree-man swayed and staggered, falling to one knee as if sapped of all his strength. He remained motionless for a moment then raised his head and roared.
He raised what remained of his severed right arm. Even as the fire ate at it, veins sprouted out and quickly took the shape of a new limb. Clenching the newly formed fingers, the tree-man brought his fist down and pierced the ground at his feet. Roots erupted from his surroundings, twisting and swirling as they closed in on the burning giant, instantly enveloping him in a thick cocoon.
Just as the emerald flames seemed to have been put out, several more arrows fell from the sky and pierced the twisting roots, each one exploding with the same brilliant flames.
The second salvo roared louder than the first, erasing any doubts those watching might have had. A switch had been flipped, and the rioting crowd turned away from the city hall and ran. The green flames were far too iconic to be mistaken for anything else, and the citizens of Neo-Vatra knew them all too well. Well enough to understand that being close was equivalent to a death sentence, not just because of the fire, but also because of what usually followed when the beacon was lit.
Noticing the explosions, the floating woman stopped raining her lightning on the retreating police force and turned around to check. The instant her eyes fell on the ghastly bonfire, a massive bolt fell from the cloudy sky, smiting her like the hammer of a vengeful god.
Brilliant light flashed through the plaza once more, but the booming thunder that should have followed never came. The angry shouts and terrified screams vanished, and an eerie silence enveloped the plaza and the roads surrounding it, turning it into a scene playing on a muted screen.
Realizing what was happening, the chant leader raised his megaphone and shouted something, but no sound left his mouth. He shouted, yelled, and screamed, but the silence permeating the area refused to shatter. Strangely enough, the fleeing crowd didn’t seem to notice the drastic change.
A charred corpse fell on the spot where the lightning had struck, its limbs having turned into crumbling charcoal. From beside it, a blonde man in a tight blue costume took a step, tendrils of yellow lightning dancing over his skin.