Chapter 55: Will of the King
The Rootsite plaza in the Forgotten Atlanta Expanse was a battlefield of thorn and spore, Verdant Bastion’s turrets looming like sentinels, venom-sap pits glinting under bioluminescent moss.
Clayton stood at the center, Regalia of the Verdant Warden in bow form, venom-sap arrow nocked, his 26 Initiate Ember Behemorph minions; 10 Thorn Hounds, 7 Howl Shriekers, 6 Ash Sprites, 3 Spore Drifters, fanned out via Aphid Network.
The Spore Plague Lord, a Luminous Seed Spore Crown Behemorph, crashed through the ruins, its 20-meter fungal mass pulsing with toxic veins, Toxic Spore Shroud choking the air, Mycotic Tendrils writhing like a plague god.
Clayton’s Heartseed Core thrummed, Genesis Threshold at 80%, his gutsy streak burning.
This was his highest-profile hunt since Echoterra, and he’d make it count.
"Welcome to my turf, mushroom," he growled, dark humor sharp, "Hope you like traps".
The Plague Lord roared, spores erupting, tendrils lashing.
Clayton’s Territorial Sentience mapped its mass, Root Web humming with Verdant Bastion’s defenses even as his brain churned.
His brain churned with ideas, street smarts flooding him with ideas on how to take down this Behemorph, a monster far stronger than he was.
’It’s not a Thorn Crown’.
’I have a chance!’