My Family in the Novel?

Chapter 58: Corrupted Forest 10

Kaksan sprinted through the forest with incredible speed.

Every tree in his path was reduced to mere splinters as he plowed through them, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake. He had a singular focus, a relentless determination that drove him straight towards his target. Nothing could deter him, and he paid no heed to any obstacle in his path.

As Kaksan sprinted through the darkened forest, his path illuminated only by his malevolent aura, a sudden eruption of vines burst forth from the ground beneath him.

The serpentine tendrils lashed out like projectiles, seeking to pierce and ensnare the beast. However, Kaksan's reflexes were honed by countless battles, and he swiftly contorted his massive frame, narrowly evading the barrage of plant-based attacks.

Once he regained his footing, he turned his attention upward, scanning the surroundings for the source of this interference.

There, amidst the corrupted foliage and malevolent atmosphere, stood a woman with flowing, verdant hair that mirrored the vividness of the forest before its corruption.

Her emerald eyes blazed with a fierce determination that matched the anger and fear that Kaksan sensed in her presence. It was a potent mixture of emotions that pulsed through the air.

For an inexplicable reason, the woman's appearance struck a chord of recognition within Kaksan's enigmatic consciousness. It was as if he had encountered her in a distant memory, though the specifics eluded him.

Regardless, his determination to reach his target remained undeterred, and he continued his relentless sprint, bound by a mysterious destiny yet to be unveiled.

"He ignored me?"

Meralda's eyes widened in disbelief as she watched the monstrous beast, shrouded in dark miasma, charging relentlessly toward the elven Kingdom once more.

Her confusion and astonishment grew with each passing moment. This was not the same creature she had known in the past. It had transformed, not just in physical strength but in its tactics and decision-making.

She recalled the countless encounters she'd had with this beast, how it had spared no one who posed a threat to it. It had always been relentless, showing no mercy or hesitation. It never dodged attacks, instead welcoming them to adapt and grow stronger. But this time was different. The creature had skillfully evaded her attack, a feat that had been unheard of before.

Meralda couldn't help but question whether the beast had somehow perceived the immense and equally dangerous mana that had been infused into her attack, all thanks to her forced contract with Adrian.

The bond had granted her access to some of his mana, and she had utilized it to amplify her powers, whether for replenishing her energy or enhancing her attacks. The sudden change in the beast's behavior left Meralda in a state of uncertainty and vulnerability.

Meralda's determination shone through her coughs, a hint of blood staining her lips as she fought through the oppressive dark miasma that Kaksan was emitting.

The forest around her bore the cruel mark of the beast's presence; trees and plant life withered, crumbling to lifeless husks. The ground beneath her felt parched and brittle.

The thick, eerie smoke and dark clouds that trailed Kaksan only further emphasized his menacing and monstrous nature.

With unwavering resolve, Meralda pursued the beast, her emerald eyes narrowed in concentration as she unleashed her formidable arsenal of attacks.

Vibrant green energy projectiles erupted from her outstretched hands, exploding with great force upon impact.

The cacophonous echoes of her attacks reverberated through the corrupted forest like thunder.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Meralda's efforts were relentless. She employed various strategies, harnessing the dwindling plant life, discharging concentrated beams of green energy, summoning colossal vines, and even manipulating the earth itself to erect massive barriers in an attempt to halt the relentless advance of Kaksan.

Yet, the creature dodged and disregarded every attack, moving with agility and purpose.

Adrian had entrusted Meralda with the task of keeping Kaksan at bay for the time being.

While she remained uncertain about the reasons behind this directive, she held deep trust in Adrian's judgment.

Though the fear of confronting a creature as formidable as Kaksan was undeniable, Adrian's words reassured her. She believed in his promise that, if the situation took a dire turn, he would come to her aid.

Meralda's emerald eyes blazed with unwavering determination as she persisted in her relentless pursuit to hinder the beast and thwart its relentless journey.

Despite the odds stacked against her, she refused to yield. Every attack, every spell, and every maneuver she executed was a testament to her resilience and courage.

The forest, already decaying under Kaksan's ominous presence, bore witness to Meralda's valiant efforts as she unleashed her magic and earth-shaping abilities in a desperate attempt to deter the creature.

Her steadfastness in the face of such a formidable adversary was a testament to her strength and unwavering commitment to her duty.

…..

"A…nN..OY..InG"

In the dark, corrupted heart of Kaksan, an ancient terror of the land, a mumbled frustration arose like a tempest. As the beast continued its relentless charge towards the elven kingdom, its senses were pricked by the presence of a woman in the skies, and she was unmistakably, unbearably annoying. Kaksan's mind grappled with the conundrum of her familiarity. The eons of being sealed and dormant had eroded parts of Kaksan's memory, or perhaps they had been overwritten by the sands of time.

Every fiber of his monstrous form quivered with an instinctual urge to leap forth and end this nuisance once and for all.

Yet, something held him back—a force more potent than mere frustration.

The woman exuded an energy, a mana signature that resonated with a name etched in the deepest layers of his being.

The person he had been searching for, yearning for, was somehow intertwined with this vexing woman's essence.

The desire to slay her was undeniable. However, the beast found itself ensnared in a peculiar predicament. Deep within his malevolent core, a fraction of rationality prevailed.

It was an eerie, unsettling realization. The primal, relentless beast hesitated, fearing the consequence of touching this woman.

He understood, with a dread that pulsed through him, that harming her would invoke the wrath of the very person he longed to meet. This realization, born from obscure fragments of his memories, filled him with terror.

In all the millennia of his existence, he had never known fear, but now, an entirely irrational, uncharted fear had emerged—the fear of being loathed by that one person he yearned to reunite with.

The thought of finally meeting that person, although it was slightly faster than planned, brought an overwhelming sense of joy to Kaksan.

He had hoped to present a fantastic gift to that person before their long-anticipated meeting, but the prospect of seeing that person filled him with excitement.

This was the first time in Kaksan's thousand-year history that he had experienced such emotions, and his monstrous heart beat wildly within his dark, formidable form.

...

"Master, he isn't stopping!" Meralda's distress was evident in her telepathic message.

"What didn't I tell you to get his attention?"

"Yes, I did! Even right now, I'm firing the beast with most of my most powerful attacks, but he keeps ignoring me and heading straight there. This thing isn't even paying attention to me for some reason!"

Adrian's mind raced as he processed this information. He hadn't anticipated that Kaksan would be so driven and focused on his destination. It was evident that the situation had taken an unexpected turn. He needed to act swiftly to ensure the safety of the elven kingdom.

As Adrian continued his conversation with Elowyn, he realized that resolving their misunderstandings would be a lengthy process.

Time, however, was a luxury they couldn't afford at the moment, not with the approaching menace of Kaksan, with little to no choice he decided to take a more direct and aggressive approach.

The monstrous beast was already on its way, and the queen, still bedridden from their previous battle, couldn't be awakened without dire consequences, his sister had to directly intervene in that fight and used her authority personally on the queen.

Adrian knew that disturbing her now could result in severe, possibly permanent brain damage.

Furthermore, even if the queen were to awaken at this moment, it was highly doubtful that she could offer any meaningful assistance due to her current state of madness.

Her mental condition was far from stable, making her involvement in dealing with Kaksan an impractical and dangerous option.

The urgency of the situation demanded immediate action, and he had no choice but to address the threat in a more forceful manner.

Adrian employed his sister's authority on the innocent Iselia, who had been playing around his lap. He couldn't help but feel sorry for the child as she suddenly fell into a deep slumber.

However, he was worried about the potential effects of his sister's authority on the child's mind, so he decided to take Iselia back to her room, where she would be safe ffor the time being.

As he carried the sleeping child through the garden giving her to the hypnotized servants, Elowyn's protests rang out behind him. He had no time to listen to her chatter, and the urgency of the situation pushed him to prioritize the safety of the city.

"Princess, gather up your troops and alert the whole city to evacuate," he commanded, his voice carrying a sense of impending danger. The atmosphere became increasingly tense as a shroud of darkness enveloped Faerielight.

"Do as I tell you if you want to survive" he urged Elowyn, who looked at him with uncertainty and fear.

Adrian couldn't help but feel frustration building inside him as he observed Elowyn's hesitant expression. In the face of the looming crisis, her uncertainty was starting to grate on his nerves.

"What's with that look? Seriously, stop dazing around and move, for fuck's sake!" he exclaimed, his voice laced with impatience.

Adrian couldn't help but ponder the absurdity of his situation, thinking.

'Can't I just watch this city burn? Damn these stupid missions'