As the group made their way over to the dense patch of forest they all remained on high alert. They could hear countless sounds of life coming from ahead, be that of battle or just simple cry’s made by one beast or another. Knowing that they would be entering a hotly contested area was a source of both concern and excitement.
Concern for it could potentially be very dangerous. Yet excitement as it posed a very real chance of letting them properly sink their teeth into something. As they got closer they also noticed the distinct lack of any powerful presences, indicating that their shouldn’t be many or if they were lucky any beast lords present.
Ideally this would be the domain of beast around their own level, if that was the case then they would have a great opportunity to grow.
As the group entered into the thicket, they finally received some reprieve from the dour rain. With the trees so close together they acted as a natural barrier for the rain, allowing the forest floor to remain relatively dry. Still some rainwater did manage to slip though the canopy, resulting in miniature waterfalls originating from the tree tops far above.
With the low light and muted sound of distant rain fall the forest looked both ethereal and haunting. Where normally dappled sunlight may pour through to illuminate the ground, now only endless streams of water trickled through.
Yet this natural umbrella did have the benefit of deterring the more aquatic beasts from venturing into this area. Whilst they naturally could survive outside of the water that they called home, they still had a strong aversion to staying out of the water. This was why this region was in so much upheaval ever since the rain started.
With it the aquatic beasts can finally leave their natural domains and begin to explore the surroundings with much greater freedom than they ever had before. And with the rain seeming to have no immediate end in sight, this upheaval would only continue on.
The sounds of battle not too far ahead drew the attention of the group, all heads whipping in that direction as soon as it started. With a quick check at her party members, and receiving their nods, Violet changed her direction and headed towards the battle to get a closer look.
Violet was normally not on to butt into an ongoing battle, it was for no grand reason other than the fact they she personally would be quite frustrated if someone or something, interrupted her whilst she was fighting. Thats not to mean that she wouldn’t intrude on an ongoing battle, just that she preferred to not have to do so.
Which was why she had no intention of interrupting the battle, she only wanted to observe the beasts in question that were fighting. Violet primarily wanted to do this to get a rough gauge of how powerful the beasts here were. The other reason was just so that she could witness a fight between two beasts that she didn’t know about.
As they closed in on the battlefield, the sounds of combat only increased in intensity. The cry’s of the beasts echoing out, crashes and muted explosions could also be heard indicating that at least one of them utilised magic.
Soon enough the group got their first glimps of what was fighting before them. When she did finally see what was fighting Violet got a vicious grin on her face.
For it was not 2 beasts fighting each other, but a singular beast and a monster that were fuming it out.
The difference between a beast and a monster was quite narrow, yet distinct.
A beast is a being that came about naturally, mainly through being born from a parent. A monster however is one that has a more... magical origin. The most common way thata monster is created is by coalescing from the ambient mana, a good example of that is elementals.
Yet what truly separated beasts from monsters is both intelligence and form.
Generally monsters have no true intelligence, they are filed primarily by instincts and a thirst for power. As for their form, well they are called monsters for a reason. Prime example being the one before them right now.
In a small clearing in front of the group a giant mole stood on one side, its black fur covering in numerous wounds. It’s large claws dripped with a viscous icor that seemed to burn the very flesh of the beast. Across from it stood? Floated? Was a grotesque creature. It was formed primarily from a wood like material, yet instead of leaking sap, it instead leaked a putrid black icor.
The skin? Of the being was brown and textured like bark, but beneath the surface the undulating black flesh caused a shiver to run down Violet’s spine. The monster consisted of two distinct parts, the front end? Was a bulbous sphere of undulating vine and root like limbs, with several of these vines protruding out in front of it. Clearly having used them to do battle with the mole before it.
It’s rear end was almost human like, with 2 legs? Yet the fleshy bark like texture of it was just strange enough to fit neatly into the uncanny valley territory. Yet the being was not actually touching the ground, its real limbs hovering just off the forest floor.
Violet had no idea what this creature was, yet just looking it it filled Violet with a deep sense of revulsion. As if that being should not exist in this world, and it was true as it looked like the very world itself was almost rejecting its existence. Small spatial fractures would appear surrounding the creature at regular intervals, small parts of the being being cleanly sliced off and whisked away to who knows where.
Yet despite this, the monsters was clearly in the advantage during its fight with the mole. Said mole was not in great shape, its black fur marred with rivers of blood that run down its body. Its breathing is erratic and clearly pained, then its claws looked to be in hours shape, the monsters blood clearly being highly corrosive.
Whilst the monster did have some wounds covering its body, it did not seem to show any weakness, not that understanding much about this creature was even possible, or desired.
This was all taken in by Violet in an instant, her powerful mind quickly absorbing the details of what she witnessed. And in mere moments a decision was made, for whilst Violet did not enjoy interupting others fights, this rule was not iron clad. And when she once more looked over at the monster slowly closing in on the wounded mole, she knew that that monster had to die.
So with only a quickly mental warning to her party, the dragon charged up her magics and dove forward to save the mole and destroy the horror that was before her.