The area was rapidly submerged by a piercing white light, as pitch black creatures of various illogical shapes and forms emerged from the steam, their faces flat and translucent, as it was from within that their shine was coming from, a heavy and warm beam similar to a limelight.
"Don't stay in their light for too long, it does something to you" shouted Toby, but everyone had encountered some of these creatures before already, remaining under the glow they casted made one's flesh feel like it was it was teeming with ants and bubbling, even one's bones would start to feel itchy, as though they did not feel right within their bodies.
Although that effect was insidious and could most certainly lead to a premature end, everyone present could easily resist it, whether it was because of their strength, because these beings had been ripped out of their element, a combination of the two, or something else entirely, they could not tell, but they did not bother to make assumption, and instead moved to take the creatures out.
Milo was the fastest to act, although he preferred to conserve as much energy as possible, and knew already that these beings weren't very resilient, they simply gave off a sensation that made him want to purge them, like these beings that the undeads had herded off into the Emerald Realm weren't only not meant to be here, but that they shouldn't even exist to begin with.
This feeling was shared by everyone else present, on top of the fact that this sudden influx was most certainly not the end of it, and that they should take them out as swiftly as was possible.
Milo leapt through the air like a cannonball, both feet striking right against the head of one of the short creatures, obliterating it as the white light flickered before fading away completely, the pitch black of the anomalous existence totally vanishing mere moments after.
Helena tore another apart with several blades of wind, the light-bearing beast emitting the sound of what sounded like a piece of iron being furiously sawed at before similarly disappearing upon defeat.
Antieeld channelled mana into her blade, thrusting her sabre forth, and piercing the head of a tall monstrosity, killing it on the spot as another creature rushed right through its disappearing body, swinging an arm disproportionately large compared to the rest of its body, only for the limb to be severed by Tahnee's spear, the creature's head then swiftly crushed by Cassi who climbed up on its back.
Another one resembling nothing precise, except perhaps for the tendrils of sort which looked like seaweed, rushed at them, only to have its head pelted with arrows by Toby.
More were shot down by Lynn, some caught aflame under Eppie's influence, but the amount of enemies was large, and they fought for several more minutes, enduring the dire effects of being exposed to the white light, until finally, the last fell, and the a sense of ease washed over them, the relaxation of a fight that was over with, the kind that made one's shoulder drop down as the tension fell.
It was then that a wave of fire pushed through the steam, bringing in greater heat than the rocky region was used to, the fiery tidal force was quick and wide, but only beginners would fall for such a simple ambush, the burning attack was forced back by a powerful stream of wind.
"I guess you guys aren't the sort of fools to relax in enemy territory, heh? That's a shame, I was looking forward to what sort of cinders you would all turn into!" revealed as the winds dispelled much steam was a girl that perfectly matched the description given by Abraham, dressed in a white uniform, a skirt and glowing, bright red eyes that seemed capable of burning someone by just staring at them.
"Guys, her flames are also made up of a soul energy" remarked Toby.
"We encountered another girl dressed in a white uniform earlier, she had been firing bullets of soul energy"
"Oh, is that the one that's been pelting us every now and then?"
"Oi, I greatly dislike your nonchalant attitude, let's change it" the girl, who they knew called herself Alici, and had proclaimed herself a daughter of Loimos, manifested greater amounts of fire, which moved as though it was liquid rather than plasma, her hands seemed to brighten up as though made from iron, turning incandescent when manipulating the blazes.
Toby and Lynn were the first to attack, firing their arrows at the members of the Soror.
"Vila Bouclia!" the arrows met a durable obstacle.
With a wide motion, the strange flames flowed down upon them, but once again, Helena protected everyone with her magic, the young girl whistled.
'In terms of combat ability… The most dangerous are the buff guy, the buff girl and that girl that has a nice sense of fashion, but the big girl is especially annoying since she can use that 'zone' ability that Father spoke about… At any time, she could become untouchable or end the fight… It might be large enough to engulf the whole area, we can only try to defeat her first before she can use it…' the only saving grace about the fact that Helena could wield a zone, was that it was a draining ability, although expectations was that she had grown in power since her last sightings within the main world, no one was guessing for her to be capable of just chain casting zones like the Volcano Witch.
'The buff guy though… If we can kill him, Father will be so proud of us!' it was hyperbolic, as they knew very well that Loimos could literally not express pride in anything, but he would definitely praise and reward them nonetheless, he knew how to act for the sake of others.
Alici narrowed her eyes, a cocky smile forming on her face, although she knew that she was the lesser one when it came to energy manipulation and experience between her and Helena, soul energy was an otherwise more potent and complicated energy than mana, channelled through her soul depth manifestation, she rose both hands of forced the fire against the winds.
'Just one lick of a burn… Have you people ever gotten your souls singed? One moment of weakness, and I'll burn it all away!- Huh?' Alici threw herself to the side, a shallow cut bleeding on her forehead.
"Damned cow… Still casting spells even when pushing against my flames?" grabbing a pendant hanging around her neck, Alici summoned a large crossbow, the object manifesting with a torrent of soul sparks.
And without hesitation, she fired through her own flames, multiple bolts were fired out in rapid succession, each piercing through the flaming veil.