The Ashleaf Tree crashed down onto Arwin with the weight of a falling mountain. It slammed into the Wyrm’s Revenge, sending a wave of force tearing down Arwin’s body and through his feet into the ground. It nearly crushed him. Even with [Indomitable Bulwark] and [Scourge], it took every scrap of power that Arwin had to remain standing. The tree was massive and, even if he ignored the fact that an enormous plant was trying to beat him to death with its own body, it was a giant tree. There was little surprise that it was heavy. Arwin’s joints groaned and his knees shuddered. A shockwave rolled over him and out across the room from the force of the impact. Branches crunched and leaves rustled as the top of the tree smacked against the ground, raining razor-sharp blades all around him. For a brief instant there was silence. Then the roar of a Wyrm filled the air. All the power that had gathered in the Cursed item released. It ripped free from his shield’s mouth, spilling rolling black fire out like a raging river bursting free from behind a dam. The fire slammed into the Ashlock Tree with such intensity and force that it carved a path straight through the trunk. Leaves crackled and withered in an instant. The trunk blackened and cracked from the intense heat and the tree jerked back, nearly ripping itself free of the ground in its haste to escape the attack. Thick patches of dark flame clung to its surface like Greek Fire. The tree thrashed, and Arwin ducked behind his shield a moment before a thick branch slammed straight into him. Even though he blocked the blow, its force was enough to lift him off his feet and send him flying across the room. He dismissed the Wyrm’s Revenge as he hit the ground in a roll. Roots scraped against his armor and caught on his flesh. Arwin slammed to a halt against a wall, the breath ripped from his lungs. Healing light rolled over his body no more than a second later. Relief came with it. Arwin shoved himself upright, still blinking the stars from his eyes. Someone yelled out a warning. He couldn’t tell from where it had come, but he reacted without thinking. Roots shot up from beneath destroyed brick. Another branch plummeted from above, glistening with bladed leaves in search of blood. Its shadow passed over Arwin. Rodrick arrived beside him, driving a foot into the ground with such force that the dead roots at his feet crunched and shattered. He leapt into the air with a roar, driving his shoulder into the branch and knocking its path askew. Shadows bore Reya and Olive to Arwin’s side and their weapons ripped the roots to shreds before they could reach him. The magic from the bracelet Arwin ate faded, but even as it did, he shoved a second one into his mouth and bit down. [Rough Band]: Rare Quality [Roughhousing]: This item is imbued with the anticipation of old metal that seeks to perform one last time. Every attack made while it is worn will do increased damage at the cost of considerable magical energy. Power drove into Arwin’s chest like a runaway horse. His stomach clenched, his muscles stiffened. He ground his teeth as he reared back, drawing every single scrap of energy he had in his body. With a thought, Arwin summoned Verdant Inferno back to his hands. He activated his gauntlets, sending their power into the hammer. [Soul Flame] joined it, re-igniting the hammer’s head with molten fire. The air around him hummed with power. Then, with a snarl, Arwin swung the hammer. It streaked through the air like a blue comet. Slammed into the side of the tree, in the exact same spot that the last few strikes had hit it. There was an earsplitting explosion. Wood vaporized within the sea of fire that burst from Verdant Blaze’s head, tearing into the Ashleaf Tree like a blade. Branches at the top of the tree snapped and spun free. The roots holding it to the ground screamed and creaked as they tried to resist the force of the hammer blow. The Ashleaf Tree tore free of its base. It pitched back, suspended in the air for a brief moment before it hit the ground with a resounding crash. The floor bucked beneath Arwin’s feet and Olive stumbled, driving her sword into a stray root bunch to keep herself from falling. Dust swirled into the air. Then there was silence, only broken by the heavy breathing of the Menagerie. Arwin slowly lowered his hammer. He dismissed his gauntlet and helm, wiped his mouth with the back of his wrist, swallowed, and re-summoned it once more. “Is… it dead?” Reya asked, holding Wyrmhunger before her and shifting her weight from foot to foot. “No energy yet,” Olive warned. “Be careful.” Lillia walked up beside them, shadows twisting at her side and rising up behind her. Rodrick stood beside her, his eyes darting in search of anything that might try a sneak attack. A thump echoed through the room as the Dungeon Heart pulsed, still embedded in the top half of the tree. Arwin glanced in its direction. “Is it going to revive?” Arwin asked warily. Lillia stuck her hand into Arwin’s travel bag. She rooted around in it, then pulled out the carefully wrapped potion that Esmerelda had given him. The glass must have been special, because it wasn’t so much as scratched from the fight. Without a word, Lillia popped the cork off the potion and poured it onto the tree stump. They all stared at it. “What do you think the chances are that was actually a healing potion?” Olive asked as she fought to catch her breath. Anna walked up alongside her. “I have to admit that would be a funny joke.” “It would be,” Olive agreed. “We have different ideas of jokes,” Reya said. A wet, squelching whimper rose up from somewhere deep within the roots. Sickly red lines appeared in the stump, winding their way throughout it. Wherever they touched, the tree withered and softened. It only took seconds for the red to work its way through the rest of the stump. By the time it was done, the entire thing had turned into a wet pile of mushy red and black slag. The Menagerie stared down at what remained of the tree. I almost feel bad for the tree. This just feels disrespectful. Like pissing on a grave. “I don’t think it was a healing potion,” Olive said.