Eyo - Mcmake wrote this so drop him a PM
Armour: Brimflame
Weapon: Winter's Fury(Unusable), Stormfront Razor
Acc(10/11): Celestial cuffs, Mana Flower, Sorcerer Emblem, Celestial Emblem, Ankh Shield, Deific Amulet, FrostSpark Boots, Grand Gelatin, Amalgamated Brain, Evasion Scarf. (Unlimited Buffs)
Health: (500/500)
There is a certain joy in possessing strength. I delight in it the way a man delights over his riches or a creature delights in its offspring. And although I have no particular love of destruction, I certainly love having the ability to crush whatever I lay my eyes on. This is what I had desired. Freedom... freedom purchased by the strength of my hands and the fortitude of my spirit. I would climb the ladders of power until I was free of every influence. Until nobody dared to command me ever again...
"Okay, if you can't accelerate the item to sufficient speeds, you need to account for the gravitational pull. Everything falls at the same speed, when..."
Such lofty thoughts run through my head as I grasp hold of my blade and hurl it with all my strength. My muscles sing. My nerves are alight. I cannot suppress a triumphant smirk as my weapon zips through the air like lightning and strikes the small target scrawled on the cavern's opposing wall. Why do I feel so proud of myself? I'm not entirely sure. I know I'm doing something utterly mindless - and a picture drawn on a wall is not a worthy opponent - but regardless, I know I've obtained a valuable skill. This is something even Doppleganger cannot steal from me.
*clap-clap*
The Bandit gives me a toothy grin before applauding. She looks on me proudly - as if she could somehow take credit for my excellent throwing abilities - and although I find it odd, it isn't unpleasant either. I focus my gaze on The Stormfront razor embedded in the hard, mudstone walls and motion with my hand. It vanishes and re-appears in my palm, the smooth steel hilt cool against my skin. The Bandit shouts unnecessary encouragements at me as I raise my blade once more. Much to my chagrin, I find myself basking in them instead of being annoyed.
"Excellent, Good work Faze."
"Yes, I know."
My affirmation seems to surprise her. She pauses and raises her eyebrows before continuing.
"erm... do you want to try a moving target?"
"Yes!"
My voice comes out far more excited than I'd intended. I stash away my blade and bounce my way over to her. Although I've tried my best during this outing to remain calm and reserved - I'm beginning to get the sense that nobody is taken by my facade. But given I just saved everyone from death by giant bee, everyone is behaving graciously towards me. The Bandit is no exception. She chuckles tiredly at me and gingerly holds her ribs as she makes her way towards the chamber's exit. Evidently, she finds something about me amusing, and although I dislike being made fun of - I don't feel offended.
"Fine," she wheezes, "let's get away from the group - otherwise we might hit somebody."
"Yes."
Besides, even if I were offended I would have bitten back a retort. The Bandit's lessons are proving both beneficial and effective, and I would deign to lose access to her wisdom. For although I am proud, by no means will I - at barely a month old - pretend that I know more than those quite literally two hundred times my age.
The Bandit motions to me and the two of us split from the group to clamber up the slick mud banks. As I scale the bluff, I look over see The Steampunker (who had stuck to me like glue for the past day. Strange that she's suddenly occupied with something else) huddled over some poor wretch's corpse. She looks distraught and I briefly study her before I'm beckoned into and into a larger chamber.
... ah.
I understand it is unbecoming for me to be so starstruck with... just about anything I lay eyes on, but what can I do? Can I pretend that the wonders of the lush jungle are pedestrian? Should I not feast my eyes on the shimmering scuttlers which sparkle in the sunlight? Or the vividly coloured beetles which rest in the shade of emerald vines? The moss below my feet runs with water, and from their little streams small blooms spring up - petals straining towards the sun high above. In the shadows, tender mushrooms grow from the mud. They're of all shapes and sizes, some of which I would never had imagined if I had not laid eyes on them.
And the creatures too! Some I have seen before, but others I have not. Their shadows fly across the cavern floor, forming a vortex like pattern over the canopy high above. I can hear them chittering to one another. I feel their eyes on me, and-
*shink-squeak*
One peels off from the flock and descends towards me like a furry missile. As if by instinct, I know it is my enemy. I raise my blade and hurl it at the offender with such force, it ploughs straight through. The Jungle Bat ignites with the sound of lightning before spiraling to the ground, a blackened lump of flesh. Frankly, I'm shocked I was able to strike such a small, erratically moving target with such accuracy. The Bandit seems to voice my thoughts.
"Oh... well, then. I guess you've got that down pretty well. I guess you're a natural?"
"Yes. I'm a natural."
"...right."
The Bandit side-eyes me. There's a smirk curling the edge of her lip, and I wonder if she has discovered that I like to be complimented... surely not. Well, in any case I don't dwell on it. With so much mental stimulation, I hardly can dwell on anything. Having lived my whole (admittingly short) life locked in a windowless room full of spell textbooks, I must be forgiven for being absolutely flabbergasted with everything new.
"Anyways, there are some more bats up there. Do you want to, hey-"
And now, I've moved to another topic of interest... for near the bottom of The Cavern, I see The Tavernkeep muddling around in the foliage. How odd that our expedition captain has split from The Group? Should he not be leading us? Well, I am no expert on The Resistance protocol, so I'm content to observe. Despite the great distance between us, I can hear him mutter under his breath, 'yes, this should do nicely'. My first instinct is to ask for clarification, however, given that he has yet to notice either of us, I deduce those words were not meant for my ears. Instead, I simply crane my neck and watch him search The Jungle walls.
"Faze? What's going on?"
I ignore The Bandit - who has come to stand beside me, and focus on The Bald Man who has since found what he was searching for: a small alcove buried in the roots of a great mahogany tree. Strangely though, he turned from his hiding place and strode purposefully to a particular patch of Jungle moss. There he knelt to the ground and began to clear the weeds from around what appeared to be tremendous pink onion. I recall reading about onions in my herbology textbook, and recite the entry to the thoroughly confused Bandit.
"The onion plant has a fan of hollow, bluish-green leaves and its bulb is composed of shortened, compressed, underground stems surrounded by fleshy modified petals that envelop a central bud at the tip of the ste-"
"...erm, Okay? But do you want to practice your rogue skills?"
"After."
"Uh... fine."
The Bandit furrows her brow and after a moment of peering into the jungle, shrugs her shoulders and turns away - leaving me to study The Tavernkeep and his onion. I have never ventured down into The Resistance kitchens, but I do recall seeing the image of a cook in one of my novels. They wear aprons and strange hats, and although The Tavernkeep doesn't fit the picture exactly, I can only assume he wishes to collect the massive onion for one of his culinary projects. It is an onion though... right? I do recall that onions typically grow underground, but then again, I've seen so many ridiculous things during this outing I don't even question the glowing oddity. It seemed quite deeply rooted as well, for no matter how he tried, The Tavernkeep was unable able to pull it out. How strange. In human terms, The Tavernkeep's strength should be enough to pick any onion-
*shrippp*
My interest is abruptly replaced by suspicion as The Tavernkeep pauses his gardening to look around - as if attempting to detect any prying eyes. After finding no one in sight, (I must have been too far away) he plants his feet, grasps the onion's petals, and strains with all his might. His knuckles white and veins standing out, he managed to uproot the pulsing bud, which seemed to flash and beat as it was slowly lifted from its native soil.
*Crack... shifff*
At that very moment, a saccharine scent bloomed outwards from the uprooted bulb, so potently sweet that I feel the pollen coat my nose and tongue. I begun to cough violently, as does The Bandit behind me. Through teary eyes, I see The Tavernkeep flee to his hiding place, then that the onion is no onion at all! Rather, its a bulb which, despite its small size, has roots that stretch across the entire cavern! I feel the earth beneath my feet move in the most surreal fashion, as if a thousand snakes were ploughing through the matted mud towards that pulsing bulb. Is it my imagination? or is-
"What the hell!"
The Bandit shrieks as she catches sight of the swelling pink bulb. It was only the size of a small urn a moment ago, but now it has accelerated in its growth, ballooning outwards at a frightening rate. In a matter of moments, it stands three times my height, its roots twisting the breaking the ground as they suck in every bit of moisture they can reach.
*pfffff*
I cover my mouth as, with a puff, the air is filled with stinging spores. Behind me, The Bandit collapses to her knees and clutches at her throat. Thankfully I am not so badly effected by the pollen, because I know I must fight. Some primordial sense tells me that this thing is my enemy.
Something changes in my head.
It was silent, instant and imperceptible - yet profound. Like a light being switched on, or a flame extinguishing with a huff. All the curiosity drains out of me. My wonder and thirst for exploration evaporates. Suddenly, nothing seems to matter at all besides the tremendous floral monstrosity that rises afore me. Adrenaline beats in my head to the drum of my heart. My fingernails ache for how tightly I grip my weapon. My eyes hurt from the spores, but neither can I close them. They're trained so tightly on the plant that I fear they might just pop out. Every muscle is tense as a wire. Every sound rings emptily in my head. I hear my breath scraping the back of my throat, pumping through my lungs as if desperate for air.
... do I fight?
Do I fight, or do I run? If I must run, can I retreat effectively? I tear my gaze from the tremendous flower to look wildly towards the cavern's ceiling. The walls are sheer - nearly vertical. I could climb it via grapple, but lacking wings, I fear the plant-monster will easily overtake and destroy me. No. It's too risky. Retreat is not an option. If I wish to live, I must fight. Although I am in the most beautiful place I've ever imagined, amongst people I could tentatively call allies, my situation has not changed at all. I am not safe. I am not secure. Should I die, The Crimson worms await me.
I-I must fight.
Terror? no. Not terror like before... not like the time I fought Cryogen. Things were hopeless then. I was beaten and worn, my veins diseased and my blood mixed with filthy tar. I'm scared, yes... but this time I...I can win. No. I must win. Hadn't I expect this when I took my life in my hands and descended into the bowels of the unknown Jungle? Something in me knew... anticipated that I would face some great opponent. Now it stands before me.
I can do this!
I focus.
The cavern trembles. Vines snap and fall from the mossy overhangs. The tree roots that weave in and out through the compact mud walls are shaken loose and swing freely through the air, flinging dirt every which way. The air seems to grow tense and the pollen grows ever thicker. My eyes water profusely - tears streaming down the sides of my face, but I don't dare to look away... for my enemy is moving.
*rumble*
From the base of the bloom, twisting vines and gnarled roots stretch out across the chamber, the tentacles fasten to the ground via wicked looking claws. It moves unlike anything I've seen before, dragging itself rapidly across the earth in a way that is entirely alien. Does it not obey the natural laws? Wait... I narrow my eyes and narrow my concentration.
Ah... the pollen.
Magic. A seething, choking magic which burns and stings wherever the pink particles lands. If I could use my own mana, I could have easily shielded myself from the nuisance, but alas - I fear to wake My Doppleganger. I am face to face with a massive hostile entity, and the last thing I need are trauma-induced hallucinations.
Move!
The giant plant approaches me, launching itself with a frightening agility - its vines throwing the main bulb-body towards me with reckless abandon. Something shoots at me from the lips of the blossom with such velocity, I barely have time to react. It's like a bullet and it rips through my robes so powerfully, I can feel the sting of the wind against my ribcage.
"Haah!"
I cry out in surprise, then leap back as the main body passes beneath me. I can feel the sheer weight of the thing as it hurtles its way through the air. Is it entirely filled with water?! Likely - as the petals are all dark, fat and waterlogged. That amount of water is heavy, far heavier than I. If I'm not careful, I can easily be crushed to a pulp!
Focus.
But I don't panic.
I know what happens when men panic.
So I swallow my fear. I bury it deep in my loins. I set my eyes like flint and I grit my teeth to face my monster. That tremendous bulb whips around to face me; its vines groan beneath the weight of its movement. Another seed shoots from the centre of the bulb, but this one I'm ready for. I parry the heavy blow (and how heavy it is!) with my blade before winding my arm back to hurl the knife.
*crack*
The blade slams through the air with the crack of thunder. The noise and pressure is incredible, amplified as it reverberates through the magic-filled air. In an instant, The Stormfront Razor has plunged into one of the petals - lodged there like a burning thorn. Sparks shower from The Bulb en masse, leaving a thousand small burning sores on petal and vine alike.
Oh no...
The damage is not nearly enough to slow it down, much less cripple the creature. Enraged, it roars. One of the vines snaps back and the bulb flies sideways, smashing me against the cavern wall with a terrible impact.
"kaaagh!"
I scream, but I can't hear myself. Something in my chest breaks. Something else is crushed to nothing. Liquidy pulp pools in my bowels. My eyes roll back and I nearly lose myself. The petals are coated with searing acid. It eats away from my flesh with a fearful voracity, stripping away skin, then muscle until my bones and nerves are exposed to the stinging air. I shriek and claw at the thing until my fingernails lift from their places.
Get ahold of yourself!
I force my pupils back down and clench my teeth. Injuries like this!? This sort of pain?! It's nothing. I can't be phased by this! I curl my lip in rage and summon my blade to my hand. Its burning me, but I'll cut it to bits. I feel it crushing my spine - but I'll dismember it first. I plunge my weapon in at the base of the bulb and wildly tear upwards, cutting a horrid gash in the pink petals. The thing recoils. I escape to the ground.
Focus Hero! Focus damn you!
I raise my eyes and see The Bulb beginning to peel apart. The hole I had carved in the petals had damaged it quite dreadfully. Parts of the main body had begun the shrivel and wither, drooling a thick nectar from its wounds. The Plant - with whatever primordial intelligence it possessed - seemed to know that if it didn't crush me, I would destroy it. Now it's a desperate animal. Now, things get dangerous.
*whhhsssh*
A vine flashed in from by blind spot, cracking in with a sharpness that - although I dodged it by a millimetre - left me stinging. The vine snapped behind me and collided with something else, but I cannot identify it. My eardrums were ruptured in the initial impact, and have yet to heal fully. I must fight with my eyes alone, and I don't budge them for a moment.
It's coming... now it's coming!
With a terrific noise, the remaining leaves shed away revealing a trisected mouth whose inner folds were packed with needle sharp teeth. It opens wide and bellows forth a guttural roar. From deep in its bowels, it belches forth a ball of sharp thorns. The projectile manages to skim me as I barely dodge. Those serrated thorns slice into my elbow and the venom causes the wound to immediately swell and burn. And still, I dare not look. My mind is fully encompassed by the battle afore me.
*uuuoaaaaahhh*
It roars. A bellow of anger? A death rattle? Perhaps something between a breath, a creak, a scream - It charges at me, and I charge at it. No fear. No hesitation. I see my opportunity and I grasp it. Eyes wide. Blade drawn. Speed. I throw my grappling hook to accelerate towards that mouth of venomous needles.
The world slows down.
Time stops.
I feel the wind on my cheeks.
I feel the hot air rustling through my eyelashes.
Jaws enclose me on both sides, those needle teeth closing in around me, above me, below me, behind me. I look down at that gaping throat that threatens to swallow me whole. The flecks of venom move slowly through the air. A droplet lands on my cheek and burns a blackened stain there. But I'm not afraid. Although death encloses me on all sides, I see my target. I see my victory. I exhale. I'm relaxed. I'm in control.
Go!
The world flashes around me. Everything goes black... or white? The dimensions shift and I'm floating in a different place. The Evasion scarf wrapped, invisible about my throat trembles with power as it twists time and space. For a short instant - or perhaps it's an eternity, I float in the darkness of infinity. A lurch. I'm thrown forwards and then...
*snap*
The world flashes back into existence.
The Bulb's mouth snaps shut behind me.
And I turn, my blade raised, to claim my victory.
Plantera: *I eat u*
Faze: Lmao Evasion Scarf goes brrr.
Plantera: ayo wtf
I'll be back with Slayer & Guide next chapter. I was gonna append it here, but decided this chapter was too long already so ye.
anyways I listened to The RUmbling on repeat (AOT last opening) while writing this at 3AM saturday night. was so trippy.