Dawn had arrived, and now, the whole group had gathered at the gatehouse, seeing what became of the night after they slept. No one dared to speak, but a tension was building. The whole hillside became twisted by black vines, it was as if they doubled since their arrival yesterday. What made it more ominous, they left a convenient path toward the mines, luring them forward. The vines were taunting them silently, the brambles silent despite the clear uprooting they caused to the earth, some snaking up the walls against the lingering ice that continued to reinforce them.
"Tch, 'course now it acts," Kyoka spat, holding her whip tightly. "That's a trap if I've ever seen one,"
"No kidding... but it doesn't appear to be any other way," Izuku reluctantly answered, not liking it one bit.
"This monster's taunting us..." Katsuki snorted.
"Maybe it wouldn't be so taunting if Ejiro set them on fire like last time…" Ciana spoke up at she eyed the annoying plants, they weren't dumb enough to fall for that.
"Not a good idea, much as I agree," Kiara huffed, eyeing the walls. "Set them ablaze now and we'd risk burning the village, and we don't nearly have as many on hand to handle that now,"
"So, what's the plan then?" Kirishima asked as Kiara kept her eyes closed, then peered straight at the trail.
Drawing her lute, she pointed its body forward. "Let's not keep our generous guest waiting; time we severed this crap at the source,"
"Hah, about time," Katsuki grinned, cracking his knuckles.
That's when Izuku gasped, his eyes wide with a spark. "That's it; Eijiro, Ciana, have one of you walk at the front and at the back, then use your powers to ward off any vines that try to attack us,"
"I see, they despise high concentrations of spirit energy, good thinking," Iida praised the greenette who smiled, then he looked to Ciana worryingly.
"Will you be okay with that?"
"Yeah, you said you hated your power," Uraraka asked too with some concern of her own.
Ciana still was nervous of using her dragon side, but knew this is for a good cause… so she nods but was still a bit conflicted. "I-I don't mind…" taking a deep breath, she put on a serious glare with her fist raised. "Okay! I-I'll do it!"
Ciana prayed she doesn't freak out… stepping up, she closed her eyes to activate her power from within… not only glowing but unleashing her dragon appearance once again…
Kirishima did the same next to her, both daunting patches of red and gold scales, their horns forming. His pointed upward, and hers down in a curve. Opening their eyes, both had the stare of a predator. Ciana looked a little shaken but saw Kirishima give her an encouraging smile and thumbs up, one she slowly returned as she stood at the front of the group, and him to the rear. Their pressure alone made the path widen, the vines retreating from their sources.
"You've gotten faster at transforming?" Shoto noticed.
"I-I think so…" Ciana was still a bit nervous to look herself over, she kept repeating her mantra in her had that she's still herself. Though how she's lighting up the way made her feel like a lantern… which caused her to sweat-drop. "I had some lessons from Eijiro the other night, he helped give me the push I needed to try and get past this."
Ciana gave a smile to Kirishima then a glance to Izuku with a warm thankful smile. "I also have you to thank for that as well Izuku…"
"O-oh, really? What did I do?" He blinked, cocking his head a bit.
"Don't you remember? You been helping me keep calm about my appearance during our journey, if I hadn't met you then I probably be out living in a cave by now still freaking out." She replied with a little chuckle, but kept her eyes forward to make sure her instincts don't go crazy eyeing Izuku… that be humiliating to do around her friends.
He thought he failed to do any of that for her. But this was proof that it wasn't for nothing, she seemed more relaxed than ever before, and in front of people no less. With a smile, he thought it best to let her focus on the present than to get too close. "I'm glad, but most of that was only possible because you yourself overcame that,"
Meanwhile, Kiara hummed a jolly tune as she patted Ciana's shoulders, moving her forward for the group to move too. "Hehehe, did I ever say how great it is having two dragon shifters on this team? 'Cause it's really great,"
"It does really feel safer with them warding off these plants," Uraraka agreed with a light sigh.
"I'm all for dragon protection!" Kaminari waved his hand.
"Faces a giant elemental but plants is where you draw the line?" Kyoka smirked back at the blonde.
"Hey, these are dangerous, soul-sucking plants, my fear is reasonable!" That got a few chuckles from some in the group.
"Didn't think some plants would be afraid of us unless they are trying to avoid getting burned…" she chuckled, though she doesn't breath fire unlike Kirishima. "I mean I figured if they be afraid of anyone I would think it be more Katsuki, he's more ferocious than us…" Ciana teases the barbarian with a playful smile.
"What was that, lizard girl!?" He yelled but Kiara's hand stuck out to press against his face, muffling his grunts.
"Save the fire for gardening, spiky," She snickered, leading the way with Ciana. "Mine entrances aren't far, and with how these vines are leading us, I'd say we'll find it in no time,"
With both shifters providing safety, Kiara led them away from Stoneveil, traversing the rocky plateaus and ridges, passing old rail lines and abandoned carts tipped over or overgrown with dark vines. Following the flora to the center of the quarry. The levels above were stripped back with discarded equipment, most entrances blocked by rubble or vines too thick to pass. But one entrance remained traversable, the very one the vines left for them to take.
"It's a trap," Kyoka deadpanned.
"Definitely a trap," Uraraka sighed in annoyance.
"Should I burn them?" Shoto suggested, holding up his left hand.
"Eh, screw it, we're far enough, torch it," Kiara shrugged as both Shoto and Uraraka cast two fire balls at the entryway. Causing the vines to burst into flames as some retreated from the cinders, the way forward cleared as the entrance clearly dipped forward into a slope, heading deep underground.
"That's pretty convenient…" she comments as they moved along, looking around as they go. "If a wizard or witch is causing these strange vines… wonder why he's doing it from a cave?" Ciana couldn't help but wonder as she stared at some of the remains. "Most would usually take refuge in a dark castle or little shack somewhere…"
"Mana Stream," The Jiro siblings chimed. "Jinx - damn," They gave up at that point.
"That makes sense; to create as many vines as these, one would need an abundance of mana to keep producing them at an alarming rate," Iida nodded in agreement. "There is also great wealth if they were to sell the crystals mined there,"
"Hence why a bunch from home got ill, they were in the mines when it happened, so if anyone would know the truth, it's them, but as they are that's impossible to ask," Kiara grumbled in frustration, their footsteps echoing down the dark shaft as Shoto lit his hand on fire for them, Kirishima doing the same with a snap of his fingers, and Uraraka with her staff.
The eerie dripping further down, combined with the crossroads at the base of the slope was unnerving. The lanterns were either smashed or out of oil, leaving three corridors in murky blankness beyond their light sources. Kiara scratched her head, trying to figure out where to go next. Kyoka jabbed the wall with her jacks, listening for a few seconds before pointing to the right path.
"Huh… a mana stream? Would that mean we will come close to one when we see the crystals?" Ciana glanced at Izuku, remembering they came across a pretty cavern with crystals and a sparkly stream. "Sounds a lot like the pretty cave we found a while ago Izuku, sure was an amazing discovery." Ciana beamed a little cheerfully, it was really magical like the moment under the moonlight.
"I-it was, but yes, if we start to see crystals that's a good indication, o-or the stone will start to appear a lighter shade of grey," Izuku replied as Kyoka again checked for vibrations and led them down the right path.
"What are you doing with those things at the end of your ears?" Kaminari asked the bard who eyed him over her shoulder, twirling one around her finger.
"I'm listening for faint vibrations like what mana crystals give off. It's not obvious, but there's faint traces beneath our feet, and see this-?" She stopped them to have Shoto illuminate the corner post, a blue arrow carved into the wood. "Following these takes us down to the lower levels. Blue is the lowest, green the second, yellow beneath our feet,"
"Don't wanna end up lost in the mines with some scary plant monster," Uraraka chuckled nervously, tucking her hat tighter to her head.
"Now that you mention it, where have the vines gone?" Iida noticed as they stopped at a crossroads, only now, one path led down again to their left. "If they were luring us as we suspected, why are more paths not cut off?"
"Huh... good point?" Kiara murmured, reaching for her claws.
"Maybe they begun to retreat when realizing we were getting close…" her hand when to her chin in thought, she wasn't entirely sure. "Ether that or they are trying to hide the source to confuse us, ether way… it might not be good whenever they are and planning." It was creepy being caught in a cave where vines could slither in whenever… it felt kinda claustrophobic.
"Maybe they begun to retreat when realizing we were getting close…" her hand when to her chin in thought, she wasn't entirely sure. "Ether that or they are trying to hide the source to confuse us, ether way… it might not be good whenever they are and planning." It was creepy being caught in a cave where vines could slither in whenever… it felt kinda claustrophobic.
Suddenly, Izuku grabbed Ciana's shoulder and threw her into Kiara, just as a thin thin snagged around his wrist and pulled the greenette onto his stomach, dragging him toward the middle tunnel as he panicked. "Izuku!" Several yelled, Kirishima running to grab his legs with Iida as the two pulled and fought the vines now emerging from every tunnel. They were boxed in.
"Crap, I knew it!" Kiara yelled, brandishing her claw gauntlets to hack away at the vines closing in. "Get Izuku now! Don't use fire down here or else we'll suffocate!"
Shoto then turned on his right foot, summoning several seals to completely enclose one pathway in ice, freezing the Leeching Vines before something grabbed him from above by the left, pulling him up as he instinctively set his arm ablaze again, burning the vines away as he fell down.
"Shoto! Are you alright?!" She quickly asked in worry as she helped him up, then quickly took out her sword as she tried to cut the vines off anyone who has been grabbed, Ciana had a feeling they attack eventually…
Izuku was finally pulled free, rubbing his wrist as he drew OFA, swiping at the vines that shot out from the dark. Everyone was crammed in together, Shoto moved around, sealing off the way they came and another route, leaving only the level downward. "Go!"
Not wanting to wait around, they ran down the slope, hearing the ice break behind them, clearly, the vines were much stronger than the ones above ground. Kyoka pointed left to indicate only to yelp as Kaminari caught her free hand as her left was pulled by more vines. She then glared, summoning a seal around her wrist as a bolt of sound rang in the air, piercing the plants as she fell against Kaminari's chest. "T-thanks," She puffed, wiping her brow.
"Just keep us straight," He replied, drawing his rapier to slash the vines that spat out from the cracks.
"Behind us!" Kirishima yelped, diving down as Shoto sprayed the tunnel with another burst of rime, holding them back.
"I can't use larger spells or I could cause a collapse, so keep leading the way!" The Prince called out, drawing his longsword to guard himself.
"We must be getting close if they are going as far to attack now!" Ciana begun running as they kept going, slashing out any vines that stands in their way. These things are persistent… Ciana kept her eyes forward as they got going, one of the vines snagged her arm with the weapon in hand that stopped her tracks and panicked. Trying to pull free but winced due to the thorns digging in her skin.
"Gotcha!" Kiara swung down, severing the vines as two then grabbed her arms. "Oh no-" She started to slide toward a dark shaft that led downwards, where many vines were starting to creep out from.
Ciana moved before she had a chance to think, forgetting her sword to suddenly tear the vines around the demon girl's arms with her left arm, her claws forcing the vines to retreat as Shoto blocked the tunnel, frost licking his skin now. The girl stared at her scaly arm, seeing the vines dissolve into ash at her touch while her golden hide disappeared once more.
"Huh, q-quick thinking," Kiara exhaled, leaning against the nearest wall. "Owe ya one..."
"Gotcha!" Kiara swung down, severing the vines as two then grabbed her arms. "Oh no-" She started to slide toward a dark shaft that led downwards, where many vines were starting to creep out from.
Ciana moved before she had a chance to think, forgetting her sword to suddenly tear the vines around the demon girl's arms with her left arm, her claws forcing the vines to retreat as Shoto blocked the tunnel, frost licking his skin now. The girl stared at her scaly arm, seeing the vines dissolve into ash at her touch while her golden hide disappeared once more.
"Huh, q-quick thinking," Kiara exhaled, leaning against the nearest wall. "Owe ya one..."
Ciana got to pick up her sword now, she felt different the way she teared up the vines like that which worried her a little. But glad she managed to do something to help. "A-are you okay?" She placed her hand on her shoulder to quickly recover any stamina she needed.
"All good, come on," She ushered, joining the others as the narrow tunnels opened up into a massive chasm with a winding path along the wall for them to follow. Crystals were formed on the opposite wall, providing natural light to the tree-trunk sized vines that snaked up the chasm, several more following them with jaws snapping at the open air.
"Oi, Eijiro, take us down!" Katsuki yelled, grabbing a vine to tear the head off before stomping on another, Iida hacking away at more from above while Uraraka fire magic bolts at vials of explosive gel tossed ahead by Kaminari, blasting the vines to chunks of black gunk.
"What if I end up collapsing the mine!?" He yelled back, using his scales to shield himself from the lashings of the vines while Izuku and Ciana cut them down.
"You're safe to do so, just jump!" Kiara yelled, playing her lute to replenish everyone's mana as a blue aura washed over them. "Better than fighting two several more levels of this!"
Nodding, the redhead ran and leapt over the wood railing, a bright red glow encompassing him as his dragon form swept the chasm, lowering slowly for them to run and jump onto his back one by one. Turning slightly, Kirishima swept part of the walkway with his tail, tearing up the earth to bury dozens of vines and collapse a tunnel. Using his tail, Izuku ran across and hugged the drake's body for safety, reaching back his hand for Ciana.
Ciana grabbed a hold of Izukus hand to make sure they don't separate, she was shaken up and scared through this battle so far… the vines just seem like they kept coming, she squeezed his hand more in fright as she begun to wonder if she can even survive this. "A-are we even getting close yet?!"
"About to take the short cut, drop us!" Katsuki yelled at Kirishima's horns while stomping, much to Kirishima's annoyance as he snorted and took them down away from the vines. By now, the quantity of crystals had multiplied, and upon reaching the bottom, the vines had stopped pursuing... for now.
Everyone hopped off, giving the redhead time to revert back as they peered up at the shaft, the vines no longer chasing them. "Guess that worked our for the best, huh?" Kirishima grinned a bit.
"Or they just led us into a worse state," Kyoka rolled her eyes at the dwindling plan. "Guess there's only one route left..."
All eyes stared at the mineshaft ahead, the crystals lit the way, no traces of vines like before, but that only put them on edge. Kiara stepped forward, patting her sister's shoulder. "Made this far, let's move before we're surrounded again."
"At least this brings back some memories…" Noticing the crystals around does remind her of the cavern again, Ciana was holding her injured arm as it bled a little from the thorns. Some holes and rips tore her sleeve a bit. Ciana powered down since they had more light now thanks to the crystals, but she winced more since being in dragon mode gave her more strength to deal with the pain…
Looking around, it was a pretty sight after being attacked a moment ago. Ciana walked past a crystal that gave her a reflection of herself, frowning a little when remembering back to the moment Izuku and them had. "Right… I was supposed to earn money to get the spell to wipe Izuku's memory of me." Ciana glanced back at Izuku for a minute before looking at her hands now. "This still isn't me… behaving more ferociously, it may be useful but it still scares me…"
Ciana frowned a bit more sadly, she may be getting better but still has a little trouble accepting the new her this way. "I still have been a burden to this Izuku… maybe I can collect some of these crystals later to pawn them to earn the money I need." Though this is something she can worry about later as she eyes her friends around her. "Is everyone alright?" Ciana asked in worry of their possible injuries.
"Aside from the near-death experience? Pretty well," Kaminari held a thumb up.
"Given none of us are dying, let's hold off on resting, if we get trapped here we're screwed," Kiara suggested, tossing those with cuts vials of healing elixir. "Drink up while we walk. Spiky, Ciana, with me, we'll lead,"
"Don't boss me around," Katsuki still walked toward the front, shoving past the demon girl who rolled her eyes, keeping her claws out, the trio leading down the only available tunnel.
At least she drinks the vile as instructed, has a weird taste to it which made her gag a bit. "And I thought liquid medicine from home were bad…" Ciana shivered at the taste, eyes forward again with her sword out. "Would be worse if we ended up getting split up, I'm just glad we're all still together." Being in a cave like this with deadly vines was terrifying enough to be a horror movie…
"They're smart to try and divide us, but not like they knew what skills we had between us, I mean, they'd be more focused on you and Eijiro," Kiara pointed out. "But anger issues over here, and myself? Just food that walks and talks,"
"You have a death wish, demon!" The ash-blonde growled, his brow twitching. "And this is still clearly part of the trap, they let us come down here without moving the larger vines on the walls. If it really wanted to keep us out, they'd have used those to block the way,"
They took the only route available, left, the rest having collapsed, crystals were protruding from the base of the support beams, but they were colorless, drained of mana, giving them only dull tones to guide them through the unknown.
"Is it means me… or are the crystals looking less glowy and pretty?" Taking noticed these weren't very stunning as the others… Ciana didn't think they could lose its glow since its connected to the wall.
"We're close to this mana stream, yet the crystals are drained," Shoto agreed with her, crouching down to break a small shard off. "It's either only recently grown... but at this size..."
"Something's drained it," Kyoka finished as they eyed her. The bard shrugged. "Grew up in a mining town, Kiara too, so we know a bunch about how they form,"
"Izuku, can these vines drain mana crystals?" Iida inquired as the greenette furrowed his brow with worry.
"No... they shouldn't be able to; but if they had a place to store all that mana then they can function like a catalyst, I suppose," It was all theoretical at this point.
"Maybe the sorcerer is draining them then, like you said it gives them more energy to spread these things… clearly this person is trying to gain power from these things." Ciana theorized herself as she bend down to look at one of the drained crystals.
"Hey Katsuki, have you and Eijiro ever come across these during your journey?" She asks the barbarian, glancing at him as she figured he get an idea if he is the kind of guy to sleep in caves with his dragon friend.
He stopped at the last turn, looking back. "No, most caverns I've seen never went this deep,"
"Speaking of..." Kiara looked past the blonde, her face set in a firm expression. "...we've hit rock bottom,"
Those nearest the front could see through the final tunnel, it was wide enough for three minecart tracks, two leading elsewhere with stoppers lined with carts on either side. Crystals grew from between the walls' boards. Beyond the overhang, another massive cavern presented itself. Brightly lit by radiant crystals and a luminous waterfall in the back, the stream leading elsewhere. The ground sank in several slopes, like a wide bowl. The vines covered the walls like a web from what they could see.
"Well this place is definitely clearly being mined like we thought…" approaching to look at the crystals in the carts, some were still glowing. "But no one else is here? One person couldn't have mined all this, could they?"
Usually it take a group to do that. "Also… now that I think about it, how come none of the pro adventures ever tried to come here to stop the source of these vines?" Recalling the pro hero's in UA… usually this kind of thing would have them come here to investigate the problem.
"We did put in a request, rather, our town did," Kyoka stated, not looking pleased in the slightest. "But the second you say 'mythical spirit sucking plant infestation', you get your request placed in 'low priority', hence why Kiara asked Greenie over here, 'cause he'd give a damn,"
"And it worked out, didn't it?" The taller sibling grinned back at the group before her graciously. "Couldn't have asked for a better outcome than now,"
"You bet, so let's finish this!" Kirishima clenched his scaly fist, ready to throw down with this core.
"We've come so far now, this is our chance!" Uraraka agreed.
"There's no turning back now anyways." She replied determinedly with her fist raised, but then eyed Izuku a little confusingly and curiously. "Though what about All Might? Surely a pro like him would care enough to aid the people who are getting sick from this problem."
All Might has always been a kind and compassionate hero to be there for anyone in need, from what Izuku told her he saves so many people at once and doesn't let any situation slide.
A little on edge, he shrugged. "Y-your guess is as good as mine, m-maybe he's someplace else?"
"A Paladin like him does take on many tough jobs, despite the threat before us, it was placed as low priority, so it is no wonder it may have slipped by," Iida concurred, giving Izuku the excuse he needed.
"Hey, there's something down there..." Shoto drew their attention past the carts to what stood near the middle of the cavern by the largest crystal any had laid eyes on, roughly ten feet tall, pulsing with various shades of blue. But that wasn't what drew their gaze, rather, the figure stood at the base of it, surrounded by vines at their feet.
It stood at the height of an average adult. Wearing grey robes with a dark purple sash around its waist, boots black and stained green. The hat it wore was weathered and old with tears, the purple trim peeling off. The face was obscured by cloth too, shadows masking their face from view. The man behind it all.
"Hey, you smell that?" Kirishima nudged Ciana, his face crinkled in disgust. "Getting a real rotten stench from this guy."
"Gross!" Ciana covered her nose in disgust of the smell. "H-he smells like a rotten corpse! Has this guy ever showered…?" Times like this she wished her smell weren't so sensitive… one of her other flaws of being a dragon. "Who is he?" Ciana asked while making sure to stay hidden from sight.
"Who cares what his name is, ask him twenty questions later, we found the guy to let's crush him!" Katsuki grinned, punching both knuckles together, forming amber seals around his forearms again. "Second he spots us those vines will move, so go!"
"Hate to say it, but he's right," Kaminari sighed, everyone drawing their weapons. "On three?"
"One." Izuku started for them, his hands tense around OFA.
"Two..." Kyoka brandished her jacks, grasping her flute to bring it close to her lips.
"Three!" Several of them yelled at once, bursting from the tunnel like a swarm of flies.
Everyone moved to either side as Shoto slammed his right palm down, sending forth a cascade of ice seals to burst from the earth, coming to a stop at the central crystal. He grunted, seeing the thick black vines wiggle around the rime, breaking it down with vicious lacerations, some raising the caster out from harm's way to set back on the ground on the right. Ciana, Izuku, and Kirishima all came from that direction as violet music notes swam around them, bolstering their movement.
"Kirishima, burn the vines!" Izuku yelled as the man raised an arm in a weird way, like he was pulled along strings. From it's sleeve burst several vines with maws, but they soon came into contact with a burst of flames from the redhead's lips, forcing the caster to evade the embers and shift straight into two slants from Ciana and Izuku, driving a 'X' through the man's clothing.
"We got you surrounded!" Ciana yelled, stepping back as she pointed her sword again at him now. "Alright! Who are you and why are you causing these things to spread?!" The girl demands, they should hear him out before attacking further.
"Don't you realize your causing an infestation everywhere? What is your motive here?!" All villains always had a sick goal, Ciana didn't think it be anything good obviously.
Everyone stood their ground for a split second as the man stood back up with a sickening amount of cracks from his back. Staring through the shadows cast by the cloth bindings around his face, he then raised his right hand as Izuku moved in front of Ciana, guarding with his sword as three more jaws slammed into them both, throwing them against the remains of Shoto's ice. Kirishima dove in, carving his claws down the vines as more burst from the earth, punching him in the gut and high over their heads to land in a pile of crystals as he coughed.
"Here!" Kaminari threw a vial to Katsuki who caught it, diving over the brambles that whipped Kiara and Kaminari backward. Crushing it in his palm, Katsuki swung a right hook, and his fist let out an all-too-familiar explosion that threw the caster into a wall of vines that caught his form, placing him back on the ground as cinders burned at the edges of his grey clothing.
"Burn," Katsuki grinned sharply, and from behind, Kirishima breathed another volley of flames, scorching the vines that protected their host, but not from the gravity spell that tugged them toward Katsuki who leapt for a snap kick to the man's right arm, hearing the audible 'crack' as the man tumbled toward Shoto, two fire glyphs cast above and below the man, burning him slightly as they stumbled backward, their hat falling away in a pile of ash, the bandana around their face falling apart.
Katsuki's face fell into a disgusted look of uneasiness, Kyoka froze in the middle of her melody. Kiara's hardened expression chipped away with horror. Izuku's face paled, same for Ciana's, both staring on with disgust and fear at the figure brought into light. Kaminari nearly threw up while Kirishima's face crinkled again with that pungent, rotting smell. Uraraka felt dizzy from more than just her spell usage, and Iida shook in his armour slightly. Even Shoto appeared disturbed by the sight.
The mage was nothing but a hollowed skeleton bound in vines, one pierced the left eye socket, wrapped around the cracked scalp with thorns protruding from other points beneath the corpse's clothing. It stood back a bit, adjusting itself as the head cocked to one side, scanning those around it. The jaw hung open, a faint, red glow emanating from within.
"Whoa…" Ciana stood in shock as well at the horrifying discovery, it was actually a dead guy?! How is it possible for a corpse to rise and become undead? From a spell maybe or unfinished business? "I-I didn't think this was possible…" Ciana was speechless staring at the figure, can they even kill it twice…?
"Burn it again!" Katsuki was the first to snap out of it, same for Shoto who cast four seals around the corpse, immediately burning it within a torrent of flames. But then vines surrounded the embers and smothered them, revealing the burning skeleton bound in Leeching Vines. It then twitched, thorns sprouting from the clothing as the remains were torn to shreds, and the skeleton was left to topple into a pile of useless bones.
The mound of black vines surrounded a center as they slithered to surround the large mana crystal. Despite their attempts to destroy the vines, they gathered and tethered themselves to the crystal, propping up the true core of the infestation. A single thick vine with a large white carapace in the shape of a rose, a single burning crimson eye staring back at them without any features. It stood taller than the earth elemental they faces, giant vines threshing from the earth around it in a mass of brambles and thorns. The true form of the Leeching Vines.
"So that's the core..." Izuku breathed shakily next to Ciana.
Ciana was no better as she stood horrified with her hand covering her mouth as she stared at red thing, definitely not what she expected. "How… is this even possible? How can this thing even come to be this?!" Ciana wondered if it had anything to do with the corpse, thinking it was like a curse of vengeance maybe?
"Dunno; we can worry about that after the fact, for now, aim for the core, don't hold anything back now!" Kiara yelled as she dived away from several vines stretching to tear up the earth, giving chase. Dozens formed all around them, keeping the group divided in their on conflicts with the dangerous plants. This left Ciana, Izuku, and Shoto caught in their own fray as the Core focused on them, directing its masses toward them, serrated maws peeling out from the tips of the flora.
"Dodge!" Izuku pushed forward, hacking down the first wave with wide arcs from his blade, splitting the maws in two. Ciana did the same, moving past his shoulder to piercing one vine, pinning it as she instinctively swung her left arm back, catching one at the base of the 'neck' for Izuku to decapitate.
He rolled over her back, kicking one aside for her to puncture while his sword swung in two vertical arcs, cleaving two more while feeling Ciana's sword whip by his cheek, plunging it through the mouth of another. "Both of you, move!" Rolling away from one another at the last second, a torrent of flames erupted from the ground like a string of fountains, burning away the vines snaking across the ground, but they barely made the Core flinch.
"This thing is clearly isn't going to give up that easily!" No way that thing will let them tear it apart, though eying Izukus sword gave her a possible idea. "Hey, wait a minute…" Izukus sword is just like One For All, if he could unleash a powerful strike then it should be enough to kill it. But the problem is it even breaks his bones if he goes too high with it's level…
Ciana took hold of Izukus arm. "Izuku! Your sword… it should be powerful enough to kill that thing." The idea she has to do with kissing again to boost him back up… but will he even go for that idea again?
"But I need to get close," He replied, slashing away the regrowing vines after Shoto's flames stopped, himself having to form an ice wall to guard himself while slashing the vines with his blade. They were all under severe pressure now, it divided them up, even those capable of pyromancer were unable to break through. "Whatever you have planned, I'll do it - gah!" He flinched as one bit down on his arm protecting Ciana, tearing the head off, he swiped the vine, just as an ice wall formed to give them time, Shoto panting as he blocked two more vines, both cutting his body in the process.
Seeing how everyone was struggling… this might be the only chance they have, a little hesitant how embarrassing this will probably be. "Please don't hate me for this Kiara…" Ciana prayed, then gripped her sword tighter as she slashes her way towards Izuku. Cut and bruised in the process but she still kept going.
"Izuku! We have to boost your swords power again! It's the only way!" She advices, helping by cutting out a vine that gripped his leg.
He panted, looking to her. "R-right, okay, sure!" At this point, he was pumped up on fear and adrealine that he'd take any form of help regardless.
She reached out for his arm only for a vine to burst between them, whipping Izuku aside as he rolled and cut down a vine trying to strangle him, but Ciana wasn't so lucky, feeling her right leg come out from under her as she was pulled toward the Core. She twisted in the air in a panic, hacking the vine in two. Falling, she was caught by two more, then a third, and finally a fourth around her blade mid-swing. The two fought for the sword, and to her horror, the Leeching Vines snapped her blade in two, discarding the blade.
"Ciana!" Izuku and Shoto tried to help her but both were forced back by the Core's constant observations. It was like it was learning, knowing they were running on fumes from their fight through the mines.
More tendrils wrapped around her frame, suffocating her into darkness as she tried to move, unable to scream or cry for help as her vision was completely consumed by the vines as their thorns pricked her skin. Were they no longer affected by her concentration of spirit energy? What can she do!? Think, think! She needed to think!
It was getting harder to breathe.
The vines were squeezing tighter and tighter, constricting her movements.
Was she... going to die?
Ciana began to tear up thinking this was her last moment knowing she won't ever see her friends again, though suddenly she heard a familiar voice that came to her… which surprised Ciana as it sounded like… like…
"Don't worry about a thing, we'll reach out to you…" Her mother voice… Ciana teared up more hearing her warm voice within, she didn't want this to be her last moment… she didn't want to die now… Cianas eyes shot open as they took on the look of a beast again, suddenly… Ciana screamed as she glowed bright and fiery just like the time back when she managed to escape Meru Zenas grasp. "AAAHHHH!"
The vines burned around her and her appearance took on a shape of a glowing dragon, looking fierce and stunning in the process…
When she fell to the ground again, the vines retreated, revealing the others, all battered and reeling from fighting a constant horde of vines, all their eyes were on Ciana who pushed them back. But some continued to slither around her aura, rustling like faint whispers in her ears. "Weak... Monster... Pathetic... Beast... Lifeless... Hollow... Dead..." Their disembodied words fed into her ears, drugging her emotions on despair, the gaze of the Core brighter, focused squarely on her form.
Ciana took a long breath, her nails digging into the rock as they grew, patches of scales slowly took form as her sporadic aura steadied. Her horns grew while her hair turned to golden strands. "Shut up..." Her voice rasped. She had heard enough, suffered long enough. Ciana was exhausted, she didn't need some overgrown plant to tell her what she's fed herself for weeks on end!
She wanted to protect everyone. To go back to her friends, to apologize for everything, to be with her Izuku again.
Taking to her feet again, her aura erupted like golden flames, burning away the vines whispering to her as she brought her starry eyes high, glaring back at the Core, completely unflinching. She looked to her hands, but didn't let out a shutter, bringing her gaze to the threat before her. For a moment, Ciana felt something ghost her shoulders, as if to push her on, she gasped, looking back but saw nothing. Then she eyed Izuku, seeing him and Shoto had a faint green and white auras respectively. She was boosting them from here?
Looking back, she took a stance, brandishing her claws. This ended now. She was not afraid of this anymore!
Though knew this wasn't going to be enough to destroy the thing herself… so glancing back to Izuku she quickly goes to approach him, finally having the chance to be near again as she took hold of his shoulder. "S-sorry for this…" Ciana quickly apologized before taking a deep breath and pressing her lips against Izukus… doing so had her boost her aura in him again, glowing more in the process as she shared her power with Izuku.
"Ah-hah, so that's what you two did yesterday!" Kiara pointed from afar. "Pay up, Kyo!"
"We're a little busy if you haven't noticed!" The purplette growled back.
"I'm... g-going to pay for t-that later," Izuku blushed slightly, but noticed his sword was sparking brightly, his embarrassment subsiding for a serious look. "I'm ready when you are,"
Ciana herself looked further amped by the resulting bolster of aura, she realized why the others all seemed boosted too, was this what Meru Zena did? Absorbing other emotions? But she couldn't feel any negative aspects flowing into her... her Izuku was right, instead of taking, she was giving her own, and in return, that caused her aura and theirs to resonate! Standing side-by-side with Izuku, she had no issues on her mind, watching the mass of vines grow to a massive quantity, it was gathering all its strength now to crush them all.
Ciana blushed in embarrassment that she did that in front of everyone… but she will have to explain herself later, she gave a smile and nod towards Izuku while standing by his side to aid him the best she could. "You got this Izuku! Make All Might proud!" Ciana gave a thumbs up toward him, letting him know she believes in him.
A wave of vines lashed out, forcing the two back as Ciana tore through them with her bare hands, the vines burned up on contact with her aura, giving her the perfect advantage to charge through with a fanged grin, twisting her body in various spins, slicing down the vines as Izuku sucked in a breath, drawing back OFA as the aura reinforced around his hand. Katsuki lunged in alongside Ciana, landing a palm-heel strike that blew a cluster of vines to pieces while a set of claws spun through from the left side of the Core, leaving wide streaks down its side as one of the massive vines was cut into three pieces and burnt by a torrent of flames from Kirishima to leapt across crystals, vines smashing them in pursuit.
Kaminari then threw several green vials, sticking the vines together into clumps while Kyoka played her flute, enhancing Katsuki and Ciana further as they smashed the vines into the ground with a twin ax-kick, leaving a wide impact below. Grabbing each other's arms, Katsuki swung Ciana with a roar, having her left arm carve across another massive vine, burning through its thick hide only for it to be frozen instantly in a spire of ice, followed by a magic blast from Uraraka, Iida defending her.
"Gotcha!" Kirishima flew by with a large pair of wings, grabbing Ciana to hoist her away from the remaining large vines. Hoisting her over his head, he swung her down, releasing a fire blast that encompassed her aura, giving her solid straight kick a burning halo, pulverizing both tree-thick Leeching vines.
The Core reeled in agony, assaulted by magic and vicious streaks from every angle. Kaminari threw more explosive vials, Katsuki landing several enhanced punches to the base of the crystal the Core sat upon. Kiara hacked through the thick layers with deadly ferocity. Uraraka fired a stream of blue magic at the Core, blinding it. Shoto enhanced Iida's blade, allowing the knight to carve a wide contrail in the form of a square, burning through the regenerating vines as the combined strike blew away all its defences, leaving the Core, a mound of vines bundled into a long body, recoiling.
"Do it now, Izuku!" Kirishima and Kaminari yelled.
"Get it!" Kiara and Kyoka chimed.
"Destroy this thing!" Katsuki and Shoto combined.
"Don't hold back! You can do it!" Ciana cheered for the young knight, having so much faith in his heroic victory.
The last of the crumbling vines gave him the boost he need to reach the Core glaring back at him. He swung his sword back, and then the aura surrounding him shattered, leaving in its place a golden armoured glove as he closed his fist around OFA tightly, the blade's face electric green as sparks danced in his gaze. "SMAAAASH!" With one overhead swing, he drew it down in a single, devastating streak, a silver contrail sweeping the air before the blast erupted through the divide between him and the Core as it was split down the middle and through the crust of the cavern itself, causing the waterfall to splash in an aurora of colours refracting from the crystals.
Izuku landed, the armour disappearing with a burst of light as he fell to a knee only for Kiara to quickly catch him before he collapsed. Izuku dropped his blade, watching the Leeching Vines dissolve into black mist, the Core dispelled all the same with a mighty crash. "Hah... hah... is it... over?" He asked, seeing Kiara chuckle, a little misty eyed as she held him upright.
"Yeah... we did it, Izuku," That made him smile, lowering his head to rest as Kiara placed her head against the top of his. "...thank you,"
"Alright, what a finishing blow!" Kirishima whooped, throwing a fist high. Katsuki smirked slightly, but when he saw Kirishima noticed he scowled the other way.
Kyoka exchanged a look with Kaminari, the two smirking to each other.
Shoto sighed but smiled next to Uraraka and Iida, the former shaking Iida back and forth as she cried tears of joy. Meanwhile, Ciana stared at the dissolving mass that hurt so many innocent lives, then to Kiara and Izuku... only now, that pain in her chest wasn't as prominent, she knew, her Izuku was waiting for her too. With a sigh, she released her form, feeling her muscles relax once more.
Ciana sat down on a bolder to catch her breath and let them have their victory cheer, smiling a bit seeing how happy everyone is the fight is finally over. Seeing the way Izuku was snuggled up with Kiara pained her heart but what made her glad to see is that he's loved and cared for, but still felt kinda left out.
Staring down at her hands as she thought to her transformation, she will admit it still scares her a little… but, felt she is finally able to use it when the situation calls for it. "Glad all that's over…" now picking in her pocket to take out the coin and stare at the Gatestone in hand, guess it's probably about time she leave soon…
"Hey-" She looked up from the stone only to be pulled into a hug by Kiara. "-you were awesome out there!" Pulling away, she looked Ciana up and down. "You alright? You got caught by the vines, we tried to get to you but they wouldn't let us through,"
"You used your shifter ability to save yourself, and all of us," Izuku slowly walked over, still a little tired from whatever he just did, it was as if all the power in his sacred sword came rushing forward but without the backlash. Now, he felt drained. "Thank you,"
"That's right, you really pulled through for us there!" Kirishima waved with a big smile.
"I'll say, gave me the spike I needed to boost you guys too," Kyoka nodded in agreement.
Seeing everyone come up to her, she blushes by the hug and praised but… felt warm again like how her other friends treated her, bringing some tears in her eyes as she smiled more. "I-I'm fine! I'm… really glad I was able to do something to give you all the boost you needed!"
Now eyeing Izuku, Ciana gave him and Kiara an apologetic smile. "I-I'm so sorry for that sudden action I did… I knew you needed it to get the energy you needed to kill that thing." She pressed her fingers together in a shy flustered manner. "W-what I did was to apply more energy in Izuku to give his sword a lot more power…" Ciana rubbed the back of her head now, smiling bashfully and sheepishly.
"I-I know it's dumb but that's how I'm able to give better aid…" she explains, still embarrassed they saw her do that.
"Figured that's why," Kiara sighed, it did annoy her more than she was willing to admit, but can't argue with results. Then she smirked at Kyoka. "Hence why we made a bet. I said you guys have done this before, and she said otherwise - guess who won?" The demon gave a smile like a cat that swallowed a canary.
"Bite me," Kyoka huffed, tossing Kiara a small coin purse as she did a mini 'yay'.
"So your power allows you transfer more energy based on physical contact?" Uraraka wowed. "That's really cool, if not a little embarrassing,"
"The method is quite intimate but the results speak for themselves," Iida concurred, motioning to the now large fissure through the ground where the Leeching vines once resided, even the large mana crystal was split in half.
Ciana covered her face in more embarrassment, it was useful but still downright humiliating, especially when not only Kiara saw that but Bakugo, Kirishima and Kaminari too. "N-not like it meant anything! I-I only do that when it absolutely necessary…" she explains further, though kinda funny the sisters made a bet about what they do… chuckling a little, she moved her fingers a bit to eye Kaminari with a raised brow and a playful smile.
"No doubt you probably wouldn't mind a method like that would you? From the looks of your expression before you seemed kinda jealous…" Ciana teases, knowing this guys a lady's man.
The electric blonde held up his hands in defence, though his face's red pigment betrayed him. "H-hey, if the emergency calls for it..."
"Pervert," Kyoka stated bluntly.
"Oh, come on! Why only me!?" He protested.
"Moving past this, we should return to the surface to recover, no doubt the whole village will be feeling alleviated soon now that the vines are gone," Shoto put them back on track. "We'll use that chasm from before to cut the travel time, if you're able to?" His eyes fell to Kirishima who patted his injured body.
"Not a problem, you can count on me!"
"We sure went pretty deep so hopefully we will be able to find our way back up." Knowing they had a long hike, it might be difficult to find their way out. "Though before we head up I should mend anyone here who is hurt… the last thing I want is anyone bleeding to death." Ciana was firm about that, standing up with some gauze in hand now.
"Actually, think you already covered us," Kaminari noted as everyone looked themselves over.
"Nothing wrong with a small check-up, a few of us got battered in that last portion of the fight," Uraraka suggested, still looking exhausted. "I'm completely tapped out even with your help, Ciana,"
"Though, that momentary boost gave us the edge to recover without any fatal injuries," Shoto concluded.
She blinked in surprise at this, she figured she boosted their energy than heal anyone. "R-really? The way those vines attacked everyone with its thorns you guys looked beat up after that." Ciana now eyes the remains of the creature, wondering how it even came to be.
"That thing… was so scary, how did it appear in the first place?" Ciana then eyed the corpse it used as a puppet before, surprisingly tied to approach it as she bend down to see its creepy figure. Brows narrowing. "I wonder if it had anything to do with this guy…" Ciana put her hand on her chin in thought, wondering who he could be.
"No idea," Kiara murmured, rubbing her chin. "Leeching Vines as a whole are a myth, only connection people made was with Calamitas but that's as big a stretch as any; from how it used this pile of bones it probably backfired on the guy, implying he is responsible,"
"Sounds horrible… I mean using a spell that gone wrong? Even if he was bad I can't help but feel kind sorry for him…" Ciana stared down at the corpse sympathetically, she wasn't sure who he was but this isn't the kind of fate anyone should suffer with.
"We should give him a proper burial…" she suddenly suggests, not wanting to leave the guy like this.
"Shut it, spiky-" Kyoka prodded her jack toward Katsuki, halting whatever he was about to say. "-and yeah, not down here though, bag up his remains and we can have he or she buried properly,"
"Here," Izuku pulled his bag forward, tugging out a brown sack within. "Use this, better than carrying bones in your arms."
"I got it, you guys just rest up," Kirishima took the bag, moving over to carefully gather the caster's remains.
Ciana smiled gratfully toward her friends, happy they feel the same way to help this poor soul, well Bakugo probably was gonna suggest burn or leave it… but grateful he held back saying anything blunt, best not to anger the lost soul anyways…
"Thanks guys." Ciana helped out with Kirishima anyways, as much as it's freaky to touch and be near a skeleton… she still didn't want to leave it like this, she slipped her gloves on before touching the bones, she is definitely going to take a bath the moment she gets back. "Do you maybe have an idea who he used to be Eijiro? I mean from his clothes and all, was he like a past adventure maybe?"
Ciana asks, wondering if he was well known for something.
"Uh, before we burned most of them, looked like a caster to me, but not really anything I know of," He frowned, trying to remember anything important. "I guess they were an adventurer... but even the dog-tag is missing,"
"There's this," Iida held out to them, a piece of torn grey cloth that looked like the cuff of a sleeve. "I have been giving it some thought, but I can make no clear conclusion to this writing - I believe it may be a lost language, thus making this person far older than we believe," The symbols were oddly familiar to Ciana though... of course, it was only part of the sleeve so she only had a few characters, but it nagged in the back of her mind.
"Huh…" Ciana went to take a closer look at it, her hand on her chin in thought processing this discovery. "It looks… kinda like the language Echo uses, didn't those two show you this kind of language Izuku?" She eyed the young knight, knowing he spend more time with them than she did.
"Hm?" He leaned forward where he sat to inspect the words on the tattered cloth. "...I think so? I never saw many of her spells, at least, not long enough to sketch. Does that mean this person is connected to Nightmares?"
"Okay, I may have to side with whatever spiky over here was gonna say," Kiara waved her hand. "I suggest burning the bones instead,"
"At least someone gets it..." The barbarian huffed.
"Kiara..." Izuku and Kyoka sighed together.
"Kidding... mostly," She shrugged back.
"Guys… you really wanna risk angering this dead guy?" She eyed both Kiara and Bakugo with her arms crossed. "Trust me… it's not good to disrespect the dead, do or say anything harsh then it's possible their spirit will come back to haunt you, maybe even worse…" Ciana advises, knowing it's never good to anger the dead especially if he possibly used to be a criminal.
"Yeah, no thanks, I'll pass," Now Kiara stood several paces back and behind Izuku, pointing her tail at them. "Have fun with your creepy, Nightmare-tainted bones - which is totally okay with me, hehehe..."
"Tch, fine, see if I care," Katsuki walked away to pick away at the crystals shattered during the fight, the remains of the vines finally dissolved into nothing.
"At least they got the message…" she chuckled a bit, eyeing Ejiro beside her now with a bit of a concerned look. "Ejiro if you and Katsuki ever come across dead corpses again promise me you won't let him shatter the bones to be safe…" Ciana basically pleaded, knowing it would just put him in danger of being haunted.
"Huh? Sure, no worries, but he won't do that," He assured her with a grin, looking to where the cloaked barbarian tossed aside rocks to find crystals he sought to keep. "The place he's from apparently burn the bodies of their fallen to free their spirits, something like that,"
"Hm, I have heard of this practice, a few villages that mostly keep to themselves perform similar traditions," Iida nodded with understanding.
"Really?" Ciana was a little surprised by the news, she knew he was considerate deep down which had her smile in his direction. "I knew he had a soft side under the gruff nature… it's funny cuz he usually rants about killing usually…" she giggles, now putting the last remains of the skeleton in the sack, dusting off her hands once she was done.
"Okay we're all set, we can move out whenever you guys are ready." Hopefully there's a graveyard nearby to bury his remains in, knowing it be the best place to go.
"Well?" Kiara stood up first, no one seemed to be at odds, so she clapped her hands. "Then let's go home and relax; Stoneveil's still gonna need time to recover so we best use what free time we have for ourselves."
"RIGHT!" And with that, their quest had come to a close.