Return to The Tree of Dreams

The young mercenary was swift and of deft hands, for once the troublesome Deku Scrub finished with its attack, Nova readjusted her handle of her greatsword and twisted it within the sodden ground. The surface around the blade upturned and before long, the entirety of it was pulled upward as though it were a uppercut. Chunks of earth flew about and the Deku Scrub was also caught in the fissure-like strike, taking the heavy blade right to the snout. The wooden creature tumbled a bit before it crashed straight into the wall, defeated by a single yet massive swing. Nova was obviously smirked at this, confided in her strength while the remaining Deku Scrubs mindlessly scattered.

However, it was only a matter of time until the second was struck true, right betwixt the eyes by an arrow. The mad creature spun on its heel before collapsing completely. Nova looked over her shoulder to Josh, giving him a nod before she set her eyes upon the last Scrub. At this point, the little creature knew its odds were not in its favor, for its brethren had fallen by duo's attempts to retrieve the stolen key and so far, the Scrubs that were defeated had no such item on their persons. The last Scrub shuddered a bit, somewhat frozen in its tracks before he unleashed a barrage of nuts wildly in all directions. It was desperate and it was on full display. The young gal hopped to the side to avoid the first flying Deku Nut and drew her weapon it front of her, protecting herself from any harm.

"Josh! It has the key!" She shouted to him as another Deku Nut cracked against her greatsword. It seems as though the last Scrub had greater intent to focus Nova than Josh - a good opportunity to attempt another strike.

It was over. The ridiculous cat-and-mouse game the Deku Scrubs played was at an end, but it didn't leave Nova in any good mood. Sure, she could handle most things that was thrown at her and Josh at this point, but the dream dungeon itself seem to play with their heads a bit. It definitely felt as though this place not only tested their strength but character as well. She wasn't sure if Josh felt the same but it was something she thought about, especially now when the sub-level had brought them no respite. Once Josh had worked the key he reclaimed to the giant lock on the nearby door, Nova followed with her greatsword in both hands. The weight to it felt good, reassured her that any fight that laid ahead would be met with equal or greater force. This must have been the strength was missing for so long, ever since the shipwreck.

Once they crossed the threshold, the area opened up into a wide chamber, dark and humid. Nova noted the four giant wooden pillars at the center as she moved further in, thinking they were supports to the tree above them. She had to constantly remind herself that she was in a massive tree of ancient origins along with Josh, for the chambers she often found herself in often confused her in design and atmosphere. Nonetheless, the young mercenary stuck close to her friend. Suddenly, her ears perked up to a sound - rustling above them. Josh must have heard it as well because the room itself was dead silent until then. A few bits of bark fluttered down unto the duo and Nova instinctively brushed the debris off her head and shoulder.

She quickly looked up to the ceiling, seeing nothing due to the sheer darkness that invaded her sight. However, something stirred in that inky pitch-black ceiling. Then a massive singular eye glowed in the darkness, staring at the duo with strong intent. It must have been huge by the size of that eye, but before Nova could speculate any further, more debris came down along with the crackling of wood. The eye grew larger, falling to Nova and Josh.

"Move!" Nova cried, shoving Josh to the ground away from the falling eye. The ground beneath them shook with a heavy tremor, for the eye was connected to a massive creature, spider-like in appearance but far from it. It was grotesque, unnatural by the standards of insects Nova knew as it stood up, towering over the adventuring duo. This must have been the boss - the source of the blight upon the ancient tree. The young mercenary stood up, bringing her greatsword close and drawn across her form with a widened stance.

"This monstrosity must have brought us here."

The massive monster screeched, bringing up its thick, spiny legs up and readied for a great struggle.

"Shoot... Nova, it's armored! I don't know if weapons are going to work on it!"

The young mercenary watched the giant creature as it scaled the ceiling, its impenetrable chitin weighed heavily on her mind. There must be a way to hurt it, nonetheless to even the odds in their favor. She eyes narrowed at its single eye as it rolled several times, focused on whatever the hell it was doing. The tail of the monster swayed briefly before the very end of it spat out several projectiles, whipped at both Nova and Josh. She saw this and immediately dove to the right. The objects cracked upon impact, unleashing several smaller creatures - the exact same from the room filled with eggs plastered on the ceiling.

So this monstrosity must have laid those eggs.

Nova wanted to strike the arachnid, but its offspring were starting to get feisty. One of them tried to give her the jump, but thankfully the gal reacted just in time to pull off a full-swing at it. The massive blade cleaved the tiny beast in twain, with one side sent straight into the massive monster above. It must have done something, for it struck the mother right in the eye, thus making it lose its grip and balance. With a heavy thud, the boss landed on the dungeon floor, stone splintered as a crater formed around the fallen arachnid - dazed and stunned.

Whatever Nova did, it worked in their favor. "Josh! I'll fend off the little ones! Find the weakspot!" She cried out, thwarting another offspring that tried to clamber after her friend.

"Nova, the eye!"

The Hylian mercenary had driven her greatsword into the last minion before she heard Josh. With a deathly glare, Nova gritted her teeth and grabbed the bottom half of the handle of her weapon then mustered all of her strength into a mighty swing. The minion still squirmed at the end of her blade but the sudden force of the swing caused it to stick until the greatsword reached the peak of its arch. Suddenly, the minion was catapulted straight at the giant arachnid beast, but only to graze it. Nova figured it wouldn't hurt to try again but her aim was off so the young girl made a mad dash toward the boss.

"Oh no, you're not getting away that easy!" She bellowed as her blade followed, the end of it upturned the ground. The monstrous insect was fast but it must have felt the lasting pain from Josh's fury and so it stumbled a bit with its gait. Nova took this as a most opportune time to strike, and thus took it upon herself to summon that same energy she had earlier. She plunged her weapon into the ground and focused on that feeling - the radiance of warmth, ever-present light bestowed from heaven above instilled into a beacon before her. It surged with spiritual power, as though Hylia's will alone had fueled much of the beacon before it was encapsulated into a weighty sphere, twice the size of the orb she made from before. It was practically a miniature sun, with all basked in its glory.

This was it.

The ground beneath the sphere cracked but before it could sink any further, Nova stepped forth and grasped it with gloved hands. Despite the blinding light and weight it carried, it was featherweight compared to her greatsword. In fact, touching it alone was rather pleasant, for the energy she amassed for such a summon did not harm her at all. So, the young girl raised the great sphere high above her, carefully eyed her massive prey then with all the strength in her arms, flung the beacon of light right to the giant monster's eye.

Thus, an explosion occurred and almost every minion that stood was sent away from the blast of the impact. Most of them seared into nothingness, followed with tiny speckles of ash while the ceiling above had collapsed at the impact area. The nearest pillar immediately caught on fire while the rest groaned under the sudden shift in weight due to the collapsed space above it. Thankfully, the pillars held on as the grotesque arachnid fell to the ground once more - its chitin sizzled with burns while its eye twitched with tears. The spell rendered the beast blind and immobile, more than enough time to bring about its end.

Nova gasped heavily, for the sudden realization overcame her that such a ability left in dire straights. All her strength was sapped, even though her spiritual essence was stronger than ever. She kept herself upright by her greatsword and glanced over to Josh. Sweat rolled down the side of her face as she nodded over to the monster to finish it. She hadn't realized that the sleeves of her coat and dress were entirely gone, saved with the smoldering fire on either side of her shoulders.