Amiya frowned, her violet eyes fixed on the compass in her hand.

The needle pointed steadily forward and directly at the impenetrable wall of roots. She tilted her head, studying the device with growing concern. "If it's like this... Then could it be that what you're looking for might be close to the center of the forest?"

Joseph blinked in surprise, his bright green eyes widening. "The center is through this path?"

Amiya nodded slowly. "I didn't notice it right away, but it should be. Root barriers like this only show up when you venture close to the center."

Reinhard furrowed his brows, studying the massive wall before them, which had no visible gaps. "Is there a separate path we can take, or are all of them blocked?"

"All of them are blocked." Amiya said with a sigh. "The Seekers have been trying to find a way to the center for decades..."

Marie moved closer to the root barrier, leaning in, and then her light-gold eyes widened suddenly. "There's something-" She squinted, platinum hair falling forward. "I see a faint grey light shining over them. Is there something special about the roots that stopped the Seekers from destroying them?"

Amiya hummed thoughtfully, then stepped forward as she stretched out her hands, and crimson-black light erupted around her.

A scythe appeared in her grip, its blade was crimson-black with trails of darker energy leaking from the weapon like smoke. Multiple black-red skulls appeared around the blade, their empty sockets seeming to watch before fading away.

Amiya's eyes glowed with the same crimson-black light. She gripped the scythe with both hands, and crimson-black flames erupted along its length. The weapon seemed to grow, expanding in her grasp until it was easily seven feet long. She pulled back, muscles tensing beneath her Seeker coat.

Then she swung upward.

The scythe cut through the ground first, tearing earth and stone before it slashed upward in a devastating arc. The blade blasted through roots, tearing them apart with raw force. A wave of crimson-black energy followed the swing, an energy blade that extended the attack's reach.

Flames burned everything the blade didn't directly touch, consuming wood with terrifying hunger.

Reinhard watched in amazement as roots fell away, creating a massive split in the barrier. The destruction was impressive, but then his eyes widened.

The roots reformed instantly.

They grew back as if time was reversing, wood knitting together with impossible speed.

The flames died out as if snuffed by invisible hands, their light simply ceasing to exist.

Within seconds, the wall stood exactly as before, as if they weren't broken or hadn't been attacked.

Amiya sighed as her scythe dissolved into crimson-black light. "It's because it will instantly reform. Even Ancestor Vlad going all out couldn't stop this phenomenon." She turned to face them fully. "In his own words, he said that attacking these roots is actually giving them energy. The faint silver light drains away the life force and magic of whatever it touches."

Reinhard nodded slowly, understanding clicking into place. "That's why the flames faded away and why your attack grew weaker and smaller before fully disappearing."

"Exactly." Amiya's expression was grave. "It's also why we can't climb through the roots. We'd be drained by them and captured before getting anywhere."

Joseph furrowed his brows, lightly biting his lip. "What about flying over?"

Amiya shook her head. "The roots go all the way up to the clouds before forming a dome. Even trying to fly over is useless."

Joseph's frown deepened. "What about going underground? Like what the Mori Empire soldiers did to get inside the forest?"

Amiya sighed heavily. "Beneath is even worse. It's pure roots that will quickly mend any hole created to trap you beneath and drain you."

Reinhard sighed, frustration settling in his chest. "So it's a dead end?"

Amiya nodded.

Marie and Reinhard glanced at Joseph, who was clenching his fist tightly.

Joseph gritted his teeth as his green eyes stared at the root barrier with barely contained frustration. And then he sighed before looking down at the ground with a dazed look on his face.

But then Brunhilde walked over to him and gently rubbed Joseph's hair with surprising tenderness. He blinked in surprise, looking up at her to see her light blue eyes held warmth and understanding.

"Why are you giving up so easily?" Brunhilde asked softly. "I'm sure there's something else we can do. And maybe we'll find other signatures of your sister."

Joseph's eyes widened before a smile appeared as he nodded. "You're right."

Marie giggled, lightly tapping Joseph's back with affection. "That's the Joseph we like." She turned to address everyone. "Now then, we should go back since there's nothing more we can do."

Everyone nodded before they turned away from the root barrier, following Amiya back along the path they'd taken.

The forest felt different now as Reinhard noticed details he'd missed on the way here. The roots covering the ground had grown or shifted.

A fallen log they'd passed earlier now lay at a different angle, roots coiled around it where none had been before.

A deer ran across their path fifty feet ahead. Its movements were frantic, with the roots wrapped around one of its hind legs. But the creature kept running, dragging the root behind it, and soon it disappeared into the trees without slowing.

Three birds flew above them, crying out with distressed calls. Reinhard glimpsed them through gaps in the canopy. Two looked normal, but the third had roots growing from one wing, creating a grotesque imbalance that made flight obviously painful.

A rabbit emerged from the bushes directly beside the path. The creature glances at them before they continue moving on into the forest.

They continued walking, and soon they saw the eastern gate appear ahead.

Amiya reached it first, pushing with both hands, and the gate swung inward with a groan of hinges.

They entered Naraku.

But as they walked a bit into the town, a building collapsed.

The sound was massive, as wood splintering, stone crumbling, the crash of a structure giving way under force. Screams erupted from multiple directions, and they saw people running in panic.

Everyone's eyes widened simultaneously.

As they saw a Phantasm Beast standing in front of them.

It was massive, as large as a Bear-Terror, maybe larger. Spikes protruded from its back in irregular rows with black fur covering its body, and crimson eyes shining with hunger and rage. Antlers stuck out from its head, but they were twisted and sharp with black streaks spreading over them. ,

The beast released a roar that made those running quickly grab their head. Then its muscles grew, and it slammed both claws down into the ground.

Black spikes erupted from around, bursting forward from the shadows.

The spikes pierced through buildings, tearing through wood and stone with equal ease. A house collapsed as its foundation was destroyed.

Another structure tilted dangerously, while the black spikes continued erupting, creating a forest of deadly spears that forced people to scatter in all directions.

Children were screaming while adults quickly picked them up. An elderly man stumbled, nearly impaled, before someone yanked him aside.

Reinhard, Marie, Joseph, and Amiya rushed forward immediately.

While Brunhilde stayed in the spot, she was with a frown and said. "You guys deal with that one; I will deal with the ones behind us."

Reinhard glanced behind to see more Phantasm Beasts rushing towards the east gate. There were three Bear-Terrors, their massive frames making the ground tremble with each step. Behind them came Werefangs, their three tails swishing in agitated patterns, crimson eyes fixed on fleeing townspeople.

"You guys take that one!" Brunhilde commanded, already moving.

The four nodded before they continued their rush toward the mutated beast.

Brunhilde's figure vanished, one moment present, and the next simply gone. Speed beyond normal perception, moving to intercept the other threats.

The mutated Werefang's crimson eyes fixed on them. Its lips pulled back, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth. The antlers on its head gleamed in afternoon light, their twisted surfaces suggesting they could gore through armor.

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