Phantasmos glanced at the town in front of him with his hundreds of red eyes. His phantasmal body was twisting and shapeshifting almost endlessly as he had absorbed many monsters, animals, and even human souls on his way here. However, these human souls were all wandering ones, as he hadn't had the opportunity to kill people yet.
"It is truly a pity that I have to get by through eating beasts souls…" He sighed. "However, my Master has said that I must prioritize the killing of the World Tree's true body… And she must be here."
A smile surged on his multiple faces, as his eyes glowed bright red. Although most people was now sleeping, he could feel their souls their life energies, their emotions and even their presences.
"But I guess it is fine if we storm this place, right?" He asked, as several dozens of Giant Phantoms, which he had created out of his own body began to laugh evilly. "After all, we are all quite hungry, isn't it?"
"Gehehehe…"
"That's right, Boss…"
"Let's eat them already! I am so hungry for human souls!"
"Ahhh, they're so pure, filled with life, and there's no mana within their bodies!"
"Ripe for the taking, so weak and frail!"
The Giant Phantoms spoke, as Phantasmos only grew hungrier. His Phantasmal powers quickly activated, as the enormous army of hundreds of Undead Monsters he had gathered through this journey, alongside several dozens of Hollow Legions and hundreds of other weaker Hollows started to march forward.
"Take it all, devour everything! Rip them all apart! Tonight, my brothers, WE FEAST!"
The Undead began advancing rapidly. Zombie monsters, animal skeletons, ghosts and phantoms, and several Hollows quickly made their way into the town's entrance.
"OFFER THEIR SOULS TO OUR KING, THANATOS!"
With that command, his army of undead and monsters went rabid!
"GRUAAARRRRGH!"
"AWOOOOO!"
"SHAAAAAHHH!"
"FEAST… EAT SOULS!"
"GRAAAAHHH!"
As they were about to step into the backyard of one of the houses in the outskirts of the town, however…
FLAAAASH!
A sudden ray of light emerged. Suddenly beginning to cover the entire town's surroundings, and expanding widely, spreading all over the place and creating a barrier made of Spiritual Light and Life Energy, so bright and shiny that it blinded most monsters, the very impact of the barrier's creation easily purified several dozens of phantoms, ghosts, and undead, and many others screamed in agony as they stepped back in fear.
"W-What?!" Phantasmos was suddenly shocked. He was never told these humans would have developed magic on their own. How could it be possible they managed to create a Spiritual Barrier which even held a bit of Gaia's divinity within?!
"This is… How come?!"
"Boss, what is happening?! Have the humans developed spiritual magic?!"
"But I can't sense any of them possessing not even an inch of Mana!"
"No, wait… THERE!"
The Giant Phantoms, which worked as Phantasmos bodyguards and closest subordinates suddenly noticed a small group of three people outside the town. Their very magic being the reason behind this immense barrier.
"Those are…?!" Phantasmos, unaware of this world's humans on its totality, had fully believed there wouldn't be anybody challenging enough, yet the power he felt from those three was overwhelming.
And as if things couldn't get any better.
"Huh?! From over there too!" Suddenly, one of his Giant Phantoms pointed behind them, to the area where the mountains were located, another three powerful presences were making their way here as fast as they could.
"Six… Heh, heheheh… HAHAHAHA! Good! It wouldn't had been any fun if they didn't fought back at least once!" Phantasmos laughed. "Now, let us see how much your barrier and your strength can hold back before my army engulfs your entire town! [Phantasmal Magic]: [Phantom Aura Enhancement]! [Bloodshed Enhancement]! [Ghostly Armor]!"
FLUOOOOSH!
With a few words, Phantasmos immediately boosted his entire army of monsters and undead in mere seconds. Three powerful buffs quickly covered every single monster, as their defenses increased, their fighting power improved, and their auras became even more intimidating and deadly.
"GRUOOOHHHH!"
A group of Skeleton Beasts led by a giant Bear Skeleton rushed forward, hitting the Spiritual Walls which slowly bean gaining cracks the more hits landed on them. Their ability to self-regenerate was strong, but against the monsters constant attacks, which were hundreds at the same time, even the powerful barrier wouldn't last longer than a few more minutes.
The three protecting the town were easily being overwhelmed, even as Phantasmos glanced at them fighting and struggling utilizing all sorts of magics and magical weapons and armor, they were only three while his army was soon to surpass a thousand.
"Hoh, it does seems that the True Body of the World Tree is here as well!" Phantasmos noticed, as he saw Elayne with Mark and Rita fighting desperately against hordes after hordes of monsters. "Well, you've just made my job easier!"
Elayne heard Phantasmos tenebrous voice from afar, gritting her teeth in fury, as she suddenly smiled defiantly towards where the mass of phantasmal essence was located.
"Do you truly believe we're alone?" She asked with a cocky smirk, as she hit the floor with her foot, a sudden shockwave of Spiritual Power began flowing across the town's entire surroundings. "[Territory Takeover]! [Spiritual Awakening]!"
FLUOOOOOSH!
With the power of taking over a Territory's Soil and Nature itself, and through the ability to awaken Spirits themselves, a sudden change in this impossible battlefield happened.
RUMBLE!
From the ground, several totems that Mark had placed beforehand, alongside the Spiritual Buds and Spiritual Seeds that Elayne had previously placed started moving by themselves, as spiritual power and Mana began flowing through them.
Phantasmos saw in horror as dozens of Spiritual Beasts took over wooden totem bodies and started moving forward, alongside several hundreds of Spiritual Plant Soldiers, which started popping out of the soil began marching forward.
They were in all sorts of shapes, some resembled walking trees, others were like mushrooms, some were big fruit-like creatures, but they were all unified together as a big army, they even had weapons made out of sharp wood and even shields!
"T-This is….! It can't be…!" Phantasmos was unable to accept it.
"You see now? This is the power of preparation!" Elayne smiled back, swinging her shovel-staff as she destroyed a dozen skeleton monsters into pieces.
CRAAASH!
