An Owl's Rise

Evelyn and her squad now being unable to escape looked towards the large membranous pod in the center of the chamber.

It was now pulsating even faster than before and small threads of it were breaking away and forming up into large tendrils.

"Everyone get into a defensive formation! Osten use your earth magic to create an opening into one of the tunnels. We need and escape route. Use any and every potion or talisman you have to strengthen yourself." Adolophine commanded.

The entire squad hearing her snapped out of their shock and formed up in order to deal with the threat coming their way.

Now was not the time for them to give into despair, but to give it all they have to survive.

'At least it is taking a bit of time.' Evelyn thought as she pulled out every useful talisman and potion she had.

Unfortunately, her reprieve was short, and while she was downing a fortification potion the tendrils that had finished forming shot toward all of them.

Wide eyed, Evelyn took evasive actions as a dozen two-foot-thick tendrils launched towards her.

'Gravity trap.'

Unleashing the trap she had been preparing, Evelyn just barely redirected some of the tendrils coming for her by increasing the pull of gravity downwards.

A loud crash followed by the entire chamber rumbling occurred right after Evelyn deflected the tendrils and they pierced into the walls.

Just hearing this Evelyn could tell how much power had been behind these attacks and knew that if they hit her, she would have instantly been killed.

'How did everyone else do?' Evelyn thought as she glanced towards everyone else.

However, what she saw was horrifying.

Three of the members of her squad had failed to dodge or block the attacks directed at them and had been pierced through by a tendril.

The two that had not died instantly tried to struggle but could not shake off or do any damage to the tendril that had pierced them.

And before any help could arrive, they were reeled in towards the membrane and pulled inside. Where the shadows of their forms were still visible as they quickly dissolved.

'It killed three of us in an instant when it is not even trying. There was no magic and it does not even appear to be consciously attacking us. That was simply a reflexive response.' Evelyn thought as terror started to overtake her.

This thing was far stronger than they were, and even while not paying them any mind it was killing them like swatting flies.

"I managed to break through! A path is clear, let's go!" Osten said while the monstrous plant was preparing to unleash another attack.

Turning around, all the owls that still remained began flying towards the opening Osten had made in hopes of getting away.

Yet as Isander the owl with a lightning affinity flew in, more roots burst out of the connecting hole Osten had made and pierced through him.

Watching this happen, everyone but Evelyn froze up as their escape was cut off again.

"Ahhhhhh!"

Screaming loudly and barreling through, Evelyn wreathed herself in her heavenly flame with all she had in order to punch through.

Miraculously as her flames hit these roots, they began burning away even though nothing anyone else had done could seem to cause any damage.

Forcing her way through Evelyn scrambled through the opening Osten had made and into the tunnel that would allow her to exit the mountain.

Quickly all those that remained flew in as well. But it became clear they were not going to make it.

The tendrils had come back together and unleashed another attack towards the group of owls trying to escape.

Except before they skewered everyone, a thick wall of earth spread out in front of them, and a large form spread out to take the hit.

"Osten what are you doing?!" Adolophine said as she watched her lieutenant get pierced through in dozens of places.

Using his magic and body as a shield he managed to protect everyone else.

"I was just going to slow all of you down anyway. Now go. Don't let my sacrifice be in-"

Unable to finish what he wanted to say, Osten was reeled into the membrane along with the wall of earth he had made and quickly dissolved.

Gritting her beak, Adolophine turned around and began flying after the remains of her squad that were frantically trying to escape.

'Looks like the only ones that made it out were Rehni, Braulia, the snowy owl, and Adolophine.' Evelyn thought as she looked back behind her to check for any sort of pursuit.

Luckily it did not seem that anything was coming for them, but just to be safe Evelyn pulled out her message notebook and sent off a distress signal to the leader of their expedition unit.

As soon as the piece of paper was ripped out, it formed up into the shape of a bird and began flying through the mountain in a straight line towards its target.

Continuing to fly through the tunnel, Evelyn and the remains of her squad booked it as fast as they could. Often not even caring if they smashed into walls when they took turns so long as they did not have to slow down as much.

They were all gripped with fear of the entity that sat at the heart of this mountain that had killed half of them without even being conscious.

Eventually they saw the light of the outside before them, and it seemed that they would be able to escape, as so far, no pursuit was coming for them.

'Once I get out of here, I can use my full acceleration and fly away in a straight line. I am not going to die here.' Evelyn thought as she closed in on the exit.

However, unbeknownst to her and the rest of her squad that was flying away as fast as they could. The creature that had surrounded itself in a protective and healing membrane began to stir. Having felt the presence of an incredible power it wanted for itself.