The jungle before the group of beasts was lush and overgrown, teeming with life of all kinds and ripe for an endless series of ambushes from its numerous denizens.

All around the vast central canyon hundreds of other beasts were beginning to reach this region. Some in larger packs, some singularly strong beasts and even a few groups of diverse beasts that had teamed up to tackle this challenge.

Their was one thing however, that all of these beasts shared. They were all strong. No weak beast could have survived that gauntlet of extended battles, or managed to navigate through the hostile environments. This event was a true test for the strong. And only the few strongest would ever be able to gain something at the end, all that now separated them from finally reaching the tree that started this whole chain of events was a jungle full of beasts that wanted to stop them. Oh and then whatever other beasts also survived this gauntlet, for surely they would not want to share what is believed to be rightfully theirs.

But for Luna what lay ahead of them was a welcome reprieve from the hostile environments that had plagued them for the past day. From the horrific beings that called the shadows home, to the lightning then fire and finally that strange chasm of islands. Now before her stood a simple jungle, whilst she and every beast around her knew it would not be that simple. She couldn't help but be glad that no more hostile mana would be present. For before her all that she felt was vibrant life and nature.

Luna was in a bit of a sorry state currently, not that anyone else was in a much better condition either. But it was quite visible for the snow leaopardkin. Her armour was in tatters, with chunks being torn off and several cuts visible. The only reason it was still in one piece was the valiant attempt of self healing that it was doing. But she could tell that the enchantment was truly struggling to repair the accumulated damage.

She was beginning to worry about if it would hold out for the rest of the day as she was sure that it would be put under even more stress before they reached their destination. Saddly their was not a lot that she could do about that other than hope it survived.

Speaking of surviving, that was something that she was surprisingly not too worried about. Ever since she had met up and became companions with Violet she had slowly gained a sense of surety in what they did together. As if nothing could stand in their way when they put their focus on doing something.

Sure it may be foolhardy of her to think so but she just blamed Violet's natural arrogance having rubbed off on her.

Plus when she looked to her side and saw the determined look in her companions eye. Well she just couldn't imagine anything getting in her way and that thing surviving for very long!

Violet for her part was actually slightly worried about this final stretch. Her resources were at a worrying level, she was at around a third of her total mana and only on half her total health. This prolonged and seemingly endless series of battles had truly worn the young dragon down.

But all she had to do was look to her side and see her companion standing tall, despite looking to be in quite a sorry state herself to fill her with the confidence to carry on.

So noticing the gaze of both Luna and the surrounding beasts Violet took a deep stedying breath, and began walking forwards to enter this final stretch.

Behind the dragon the 16 remaining beasts also moved.

Directly behind Violet and Luna walked the alpha wolf and his remaining pack now numbering 4, 5 if you included the alpha. Past them was a tough nature attuned boar that had acted as quite the frontline against the hoard from the central island. On said boars back rested the lone bird of their group, a eagle with a blue tint to its wings that had a strong wind affinity.

Then came the cat beast that also had the wind affinity, it seemed to have gathered its own little group consisting of 4 other feline beasts. Collectively they were some of the fastest of the beasts here, but also had the weakest defenses.

The last 3 beasts consisted of the giant trunked beast that covered the rear of the group and was undoubtedly that singularly strongest beast present in terms of pure physical strength. And then a lone deer that had quite potent water magics and a strange 6 legged fire attuned lizard that had antlers on its head that softly blazed with fire constantly.

Together this strange and eclectic group of beast followed behind their dragon leader. It would be a strange sight to see this many strong beasts together and not already fighting. Yet this place was not somewhere that they had any confidence of surviving alone, so they had come together and bonded over shared trials. What would happen once this even ended was anyone's guess but for now at least this group would work together and fight together.

Entering the shade granted to them by the tall trees overhead they were welcomed by the vibrant sound of life. From the gentle swishing of the trees above, to the sound of insects chittering and birds singing in the distance.

It was a welcome sound that spoke of a healthy ecosystem and abundant life. Or at least it would have been a welcome sound had it continued on as they walked.

For instead, once the last of their group entered into the shade of the jungle they were welcomed with a wholly unnatural sound. That of silence.

It was as if the world around them suddenly ceesed all activity and instead held its breath whilst assessing the new and unwelcome guests. A ripple of unease spread through the group of assembled beasts but seeing the unchanging stride of the dragon before them helped to reassure them.

However, the jungle was not satisfied with its unnatural welcome just yet, as a wave of fog began to roll in towards them. When it passed them by visibility shrank and the already quite jungle became utterly silent. The fog seemed like a blanket to muffle all sounds, even their footsteps became muted. Fur stood on ends, noses twitched and heads swivelled as they searched for any potential threat.

A threat that they didn't have to wait too much longer to find, for as they walked into a clearing of sorts the fog around them began to swirl and shift as unseen figures moved. The group halted their movements once they were all gathers within this clearing as Violet felt something before her. Something that made her instincts scream, whatever it was that was moving around them posed a very real threat to them.

Not wanting to let the likely ambushes be free to strike as they pleased Violet began to summon forth bolts of void that swirled around above her. Seeing this the beasts behind her also began to prepair themselves for battle.

It didn't take too long for the first strike to be launched from the fog ahead. Something flew straight for Violet's head, she reacted instantly by summoning a shield before her. What impacted that shield was something that she remembered all too well and a low growl rumbled out of her throat.

As the pile of poop fell to the ground when she dissipated her shield a series of thuds echoed out around them and a figure walked out of the fog at the front. A giant ape strode forward, its fur moving with the fog in such a way that it almost seemed to blend in with it making it hard to truly focus on.

However, upon seeing the stupid overgrown monkey that dared to throw its own shit at Violet what welcomed it wasn't the fear that it may have expected but instead a look of pure derision and fury.

Oh and a volley of 6 bolts of void flying towards its head. After all if it wanted to throw stuff at Violet, wouldn't it only be fair to throw things right back at it?

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