Bloom

High Paladin Eckhart stared at the enormous tide of humanity below the steps of the temple. Activating his holy magic, his voice reached out to the assembled units below, “Today is the day of our victory!”

“For too long have the demons in this land oppressed us! For too long have we cowered in fear, afraid of the very creatures that hunt us!” he said.

The towering square remained silent, as flames lit in the eyes of all the believers.

“It is time! Time to drive back the darkness, time to reclaim our land from the invaders!” continued Eckhart, a soft glow of holy light surrounding him as he spoke, “Today, here, now, we will open the portal to the depths of one of the Seven! Our forces will flow through, united in purpose, invincible in intent!”

“The leader of the succubus will fall! Death to the Queen!” shouted Eckhart, holy fury shining from his brow.

***T***

*Tree.*

Hmm? Is someone calling? Tell them to come back later I’m having a nice dream of crunchy insects. I’m certain I left a few messages in the death traps and guardians surrounding me that inform people not to bother me.

*Tree.*

Dammit, I’m almost fully awake now. This had better be more important than the inspiration I was looking for lately on how to create a physical form for Dryad.

*Tree.*

“IF THIS ISN’T IMPORTANT, I WILL BE DISPLEASED.” I said, finally growing fully awake.

My vision was met with throngs of metal clad humans fighting against a tide of Vex’s various pets.

I could spot various Lieutenants of Vex at different points in the fighting.

Strangely enough, someone had expanded the room I started sleeping in.

Although the room was bigger than a football field now, everyone was careful not to approach near the ash line that encircled me in the center.

From the amount of remains, it appeared someone, or several thousand someone’s, had attempted to reach me.

If they had been innocent victims of the battle around me at the moment, there wouldn’t have been any fatalities.

After all, if some small innocent demon child or mild mannered puppy got obliterated by my defenses I’d be unhappy.

*What in the purple pink people eaters of the Carnivorous Green Lady’s garden is going on?*(Tree)

*Humans are invading Vex’s castle.*(Dryad)

Wait, humans?

There were humans on this planet? Why didn’t anyone bother to mention this?

Ah, wait, I remember right before I went to take a nap there was mention of two legged insects.

*They don’t seem to be doing very good.*(Tree)

*That’s because we killed the High Priest leading them. He attempted to use us as a rallying point.*(Dryad)

So some rat bastard thought he could just approach me?

Clearly my defenses worked just fine. If he’d been a true innocent man, and the men following him didn’t mean me harm, they wouldn’t be ash right now.

*Should we help Vex? It doesn’t look like she needs it, but if she’s a friend of yours…*(Tree)

*Nah. She can handle it. The really dangerous humans are being cut off from the rest by her subordinates. After that two or three of her daughters drink them dry. I’ve seen quite a few new techniques that should be easily applied when I have a physical form.*(Dryad)

Yes, a physical form…dammit!

I was so close to getting inspiration on that while sleeping…

*Can you ask Vex if she can store some of the attackers for me? I would like to run a few experiments with ‘humans’ from this place.*(Tree)

*I can already state with full confidence that Vex will want a trade of something. Probably a new set of pets, something not feline or canine based.*(Dryad)

Watching the last few humans flee through the portals they had used to invade, I shrugged my branches.

*I guess I could whip something up, as long as she provides more ‘ingredient’ for my use.*(Tree)

I don’t mind helping out a friend after all.

Even if she does have wings, horns, a tail, and inhuman beauty, it isn’t like I don’t have bark, twigs, branches, leaves, and godly glowingness.

A flexible mind is what let me keep my sanity to start with when I woke up after all.

Well with the excitement over, I'm going back to sleep for a little bit.

I know I can figure out a way to get Dryad a physical form if I can just remember more about atomic power.