Akari carefully places her feet exactly where Hina does as the group continues making their way through the forest. The violet sentinel's boots sink slightly into the supple earth as she moves, and she maintains a hyperawareness of each subtle shift in the ground. Reacting fast enough to use her Counter on one of the many, many traps littered throughout the forest is difficult and is made easier when she pays close attention. Unfortunately for the others, they aren't so lucky as to have an ability like hers. Although Hina has them all beat with her utterly broken future sight ability.

Troy, Asumi, and Lucas all sport small bruises around their ankles and wrists. Especially bad is the ring of dark skin around Troy's neck from where a vine attempted to hang him. So far, Serena has been spared the worst of the traps, but even she has been knocked to the ground several times. In fact, the only one of them who hasn't been caught by a trap or two in the few hours they traversed the golden forest is Hina.

That girl's ability to see alternate futures is simply too strong for the current dangers to threaten her, allowing her to know where to step and when. And while the blue sentinel might be a complete non-factor in combat, Akari guesses that anyone attempting to fight her would be in for the most frustrating experience of their life. All this makes Hina easily the most valuable member of the group at the moment. Despite that, Akari finds her hands tightening into fists as she watches the black-haired girl calmly pick her way through danger.

Before joining the group, Hina made it clear that the only person she's interested in helping is Serena. She sees protecting and helping other blue sentinels as her duty, and so far, has been unwilling to heal anyone else. In the few times Lucas has been caught by a trap and Serena took a brief tumble to the ground — causing both Akari and Hina to rush over to check on her — Hina would rapidly heal the unconscious girl's wounds, before glancing around at the others and continuing on her way. Akari admires her dedication to helping her fellow blue sentinel, but at no point has Hina offered to heal any of the others in the group.

Now, if it were just Hina and herself trekking through these woods, Akari wouldn't even bother with her own wounds. But… Asumi, Lucas, and Troy? They came here for no other reason than to help Serena, and they don't deserve to be treated as lesser.

Every limp, bruise, and curse — particularly from Troy — sets Akari's teeth to grinding. Especially because she knows without any doubt that Serena would never have allowed others to remain injured like this. Perhaps she's just used to the idea of blue sentinels being selfless, but… the behavior that Hina displays is odd. If the other girl wasn't the only reason they could even travel through these woods, Akari would have already confronted her about it. For now, though… well, once they find the point of power, Hina will no longer be Akari's problem.

"Akari," Troy mutters behind her after a few hours of stumbling through the trap-laden woods, "do we have any idea where in this forest the point of power is?"

Troy's question causes the group to pause, each taking the moment to lower their guard and relax their intense vigilance — if just for a moment. Looking around, all the group can see is massive golden trees, plants glowing like a sunset, and no discernible difference from where they started hours ago.

"I have to assume you've been leading us somewhere, Hina," Akari responds, running a hand through her greasy hair. Showers haven't been a priority since she revived, and the lack of self-care is starting to show in her knotted black locks. She doesn't mind overly. Unlike Serena, Akari has never been attached to having long hair and would happily cut it short if it would save her the hassle of untangling it.

Hina nods, not shifting her feet a centimeter as the group converses. "It's hard to say where exactly the point of power will be, but I am leading us toward the center of this forest. I have an ability related to navigation, and I'm confident we are following a heading to the center."

"And what if the point of power isn't there?" Asumi asks, plucking a golden leaf and studying it in her hands. "We could be wandering this forest for ages. What if the forest itself is the point of power?"

Asumi's leaf bursts into a puff of flame, and the girl's hair lightens just a touch further towards white as she expels the heat.

Akari frowns, considering Asumi's words. If it weren't for what Haruto said, she might be inclined to believe the same. What kind of point of power would make a forest like this as a byproduct rather than the actual effect? Despite his odd knowledge and the secrets he's clearly been keeping, Akari trusts her teammate. He wouldn't have sent them here unless he knew that it would work.

Nevertheless, Akari worries about what the effects of "bonding" a point of power like this one to Serena will be. Her girlfriend's body already has a mess of magical effects permeating within it. She's a sentinel, corrupted by Stygian Mana, has been affected by the magic of Florina, and who knows if Felix's time manipulation magic will have any lasting consequences. Adding in another point of power to the mess sounds like a recipe for disaster. One that might tip the uneven balance Serena previously found over the edge and into tragedy.

From what Haruto said about this "Dawnseeker," it would burn away all impurities within Serena, thereby saving her life. But that begged the question, what is considered an impurity? Would it consider Serena's sentinel nature impure and attempt to burn it out by purging Celeste? Would it alter or completely change Serena's personality? Would it only affect her body, or also her soul?

The answers to these questions trouble both Akari and Liora as they continue to seek out this supposed cure. Yet, the only thing she can do is continue on and trust that things will work out for the better.

Realizing that she's been silent for a long time, Akari turns to Asumi. "We can't know anything for sure, but Haruto led us here. All we can do is trust that he knows what he's talking about."

This answer doesn't satisfy her or the others, but for now, it's the best she has to offer. She promised Haruto that she wouldn't press him. And yet… the temptation to hold the large man upside down and shake him until all the secrets fall out is very tempting.

For a few minutes, everyone allows themselves a brief break. Despite being young, relatively fit individuals with empowering magic, the mental strain of this golden death trap is enough to weigh on anyone. With the clock ticking, however, it isn't long until Hina speaks up once more.

"We should proceed forward," she suggests, clearly impatient with the more injured members of the group. "I'm sensing that the danger is different up ahead, and I would like to see what we're in for more clearly before night falls."

The excuse is more than a little feeble in Akari's opinion. Even with the failing light overhead, the golden trees and bioluminescent plants provide more than enough light to see by. However, seeing Serena's pale face as she's held protectively to Lucas's chest is more than enough to make her want to get moving once more.

Whether this point of power will save Serena or not, Akari refuses to let her die before getting to at least attempt it. And so…

Akari nods sharply, "Let's get moving. If we move quickly, we might reach this point of power before the sun rises."

Troy lets out a huff of annoyance. "Only if we don't get ourselves killed. Since our blue sentinel doesn't feel like helping, we need to take care when moving anywhere in this place."

"As if you would get anywhere in here without me," Hina scoffs, before starting up her relentless pace once again.

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For a moment, Akari's violet eyes lock on Hina's back with an intense glare. She opens her mouth to reprimand her, but… she isn't wrong. Without her, they'd still be outside the forest, trying to find a safe way in. Or worse, be among the dead volcora who clearly wandered in without knowing the danger. Stars, she wishes Baylee were here. Her team leader would know what to do in this situation.

Funny… when did it get to the point that she craves even Baylee's presence? Walking toward an unknown danger with Serena's life on the line, her current team feels like poor replacements for her old group. She misses Claire's endless bravado, Baylee's stern leadership, Haruto's quiet support, and… and Serena's boundless love for them all.

"Just a bit longer," Akari whispers to Liora. "We'll all be together again. Then… everything will be okay."

Hina ultimately proves to be correct; the danger the area ahead poses is quite a bit different. Luckily, it's the kind of different that Akari happens to excel in.

With a flick of her lightning-writhed blade, Akari lops off the head of the animate tree man with a slight smile on her lips. Finally, something she can kill to solve the problem!

Heart hammering in her chest, Akari rapidly assesses the battlefield. Golden trees still tower far above the group, and yet more animate men, women, and… stranger things, fall from the trees with lethal intent. Their bodies are made of writhing golden roots, and they all wield weapons that look as if they're made of wood. They don't make a sound as they move, fight, or die, making them almost as alien as the Volcora.

Akari sidesteps a blade made of a sharpened root harder than stone, then barely has time to activate Counter on the next strike in order to teleport back to the main whole of the group. While Akari and Troy can tear through these tree men like a woodchipper, Asumi and Hina aren't nearly so adept.

The two crowd around Lucas, ensuring that none of their multitudinous foes are able to land a hit on either Serena or the normal human of the group. However, while Hina is able to weave around strikes like a dancer swaying to a beat only she can hear, Asumi is in a touch of trouble.

Only a few seconds after the fight first began, the wooden men learned that allowing Asumi to touch them was not a good idea. The young heat manipulator is easily able to freeze her enemies solid or ignite them in a burst of flames with only a tap of her finger. Yet, unlike the other magically empowered fighters, she has no assault state shield to protect her. And while she does have a last resort shield, Akari isn't willing to take the risk of it not working.

With the ambushers having grown wise to Asumi's tactics, Akari decides to change the game. Appearing directly behind one of the creatures, Akari gladly takes up her new role as a lumberjack.

Despite their numbers, these tree creatures are no match for sentinels or even the Volcora. Almost just as fast as the fight began, it's over. Glowing biological matter scattering the ground is all that's left of the sudden ambush.

Breathing heavily, Akari surveys her group, scowling as she finds them to have accumulated yet more small injuries. However, after the disastrous encounters preceding her death, Akari knows well that any fight without casualties on their side is a good one.

"We have to be… close to the… center by now, right?" Asumi asks around labored breaths. She presses her pale hand against a deep cut on her right shoulder, her expression pinched. Either her last resort shield doesn't work, or it simply didn't activate on the strike that injured her.

Akari glances in the direction they've been heading, finally noticing what may have been the trigger for the sudden assault. In the center of a small clearing, free of all but a fine layer of golden grass, is the yawning mouth of a massive cave entrance — its interior laced with glowing roots.

"To take a wild guess," Akari says, eyes narrowing at the mouth of the cave. "I'd say that is where we need to go."

Honestly, it's a real shame that this place is so dangerous. With the twilight overhead, the twinkling glow of all the golden foliage is something to behold, revealing the world in gentle illumination. At a glance, nothing nearby seems even remotely hostile, just an old forest filled with magic and wonder. This place… it isn't like an incursion zone.

Not too long ago, Akari and her team traversed an incursion zone with tall trees like this. But that place felt oppressive, the very air hostile and angry. Despite it all, this forest doesn't feel like that. None of the attacks feel malicious exactly… more just like the forest itself wants to be left alone. Like this sacred wood isn't meant for humans to traverse. Strange… strange indeed.

What would bonding Serena mean for this point of power? Is it sentient like Florina and Asumi? Perhaps all of this is just a method to push them away. To ensure that it doesn't have to bond with anyone at all. Troubling, but… Akari can't bring herself to care. Sentient being or no, she will use this point of power to heal Serena with or without its consent. Although… she has a nagging feeling that she still hasn't truly determined the real purpose of this place. What secrets does this ancient forest hide within its roots?

It's finally time to find out. There's only one other matter of business to take care of first.

Akari turns to Hina with a violet glare. "Heal the others before we enter this last stretch," she says, her tone brooking no argument.

Hina opens her mouth to dispute her anyway, but before she can, Akari raises her blade in the blue sentinel's direction.

"Listen to me, Hina," Akari says, her tone as frozen as Asumi's ice. "We are going into that cave, and we aren't leaving without the point of power. All of us need to be at one hundred percent. I don't know what your problem is, and frankly, I don't care. You have my eternal gratitude for helping us this far, but if you continue to refuse aid to the rest of our team, then this is where we part ways."

Hina glares at Akari with sapphire eyes. Eyes that are so similar to Serena's in appearance, yet devoid of her girlfriend's warmth. For a moment, Akari fully expects to have to proceed without their prophetic guide. Yet, when Hina's eyes land on Serena's limp form, her face softens.

"Very well," she says, before starting her work without another word.

Akari's gut twists with her nerves as they proceed down the massive tunnel. The only thing accompanying them on the downward slope is the soft golden light of the roots and the ominous chittering sounds and scrambling legs echoing out of dark offshoots.

They have caught more than one glimpse of the massive golden ants that seem to call this massive tunnel network home, but luckily, the creatures have seemed uninterested in the group thus far. Although Akari has suspicions about why that is.

Despite having hundreds of branching paths, it's easy to tell which direction leads to the point of power. The golden roots only ever follow one path along the tunnels, leaving the rest shrouded in darkness. Akari wonders if this is the path the tree men outside took when they came from the point of power, but without taking the time to study this place in detail, she can't know for sure.

"It's strange," Troy says, running a calloused hand along the rough surface of a root on the wall. "The forest above is so hostile, but this place seems almost… peaceful. The point of power clearly has more foes it can throw at us. I wonder why it doesn't."

If Akari's generally awful luck holds true, then there will be an army of ants gathering up ahead to stand between her and her goal. She doesn't mind, though. She will kill any number of ants, tree men, or anything else this point of power has to offer if it means protecting the one good thing she's ever had in life.

As minutes turn to hours, they continue heading deeper and deeper underground without encountering another threat. At one point, they even come face to face with one of the gigantic ants, only for it to skitter away harmlessly.

Eventually, Asumi comments, "It's almost like… like the forest above was the test. And we passed it."

"That feels correct," Hina says, staying close to her fellow blue sentinel. "Although even I can't know for certain."

Ultimately, while the going is slowed by the uneven footing of golden roots lining every part of the cave, the group makes good time. And before long, the tunnel up ahead begins to shine with brighter and brighter golden light. This is it… They're finally here.

"Stop," Akari orders, her command so abrupt in the silence of the cave that everyone freezes at once.

Quietly, Akari moves over to Lucas and takes her unconscious girlfriend from the bodyguard's arms. To her sentinel-enhanced strength, the smaller girl's weight feels like no burden at all.

"Thank you all for coming this far with me," Akari says, looking between the faces of her allies. "However, I will complete this part alone."

"That's fine, but why?" Troy asks, crossing his arms across a broad chest.

The truth is that, ever since Haruto told Akari that Serena needs to be the only one to touch the point of power, she hasn't been able to get the recurring vision of an accident or malicious act snatching away the only thing that could save the love of her life. Honestly, she'd rather be safe than sorry.

Instead of admitting her distrust, Akari just says, "All of this is my fault. She never would have been tainted by Stygian Mana if it weren't for me, and if she didn't revive me, she never would have ended up in this bad a state. I will finish this… but I need to do this last part alone."

"I cannot see into that room, Akari," Hina says, her voice soft. "So, I do not know what future awaits you there. If you need us, just yell."

Akari nods. She has already suffered far too much for her previous failure to call on her team when she needed them.

Then, without another word, Akari hefts Serena and walks into the light.

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