Yet another visit to the farmlands, Jan had expected this one to be something akin to "take down two wolves" what with the escalation of requests from just a few days ago. As such, never did the Sinese expect to find the farmlands in... That state. "What the hell happened here!!?"

To his undeniable surprise, the familiar sight of the house by the windmill, the fence, ranch and tractor, were all covered by never-before seen vines. A simple collection of vines, exiting from the near forest and engulfing everything the eye could see past the road; somehow engulfing even farmer Jim's very house, but seemingly not harming it. It was all simply... Clumped.

"Yeah, as soon as it started I called you out," said Farmer Jim, lighting a cigarette in his house as he served Jan a cup of tea. After some short banter and trying to wrap his head around the situation, the young man took to reside in his client's house for the while, taking the brief before thinking of a way to act. Obviously, the objective would deal with these vines, right?

"everything around here got wrapped by these vines over night. Believe it or not. But they're still growing, and at this rate they'll reach the town too." With some sounds of a struggling wood, the Sinese looked outside the window, horrified to witness the plants actively growing in-front of his eyes. "Let alone my farmlands, all of Marigold might get caught up in this!"

It was clear as day. Once he finished his tea (he wasn't going to waste such a gesture, especially given the assumption that there was, somehow, still time.) Jan headed out the house and aimed towards the groups of vines engulfing the house. First things first; cut off where they're growing.

The magic circle appeared by his hands as he swung his hand, using both hands to execute the same spell. "Water Slicer!"

What came in the form of a water sauzer easily cut through the greenery, slicing it in place. Before it began growing wildly once again, catching up to its former size. "Well that's not good."

yank.

"Not good at all!!"

Thrust into the ground with a loud thud, Jan realized the wild vines wrapped itself around his shoes, as it started dragging him further away from the edge, closer into the forest.

Being rapidly dragged further into the forest was really the last thing Jan had hoped for. Lingering fear of whatever's coming next aside, he couldn't do much if he'd be covered in greenery from head to toe; fact is, his life would effectively be in danger should he allowed this to go on. As much as he wanted to run, that seemed like less of a plausible option.

"Hnng-- Slicer!!" He yelled out, frantically waving his hand at the vines tied to his shoes; slicing the ends and bringing himself to a halt. Though he barely had any time to rest, as on immediate cue, another group of vines entangled around his feet and continued to draw the young man deeper, only fueling his fear. Clothes skidding and dirtied on the ground, quickly dragged on the damp soil and grass, the plants pulled him ever closer.

"Dammit!" He cursed, "Slicer!!"

Once again expelling a sauzer of water from his hands to cut the vines pulling him in; though with the distance he's covered already, it appeared that yet another issue rose. That being, while he easily managed to cut the greenery just earlier, this time it didn't work. A couple more vines wrapped around his torso, then over his left arm. Reeling him in even faster. Having already passed the forest's boundaries with the farmlands, Jan Ren learned the hard way that- the further in he got, the stronger the enemy is.

These plants were, without a doubt, alive.

He yelled out in horror, unable to restrain himself. Trying to grab at the ground, clawing at it to try at least slow down. He was terrified, certain that this would actually mark his doom. As expected, his struggles were futile; just digging a bit into the ground as the vines continued to pull without apparent issue.

Picking up on some odd scent, Jan couldn't help but, in his highly alert state, jump to a conclusion. This was the smell of death, and if he looked around he'd easily find some bodies. And he was soon going to join them! This is, sadly, where our young Blue Pegasus mage's story, comes to an e--

A sudden bump against something in the ground cut his train of thought. He turned his head as he was dragged further in, spotting the blue glow in the ground. Illuminated under the soil, lighting the treetrunks around.

Maybe... Just maybe.

Time slowed down. Eyes widened, hair brushed in the wind caught in his momentum; the Sinese's hand seemingly moved instinctually, finer and thumb stretched out and the other fingers clutched in tightly. Jan made out the shape of a gun with his free, right hand, all the while pulled deeper in. From this range... This could be his last hope.

Slicer doesn't work anymore. The vines are getting sturdier. The deeper in he's dragged, the faster the process and the more vines wrap. If he lets it happen further, he will most definitely die. It all came down to this shot.

Before he went out of range, without even announcing the spell. The magic circle realized to Jan's fingertip, rotating slowly as he perceived everything at a slower pace. A single shot was let out with a bang, digging into the soil as he fired, lucky enough to be a meter short of staying out of range. Though it wasn't a solitary shot.

"(Qang!!)"

Almost in succession, the Water Mage fired a second shot from his tip, the improved version he worked on intensely not too long ago. Having been already in range for the lesser version to hit, this was without a doubt... A winner.

As whatever was in the ground was hit, the blue light began to strengthen further. The young mage couldn't tell whether he broke something or not. But he was soon going to find out, as the vines slowed down, their strength drained as the glow intensified; causing the Sinese to close his eyes shut. Did he get it??

Seconds later and the light dissipated into nothing. Jan hastened to stand up-- "Hey. It worked!" --realizing the overwhelming greenery he was engulfed by and couldn't see past until a minute ago -- was all but gone! It was easily a work of magic. The entire being, so it seemed, disappeared without a trace. The blue stone in the ground, the countless reaches and even the cut ends. Slowly making his way out of the forest as he staggered some with his steps, Jan placed a hand over his heart, feeling it slow down; still racing, but significantly less. He took a view at what had laid out.

It was the same farm he always knew. The ranch, the fence. The house by the windmill and the tractor. Slightly damaged, but.

Entirely vine-free.

WC: 1,194/1,000