305 To the core (2/2)

Raven remained relatively calm. Even under this chaotic battlefield, he never once halted his steps. His breaths are even and there are no traces of panic nor stress on his face.

The thorns are already useless against him so he could ignore those, the only way they could hurt him is when he drops his barrier or when he become careless, which is very unlikely to happen in a battle like this.

As the reanimated beasts came closer, Raven sent a signal to his hammer, switching it to its second form. Adjusting its size to a two handed version, he gripped the handle tightly, stomped with a mightily and swung the hammer with an overbearing strength.

*Boom!* *Boom!* *Boom!*

Pillar-sized fists, tainted with a Bronze hue, fell down from the sky. Each fist accurately smashed the remaining beasts in powder. After that, Raven took another strong step forward and performed another swing. This time, a gigantic fist covered in a bronze gleam manifested behind him and flew like a shooting star forward.

Nothing could hinder its path, beasts nor trees alike. Raven kicked the ground and follow the projectile closely as it tore through the barricade in front of him. It punched a massive hole and allowed Raven to get through the other side before the gap mended and the fist disappeared. Raven continued running.

He looked up briefly and saw the trace of an arching tree with pitch black leaves. Raven's eyes focused as he thought: 'Nearly there.'

Of course, the retaliation of the tree wouldn't stop here. As he ran, he was still being shot with numerous thorns, the only difference is that they are now varying in sizes. Some thorns were getting bigger, forcing Raven to pay close attention to them and dodge the really big ones.

He also noticed that the vines that are sprouting around him were getting thicker. Not only that, he could feel that these vines were tougher and more poisonous compared to the ones he destroyed earlier. He guessed that these must be the main roots of the Withering Dream Tree itself.

There was another surprising development from the things that are attacking him. The main roots of the of the Withering Dream Tree were sending vines that splinters into barbs, which are also dripping with poison.

Raven were forced to dodge these barbed vines since he knew that those could nick his barrier unlike the raining thorns. And since the poison could seep in, he didn't want to take his chances.

As for those he couldn't avoid, he solved it by destroying them with his hammer. Still Raven hadn't faced any real threats to his situation, he could manage them so far. And this should certainly make the Withering Dream Tree anxious and angry.

Eventually, Raven saw the final barricade that separates him from the tree itself.

The final barricade consists of thick and robust wall of bones, trunks, roots and is covered by large thorns all covered in Withering Poison. Raven inhaled sharply and focused on the barricade on his sight.

He waited for an opportunity where the things preventing from coming close, shows a gap that he could take advantage of. Once he saw it, his eyes widened and he cracked up his speed to its maximum. He swiftly close the gap between him and the barricade.

As he was inches away from the barricade, Raven's vision changed. Points, marks, and lines flooded his vision, making his surroundings a little strange. A strange sensation crept up onto his heart which he forcibly suppressed. He then focused his gaze on the barricade and switched to the base form of his hammer.

At this moment, Raven felt like everything around him slowed down. He forgot about the things that were trying to stop him from destroying the final barricade and focused on the things that only he could see.

The Points, Marks, and Lines that he saw, he called them 'Fragile Signs'. No matter how many times he saw them their mystery still baffles him. Nevertheless, this is not the time to be sentimental.

There is a long line in front of him. Raven raised his hammer and traced the said line using that. After he did so, silence ensued around him.

*Crack!*

It was then followed with by an audible cracking sound. Out of nowhere, the barricade was filled with web like marks, stretching all the way to the nearby trees and vines. There was loud shattering sound before all hell break loose.

The shockwaves caused the whole forest to rumble, the beasts who were still inside were terrified and the aftershocks were felt by those who were close to the forest.

As Raven laid waste on the barricade in front of him, he is now standing in front of the massive tree called: The Withering Dream Tree.