The sun dipped lower as they rode. Trees thickened on either side of the trail. Shadows stretched. Leaves rustled with an almost nervous energy.
Kaiden scanned the horizon. “Weird. Thought this area was supposed to be chill.”
“Yeah. It’s like everything here is overgrown,” Naō replied. “You noticing how tall that root is? That wasn’t in the patch notes.”
Kaiden was about to crack a joke when his raptor jerked its head sharply, letting out a growl.
A red HUD warning flashed.
[ROOT PRESENCE DETECTED: Corrupted Flora Nearby]
From the treeline ahead, the vines writhed violently and then ripped apart to reveal something huge. A monstrous tangle of thorns and bark stumbled forward. It looked like it had grown too fast for its own good, bulging with sap, petals sharp like knives, and glowing veins of green pulsing at its sides.
[NEW ENEMY ENCOUNTERED: Thornlash Blightreaver – Level 10]
[Cell Count: 10]
Two smaller monsters skittered out with it, flanking either side like hunting dogs.
[Companion Units Detected: Thornlings x2]
[Cell Count: 10 each]
The Blightreaver let out a screech that made Kaiden’s ears ring. The raptor reared back as Kaiden dismounted, already drawing his blade. His HUD pulsed with a subtle orange glow around his name.
The monsters weren’t looking at Naō. They were locked on him.
“Lucky you,” Kaiden muttered.
“Not complaining,” Naō said, hopping off his Capyra and hurling a Toxin Flask into the first Thornling. It shrieked as acid bubbled across its bark-skin.
The Blightreaver lunged straight for Kaiden. He activated Petal Cloak, blinking out of sight just as the massive limb slammed the ground where he’d been.
Kaiden reappeared behind it, using Vine Step to close the gap. He slashed low, trying to hack at the knotted vines near its legs.
[-3 RD]
He cut through the first Thornlings cell counts until he broke the stem cleaning through. He followed up with an attack to their life points
[-3 RD]
[-20 LP].
He went to the main boss and attacked at its central core. The Blightreaver twisted, its head tracking him unnaturally fast. A cloud of glowing spores exploded outward, clinging to Kaiden’s cloak and armor.
[-5 RD]
[Stealth Compromised]
“Seriously?” Kaiden snapped, rolling aside. “It tagged me through that?”
“Hey, something’s up,” Naō said, slamming another flask into the second Thornling. “It’s locked on you, like, no matter what.”
“Yeah, I noticed.”
This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
The second Thornling lashed out, wrapping a vine around Kaiden’s leg.
[-26 LP] [Poisoned]
Naō’s voice cut through the chaos. “Antidote incoming.”
A green vial arced through the air and shattered at Kaiden’s feet, cleansing the poison effect just before it could stack further.
“Thanks.”
He sliced through its vine, landing a follow-up attack on its core.
[-3 RD] [Cell Broken]
He slashed at the life points watching its health tick down slowly until it shrieked and burst into digital fragments.
[-20 LP]
[-10 LP]
[-10 LP]
Naō dropped a Flame Tonic Trap under the remaining one. Fire engulfed it. The Blightreaver let out a shriek again. It grew even bigger now.
“Did it just grow?” Naō shouted.
“Yup. Just my luck.” Kaiden grunted.
Kaiden’s blade struck again against a pulsing node along the creature’s chest. It split open like overripe fruit.
[-10 RD]
[Cell Broken – Stem Exposed]
Another warning pinged in Kaiden’s HUD: [Aggro Locked]
Even as Naō threw flasks, fire burned its limbs, the monster refused to turn. Its petals doubled in size in seconds.
“You seeing this?” Kaiden growled. “It’s like I’m wearing an aggro beacon.”
They doubled down. Kaiden moved fast, triggering Vine Step to get under the Blightreaver again, this time aiming for its root-core. He stabbed deep, slashing upward. Naō tossed a Burst Flask that ignited mid-air, coating the Blightreaver’s torso.
[-41 LP]
Finally, with one last leap and downward strike, his blade split the Blightreaver’s stalk clean through. The creature let out a final hiss and then dissolved into green shards.
[ENEMY DEFEATED: Thornlash Blightreaver]
Kaiden bent over, catching his breath. His raptor stepped back toward him, cautious.
Naō walked up beside him, panting. “Okay, that was different.”
“Yeah, no kidding.”
Naō walked up beside him, wiping dirt from his sleeve. “These things are mutating fast. That one looked like a mid-boss, but we’re not even near a dungeon.”
“I don’t like it,” Kaiden said. “Hope it’s not like this further into the city.”
Naō glanced over, concern in his eyes, but said nothing as he gave Kaiden a healing tonic.
???°?°???
Cindralis came into view just as the sun dipped below the ridge.
The city glowed like a glass lantern, veins of green and gold running through crystal-like towers, root bridges connecting buildings high in the air. But for all its beauty, something felt off.
Kaiden and Naō dismounted at the Solarium and stepped inside. The air here smelled like flowers and the soil of earth.
Kaiden moved straight to the receptionist NPC.
“Looking for a player named CrimsonCrow,” he said.
The NPC blinked. “CrimsonCrow has not logged in today. His residence is locked for the next three in-game days. Would you like to leave a message?”
Kaiden’s jaw tightened.
“Seriously?” he muttered. “Damn.”
He stepped back, shoulders tense. What was he supposed to do now? That was his only lead that he had?
Naō approached carefully beside him. “Hey. We’ll catch him. Just means we’ve got time to explore.”
Kaiden didn’t reply right away.
Naō continued. “Why don’t we check the quest board outside? Maybe we can knock out something nearby while we wait.”
Kaiden exhaled through his nose. “Yeah... fine. Might as well.”
They exited the Solarium and crossed the glowing plaza to a large board covered in golden text.
[NEW QUESTS AVAILABLE]
Investigate the Withering Garden
Escort the Rootbound Caravan
Track the Missing Alchemist
Kaiden’s eyes settled on the last one. “Let’s go with that. Alchemist thing.”
Naō glanced at him. “Yeah? Sounds like a side quest filler.”
Kaiden shrugged, jaw still clenched. “Doesn’t matter. Could lead to something.”
[QUEST ACCEPTED: Where the Spores Fall]
