KiAera followed the two tree monsters, with Amber and Pi Osseod beside her. The five of them trekked the forest until coming across a clearing filled with light-blue crystals jutting out from the ground. The crystals varied in size; some were as tall as KiAera, while others were only as big as her paw.

  "Here ya go! This is where you can find the yummy crystals!" Saptal announced with a rumble as he dipped his branches towards the crystals.

  Sapshorla turned to KiAera with a tilt of her canopy. "Do you need help gathering them?"

  "Yes, please. That would be great."

  KiAera replied with a smile. She then glanced at Amber and Pi Osseod. "Would you like to help as well?"

  Amber chirped in response and nodded. "Crystals!"

  Pi Osseod blinked upon hearing the question. It then flicked its ears with a hop.

  "Osseods! Crystal foods tasty! Yums!"

  It dashed towards the crystals with abandon, headbutting a gigantic one with a resounding crack.

  KiAera nodded at the responses before turning to Sapshorla and Saptal. "Thank you for your help!"

  "No problem, KiAera! We're happy to assist ya," Saptal replied.

  Sapshorla hummed in agreement with a sway of her branches. "Yes, we would like to be of help if possible."

  The group proceeded to gather the light-blue crystals scattered across the clearing. They gathered about fifty of them within ten minutes.

  ???? ? ????

  ★??Items Obtained:

  Light-Blue Crystals: 11 (+153) -★ 164

  ???? ? ????

  During the collection, KiAera had to chip down the largest ones to fit them into her satchel, which took about five minutes each. The crystals were all around one to two meters tall, so they were quite large.

  Subsequently, another surprise made itself known as she discovered there was a limitation to how small she could breakdown the crystals; it appeared as though she could only reduce their size to an extent—about the size of her paw—before a strange phenomenon-like resistance was met, no matter what she did.

  Nonetheless, she managed to split them into dozens, within the limitation.

  As a result, the satchel she filled became full, so KiAera decided it was best to offer the remains to Saptal and Sapshorla, especially in thanks to their generosity.

  ???? ? ????

  ★??Items Obtained:

  Light-Blue Crystals: 64 (+248) -★ 312

  ???? ? ????

  Afterwards, KiAera turned toward the two tree monsters with a smile. She dipped her head toward them in respect. "Thank you for your help, Sapshorla, Saptal."

  She said that, then Amber and Pi Osseod bowed their heads as well.

  Saptal tilted forward. "Again, no problem! We're just happy ta have been of assistance."

  "Yes, we hope this helps you in your endeavors, sunshines!" Sapshorla replied with a sway of her branches.

  KiAera nodded at their response before turning to Amber and Pi Osseod. She returned her gaze to the two tree monsters once more and grinned. "Well then, we'll be going now! Thank you again!"

  She waved them farewell, though the thought of leaving them behind pressed ache to her chest.

  Saptal rumbled with a nod of his trunk. He swayed his branches towards KiAera in farewell.

  "Take care, little ones!"

  Sapshorla hummed with a tilt of her branches as she too waved goodbye.

  The atmosphere drifted into a serene state as KiAera gestured for her teammates to depart. Yet a tugging sensation of dread bristled her fur.

  "N??T S?? ??A??T!" a raspy, almost unintelligible voice, suddenly roared from behind them.

  The group turned to see a large creature lumbered toward them.

  The tree-like creature had its mouth wide open, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth. Its body was covered in bark, its eye glowed a malignant green like poison, and its claws were long and jagged. It was nearly the same height as Saptal and Sapshorla, towering several stories high but grim.

  ???

  ★ Hostile Zeldritch Detected!

  Creature: Tropiruth

  Species: Tropiruth

  ★ Sobriquet: "Terror Treant"

  ★ Evolution Stage: [Fledgling] (F)

  ★ Variant Grade: [Common]

  ★ Attribute Influence: [Plant] [Grim]

  ★ Alignment: [Predator] [Chaotic Evil]

  Accumulated Particles (APeX): [4680 Units]

  ???

  Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

  KiAera recognized it as one of the monsters she had fought in the past—the same species as the creature that almost devoured Amber— and her.

  She partially lidded her eyes at the sight of the creature and instinctively crouched down into a battle stance.

  Saptal rumbled with concern upon seeing the Tropiruth.

  "What is it doing here? It's so far from its territory..." he muttered, then turned toward Sapshorla. "Sapkin, we cannot stick around if they've encroached this far in the area. That is a sign of corruption…"

  "Sapkin, I'm not sure, but that is a bad sign for the condition of the forest," Sapshorla answered as she rustled with worry. She then turned to KiAera and knelt. "Little ones! Please be careful! This is a very dangerous monster!"

  KiAera nodded in response and glanced at Amber and Pi Osseod beside her. They too seemed to be wary of the Tropiruth before them.

  "??i??e??c?? ??o?? ??a??h??t??c S??p??i??s! ??h??r?? ??i?? ??o??r??e??v??s g??t t??e m??c?? ??a??n??m o?? ??l?? ??f??i??i??l p??i??i??e??e?? ??o e??t??r T??o??i??u??h's d??m??i???!" The Tropiruth roared with a stomp of its wooden foot.

  Saptal rumbled with concern upon hearing the Tropiruth's words. "What is it talking about? We didn't enter your domain! We are just passing through!" He protested as he dipped his branches toward himself and Sapshorla in emphasis.

  Sapshorla rustled with worry at Saptal's words. "Little ones... You should run away from here!"

  "??u?? ??w??y?! H??h! ??h?? ??i??t??e m??a??s a??d y??u S??p??i??s s??a??l b?? ??e??o??r??d! ??t'?? ?? ??????v?????????? ???? ???? ??оn?????????? b?? T??o??i??u????!"

  The Tropiruth bellowed as it stomped once more. It then let out a roar as it lunged forward, mouth wide open to reveal its rows of razor-sharp teeth.

  Sapshorla screamed as she stumbled back in terror. She turned toward Saptal with panic in her voice.

  "Sapkin! What do we do?!"

  "I'm not sure!" Saptal answered as he too recoiled in fear.

  KiAera steeled herself at the Tropiruth's approach. Instinctively, she reacted quickly, dashing toward the Tropiruth's right side, with Amber and Pi Osseod in tow. She then leapt into the air, casting her [Ignite].

  Her concentration went to her head-limb ears, followed by her swiping the flaming limb. The heated blow gashed one of its legs, causing it to stumble then crash thunderously into the ground.

  ???

  [Elemental Advantage]

  KiAera's [Fire]-attribute and attack is advantageous against the [Plant] and [Grim]-attribute of the [Tropiruth]!

  ???

  A roar of agony erupted from the Tropiruth as it turned toward KiAera with rage burning in its glowing green eye. "?????? ???????????????????? ????????! ?????? ?????? s?????? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ???? d?????!" With ferocious abandon, it dashed at KiAera with a vicious cry.

  KiAera readied herself for the attack, but the sudden intervention happened. Pi Osseod's crystal projectiles pierced through the air, only to harmlessly shatter against the Tropiruth's wooden hide.

  ???

  [Insight]

  Pi Osseod's power too low to inflict harm…

  ???

  Amber, on the other hand, jumped onto the Tropiruth's head and began pecking at its eye with her beak.

  ???

  [Insight]

  [Elemental Advantage]

  Amber's [Wind]-attribute and attack is advantageous against the [Plant] attribute of the [Tropiruth]!

  ???

  "StoP iT!" The Tropiruth roared as it swatted at Amber with a mighty swing. KiAera dived in taking the brunt of the attack.

  "LEELEE!" Amber cried out upon the two of them crashing into a nearby tree trunk with a resounding crack.

  KiAera groaned. Fortunately, the blow was not enough to do them in. She toughened through the agonizing pain that ruptured across her side.

  "Amber… stay put. I'll handle this." KiAera turned toward Amber in concern. She then glanced at the Tropiruth, narrowing her eyes. "Damn you…"

  "THerE ??s n?? ????????Er ??l?????? ?????? s??ú???????????????? ????nds l?????? ??????!"

  KiAera snarled as she readied her stance.

  "I'm not going to let you hurt anyone else, you horrid growth." She hissed, then accelerated across the field with her [MereSwiftness] dash.

  "????? ????????'?? ????????? ???? ??????'???? ???? ???????? ???? ????????????????, ???????? ?????? ?????????? ????? ?? ?????? ???? ???????? ??????, ?????? ?????? ?????? ???? ???????? ????!" the Tropiruth taunted; it swiped at KiAera with its clawed hand, only to be met by a fiery tail that incinerated one of its wooden arms.

  "That sounds great! I'm up for it!" She replied excitedly.

  The beast stomped down in attempt to flatten her, but she leapt into the air to evade. Maintaining the momentum, she accelerated again, dashing around in a circle with her tail lashing outwards. In that instant, she cast swift sequence of skills.

  ???? ? ????

  Skill's casts!

  [MereSwiftness]

  [Fire Twister]

  [Spectral Flame]

  ???? ? ????

  The flames surrounding her fur grew hotter, igniting the area and engulfing the Tropiruth's body in a pillar of fire.

  The Tropiruth let out an anguished scream as it stumbled in an attempt to break free, but its body was now on fire.

  "Ah! ???????? ?????? ??????—?!" It failed to complete its sentence as it roared in pain, while flailing wildly.

  KiAera growled, leaping into the air once more with her claws sheathed. "I'm your worst nightmare!"

  She snarled as she struck the Tropiruth with both claws simultaneously in quick succession, gouging large chunks out of its bark.

  ★ [Claw Swipe] - Beast - TECH: 18 -> TECH: 19

  The Tropiruth roared as it twisted toward KiAera and swiped its claws at her. It missed by inches, but the force of the blow sent her flying through the air. She landed on her back with a thud, rolling for a notable time before coming to a painful stop.

  "KiAera!" She heard Amber's cry in alarm upon seeing her crash. KiAera's back stung with the wrath of a thousand wasp stings, and she felt particles dripping down from her forehead. "No matter what— Stay back, Amber!"

  She staggered to her feet with a groan, blinking the particles out of her eyes. She looked up to see the Tropiruth looming over her, its green eye glowing with hatred and overconfidence.

  "H??h??h??! I?? ??e??m?? ??o??'??e u??d??r??s??i??a??e?? ??e, ??i??i m??a??! Y??u'r?? ??i??i??h??d n??w," it hissed as it raised a clawed hand.

  KiAera panted heavily as she stared up at the Tropiruth. "Self-assured are we," she glared, lowering herself in a crouch. She winced, feeling pain blossoming from a leg.

  "W??ll, ????'?? a ???? t?? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ?????? d????????," the Tropiruth growled as it brought down its arm.

  KiAera braced herself for the impact, preparing for a feint and a devastating counterattack. Instead, she saw a large object crashing into the Tropiruth's that made it lurch sideways with a roar of pain.

  It crashed with a thud, letting out a pained groan as it struggled to get back up.

  KiAera blinked in surprise, then turned to see that the assailant had been Saptal. He dropped the boulder in his hand before rushing over. The Sapkin loomed in front of her, arms outstretched. He was determined to protect her.

  "Saptal?" KiAera breathed as she stared at him in shock. "Why did you—? I can handle this."

  "You're injured. Let me help you," Saptal insisted. He turned toward the Tropiruth, his branches shifting into an offensive stance.

  "???????? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ??????!"

  The Tropiruth roared as it lunged toward Saptal, only to be met with a barrage of large, crystalline chunks.

  "Right back at you, creep!" Sapshorla yelled as she hurled another volley of projectiles from the forest floor.

  The Tropiruth stumbled from the attack with a cry of pain. It turned toward Sapshorla, snarling in rage. "??????'???? ???? f???? ???? ??ów!" With a grip of a crystalline boulder, it hurled it at Sapshorla.

  KiAera watched in horror as Sapshorla was hit.

  Sapshorla cried out as the boulder shattered, the shards cutting into her bark. She fell to her face with a pained groan, holding her side in pain.

  Saptal let out a low growl and charged at the Tropiruth. "You harmed my Sapkin!"

  Saptal's branches morphed into a shield before KiAera's eyes, just as the Tropiruth lunged at them. The wooden claws struck Saptal's shield, leaving deep gashes in the bark.

  The Tropiruth roared in anger as it continued to lash at the shield.

  "?? ??????'?? ???? s??b??u??d ???? ????????????!" It howled as it continued to scratch furiously at Saptal's shield.

  "No! Stay back!" Saptal yelled, his shield beginning to splinter from the strain of the Tropiruth's blows.

  "Sapkin... please..." Sapshorla pleaded, tears streaming down her face.

  "I'll protect you, Sapkin," Saptal responded, gritting his teeth in concentration. He pushed the Tropiruth back, giving himself enough time to mend his shield.

  KiAera took that moment to unsheathe her crystal spear. She swiped its diamond point across the fire of her tail tip, igniting it.

  ★ [Ignite] - Fire - TECH: 1 -> TECH: 2

  "Come at me, you cowardly crook! Saptal! Cover me!" She charged at the Tropiruth without another thought to spare.