Chapter 39

Serena, who belatedly became vigilant and seriously engaged in combat.

Indeed, her initial carefree demeanor was not her true strength. Serena’s serious skills were far from just being a magic launcher who only fired spells from behind with support.

She accurately pointed out the positions of the vines attacking from Kurt’s blind spots, which she could see from behind him, and directed him on where to move.

Thus, the two seemed to be putting up a decent fight against the Silver-ranked monster.

“Eek! Dodge!”

“Poison Thorn Vines attacking from the right rear! Avoid! And advance diagonally to the left where there’s no monster!”

“Trigger! Shatter Arrow!”

Serena eliminated the vines that ambushed her, precisely informed Kurt of the attacking vines’ positions, gave clear commands distinguishing between limbs and vitals, and then fired spells at the Awakening Species’ openings.

It was indeed the prowess befitting a Silver-ranked adventurer.

But hidden within was a ticking time bomb.

The fact that all resources are finite.

Even for adventurers, stamina and focus are consumables that deplete with use.

But among them, mana depletes the fastest.

With each spell cast, the mana visibly diminishes.

Despite not engaging in half the physical activity Kurt did, Serena was already out of breath and dizzy.

Her wand-holding hand trembled, yet every spell she fired at the openings was blocked by the Plant-type Monsters created by the Awakening Species.

If this continues, it’s just a meaningless war of attrition, and she’ll run out of mana first.

Clutching her wand, Serena unconsciously tightened her grip at the grim future she foresaw.

‘Why aren’t my spells reaching it? Of course, sniping it while it’s protected by Plant-type Monsters isn’t easy. But even so, I fired a few shots at blind spots the Plant-type Monsters couldn’t protect, yet none hit it directly.’

There are two conditions needed to land an effective hit on the Awakening Species.

First, seize the moment when Kurt has cut down all the plants, leaving the Awakening Species unprotected.

Second, even if the Plant-type Monsters’ protection is breached, if the Awakening Species’ monster spawns new Plant-type Monsters, it’s futile. Attack from the monster’s blind spot.

But Serena, true to her Silver rank, managed to spot openings that met both conditions amidst the intense battle.

Yet, each time she attacked, the Awakening Species’ monster, as if it had hidden eyes, accurately created new Plant-type Monsters to defend against the attacks from blind spots.

Could there be another hidden factor she hadn’t considered?

Reaching that thought, Serena realized something.

‘…Wait. Invisible eyes?’

Attacks from blind spots.

The Awakening Species perceiving imperceptible attacks.

Hidden eyes.

Plant-type Monsters.

“It’s sharing senses with the Plant-type Monsters!”

Yes.

Even if it can’t see with its own eyes, if the Plant-type Monsters connected to its senses perceive it, they become its additional eyes.

That’s why, despite thinking she had found openings, her attacks never reached the Awakening Species’ monster.

“Kurt!”

At Serena’s shout, Kurt, as if lost in thought, reacted belatedly.

Serena felt a momentary doubt but dismissed it as trivial.

‘Of course, in such a tense combat situation, there’s no room for other thoughts. He must have been focused on the battle, hence the delayed reaction.’

“Huh? Ah… Right.”

“If it’s sharing senses with the Plant-type Monsters, finding an opening is practically impossible.”

“Really? Then, is there another plan?”

“Of course. If every opening is blocked, then we need to deliver an unstoppable, powerful strike from the start.”

“Is that possible?”

“Yes. But casting this spell takes considerable time, so you’ll need to protect me. Can you do it?”

“Of course.”

Hearing Kurt’s confident answer, Serena didn’t doubt him.

Doubting her partner’s capability now is pointless.

So, all she had to do was trust Kurt to protect her and unleash her most powerful spell.

Her main magic isn’t mana-based non-elemental spells.

Her main magic is fire-based.

But using fire magic in such a forest could lead to uncontrollable flames, making cleanup difficult, so she avoided it.

However, to defeat the Awakening Species of the Fruit Tree Antlered Reindeer, she needed a powerful spell that could obliterate the Plant-type Monsters’ barriers in one shot.

If her mana runs out, their chances of winning are slim.

And a mage with depleted mana has little chance of surviving against an Awakening Species’ monster.

So, even considering the cleanup, unleashing her most powerful spell here increases their survival odds.

“Nine chains. The crimson abyss. The cycle of all things. The architecture of order. The forging of steel. Restraint, liberation, rearrangement, assembly, refinement.”

Soon, Serena succeeded in creating her most potent spell.

A small artificial sun rose above her raised wand.

A blazing sphere, seemingly crafted not for targeting individuals but for siege warfare.

“Trigger! Blazing Crimson Lotus!”

As she lowered her hand, the small sun flew towards the Awakening Species.

It wasn’t exceptionally faster than the Shatter Arrow.

But it steadily incinerated the Plant-type Monsters blocking its path.

Poison Thorn Vines erected barriers but were instantly burned, Steel Petal Roses melted, and the water jets from the moisture-laden Bulrushes evaporated in an instant.

Though the numerous Plant-type Monsters’ sacrifices diminished the sun’s size, they couldn’t extinguish it.

The small sun, having overcome all obstacles, was about to engulf the Fruit Tree Antlered Reindeer in flames.

But at the last moment.

When it seemed no more Plant-type Monsters remained, the Awakening Species’ antlers, which were also branches, began to grow.

In an instant, they grew to match the Awakening Species’ size, becoming a dense tree that could no longer be called branches.

The Awakening Species naturally lowered its head, using its antlers as a shield.

The dense tree positioned itself between the Awakening Species and Serena’s spell, acting as a buffer before the explosion.

Boom!

The collision of tree and fireball created an explosion and a massive steam cloud.

The Awakening Species was momentarily hidden in the steam, and Serena, covering her face, muttered.

“Did… did we get it?”

“Ah. Wait, that means…”

As Kurt was about to interject, the steam cleared, revealing the Awakening Species standing unscathed.

Though it had some burns, they were superficial, not fatal.

The Awakening Species stood firm, its green eyes watching Serena and Kurt.

“What… what the…?”

Though it was the first meaningful damage she had dealt, the result was a complete failure for her all-out attack.

In disbelief, Serena’s legs gave out, and she knelt.

.

.

.

I was now in a state of mild despair.

Endlessly sprouting monsterified plants.

I compared each to the plants in my memory.

Poison Thorn Vines that inject poison through thorns.

Steel Petal Roses that explode their petals like claymores when threatened.

Yellow Death Devil Thorns that cling to clothes and gradually numb the area.

Bulrushes that store water and shoot it out like water cannons in emergencies.

Each was a nuisance but not overly dangerous on its own.

But together, they formed a dangerous jungle that could easily bury a few mediocre adventurers.

But that wasn’t what concerned me.

Despite facing the Awakening Species and cutting down numerous Plant-type Monsters, I couldn’t find the ones I wanted.

Edible Plant-type Monsters!

I thought there might be Predatory Water or at least useful Mimic Plants for oil.

I hoped to find useful plants since the Awakening Species could create Plant-type Monsters at will.

But all it created were plants useful only as poison ingredients or alchemical catalysts.

It didn’t create a single edible Plant-type Monster.

What’s the point of Plant-type Monsters if not for food?

Of course, they’re for protecting its body.

But it would’ve been nice if at least one bore delicious fruit.

Lost in mild depression, I heard Serena collapse behind me.

At that moment, my consciousness, entirely focused on the Plant-type Monsters, returned to reality.

Ah.

What am I doing?

I got so absorbed in the Plant-type Monsters that I forgot about my party member.

“W-wrong. You should run too.”

Serena, trembling with fear, tried to appear strong in front of me, a lower-ranked adventurer.

Honestly, with her legs giving out and tears welling up, she didn’t look strong at all, but it showed how much courage she was mustering.

This led to a mild self-loathing.

My party member is fighting her hardest, and I’m distracted.

No matter how obsessed I am with cooking, there are lines I shouldn’t cross.

And I had crossed that line.

No, it’s not too late yet.

In my mild self-loathing, I gritted my teeth and refocused.

I had my priorities wrong for a moment.

From now on, I’ll give up on the Plant-type Monsters and get serious.

“Serena.”

“W-what? I have a plan, so run!”

“Don’t worry. What you’re worried about won’t happen.”

“…What?”

“I’ll make sure of it.”

With that, I gripped my hunting knife and charged at the Awakening Species.