Chapter 12

"Looks like they're actually gone," Korra muttered with a sigh of relief. "Those guys were definitely above A-Rank."

"Hey!" Kenzo’s voice cut through the quiet, drawing attention. He gestured toward Kaede, his gaze fixed on Kanae. "Mind explaining what’s going on here? Who exactly is she?"

Kanae remained silent as she stepped forward, walking past Kenzo and Akari.

"Hey, what gives?" Akari called out, falling into step beside her. "You’re the one who brought her, and I don’t recognize her at all. You two even look kinda alike."

Kanae didn’t respond. Instead, she stopped beside one of the massive mushrooms, running her fingers along the deep grooves carved into its stem, claw marks, each at least a foot deep.

Kenzo followed her gaze, frowning as he spotted another mushroom in the distance. Unlike the first, this one bore only a small puncture wound, barely a quarter of a foot deep. It was the mushroom that he had threw the spear towards, when he counter attacked the enemy.

"Shit," he muttered under his breath. "This is bad. This just got a whole lot harder."

Kaede and the other Hunters exchanged confused glances.

Akari crossed her arms. "What are you talking about? You’re starting to freak me out."

Kenzo turned to a young man in shining knight armor, his yellow cape draped over one shoulder. "Hey, Nagi, mind cutting down that mushroom?" He pointed at a slightly smaller one nearby.

The A Rank hunter blinked, puzzled by the request, but nodded. "Sure."

Drawing his sword, its blade gleamed green as he activated his power. The ground cracked beneath his feet, energy rippling outward as he swung.

"Raaaargh!"

BOOM!

The mushroom was engulfed in an explosion of light and energy.

As the dust settled, gasps of disbelief rippled through the group.

A thin, white line marked the spot where Nagi’s attack had landed. And yet, the mushroom remained completely intact.

"Thought so," Kenzo muttered. He gestured toward a distant mushroom. "I threw that spear with full force, and it barely pierced a few centimeters. These mushrooms are ridiculously tough."

Korra nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I even blasted those bastards with my hottest flames, and the mushrooms didn’t even get singed."

The Hunters murmured among themselves, unease growing in their expressions.

Then Kanae raised her hand and pointed. "Now, look at that one."

Silence fell over the group.

This particular mushroom bore deep, jagged claw marks, each at least a foot deep.

Korra's throat tightened. Their combined attacks couldn’t even scratch the mushrooms. Kenzo had barely dented one. Yet something out there had the strength to tear into them with ease.

A slow, heavy realization settled over the Hunters.

Just what kind of monster lived in this forest?

"Not to mention," Kaede mused aloud, "when Kenzo-san caught the spear, he was blasted through several of those mushrooms. That means the spear had enough force to carry him straight through something so tough." She glanced at the deep claw marks again, her mind piecing together the implications. "Which means those guys are really strong."

Korra exhaled sharply, tension creeping into her voice. "So we have to watch out for at least two different types of powerful monsters..."

Kanae nodded before turning to Kaede. "Kaede, can you expand your cover circle?"

Kaede paused, considering the request. Then, without a word, the shimmering boundary around them began to expand. It stretched outward at an alarming rate, spreading so far that they could no longer see its edge.

Kaede blinked, sensing a subtle shift in the air. Her gaze snapped toward the distance, her instincts flaring. Without hesitation, she moved to the edge of the group, her posture tense.

Akari let out a relieved sigh. "Well, that’s convenient. So she’s S-Rank? That’s good. With four of us, we should be able to clear this dungeon."

Kenzo smirked. "That’s the spirit." He cracked his knuckles, rolling his shoulders. "Now, let’s give our guests a warm welcome."

He stepped up beside Kaede just as she slammed her shield into the ground with a resounding thud. A shockwave rippled outward, kicking up dust and rustling the towering mushrooms.

In the distance, the wave passed over something, revealing a flash of blue fur.

Kenzo’s smirk widened, his grin turning feral.

Kanae unsheathed her twin katanas, crouching low in a battle-ready stance. The air thickened with tension.

Then it emerged.

A massive beast, towering at six meters, prowled forward with slow, deliberate steps. Its quadrupedal frame was a coiled mass of pure muscle, each limb tensed like a spring ready to unleash devastating power. Glowing yellow eyes locked onto them with predatory focus, and a low, rumbling growl rumbled from its throat.

Its bared fangs gleamed like daggers in the dim light.

A Blue-Maned Lion.

And where there was a male lion…

A chorus of deep, guttural growls echoed around them.

Shadows shifted between the mushrooms as sleek, muscular forms stalked forward. Dark blue lionesses, their movements smooth and lethal, circled the group like specters of death.

The hunters tensed.

They were surrounded.

For a moment, no one moved.

The only sounds were the low growls of the lionesses, the faint rustling of mushroom caps swaying in the artificial wind of the dungeon, and the slow, deliberate breathing of the hunters.

Then, the male lion took another step forward. Its claws dug into the damp earth, and with each movement, its muscles flexed beneath its thick fur, a predator preparing to pounce.

Kenzo exhaled, his smirk unwavering. "Alright," he muttered, rolling his shoulders. "Looks like we’re doing this the hard way."

Kanae’s grip on her twin katanas tightened. "We need to take them out fast," she said, her voice level but firm. "If we drag this fight out, we risk attracting more monsters."

Kaede shifted her stance, planting her shield firmly into the ground. "Uhh... I'll handle defense." she said, her voice steady.

Korra’s hands burned with rising flames. "Then I’ll handle crowd control."

Akari swung her large bardiche, her usual lighthearted expression gone.

Nagi took a measured breath, his sword gleaming with energy.

Kenzo cracked his neck, flexing his fingers as golden energy crackled around his fists. "And I’ll be right where the action is."

The lion’s growl deepened, and in the same instant, the lionesses lunged.

Dark blue streaks blurred through the air as they sprang from all sides, their movements terrifyingly fast.

Kanae was the first to move. She pivoted on her heel, her katanas flashing as she met the nearest lioness mid-air. Steel clashed against flesh, and a spray of dark blood arced through the air as her blade carved deep into its flank.

Kenzo laughed as he met another lioness head-on, his fists crackling with energy. He dodged under a swipe of razor-sharp claws and drove his fist into its ribs with a sickening crunch, sending the beast hurtling backward.

Korra thrust her hands forward, and a wave of fire erupted from her palms, engulfing two of the lionesses. The flames roared, illuminating the battlefield in a violent glow.

But the male lion, he hadn’t moved yet.

Kaede kept her gaze locked on him, gripping her shield tighter.

Then, without warning, he vanished.

Left.

She twisted her body, bringing her shield up too late just as a massive force slammed into her face. The impact rattled through the earth beneath her, her boots skidding across the ground as the earth struggled to hold her footing.

The Blue-Maned Lion had moved with impossible speed, faster than anything that size should be capable of.

It growled, pushing against her face, its weight bearing down on her.

Kaede gritted her teeth in frustration. Then... "Devour!"

The lion yelped in pain, surprised as its claws vanished a flash of pixelated light, it wanted to pull back but since it was already forcing its weight on Kaede, that was impossible. So it could do nothing as its paws, its arms, and eventually, its head disappeared.

---

You have leveled up ×9

Reward:

Item: Blue Fur Jacket – Nimba's Cradle

Equip Bonuses: AGI +15, STR +15, DEX +5

Passive Abilities (Active when equipped):

Intimidation (Passive)

Feline Grace (Passive)

---

Kaede froze, covered in blood as she blinked. "Well, that was boring... I mean uh I did it!"

The lionesses, meanwhile, kept up their relentless assault. Kanae danced between them, her blades moving so fast they blurred. Kenzo fought like a brawler, meeting them head-on, while Nagi weaved between his allies, slashing at any beast that got too close.

Korra's fire lit up the battlefield, but these monsters weren’t easy prey. Once the beasts realized that their leader was dead, they changed tactics.

Akari cursed under her breath. "They’re gonna scatter!"

"Not on my watch!" Kaede yelled as she stretched forth her hand.

"Psychokinesis!"

All the lionesses froze in their tracks as her skill took hold. Ethereal hands, unseen to everyone pressed down on them, as the Hunters rushed forward, killing them.

"Even my Psychokinesis can barely lift up a small animal, yet she's able to hold down so many at once. Could she be an S Rank?" A random A Rank hunter said as she stabbed a lioness through the eye with her dagger.

Without too much fanfare, the rest of the beasts were killed easily, with Kaede holding them down.

---

Calculating Exp...

You have leveled up ×4

LV 28 +9+4 -> LV 41

---

NAME: Maple | Lv: 41

HP: 11100 / 11100. MP: 1180 / 1180.

STATUS

STR: 130

VIT: 21481

AGI: 177

DEX: 113

INT: 115

PER: 85

SP: 86

Physical Damage Resistance: 1700%