It was time for the group to move out and truly begin their climb toward power. Without wasting a second, all four of them climbed onto Madame's back. The gigantic spider set off, her legs striking the ground with almost silent precision despite her size, slipping between the trees like a monstrous shadow.
– « Lucian, tell Madame to head east… or west, whichever. I'll tell you if I sense any Void Creatures, » Kenzo said, already focused.
That was the start.
The forest stretched around them, dense and oppressive. The gigantic trunks formed natural walls, and the canopy smothered the light above. Madame moved with an unsettling fluidity, like a predator on the hunt. Kenzo narrowed his eyes slightly and focused on the new sensation flowing through his body: that vague perception of Void Creatures scattered throughout the forest.
He sensed several of them. Too many.
– « Keep going… not that way… avoid that area, » he murmured.
He did not want to face a whole group. Not yet. They needed to learn, to test their limits, not throw themselves into a battle they had no chance of winning.
Then, suddenly, the sensation sharpened.
– « Right, » Kenzo said sharply.
Two presences. Distinct. Close.
Madame slowed down, then stopped.
In front of them stood two Void Creatures. Two Young Shoots of the Cursed Tree. Their bodies were made of brownish bark, cracked in places, and atop each of their heads bloomed a white flower, almost immaculate, disturbing in the way it contrasted with the corruption radiating from their silhouettes. Their eyes glowed with an unhealthy violet light, already fixed on their prey.
– « They're not Deviants, » Kenzo clarified.
Ophelia reacted immediately, her gaze hardening with experience.
– « Lucian, tell your artifact to fight one of them. The three of us will handle the other. And watch carefully. If you see any weak points, tell us right away. Last time with Naty, we had to grind one down just to kill it. »
Lucian swallowed, clearly nervous, but obeyed without hesitation. He gave Madame her instructions, and the massive spider moved at once, heavy and implacable, positioning herself in front of one of the Young Shoots. Lucian instinctively stepped back, keeping himself out of reach.
– « I mainly see the joints… » he said, his voice trembling but focused. « That's the only place where you really have a chance. »
Kenzo nodded and added, remembering his own fight:
– « I managed to kill mine by driving my spear into its eye. And whatever you do… don't attack the flower. It's extremely tough. »
– « No kidding, » Ophelia replied with a smirk. « That's what they use to lure prey when they're underground. »
Naty observed the two creatures for a moment, then asked calmly:
– « So? What's the strategy? Do we go in quietly… or charge? »
Ophelia smiled. A rare smile, almost dangerous.
– « We don't know each other well enough yet. We need to learn. So we charge. »
Kenzo and Naty exchanged a brief look. Neither of them liked that idea. But they did not have time to object.
They attacked.
Madame moved first, overtaking the three teenagers and throwing herself head-on at one of the Young Shoots with terrifying force. Her legs dug into the ground as she slammed into the creature, forcing it back.
On their side, Kenzo, Naty, and Ophelia rushed the second one.
The Young Shoots, nearly two meters tall, reacted instantly. Their rage was palpable. The violet glow in their eyes intensified, their claws rose, ready to carve through flesh. Dark saliva dripped from their jaws, as though they were already savoring the thought of tearing their opponents apart.
Naty summoned her whip and struck with precision. The enchanted leather coiled around the creature's leg, tightening sharply.
– « Now! »
Kenzo summoned White Fang. The white blade flashed briefly before he rushed forward, trying to reproduce the decisive movement that had allowed him to defeat the Deviant Young Shoot. But the creature reacted immediately, swinging a massive claw toward him.
Without hesitation, Kenzo activated [Serpent].
His body bent instinctively, and his blade deflected the attack by a hair's breadth. In the same instant, Ophelia had slipped behind the creature. Her daggers struck with surgical precision, slashing at the joints of the leg immobilized by the whip.
That was when Kenzo understood.
Teamwork was not simply attacking together. It meant seizing every opening, every opportunity created by the others.
He let [Serpent] fully awaken, his mind falling into the rhythm of the battle. With the twelve hearts he had absorbed, he could afford it.
Naty released her whip, then launched it again, this time straight at the creature's face, forcing it to take a step back. Ophelia tried to follow up, but the Young Shoot retaliated with a violent kick. She blocked it with both daggers, the blades trembling under the impact.
A claw came down toward her face.
But Naty was already there.
Her whip cracked, wrapping around the creature's arm and stopping the attack dead.
At that precise instant, Kenzo moved.
He slipped under the creature's guard and aimed for the shoulder joint, beneath the armpit, where the bark was thinner. His strike was neither perfect nor especially powerful… but it landed exactly where it needed to.
A violet liquid, almost black, splashed across White Fang's blade.
The creature howled.
– « Well done! » Naty exclaimed.
Ophelia did not wait. She struck the same spot, but with overwhelming precision and force. Her daggers cut clean through the creature's arm, which fell to the ground with a shrill cry.
Kenzo felt adrenaline surge through him.
I'm the first one who made you bleed.
They had managed to wound it badly without taking damage themselves. But none of them was deluding themselves: one mistake would be enough to get them killed.
The fight was not over.
They had to stay focused.