A translucent window suddenly appeared before all four of them.
Gate Creature Identified
Name: Elder Moss fang Ape
Rank: D
Class: Monster
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Each strike echoed throughout the ancient forest like a war drum.
The sound rolled between the colossal trees, scattering flocks of glowing birds into the sky.
The Mossfang Ape threw back its head and roared.
"GRAAAAAAAAHHHHH!"
A violent gust of wind swept across the clearing.
Tina narrowed her eyes.
"It's trying to intimidate us."
"No," Kage said quietly.
"It's buying time."
The ape lowered itself into a crouch instead of charging again.
Its four amber eyes never left the group.
Almost as if...
...it was waiting.
Mira kept her bow drawn.
"Connor."
"What?"
"Can you still move?"
Connor wiped the blood from his lip and forced a grin.
"I've had worse."
"No, you haven't."
"...Fair point."
Despite the joke, Connor stepped back into formation, rolling his shoulders until they cracked.
"I can still fight."
Mira nodded.
"Kage. Keep testing its defenses."
"Already on it."
"Tina, look for anything unusual. Eyes, joints, mouth... anything."
Tina closed her eyes for a moment.
Mana flowed through her body, gathering behind her pupils.
When she opened them again, faint silver rings glowed around her irises.
"My detection art..."
She slowly scanned the monster from head to toe.
"...Come on..."
The ape suddenly lunged.
It crossed the clearing in a single leap.
Connor met it head-on.
"RIGHT HERE!"
His spiked gauntlet slammed into the ape's gut.
BOOM
The collision sent both of them backward.
Connor dug his boots into the earth, muscles trembling as he struggled to stop the monster's advance.
"KAGE!"
"I'm moving!"
Kage vanished into the shadows of the surrounding trees.
One moment he stood beside Connor.
The next
Nothing.
The Mossfang Ape's eyes darted around, searching.
Then
A black blur flashed behind its neck.
Kage's blades struck like twin fangs.
SLASH
The swords scraped across the creature's spine.
More sparks.
Another shallow scratch.
The ape spun with terrifying speed.
Its tail whipped through the air.
only to hit nothing
as Kage disappeared into the shadows
The ape turned back toward Connor.
Its enormous fist slowly drew back.
Mira's heart skipped.
"Connor!"
She fired three arrows in rapid succession.
Thwip Thwip Thwip
The arrows struck the ape's faces
One Hit the cheek,
One hit its eyes
and the last most missed.
The Ape ignored the pain and launch at Connor
Connor stared.
"...You've got to be kidding me."
The fist came down.
Then
"NOW!"
Tina shouted.
A chain of glowing blue vines erupted from the forest floor.
They wrapped around the ape's wrist, shoulder, and legs.
The creature stumbled.
Its punch missed Connor by inches, smashing into the ground instead.
BOOOOOM!
The earth split apart.
Chunks of dirt and rocks flew through the air.
Connor looked at the crater beside him and slowly turned toward Tina.
"...You just saved my bacon."
"I know," Tina replied through gritted teeth. "Now make it count!"
Connor roared.
He drove both spiked gauntlets into the ape's exposed ribs.
CRACK!
The spikes dug in
And then Connor twists his arms and started to tear the ape's gut out.
The Moss Fang Ape froze and fell to its knees
and roared a deep and loud roar.