We hid in the bushes, continuing to observe the battle.
"Wait a bit longer." I whispered. "The timing isn't right yet."
Brownie and Waspy nervously nodded.
The Steel-Bristle Boar let out an angry roar.
All its steel bristles stood on end like steel needles.
Then—
A full-force charge!
"BOOM—!"
The massive body was like an out-of-control tank, charging at the Shadow Cat.
The ground itself shook.
The Shadow Cat's figure instantly vanished into shadows.
The Steel-Bristle Boar missed, directly smashing through a bowl-thick tree.
"CRACK—!"
The tree fell with a tremendous sound.
But the Shadow Cat had already appeared at the boar's flank.
Claws swung down!
"SLASH—!"
Three deep bloody marks appeared on the boar.
Though the steel bristles were hard, the Shadow Cat's claws were sharper.
"HISS—!" The Steel-Bristle Boar roared in pain.
I checked their HP.
[Steel-Bristle Boar HP: 450/500]
[Shadow Cat HP: 280/350]
The battle continued.
The Steel-Bristle Boar turned, its tail sweeping like a steel whip.
The Shadow Cat leaped to dodge, but the tail still grazed its hind leg.
"BAM!"
The Shadow Cat was sent flying, crashing into a tree.
[Shadow Cat HP: 250/350]
It immediately rolled after landing, merging back into shadows.
The Steel-Bristle Boar warily observed its surroundings.
Suddenly—
The Shadow Cat ambushed from directly above!
Leaping from tree branch shadows, both claws attacking the boar's back simultaneously!
"SLASH SLASH—!"
Steel bristles were torn open, blood spattering.
[Steel-Bristle Boar HP: 390/500]
The Steel-Bristle Boar angrily raised its head, shooting steel bristles like arrows!
"SWISH SWISH SWISH—!"
The Shadow Cat dodged, but still got hit by several bristles.
[Shadow Cat HP: 220/350]
"So intense..." Brownie whispered.
The battle entered white-hot intensity.
The Steel-Bristle Boar charged again, this time faster and more powerful.
"BOOM BOOM BOOM—!"
Three surrounding trees were consecutively knocked down.
The Shadow Cat kept dodging, its figure weaving between shadows.
But the Steel-Bristle Boar's attack range was too large—the Shadow Cat was forced into direct confrontation.
It crossed both claws, taking the boar's charge head-on!
"BAM—!"
The Shadow Cat was sent flying, rolling on the ground several times.
[Shadow Cat HP: 170/350]
But it stabilized mid-roll and pounced at the Steel-Bristle Boar again.
This time aiming for the boar's throat!
The Steel-Bristle Boar lowered its head, ramming toward the Shadow Cat.
"THUD—!"
The Shadow Cat was knocked away, but its claws also left wounds on the boar's face.
[Steel-Bristle Boar HP: 350/500]
[Shadow Cat HP: 140/350]
Both sides began panting.
But neither would retreat.
The Steel-Bristle Boar growled, preparing to charge again.
The Shadow Cat's eyes became sharper, body tensing.
"They're still going to keep fighting..." Waspy said.
I nodded: "Wait until they're weaker."
The Steel-Bristle Boar launched a frenzied series of charges.
It no longer considered defense, only wanting to defeat its opponent quickly.
"BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!"
Each charge carried astonishing destructive power.
The Shadow Cat also abandoned guerrilla tactics.
It began direct confrontation.
Each time the boar charged, it counterattacked with claws.
Blood splattered.
Both were getting injured.
[Steel-Bristle Boar HP: 280/500]
[Shadow Cat HP: 100/350]
The Shadow Cat's movements began slowing.
It was too heavily injured.
But it still didn't give up.
The Steel-Bristle Boar wasn't doing well either.
Wounds covered its body, blood staining the steel bristles.
Its charging speed was also decreasing.
"Almost." I said.
Finally—
The Steel-Bristle Boar let out a final angry roar.
It gathered all its strength for one last charge.
The Shadow Cat also prepared.
Its body merged into shadows, then—
Suddenly emerged from directly beneath the boar!
Both claws stabbed straight at the boar's abdomen!
The weakest defensive spot!
"SLASH—!"
The claws pierced deep.
But simultaneously, the Steel-Bristle Boar's charge also struck the Shadow Cat.
"BOOM—!"
Both magic beasts fell at once!
Dust flew up.
I immediately checked their status.
[Steel-Bristle Boar HP: 30/500] Lying on the ground, chest heaving violently, abdomen torn open with a gaping wound, blood continuously flowing.
[Shadow Cat HP: 35/350] Barely able to stand, but body swaying, covered in blood, could collapse at any moment.
Both defeated!
Both were near death.
The Shadow Cat struggled to stand.
It looked at the golden plant.
Wanting to claim it before the Steel-Bristle Boar.
It walked step by step toward the plant with difficulty.
Trembling with each step.
The Steel-Bristle Boar tried to stand, but the fatal wound to its abdomen prevented movement.
It could only lie on the ground, letting out unwilling growls.
HP still slowly declining.
[Steel-Bristle Boar HP: 25/500]
"Now!" I said.
Waspy immediately looked at me.
"We're taking it?"
"Yes, but carefully." I said. "Waspy, use Mental Disruption to delay the Shadow Cat."
"Brownie, you and I get the plant together."
"Got it!" Waspy took flight.
Brownie also nervously nodded.
Waspy quickly flew toward the Shadow Cat.
Stopped before it.
"Mental Disruption!"
The Shadow Cat instantly entered a confused state.
It stopped advancing and began attacking empty air.
Claws wildly flailing.
"Hurry!" I said.
Brownie and I immediately rushed toward the golden plant.
The closer we got, the stronger the magic power fluctuations.
I could feel a warm power emanating from the plant.
Brownie's voice trembled: "This plant's magic power... is too strong!"
I reached out my paw, preparing to harvest—
Just then!
The Shadow Cat recovered from confusion!
It saw us taking the plant.
Let out an angry roar.
Though injured, it still pounced at us!
Speed still fast!
"Brownie! Quick, take it!" I shouted.
Brownie immediately dug up the plant with its roots.
I swiftly put it in the Dimensional Cheek Pouch.
Success!
But—
The Shadow Cat had already reached me.
Claws swung down!
I dodged urgently.
But still got grazed!
Searing pain on my back.
[HP: 95/120]
Three shallow claw marks appeared on my back.
"Gray!" Brownie cried out.
Waspy immediately flew over.
Stung the Shadow Cat with its stinger.
The Shadow Cat fell into confusion again.
But this time the duration was very short, only a few seconds.
It was too strong, with high resistance to mental attacks.
"Run!" I said through the pain.
All three of us immediately fled.
The Shadow Cat tried to chase.
But it was too heavily wounded—after a few steps, it stopped.
It stood there, letting out unwilling roars.
We ran far away.
After confirming we weren't being pursued, we finally stopped.
"Huff... huff..." Brownie gasped. "That was terrifying..."
"But we succeeded!" Waspy excitedly circled in the air.
I leaned against a tree, the wound on my back still bleeding.
Though not deep, it hurt somewhat.
Brownie immediately ran over: "Gray! Let me heal you!"
It gently placed its paws on my wound.
"Vitality Bestowal."
Pale green light enveloped my back.
The warm sensation drove away the pain.
I could feel the wound slowly healing.
Blood stopped flowing.
The wound began scabbing over.
[HP: 115/120]
"Thanks." I said.
Brownie smiled: "We're companions."
Waspy also flew over: "Gray, are you okay?"
"I'm fine now." I moved my body. "Brownie's healing is very effective."
We found a safe place.
After confirming there was no danger around, I took the golden plant out from the space.
Examined it carefully.
The plant was about palm-sized, its roots, stems, and leaves all emanating a faint golden glow.
The magic power fluctuations were very strong, even making the surrounding air tremble slightly.
I tried checking the system information.
[???]
Still nothing displayed.
Brownie approached the plant.
It placed its paws on the plant and closed its eyes to sense.
"This plant..." Brownie opened its eyes, filled with amazement. "I can feel its vitality is extremely vigorous."
"And the quality of its magic power is very high, completely different from ordinary plants."
"Can we eat it?" I asked.
Brownie shook its head: "I'm not sure, but it feels like we shouldn't eat it directly."
"Something this precious would be too wasteful to just eat."
I thought for a moment: "Then let's plant it in the space."
"Maybe it'll have unexpected effects."
Brownie's eyes lit up: "Good idea!"
"And cultivating it in the space where magic power density is high, maybe it'll grow even better."
I put both Brownie and the plant in the Dimensional Cheek Pouch.
Brownie chose the best location in the space—
Right next to that recovered tree.
It carefully planted the golden plant.
Then used "Vitality Bestowal" to nourish it.
Pale green light flowed toward the golden plant.
Suddenly—
I felt the magic power flow in the space become much more active!
The golden plant emitted even brighter light.
The other plants also seemed affected.
The sapling's leaves became more verdant.
The glowing mushrooms' light became brighter.
The vines began slowly growing, climbing upward.
"Amazing!" Brownie said excitedly. "This plant seems to make the entire space more vibrant!"
Just then—
The system suddenly displayed a notification.
[Special plant detected]
[Dimensional Cheek Pouch environment optimizing...]
[Space capacity increased: 1.5m³→2m³]
[Space stability increased]
I froze.
"The space upgraded?!"
Waspy also said in surprise: "What? The space can upgrade?"
I could clearly feel the space had grown larger.
Before it was only 1.5 cubic meters, now it became 2 cubic meters.
Though the increase wasn't much, this was a qualitative change.
And the space had become more stable.
Brownie emerged from the space, also looking excited.
"Gray! The space really got bigger!"
"And I can feel the magic power inside is denser!"
"That golden plant seems to have become the space's core—all the other plants are growing around it."
Waspy circled in the air: "This adventure was totally worth it!"
I nodded: "Yes, though a bit dangerous, the gains were huge."
"And our coordination became better too."
Brownie smiled: "Right! Waspy's Mental Disruption was amazing, it bought us time."
Waspy looked a bit embarrassed: "I just did what I should."
We returned to the tree hollow.
The wound on my back had basically healed, leaving only three shallow scars.
Brownie's magic power had also recovered.
"Today was such a thrilling day." Brownie said.
"But also a very rewarding day." I smiled.
I sensed the space's changes again.
The golden plant was quietly growing in the space.
Emanating warm light.
Illuminating the entire space.
The other plants, influenced by it, were also slowly growing.