Green light erupted from Brownie.
Countless vines burst from the ground.
Instantly wrapped around the Forest Bear's legs.
I paused.
What... ability was this?
I immediately opened Brownie's panel.
[Forest Spirit Mouse] [Brownie]
[Level: 20/20]
[Experience: 200/200]
[HP: 130/130]
[MP: 150/200]
[Strength: 12]
[Defense: 10]
[Speed: 18]
[Luck: 12]
[Rodent-type magic beast in symbiosis with plants, can control plants and draw energy from them, excels at healing and support]
[Traits: Plant Symbiosis, Light Constitution]
[Skills: Life Drain, Leaf Camouflage, Vitality Bestowal, Forest Bind]
A new skill!
Forest Bind!
This wasn't there before!
I immediately recalled what Brownie had said.
It collected a rare healing plant.
The one the Forest Bear was guarding.
So that plant didn't just improve healing abilities.
It also gave Brownie a new skill!
I looked at Brownie.
Its entire body wrapped in green radiance.
Eyes emitting faint green light.
Both paws raised, as if controlling something.
More vines burst from the ground.
Thick and powerful.
Coiling around the Forest Bear's body.
The Forest Bear let out an angry roar.
"ROAR—!"
It forcefully tore at the vines.
Muscles swelling, power erupting.
"RIP! RIP!"
Several vines were torn apart.
But immediately new vines grew from the ground.
Filling the gaps.
And more and more.
Thicker and thicker.
The Forest Bear tried to break free.
But the vines were extremely resilient.
The more it struggled, the tighter they coiled.
I glanced at Brownie's magic power.
[MP: 120/200]
Rapidly depleting.
Maintaining so many vines consumed a lot.
But this was our chance!
Our only chance!
"Everyone, attack!" I shouted.
"Attack the belly! That's the weak point!"
Venom immediately reacted.
It opened its mouth.
"SPLAT—!"
Green venom sprayed out.
Precisely hit the Forest Bear's belly.
"HOWL—!"
[Forest Bear HP: 177/300]
Waspy also fired poison stings.
"WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!"
Three stings shot out in triangle formation.
All hit the belly.
"SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!"
[Forest Bear HP: 162/300]
Spike endured its injuries.
Became a silver-gray blur.
Dove underneath.
Tail repeatedly stabbing the belly.
"SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!"
[Forest Bear HP: 142/300]
I also rushed forward.
Bit toward the Forest Bear's belly.
Fangs pierced skin.
"SLASH!"
[Forest Bear HP: 132/300]
The Forest Bear struggled frantically.
It tried to counterattack.
But the vines bound its limbs.
Making it unable to attack effectively.
It could only keep tearing at the vines.
"RIP! RIP! RIP!"
Vines were torn apart.
But new vines immediately grew out.
Brownie gritted its teeth.
Using all its strength to maintain the vines.
Its magic power depleted rapidly.
[MP: 90/200]
We kept attacking.
Venom's poison spray.
Waspy's poison stings.
Spike's tail strikes.
My fangs.
All attacks concentrated on the belly.
The Forest Bear's HP kept dropping.
[Forest Bear HP: 112/300]
[Forest Bear HP: 92/300]
[Forest Bear HP: 72/300]
Its roars grew weaker.
Movements also slowing.
But it still struggled.
Still tore at the vines.
And Brownie's magic power was rapidly depleting.
[MP: 60/200]
Vines began decreasing.
Some vines started withering.
"I... can't hold on..." Brownie said weakly.
I glanced at the Forest Bear's HP.
Still 72 left.
Had to finish it quickly!
"Keep attacking!" I shouted.
"Don't stop!"
Venom sprayed poison again.
"SPLAT—!"
[Forest Bear HP: 52/300]
Waspy fired stings.
"WHOOSH! WHOOSH!"
[Forest Bear HP: 42/300]
Spike's tail struck out.
"SLASH! SLASH!"
[Forest Bear HP: 32/300]
I bit the belly again.
"SLASH!"
[Forest Bear HP: 22/300]
The Forest Bear's HP was very low.
But Brownie's magic was nearly depleted.
[MP: 30/200]
Vines were noticeably fewer.
And getting thinner.
The Forest Bear felt the binding weaken.
Its eyes lit up again.
Let out a final roar.
"ROAR—!"
Muscles throughout its body swelled to the limit.
Veins bulging.
Used all its strength to tear.
"RIP! RIP! RIP!"
Large amounts of vines were torn apart.
Brownie gritted its teeth.
Used the last of its magic power.
More vines burst from the ground.
But this was the last wave.
[MP: 5/200]
The Forest Bear exerted force again.
"RIP! RIP! RIP!"
Vines were finally torn apart in large numbers.
It broke free from the binding.
Though some vines still coiled around it.
But no longer affected movement.
It looked at Brownie.
Eyes full of anger and killing intent.
It's you!
You stole the plant I was guarding!
The Forest Bear charged at Brownie.
Though critically wounded, still had combat ability.
And speed was still fast.
Brownie's magic was depleted.
Collapsed on the ground.
Completely unable to dodge.
"Brownie!" I shouted.
Immediately rushed to intercept.
But the distance was too far.
Too late.
Waspy also flew before the Forest Bear.
Fired poison stings.
"WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!"
One hit the Forest Bear's eye.
"HISS—!"
[Forest Bear HP: 17/300]
The Forest Bear cried out in pain.
But didn't stop.
Kept charging at Brownie.
Spike also rushed up.
Attacked from the side.
Tail stabbed at the Forest Bear's leg.
"SLASH!"
[Forest Bear HP: 12/300]
The Forest Bear staggered.
But still advancing.
About to reach Brownie.
It raised its front paw high.
Preparing for the final blow.
I used all my strength.
Full speed sprint.
Leaped.
Bit toward the Forest Bear's throat.
Fangs pierced skin.
Sank deep.
"CRUNCH!"
[Forest Bear HP: 2/300]
The Forest Bear's movement halted.
Its paw veered off course.
Only grazed Brownie's side.
"SLASH!"
[Brownie HP: 110/130]
Brownie took minor damage.
But not fatal.
I bit down on the Forest Bear's throat.
Yanked hard.
"RIP—!"
Windpipe torn.
[Forest Bear HP: 0/300]
[Defeated Forest Bear]
[Multiple participants detected, experience distributed evenly]
[Gained 150 Experience]
The Forest Bear's massive body swayed.
Then crashed to the ground.
"BAM!"
Ground shook.
Dust flying.
Won.
We won.
I jumped down from the Forest Bear.
Looked around.
Shell and Spike critically wounded, lying in the distance.
Horn also lay on the ground gasping.
Shadow's wings injured.
Venom and Waspy were okay.
Brownie collapsed on the ground, magic depleted.
And I myself, chest in severe pain—probably broke several ribs.
But we won.
[Level Up]
[Current Level: 21/25]
[HP: 110/230]
[MP: 180/180]
I immediately ran to Brownie's side.
"Brownie, are you okay?"
Brownie weakly raised its head.
Looking at the Forest Bear's corpse.
"We... won?"
"Yes, we won." I said.
Brownie breathed a sigh of relief.
Then said apologetically:
"Sorry... it's all my fault..."
"If I hadn't been greedy and collected that plant..."
"We wouldn't have been hunted..."
I shook my head.
"No, thanks to you, we won."
"That new skill came from that plant, right?"
Brownie paused.
"You... how did you know?"
"I saw." I said. "Your skill list has 'Forest Bind' now."
"Those vines just now."
Brownie nodded.
"Right... that plant merged into my body."
"Gave me this new skill."
"But I didn't expect it would cause such big trouble..."
"Don't blame yourself." I said. "Without that skill, we couldn't have won at all."
"The Forest Bear was too strong, couldn't beat it head-on."
"Your vines bound it, so we could attack its weak point."
Brownie seemed relieved and nodded.
"Rest well." I said. "When your magic recovers, heal everyone."
I walked to Shell's side.
It lay on the ground, gasping heavily.
Armor covered in cracks.
"Boss..." It said weakly.
"Don't talk, rest." I said.
I went to check on Horn.
It was also badly hurt.
Cracks even appeared on its rock horn.
"Boss, we won, right?"
"Yes, won."
Spike and Shadow also came over.
Though injured, spirits were good.
"Boss, that bear was so strong." Spike said.
"Yes, strongest I've faced." I said.
"But we won."
Waspy flew to my side.
"Gray, are you okay?"
"Still okay, can hold on."
I glanced around.
The camp had been destroyed by the battle.
Deep craters and broken trees everywhere.
The fire had also gone out.
Dawn was approaching.
Fish-belly white already appeared at the horizon.
"We need to find a place to rest." I said.
"Wait for Brownie to recover magic, then heal everyone."
Venom said: "Boss, should we eat something first?"
I nodded.
Right, recover first.
I walked to the Forest Bear's corpse.
Began processing it.
Put the meat in the space.
Then distributed some to everyone.
"Eat, recover."
Everyone began eating.
I also ate a large piece.
[Gained 8 Experience]
[HP: 130/230]
HP recovered somewhat.
Chest pain also lessened.
Brownie also ate some.
[MP: 25/200]
Magic recovered a bit.
But not enough yet.
"Rest a bit more." I said to Brownie.
"When magic recovers above 50, start healing."
Brownie nodded.
I looked around.
Had to find a safe place.
This was too conspicuous.
And blood smell everywhere.
Might attract other beasts.
Just then.
Spike suddenly said: "Boss, I found a cave earlier."
"Where?"
"About five hundred meters north." Spike said.
"Very hidden, and very clean inside."
"Good, we'll go there."
I had Spike lead the way.
Shell and Horn were too badly injured to walk.
"Shell, Horn, wait a moment."
I used Spatial Mark.
Put them in the space.
Then followed Spike north.
Waspy, Brownie, Shadow, Venom followed behind.
Walked about five hundred meters.
Spike stopped before some bushes.
"Right here."
I pushed aside the bushes.
Sure enough, there was a cave behind.
Entrance not large but very hidden.
We went inside.
Inside the cave was spacious.
And very dry.
No scent of other beasts.
"Very good." I said.
I released Shell and Horn from the space.
They lay on the ground, gasping.
"Rest here." I said.
"Brownie, heal Shell and Horn first." I said.
"They're most badly hurt."
Brownie nodded.
Walked to Shell's side.
Front paws pressed on Shell's armor.
Used "Vitality Bestowal."
Green light flowed into Shell.
Shell's injuries began improving.
Cracks in the armor slowly healing.
Brownie then healed Horn.
After healing, Brownie's magic dropped to 0 again.
It collapsed on the ground.
"Everyone rest. We'll talk after recovering."
All members found spots to lie down.
I also leaned against the cave wall.
Body pain slowly lessening.
I closed my eyes, wanting to rest briefly.
But suddenly remembered something.
Right!
Brownie and Waspy were both max level.
Could evolve now.
I opened my eyes.
Looked at Brownie and Waspy resting.