Returning back through the portal was an option, but a last resort, and not something we wanted to do carelessly. We couldn’t be sure of the energy expenditure each time we passed, or if the portal would suddenly stop working. That alone would be a disaster no one was willing to risk.

Rhea said, “Let’s focus on our surroundings and find a solution for the mushrooms as we go.” I felt more trepidation than before and could see that feeling was shared. Everyone took extra care in dispersing the jungle floor. No more surprises.

The other mages were constantly chugging MP potions as we moved along using our fire spells. Somehow, no one noticed I wasn’t doing the same. My MP pool had grown so monstrous that casting over and over didn’t have much of an effect on my mental state.

“These look like pillars!” someone shouted. As the jungle burned away, the semblance of a prior civilization started to show through. The occasional stone structure poked through the dense soil. Green vines tangled all around but the markings of writing and enchantments were clear as day.

We slowly moved around the perimeter until coming across a peculiar flower. It was completely out of place in this area. Everything else had sharp vines, razor sharp teeth, parasitic seeds, or deadly poison. This flower was beautiful and flawless.

A golden nectar dripped from within the folds of the flower and covered some of its petals in a translucent light. Even I felt myself tempted at the sight of that, and no doubt did the others. Corbin licked his lips while staring greedily, “Should… should we burn that one as well?”

And despite knowing it was the most dangerous option, we seriously considered finding a way to take the flower ‘alive’.

“It doesn’t feel right. None of the animals or insects come anywhere near that flower to gather that nectar.” Annette seemed to be the brains of POWER—always keeping Corbin’s wild ideas in check. “Maybe it’s poisonous.”

And that comment was enough to make everyone not want anything to do with it.

“Yeah, burn it as well,” said Rhea.

I took in the surroundings as the three other mages stepped up. This brief moment of conversation afforded them a bit of rest. I started the party off with a Cremation right from the get go.

The others added their spells on immediately after and very quickly we had that beautiful flower covered in thick flames. Despite the intense heat, it showed no signs of burning up. The green stem didn’t turn brown but instead turned red.

It started to sway oddly and then a screech that nearly made my ears bleed started to rise from the earth below. A soul signature rapidly ascended from deep within the earth. My alarm bells were ringing rapidly.

“Something’s wrong…” I shouted. I wasn’t the only one who had noticed. Whatever was coming from the ground was not a plant at all. Only now did I find it peculiar that the flower in front of me had no soul signature at all.

The lack of a soul signature made me think it was the only natural ‘plant’ in this entire area. Instead, the entire flower burst from the earth as a gigantic beast appeared in front of us. The flower stem was abnormally long and connected to the monster’s head.

I understood now. It was a lure, similar to an angler fish on earth. The flower was bait and had we approached to close, we may have been devoured by this behemoth in front of us. Unfortunately for it, the ‘flower’ was now peeling skin and smoldering red. No doubt it hurt like no other pain it had previously experienced.

This was the first beast we encountered since coming through the teleporter. I immediately cast Inspect while gaining some distance between us.

Floral Monstrosity* LEVEL: ?? PLANT EARTH

HP: 321999 MP: 250

STR: 90

AGI: 20

DEX: 90

VIT: 90

INT: 15

The mutation of beast and plant. The flower dangling from its head acts as the perfect lure.

I had never seen stats this high before, ever, and it seemed most of the party hadn’t either. “By the gods, we should maybe call for backup,” Corbin yelled. It didn’t help I couldn’t tell what level the creature was.

“We can’t afford to waste that kind of time. Take it slow and figure it out,” Rhea countered.

Corbin’s face soured before steeling his resolve. He was the tank for this group and had to step up. “Melee: stay out until we figure out exactly what it does. Range: focus on preventing damage. I’ll go in solo and call for assistance if need be.”

Everyone nodded in understanding before spacing out. It was incredibly important we didn’t all get caught up in the monstrosity’s attacks.

“I’ll assist you,” Vichi said. Her hands came together as a green hue covered her body and a runic circle formed around her feet. A fairy-like whisper of words I couldn’t quite understand escaped her throat. Creatures of the grove spawned to assist her and soon a small army surrounded Corbin.

I instantly recognized the treants and wood golems, but there were also two stationary plants and a sprite fluttering in the air that I’d never seen before. My dwindling excitement started to flare up at this moment. I couldn’t go in just yet… but this was a battle I’d been waiting for.

Rhea chanted a spell and an angel fell from the sky and imbued Corbin with a shield, “Go!” she yelled. With Vichi and Rhea as support, he felt confident enough to push forward. Once he had engaged, every caster began casting whatever fire magic they could muster.

The Floral Monstrosity in front of us was already in an enraged state. Its beautiful lure had been roasted till the skin was bubbling and red. By the time it understood the situation, Corbin was already directly in front of it with his sword raised.

Corbin swung down with as much strength as he could muster. It was impossible to see the core body of our foe, covered as it was with vines that were tightly wrapped around it and which writhed and slithered—hundreds and hundreds of vines.

As expectant as I was to see damage, those vines were as thick as human thighs. Corbin let out a battle cry as his sword collided with vine and started to tear through. He was merely halfway through when another vine came to share the burden.

His full power swing could not cut through this protective outer layer. Not only that, despite being of EARTH affinity, it was incredibly resistant to fire. The green vines remained green and only withered slightly when put under intense heat.

The first attack was merely a surprise, and Corbin was now dangerously close to the monstrosity. Dozens of vines extended from its body, each as thick as a human thigh and sharp as a spear.

I had an incredibly bad feeling and so did Corbin. The first attack came lightning fast directly from his right. My eyes only saw a green blur as the vine collided with his sword. He needed both hands to interpose the blade and block the force from a single vine.

He was trying to retreat but that vine would pierce through his body like paper if he didn’t resist it with his full strength. The next vine came for his back, and the shield Rhea had previously cast came into play.

There was a crack like glass as a bright light shimmered around Corbin for only a moment. The brunt of the damage was absorbed, and the force sent him tumbling away. He managed to roll along the ground as vines repeatedly stabbed through the space where his body had previously been.

Corbin had risen only to his knees when five or six vines came directly for him. It was impossible for him to dodge in this situation. Vichi was waiting for this moment and seemed to have predicted it perfectly.

Two wood golems completely blocked the front of Corbin and accepted the vines through their bodies. These golems were skewered with almost no resistance and tossed to the side like toys.

It felt like merely a moment had passed and so much had already happened. High level battles were on a completely different level than I’d ever experienced before.

Corbin had retreated to just a few feet in front of the party. Sweat already covered his brow and his back had blood dripping through his clothing. The magical shield kept him from being pulverized completely, but didn’t stop all of the damage.

The healers topped him up before he had the courage to move forward again. “Aim for the gaps in its armor,” Corbin said. After that single bout, it was the only weakness we could see. When the Floral Monstrosity used vines for attack, they left glaring openings. Presumably the actual flesh of the beast was directly within those.

The three archers in the group immediately began focus firing those openings. Just a few arrows managed to pass inside before the attacking vines began swatting each arrow out of the sky. Still, the monstrosity didn’t have eyes on the back of its head, and so the archers spread out even more.

I was casting Cremation after Cremation to little affect. The beast didn’t seem to have any reaction to my casting, even though the spell was landing directly below the glob of vines. I also discovered exactly what that sprite Vichi summoned was for.

It rushed to the two wood golems and began chanting spells. Very quickly, the holes in their bodies mended and they began moving again. It seemed the sprite could heal her summons back to usability.

The mages began to try and lob their spells into the vine openings. But as far as I could see, these attempts to burn the monster had very little affect.

During all of this, the Floral Monstrosity had moved maybe one or two meters in total: a pitifully small amount given the size of its body. Its low AGI stat left it mostly immobile but it held incredible dexterity in its vines. “Everyone, be smart!” Corbin yelled again. We still had very little information to go with. The battle could flip on its head at any moment.

Corbin immediately rushed forward again but had no intention to attack. His sole job now was defense and distraction. As long as the attention was on him, we could focus purely on our firepower.

Vichi also positioned her treants and wood golems all around the monstrosity. Every now and then a vine would pierce or slap one away. The sprite would rush to their aid and heal them before sending them right back into battle.

Although slow, we were at least making progress as everyone unleashed all the firepower they could muster at the openings as they presented themselves. The Floral Monstrosity was growing even more agitated now, and some dark red blood could be seen coming through the gaps in its vines.

Our attacks were working, our strategy was working. No one was letting their guard down at all, but that wasn’t good enough. It was too late for almost anyone to react, and no one had connected the dots prior to my seeing that the thick vines that receded into the earth as we torched this area from before were all a part of this monstrosity. Those vines resurfaced and smashed into the nearest person they could find. At least eighty percent of the party was sent flying like a rocket, their condition unknown.

I could only manage to raise my staff in front of myself to block the one that came for me. The action made little difference as my arms buckled and the vine plus my rod smashed into my chest. Wind left my throat as I was smashed into a nearby tree.

It felt like I would suffocate as air would no longer enter my lungs. At least a dozen seconds passed before I gasped loudly. Blood followed that gasp—I checked my status.

Current EXP: 4270/147000 LEVEL: 51 Soul Harvester Eternal

HP: 1927/4125 MP: 685/2938

STR: 45+5

AGI: 54+18

DEX: 40 +5

VIT: 30 +6

INT: 55 +21

Available: 0

Harvest Soul: 1127 HP: 2362 MP: 2362

The single hit from the vine had done over 2000 damage to me. That was including my protection from Energy Coat. Without it, I would have been at death’s door. A terrible feeling washed over me as I looked at the scattered bodies in the area.

Some were grumbling while getting up—a good sign given the circumstances. While others lay completely motionless. Fortunately, Rhea had not been struck by a vine, but her face was still showing desperation.

Corbin handled the situation well, and despite seeing the result, did not panic. His focus grew and his moves became more efficient. It was imperative right now he didn’t take damage, he had to tank as best as he could.

I managed to stumble to my feet and moved in the direction of the Monstrosity. There was a way for me to recover life in a quick time and I had to take it, as no doubt Rhea was incredibly busy healing whomever she could.

Patient Reaper: Mark a target for death—applies a curse that drains a percentage of your target’s health every second. A smaller portion is granted to you in the form of life.

I didn’t hesitate to cast and a ghostly shadow formed above the head of the monstrosity. My health did begin to climb, but at a slower rate than I had expected. I had hoped that with a value of several hundred thousand HP it would instantly heal me to full—but I realized now this expectation was unrealistic.

All the same, the healing was generous enough that I would heal to full by the time the duration of the spell was up. As my stamina replenished I joined the other melee to grab any of the fallen that I could and move them to safety. The other melee had never joined Corbin in combat and were instead waiting for any developments.

I thought we were going to retreat given the damage the mass attack had done, but Rhea acted unexpectedly. She raced to the center of the battlefield, a completely vulnerable and suicidal position to be in for a healer. “What are you doing?!” I yelled. It was not my place to question her, but I couldn’t watch her do something this crazy.

She didn’t look back at me as I watched her summon a barrier. The crystal-like dome formed a perfect half sphere above her and disappeared into the earth. After that, she raised her hands and began channeling an ability.

My body suddenly felt warm and light. It was healing magic—an extremely high-level healing magic at that. It was an AOE that was currently affecting everyone in this area and rapidly healing them towards full.

Those that were unconscious started to wake and those that were badly wounded stood on their own. We were quickly recovering to fighting shape as the ability continued to channel.

The Monstrosity, while of little intelligence, could tell the situation was not quite right. Its focus shifted from Corbin to Rhea.

Evidently, the barrier could take several vine attacks, and that was what Rhea had planned for. Unfortunately, its next action was unexpected. The flower above its head that was badly burned pointed in Rhea’s direction.

The golden nectar we so badly desired solidified into the shape of a spear. This was a new ability, one none of us were prepared for. It was impossible to stop now, and all we could do was hope the magical barrier would hold.

That golden spear shot from the flower like a missile. The air displaced around it before the tip smashed into Rhea’s barrier. The barrier held for merely a moment before the tip pierced through.

My heart dropped, as I could not see the front of Rhea where the attack had landed. All I could hear was a crack and the sound of yelling. Rhea did not fall, nor did she show any signs of being injured. I didn’t hesitate to rush around and check her status.

The golden spear of nectar had burrowed several feet into the barrier. The tip of it dug an inch or two into her shoulder. Her face grimaced, and blood dripped down onto her white robe, but she was alive.

Corbin and Vichi had not been slacking in this moment. They knew already: when you can’t defend, you attack. Seeing the monster attack without a care for defense gave us the largest opening possible.

Corbin did not hesitate to rush the beast while it used its ability and he buried his sword directly into its gut. His hands disappeared into the mess of vines and slashed diagonally as hard as he could muster.

Vichi’s treants extended their limbs and wooden spikes impaled the beast in various places. The archers and mages capable of attacking threw out any spell they could muster. I was of the mind to cast an ability as well, but the fight was already over.

My moment to attack was in the moment Rhea’s life was in danger. I could not separate myself from that and attack without a care for her wellbeing, even though I could do nothing to help her. A rookie mistake by me, no doubt.

The vines wrapping the Floral Monstrosity began to unwrap and unravel before falling to the earth below. Its gut had been cut clean open and its innards flopped out in one mess. A pool of blood was forming where its feet should be.

Arrows dotted every part of its body and clear burn marks could be seen all over its skin. Only now could the damage we had dealt be seen. Those who could barely walk sank to the ground, while others rushed to assist Rhea.

We hoisted out the gigantic spear made of nectar up while Rhea canceled her barrier. The tip dislodged from her shoulder and blood started to pour out. “It doesn’t look like it’s poisonous.” She laughed before passing out.