The rest of the hunt was child play for Kara. She retreated to a rear position, positioning herself behind the scrawny trunk of a dying tree, opposite to the storm. The cover was small, but her body was even smaller. She lifted her arms above her to avoid having them stick out, the tip of her sword nearly poking out of the top.

She hid her Life Force once again, observing the Warriors with her Siren’s Web as they struggled with the overwhelming HP and defenses of the Ents. With the Ranger gone, being a man down, and an unknown person hunting them, they would realize this battle was a futile one.

This round was a survival game, not a kill game. Getting involved in fair fights was not a good use of resources, especially when the enemy was an HP sink.

Two of the four Ents died before they called to run away.

The first Warrior that passed Kara did so without noticing her. The second did far too late.

Kara jumped on the third, letting him impale himself through the neck with her blade. She stepped to the side, allowing his momentum to pull it free as he tumbled past.

You have dealt 13 Pierce damage to Warrior’s Sheild!

You have dealt 35 Pierce damage to Warrior’s HP!

You have dealt Devastating Bleed Damage!

This was one of the few ways to kill higher level foes. Getting hit by a high penetration strike to a vital, like running straight into a sword with your neck, for example, will cause a swift end.

Neither of his allies paused. The charge of the Ents shook the ground as the herd charged, as if an earthquake was heading their way.

Kara did not rush herself. Walking to the side was not an option-- she simply would not be able to distance herself in time. The Ents may have had poor sight, but the bleeding body of the Warrior a few steps away from her oozed out his life. They would focus on him rather than her.

Walking as quickly as she could, Kara ducked and weaved through the two giant legs of the Ents, and then did her best in twisting her body as the branches attempted to snap her in half.

She passed with a few light lashes on her skin. She glanced behind her, seeing the whimpers of the poor guy cease as one trunk came down onto his body. More followed as the trunks dented the grounds with their stomps. After the Ents resumed their chase, not a single piece of the warrior was left.

“Well, it’s time I head out,” Kara whispered to herself in a distracted manner.

The sweat ran on her skin, the cruel cold giving peace to pulsing muscles. Though this body was foreign and lacking in glamour, it had a certain durability to it. It felt tight, enveloping, and well put together. It would not break and fall at the joints. She spent 8 Mana and recovered 75% of her HP in total, bringing her back to 129 HP. Not completely recovered, but 3 out of 5 targets was adequate.

The Song has concluded

Maybe she couldn’t go the full distance with this body, so what? At least life was bearable again. She’ll find a different way to get Shinkro.

She began jogging, following the sunken earth the Ents left behind in their wake. It ensured that the path was clear, and though she was confident in coming out victories against any foe she might face, she had little need to fight any longer. Her HP was nearly full, and her resources were high enough for any emergency that might arise. She was set to get Nilbog out of this Dungeon alive. Everything else will follow.

Hope. She could see it, and soon, she would taste it.