Settling in
The next 2 days went smoothly. Sora had suggested they give the human remains a proper burial to which everyone agreed. She had also checked around the skeleton to see if she could strike luck and find a ranged weapon, however, to her disappointment nothing was found.
Nazurak and Dylan had spent their two days exploring the lush forest together getting a better understanding of their surroundings. Sora tagged along from time to time to collect fruits. She wanted to find out which were edible and which weren't. Her method was simple yet daring, cautiously slicing each fruit, she gingerly pressing it against her lips to test for any adverse reactions, waiting nervously for any sign of burning or itching. If all was clear, she took a timid bite, chewing and savoring the flavor before promptly spitting it out and cleansing her palate for her next taste test, making sure to mark the fruit as poisonous if the taste was bitter or soapy.
Back at their camp, the three of them ate their first decent meal in what seemed like forever, it was soup that was filled with different types of meat and vegetables. Back on the farm, they weren't allowed to eat what they were growing, so they were incredibly satisfied despite the flavor tasting a bit bland, as none of them knew how to properly cook.
"So what now?" Dylan asked as he put down his bowl.
The soft wind rustled Nazurak's hair as he relaxed and looked at the bright sky.
"Well, the sun's still out. So we'll continue gathering data like we're supposed to." He said while getting up.
Though they were tasked to collect information about the Loctus, none of them disliked the job. Going around and exploring was actually quite thrilling. Compared to what they used to do.
The group left their base to head deeper into the forest, seeing many familiar trees, plants, and parasites. However, they also found interesting discoveries, such as a tree that endlessly spewed fresh water from its branches which flowed down the hill eventually connecting to a stream, a grey fungus that seemed to make other wildlife around it wither, and most interestingly, a hole! Well, to be more precise, it was an opening to a cave. Its opening was quite small, enough for two humans to walk next to each other shoulder by shoulder.
The cave didn't look to be home to any parasites, its entrance was covered by vines from a beautiful tree that towered above it. Its leafs ranged from orange, green, and yellow.
"Wow, look at that stunning tree, don't you guys think so?" Sora marveled, admiring its beauty.
Nazurak nodded in agreement, closely examining its unique features.
"It is, but it seems a bit out of place, doesn't it?" he pondered.
After a moment of deep thought, he shrugged, "Oh well, it will make a great landmark for us."
The Forest Of Thorns is home to numerous types of trees ranging from all kinds of colors. Though green was your typical hue, other colors such as the leaves on the tall tree in front of them weren't out of the ordinary. What made this tree different was the way its branches were curved and how its wide roots grabbed the land underneath it, as if claiming the space.
The trio pushed on, opting to stick to the surface for now and leave the cave for another day. They preferred to explore the familiar terrain above before venturing into the unknown depths below.
***
Sometime later, the sun entered its falling phase and the sounds of battle were heard in the lively forest.
Dylan raced towards a tiny, foul creature that skittered on four spindly legs. Despite its agility, provided by its small body and gleaming six eyes, Dylan kept his pursuit, driven by determination and fueled by his trait, he quickly chased the hostile beast to not fall behind from fatigue.
Unfortunately for the parasite, its agility was all it had in its arsenal. Its tiny jaw, armed with razor-sharp fangs, was of little use as it scurried in a vain attempt to escape Dylan's wrath.
"Gotcha!" Dylan shouted as his eyes sharpened.
Taking a stance and then quickly slashing downwards with his dadao, with the help of his trait, it effortlessly cut through its hide making the parasite lose blood at an alarming pace.
Like any creature would, it jumped back, only to fall on its knees when a 2nd large gash of equal size strangely appeared on its body.
"Nazurak, another one for you!" He called out.
Somewhere close by, Nazurak and Sora were fending off a parasite of the same species. This one was larger but slower. Its lack of movement was made up in sheer power as Its jaws were significantly larger holding deadly canines. Three of its six eyes were bleeding, jammed with stones deep within them.
With a quick glance at Dylan, he seized the opportunity and launched the bayonet toward the large snarling beast before him. Despite its large frame, the creature's speed was enough to retreat as the weapon hurtled towards it.
A sharp huff came from the beast as it stomped one of its leg into the ground.
'is it mocking me?' he thought.
The large beast wasn't what he was aiming for of course. When the bayonet struck the earth, it vanished into the soil and made its way with speed and purpose towards the injured Hostile lying near Dylan.
As it arrived beneath the parasite, the bayonet paused for the briefest of moments, gathering its power. Then, with a surge of energy, it reemerged from dirt and stone as a medium-sized spike. The parasite, caught off guard, was impaled upon the jagged peak, its malevolent life snuffed out in an instant by the final strike.
Feeling the essence enter his body, he recalled the blade back to his feet while remaining in a fighting stance.
'The bayonet is stronger in this form so I might as well keep it in this form' he reasoned.
With a deafening roar, the large beast revealed its menacing jagged canines before lunging forward at Nazurak. Just as it was about to strike, the Relentless Bayonet rose from the ground, morphing into a deadly spike made of dirt and stone. The four-legged parasite was taken aback, but before it could recover, Sora's precise aim sent a rock soaring straight into one of its eyes, sending the monster staggering.
She held a makeshift throwing sling crafted from vines. Though simple in design, the weapon was devastating in her hands.
Nazurak used this opportunity to end the fight. The spike of the bayonet retreated back into the ground only to quickly appear directly under the stunned parasite, piercing its body with little struggle.
Dylan walked over to the others and flopped on the floor.
"Why did you give me the smaller, nimble one?" he panted, struggling to catch his breath.
"Shouldn't I have been given the larger parasite?" He questioned with his eyes closed.
Nazurak called the bayonet back and caught it, inspecting its blade for damages.
"Your trait activated fast with you chasing it everywhere right? All you needed was one slash and at that point, you'd down it with the dadao's attribute." He said indifferently, still glancing at the bayonet.
'There's not the slightest damage on it, it's just as good as I found it. We fought quite a lot today, does the durability not reduce while it's active? Or does this have something to do with its flawless quality?' He pondered these questions for a moment before setting them aside for later investigation. For now, he was content with the weapon's strength and versatility.
Nazurak brought up his essence to check his progress.
[Life essence 23/100]
With the help of the others giving him last hit, his essence was rising at an excellent pace.
The last rays of sunlight filtered through the leaves of the trees, casting a warm glow over them. The day was drawing to a close, and they still had a long journey back to their base.
"I think it's time to call it a day before nightfall," he suggested, surveying the surrounding landscape. "We can pick up where we left off tomorrow."
His companions nodded in agreement, and the small band made their way back to base. Despite the fatigue of their long day, they pushed on, eager to reach the safety and comfort of their newly established home.