Mounting Pressure (5)

"I might, just a second." I had no idea Sakura was so proficient with the Anchoring skill. Looking back on it, she may have been using it as early as our first fight against Jezabel. The two small craters she left in the ground when she charged the Guild Master are burned into my memory. It was the first time I saw Sakura lose control like that, and it was terrifying.

I focus on the soles of my feet and firmly anchor myself to the ground. I'd first gotten the skill after the Dracoterra fight, but I haven't leveled it up yet. The skill is only at level two, so it still takes a lot of concentration to use. As I approach the Mammoth Tree, I detach and reanchor my feet to the ground, making sure to hold the sensation of anchoring at the forefront of my mind. I raise my foot and attach myself to the trunk of the tree. I put some weight on my elevated foot, but it feels like I'm slipping. I focus even harder and manage to slow my descent, but I can feel my stamina gauge falling rapidly. I reach out with both arms and grab the tree's bark to stabilize myself as I climb higher with my other foot.

"We don't have all day." I hear Sakura's voice right next to my ear, which breaks my concentration, and I fall to the ground. When I look up, I see her standing on the tree trunk, parallel to the ground. "Just give me your hand, I'll pull you up."

I blink a couple times to reorient my perception of reality and grab her hand.

"You should learn how to ask for help sometimes. That way, you wouldn't look like an idiot so often," Sakura needles me.

"You're probably right, but looking like an idiot is how I learn."

"Whatever." At that, Sakura yanks my arm so hard that it almost dislocates from my shoulder and carries me up the side of the tree. She blows past the cover of leaves overhead and only drops me on a branch after reaching the middle layer of the forest.

"Ow," I exclaim flatly as I rotate my throbbing shoulder.

"Quit complaining. I got us here, didn't I?"

"I'm not complaining; that just hurt a bit. Anyway, thanks for the lift," I reply. Sakura turns away without saying anything and looks off into the distance.

"I think I see one over there," she says after a moment's pause.

"Great, let's move a little closer and then get ready to shoot it."

"I can hit it from here," she responds.

"That's like four hundred meters away," I say in shock.

Which means she must have a skill.

"I got the Sniper skill recently, which helps adjust my shot to account for distance and increases the stability of my arm that holds the bow," she explains proudly.

"Geez, you kids are outpacing me at every step."

"Says the kid," she shoots back.

"Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning. Isn't that right, little miss cranky pants?" Sakura's face scrunches up as she tries not to smile. It's nice to break the tension by saying something stupid. I can feel a grin spreading across my face as well, despite the desperate situation. "Now, make sure to get away as fast as you can after taking the shot. I don't want anyone else getting caught up in this."

"I know already," she says as she tries to sound frustrated to block the smile threatening to spread across her face.

"Great, and in case I don't survive this, it was fun teaming up with you. I know I can be a bit of a pain sometimes, but it was always nice knowing I could count on you when it mattered. Take care of Josh for me, okay?"

"Shut up," she replies weakly. I can see her hands shake as she tries to open the Ghost Walk potion, but I pretend not to notice. She quickly chugs the potion and disappears right in front of me. Moments later, I see an arrow fly out of the empty space in front of me and stab the far-off Mankas in the back.

"Nice shot."

"I told you I could hit it." Sakura's voice appears from nothing.

"I'm sorry for ever doubting you. Now get out of here before the Mankas get close."

"I can't hear you from down here!" Sakura shouts from below me. It seems she climbed down the tree without me noticing.

I pull out the fireball rod at my side and aim it at the approaching monsters. The Mankas fly toward me at an incredible speed as they swing through the branches. I pour my will into the fireball rod, and the red-colored gem at the staff's tip begins to glow. Without another thought, a fireball shoots out and grazes the lead Manka, which screeches in pain. While it may not be engulfed in flames, the burning ball of mana acts like napalm, and some stick to its fur. The other Mankas ignore their fallen brethren and continue their mad charge toward me. I lightly anchor myself to the tree trunk and half walk and half slide my way down to the ground. It's only been a few seconds since Sakura first shot her arrow, but the forest has already begun to erupt in a cacophony of shrieking. I sprint towards the sounds of battle in the distance while the cries of hundreds of Mankas tear at my back. I've always been told that fighting one Manka meant fighting the whole colony, but it never really struck me how terrifying that would be until now. If I lose my footing, they will rip me to shreds in a matter of seconds.

I activate my Flash Step skill to put some distance between the colony and me. I don't think I could lose them if I tried, so I'm not very concerned about them giving up the chase. All the practice I've done weaving my way between the trees is paying dividends. Even while running near top speed, I can easily avoid the fast-approaching obstacles.

The sounds of the battle are growing near. The plan is to drink my Ghost Walk potion as soon as I break the treeline and dash through the enemy formation to force the Mankas colony into the Duke's army. I can almost see the light of the clearing up ahead.

'EehEEEEEEEHHH!'

Out of nowhere, a Manka flies in from my left side and grabs my arm. I feel its talons dig into my flesh and the teethed suction cups attach to my back. It tries to take a bite out of my shoulder with its beak, but I manage to bash its head against a passing tree dazing it.

While it tries to recover itself, I pull out a dagger from the pouch at my side and stab it in the chest. I can feel the dagger's blade scrapping against the creature's ribs, but it refuses to let go. In fact, the dying monster only grips my arm harder. Pain courses up my arm as the talons slowly dig deeper. In a last-ditch attempt to free myself, I slice at the creature's neck. Blood pours out of its throat, coating me in the slippery liquid, but still, it refuses to let go. I hack at its neck repeatedly while barely dodging between the trees. The light of the clearing is just ahead. I slash one last time, and the Manka's head falls to the ground, but still, its claws dig deeper. Like a vice grip, the muscles of the dead creature only tighten that much more. It's as if the will of the entire colony is maintaining the fighting spirit of the headless Mankas.

[Inari always talked about how terrifying humans are but never said anything about Mankas.]

I begin pulling the talons out of my arm just as I burst through the treeline into the clearing.