Ch. 12 – Crystalized Horn Activated!

The Rocktail Horned Rabbit, alert and perceptive, noticed the sudden disappearance of the darkness around Taro. It thumped its foot on the ground and let out a piercing scream, feeling that something was about to change.

Its once plain horn started to transform and got slowly covered in a shiny, earthy light, making it look more alarming and powerful.

But it didn't stop there. The horn began to grow, becoming bigger and more pointed, taking on a sharper, more dangerous shape. The atmosphere around the forest grew heavier as the horn continued to shine even more brightly.

Yves, closely observing the scene, hastily passed on information to Taro. "Taro, be cautious! That's one of the Rocktail Horned Rabbit's abilities – the Crystalized Horn. It improves the horn's strength and sharpness, making it a very lethal weapon."

"But it seems like it will take a few seconds to finish its enhancement. Go on the offensive now! Take advantage of this moment!"

As soon as Taro heard Yves' instructions, he zoomed forward in a flash, leaping at the Rocktail Horned Rabbit. The forest floor seemed to blur beneath him as he pulled off the Eclipse Blitz Dash.

Dark shadows wrapped around him, making him zip like a lightning bolt, and multiple illusions created by the Shadow Mirage made things even more confusing.

Taro and his illusions dispersed in different directions, causing a chaotic view. The Rocktail Horned Rabbit, caught off guard by Taro's sudden burst of speed and confused by illusions, panicked and didn't know what to do.

In its state of confusion, with the instinct to defend itself, it hastily activated Quake Spike. Earth spikes erupted from the ground, but the illusions took the hit while the real Taro remained unharmed. The forest echoed with the noise of the spikes hitting nothing but shadows.

As Taro closed in, the glow on the Rocktail Horned Rabbit's horn ceased, revealing its crystalized form. The horn sparkled like a gem, translucent and radiant.

However, even as the transformation of the horn was completed, Taro was already within striking range. The shadows around Taro's claws intensified as he swung them towards the Rocktail Horned Rabbit's body.

The initial impact felt like hitting a rock due to the Rocktail Horned Rabbit's special trait, Rocky Armor. Nonetheless, Taro's claws, infused with shadows, still broke through that tough layer of defense and precisely sliced the creature's hind leg. The rabbit screamed in pain as it pulled back from the sudden attack.

Furious from the injury, the Rocktail Horned Rabbit glared at Taro with anger. In an instant, it charged at Taro, lunging immediately with its crystalized horn aimed forward like a spear.

Taro, seeing the oncoming assault, dodged to the side, relying on his nimble reflexes. He executed a quick sidestep, narrowly evading the direct thrust of the deadly crystalized horn.

Although the Rocktail Horned Rabbit's attack managed to graze Taro's side, it resulted in only a shallow wound, preventing a more severe injury.

As Taro dodged the Rocktail Horned Rabbit's sharp horn, he seized the opportunity to turn the tables. With almost teleportation-like dashes, he left copies of himself behind, confusing the Rocktail Horned Rabbit.

Pouncing at the Rocktail Horned Rabbit, Taro's rapid, shadow-infused bites struck fast and hard. The darkness in his attacks added an extra layer of complexity for the Rabbit to defend against.

The dark bites landed on the Rabbit, creating cuts and bruises, while the illusions intensified the confusion of the already bewildered creature.

In the midst of the intense battle, Taro's relentless assault proved too much for the Green Bronze-order grade monster. The Rocktail Horned Rabbit, once formidable, now found itself overwhelmed by Taro's skill and movement.

Watching the situation, Yves couldn't help but sense that the end of the fight was drawing near. Taro's dominance was obvious, and victory seemed within reach. "Taro, you're on the verge of winning! Don't hesitate. Go for the kill, and don't give the Rocktail Horned Rabbit a moment to recover."

Motivated by Yves' encouragement, Taro intensified his efforts. Each strike found its target, leaving deep cuts and wounds.

The Rocktail Horned Rabbit, now visibly weakened, staggered under Taro's continuous attack. Its once vibrant deep brown fur was now matted with dirt, and patches of it were torn away, revealing the wounds beneath. The crystalized horn, once shining brightly, had lost its luster and appeared dull.

Taro's claws and bites kept coming, and the Rocktail Horned Rabbit's body displayed the marks of pain. Dark spots crisscrossed its form, clear signs of the persistent strikes. The creature's movements slowed down, each step looking harder than the one before.

In the final act, Taro darted to the monster's side, his movements almost too fast to track. With accuracy, he plunged his claw into the side of the Rocktail Horned Rabbit's head, aiming directly for its brain.

As the life force left the Rocktail Horned Rabbit, it collapsed to the ground with a thud, the formerly strong creature now lay defeated.

Witnessing the Rocktail Horned Rabbit going down, Yves felt a surge of relief and pride for Taro's victory. He quickly approached the fallen Rocktail Horned Rabbit, making sure it was truly dead. Yves gave Taro an approving nod. "Nicely done, Taro. You handled that well."

Yves then raised a hand, gesturing for Taro to wait. "Let's take a moment to rest and recover. Your mana and energy must be depleted after such a battle. We'll rest for a couple of minutes before making our way back."

As Taro's gaze lingered on the Rocktail Horned Rabbit's lifeless form, a hint of hunger sparked in his eyes. Yves, catching onto his pet monster's appetite, couldn't help but chuckle.

"Hungry, are we? Do you want to eat it?" Yves asked.

Taro, a bit shy, nodded. Yves grinned. "Alright then, here's the plan. I'll extract the valuable materials first, things we can sell. The rest is your reward."

Taro's eyes brightened, appreciating the offer.

"But, Taro, I need your agreement. We've got a deal?"

Taro responded with an enthusiastic nod, and Yves chuckled again. "Great! I'll get to work."

Yves squatted down and began cutting off the legs of the Rocktail Horned Rabbit using his obsidian dagger. Slicing through the tough Rocky Armor proved a problem, but Yves persisted, aiming for the same spot.

It took some effort, but after a few tries, one leg came off. Yves didn't let the difficulty bother him and continued until all four legs were removed.

Moving on to the mouth, Yves faced another challenge. It was harder to open than the Numbing Rat they had encountered before. So, he called on Taro for assistance. Taro opened the rabbit's mouth while Yves carefully extracted all six incisors.

Thanking Taro for the help, Yves proceeded to the tails and ears, finding this part relatively easier because the tissues around it were softer than the rest of the creature.

With the tails and ears safely collected, Yves turned his attention to the final and most valuable prize—the horn. This part needed special attention. Yves examined where the horn connected to the creature's head, looking for the right spot. Spotting the joint, he positioned his obsidian dagger.

Applying steady pressure, Yves encountered resistance as the horn refused to budge easily. He maintained control, adding a slight twisting motion to gradually loosen it from the creature's skull. With each twist, he could feel the horn giving way, slowly separating from the creature.

As the final turn freed the horn, Yves couldn't help but smile at the successful extraction. He held the horn up, inspecting it closely to ensure there was no damage.

"Got it. This horn is in perfect condition. We did it, Taro!"

He then turned to Taro with a knowing look, giving a signal. Taro, understanding the unspoken command, quickly pounced on the Rocktail Horned Rabbit and started nibbling on the fresh meal.

Yves, satisfied with the outcome, started storing the valuable materials he had looted in his exploring bag. Taro's cheerful eating sounds filled the quiet forest while Yves organized the resources they collected.

Attempting to lift the now-loaded bag with one hand, a strained expression appeared on Yves' face. The weight was just as he expected. "This bag right here is practically a vault of money."