I followed the swiftly moving cat through the dense underbrush. The morning light filtered through the thick canopy above, casting a soft glow on the forest floor.
"Tom," I called out.
"Why exactly are we trying to eradicate the pincer nest? I mean, I don’t mind fighting a few but isn’t eliminating all of them bad for the balance in the forest?"
Tom slowed, allowing me to catch up.
"Normally, you’d be right. Emerald Pincers are actually native to this forest. They are scavengers by nature, and quite aggressive at that. If left unchecked, they may easily cause permanent damage to a lush forest such as this one.” The cat explained while keeping a measured pace.
“Normally, there are enough natural predators to keep their numbers in check, but their presence here, in such numbers, is unnatural.”
He paused for a moment, seemingly collecting his thoughts.
“Frankly I am not able to tell why they have wandered so deep. Us spirits occasionally intervene when the balance of the forest is threatened, yet as you can see I am in no state to eradicate the nest, and I haven’t seen another spirit in many years.”
Suddenly all the dots connected.
“So you want me to do your job for you too huh?” I said in a playful tone.
Tom looked up at me with a curious look.
“It is merely a coincidence, and you need more practical training.”
I chuckled.
If that’s what you say.
His glowing eyes met mine with a hint of seriousness.
"This is something you should be concerned about too. If the forest is in danger, so are you and your home.”
He made a small pause before continuing.
“Which, by the way, also includes your precious hoard.”
The mention of my hoard struck a chord. The thought of those crabs, or any threat for that matter, getting anywhere near my growing collection of treasures ignited a protective spark within me.
"Okay, point taken." I conceded.
We continued our journey towards the nest mostly in silence. The further we ventured, the more signs of the crabs' destruction became evident. The ground was littered with upturned soil and remnants of small plants.
How did I not notice any of this when I first came here?
Finally, we reached the edge of the crab colony. The sounds of the pincers clicking and the rustling of their movements filled the air. I paused, taking a moment to observe the area. The entrance to the nest was heavily guarded, with several crabs patrolling the perimeter.
Tom's voice brought me back to the present.
"Remember, Juniper, your strength lies not only in your physical abilities but also in your connection to the forest. Use that to your advantage. Feel the energy around you, let it guide your actions." As the cat finished speaking I saw him climb over on a large branch, which would give him a good vantage point to witness the battle about to unfold.
I nodded, feeling the life force of the forest pulsing beneath my feet. I closed my eyes briefly, drawing upon the energy around me, feeling it flow through my veins, empowering me. When I opened my eyes again, my attention shifted towards the patrolling crabs, their movements now predictable, their path clearly marked on the forest’s trails.
I took a moment to strategize. The crabs were numerous, but they also relied heavily on their physical strength, and after my last confrontation with the gemtail I was pretty confident in my physical prowess.
With a deep, grounding breath, I reached out with my senses, feeling for the network of roots and vines beneath the forest floor. I found what I was looking for. A dense web of roots lay just beneath the closest patrol that was making its way around the nest.
I took a glance at the spirit watching over me and smirked.
Now watch this, snarky cat.
With a gentle nudge of my will, I directed them towards my targets. The roots burst from the ground without warning, ensnaring the legs of the unsuspecting crabs. Surprised and immobilized, they clicked their pincers in frustration, struggling against their binds. I didn’t give them a moment to recover.
Using the distraction, I darted forward at full speed. The first crab I approached was met with the full force of my charge and went flying against a nearby tree. The next snapped its pincers at me in a futile attempt to defend itself, but it was still struggling against the roots. I swiftly moved to its side, avoiding the sharp pincers, and delivered a powerful strike to its underbelly. The crab went limp, the fight leaving its body.
For the final target I decided to attempt something new, after all my objective here was to practice my Phytomancer abilities. I found a root beneath the crab and willed it upwards with great force. It shot up from the ground beneath the crab, impaling the struggling creature from below.
Phytomancer - Experience +75
Explorer - Experience +36
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I was shocked at how much my bond to the forest had amplified my abilities. Not long ago I struggled to even move vines, yet here I was, commanding sturdy roots out of the ground with ease.
I advanced towards another group of two crabs patrolling near the nest's entrance. I approached stealthily, taking advantage of the dense foliage to conceal my movements. These crabs seemed more alert, perhaps warned by noise I had made. Yet, the element of surprise was still on my side.
As I neared, I focused on the underbrush to my left, silently urging a thicket of brambles to spring up and create a barrier. This forced two of the crabs into a narrow path, directly where I wanted them.
As they skittered into my trap, I leaped from my hiding spot. The first crab barely had time to react before I was upon it. Using my claw, I delivered a blow to its side, sending it tumbling into the brambles, where it became hopelessly entangled.
The second, however, managed to swing its pincer in a wide arc, aiming for my head. I ducked under the strike and used my tail to swipe at its legs, toppling it over. Before it could right itself, I landed a decisive blow through its softer shell. I turned back to the entangled crab and quickly put an end to its misery.
Phytomancer - Experience +50
Explorer - Experience +24
I allowed myself a brief moment to catch my breath, before moving towards the entrance of the nest. I scouted hidden in the underbrush. The crabs scuttled around the tree, seemingly alerted at the commotion I had just caused. They were now on guard, actively looking for a threat. My element of surprise was gone, but that didn’t mean I still couldn’t pull off something unpredictable.
Noticing a large overhanging branch above the nest's entrance, I had an idea. Connecting with the giant tree wasn’t easy, it took me a few moments to filter through the tree’s intricate web of life threads to find the branch. Concentrating, I coaxed the branch to bend and sway, the connection taking a toll on my mind. When I felt it beginning to crack, with a forceful command, I snapped the branch down at the entrance just as a group of crabs attempted to exit. The branch completely crushed another two of them, temporarily blocking the exit.
Phytomancer - Experience +50
Explorer - Experience +24
I didn’t know if dragons could sweat, but if they could, I would be sweating buckets right now.
Definitely no more connecting with giant sequoias for today.
I recollected myself and focused on the ruckus that was happening in front of the nest. The crabs were scrambling about, many were just wandering around the tree, looking confused. Some of them managed to gather themselves around the large branch covering the entrance to the tree and began chipping away at it with their claws.
I counted 5 crabs working on the branch, and another 10 just hanging around it or still panicking about.
That’s a lot of crustaceans.
I thought to myself. I was about to attack their nest, they would definitely fight to the last crab standing.
I steadied my breathing. Thinning their numbers from the fringes before dealing with the cluster at the tree was the smarter decision here. My gaze settled on a small patrol that had ventured a bit too far from the main group, likely due to the chaos I'd already caused.
I called upon a nearby vine, slithering through the underbrush towards the unsuspecting crabs. With a silent command, the vine lashed out, wrapping around one crab and yanking it away from its partner. The isolated crab flailed helplessly as I pounced, finishing it swiftly.
The remaining crab, now aware of my presence, charged. But its aggression was predictable. I sidestepped, using its momentum against it, and guided it into a patch of brambles I had prepared. Trapped, it was easy to dispatch.
Phytomancer - Experience +50
Explorer - Experience +24
Explorer - Level up!
I turned my attention back to the main group. The crabs had made some progress on the branch but were still largely disorganized. The few that weren’t chipping away had unfortunately noticed me.
No more sneaking about for me.
Drawing deep into the forest's energy once more, I focused on the canopy above the crabs. I whispered to the leaves, urging them to dance and rustle unnaturally. The sudden disturbance drew their attention upwards, just long enough for me to move in.
With precision, I targeted the edges of the group, using the terrain and my abilities to my advantage. Roots emerged to trip or bind, while I darted in and out, landing blows where they'd have the most impact. The strategy was effective, the crabs tried to mount a defense, but I was too quick and the rough terrain I had created with the roots effectively limited their movements.
Phytomancer - Experience +75
Explorer - Experience +36
As their numbers dwindled, I felt a mix of exhaustion and exhilaration. The forest's energy flowed through me, but I also recognized my limits. The constant channeling of energy was taking its toll.
I scoured my surroundings and noticed the rest of the crabs approaching me from multiple sides.
Fine then. Let’s see you catch these paws.
I took a deep breath, focusing on the crabs' movements, attempting to predict their attack patterns. The first crab lunged at me, its pincers aiming for my legs. With a swift sidestep, I dodged its attack, then quickly countered with a sharp swipe of my claw, striking it directly on its shell. The impact was enough to pierce it and send it tumbling away.
Seeing an opening, another crab tried to flank me, its movements surprisingly quick but predictable. I turned to face it head-on, catching its pincer with my jaws and clamping down with all the force I could muster. The sound of cracking shells filled the air as the crab struggled in vain. A quick shake of my head was all it took to disarm it, leaving it defenseless. I finished it with a swift blow from my tail, knocking it against a nearby tree.
The last few crabs were now upon me, and I met each attack with precision and strength. I parried and struck back, each blow I landed was decisive.
The last remaining crab attempted a final strike, but I lunged forward, tackling it to the ground and pinning it beneath my weight. With a decisive blow, I rendered it motionless.
Phytomancer - Experience +125
Phytomancer - Level up!
Explorer - Experience +60
I allowed myself a brief moment of victory, catching my breath as I surveyed the clearing around me.
Then, without warning, the ground beneath me began to tremble. I steadied myself, glancing around to find the source of the disturbance. The crabs that had been fervently working on the branch ceased their efforts, becoming eerily still.
My heart raced as the trembling intensified. Then, in a sudden, violent motion, the large branch that had been obstructing the nest's entrance was launched into the air, smashing against the crabs in its path with deadly force.
As the debris settled, standing before me was a crab unlike any I had seen before. It was larger than the gemtail I had fought days ago. Its shell glistened with a dark, iridescent hue, and its pincers clicked in the air with an ominous sound.
I glanced briefly at Tom, seeking any sign of advice or strategy, but the cat merely watched from his vantage point, his expression unreadable.
Stupid cat, you could have told me about the giant crab queen!