I spent the rest of the day once again wandering through the forest, alternating between walking and practicing my Phytomancer abilities. I had gained some more experience in my class, although not enough to level up again apparently.

The day was mainly uneventful, although I did spot some sort of squirrel-like creature at one point. It bolted away as soon as it spotted me but I managed to take a glance at its bright green mane dotted with purple spots.

“Creatures in this forest really didn’t evolve to boost their mimetic capabilities huh…”

I thought about it for a second, just as I was staring at the bright purple dotted leaves of a massive sequoia tree in front of me. Then it dawned on me as I pawpalmed.

They had in fact evolved to be quite invisible in this forest. The vibrant colors of the squirrels, as well as the musk that covered the crabs were perfect for them to blend with their surroundings.

Then I looked at myself. Bright, shiny amber scales.

“Hey System, do you see any yellow plants or trees around here?”

Silence.

“That’s right! For once you really didn’t have to answer.”

Clarification.

The User scales’ natural coloration is in bright contrast with…

I closed the notification before I was even done reading.

“Oh shut up! It’s not like I can do anything about it anyways.”

I scoffed and decided to set aside the camouflage topic for now.

I kept wandering the forest. Eventually I’d come across some weird or flashy looking fruit or plant and I would scan it with my “Herbal Intuition” ability. Surprisingly enough a lot were safe to consume. I noticed a spiky orange fruit that looked like a banana and went over to take a better look and…

Herbal Intuition - Level up!

Well this is certainly unexpected, so I guess abilities can also level up…

I mentally clicked on the popup.

Class

Phytomancer

Rarity

Uncommon

A master of plant life, able to communicate with and manipulate the flora of the forest for protection, sustenance, and offense.

Abilities

Herbal intuition [2]

* You gain the ability to discern whether a plant is safe to consume.

* (NEW) Your ability now gives you greater knowledge on specific plants, including its common name and additional properties.

That was handy… I guess? I was not sure what “additional properties” meant.

I noticed the light beginning to dim, so I decided to secure myself some food before finding a safe spot to get some shut eye. I easily found a dragon fruit and decided to test my new ability on it. Immediately a new system popup appeared.

Name

Blazeberry

Description

A dazzling fruit with a fiery appearance.

Safety

Safe to consume

Special properties

Nutritious

Well, nothing exhilarating but at least now I knew the name of the fruit I was eating.

I ended up climbing up a tree and after a quick snack of the blazeberry I finally closed my eyes.

-

The bright morning light gently woke me up once again. I looked around at the quiet forest and decided not to waste any time. I climbed down the giant tree, grabbed a fruit and sat down while munching on my breakfast.

While enjoying the food, I took a good look at my surroundings. Nothing seemed out of place. The large ferns and bushes, the trees covered in vines of all shapes and sizes, and the monkey staring at me from atop a branch.

Wait a minute.

I looked up to a large branch not so far from where I had slept only to lock eyes with a large baboon. But this was no ordinary baboon like the ones from Earth. I was pretty sure it was larger and it had a very colorful mane which after all was in line with the rest of the crazy colorations of the wildlife of this forest. What stood out the most however was another trait which I was damn sure should have nothing to do with monkeys.

I thought baboons weren’t supposed to have two massive horns coming out of their foreheads…

The creature sported a large set of ram-like horns that curled backwards towards its neck, which contributed to its menacing appearance.

https://i.imgur.com/q1wuL1S.png [https://i.imgur.com/q1wuL1S.png]

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As we locked eyes I knew that the creature was aware of me, but it didn’t seem to want to move.

For a long moment, we simply observed each other, then, without warning, the baboon gracefully dropped from the branch, landing on the forest floor with a soft thud. It moved with an agility that belied its size, its eyes still locked on mine.

I tensed, ready for any sudden movements. The baboon, however, seemed more curious than aggressive. It circled me, its movements deliberate, almost like it was assessing me. I remembered my encounter with the crabs and knew that underestimating this creature would be a mistake.

As if sensing my wariness, the baboon suddenly let out a series of loud barks and charged. Instinctively, I braced myself.

Of course it wants to pick a fight. How naive of me to think otherwise…

I couldn't outrun it; I had to fight. Remembering my Phytomancer abilities, I reached out to the plants around me. Vines from the nearby trees responded to my call, creeping along the ground towards the baboon. But it was fast, dodging the vines with surprising agility.

The baboon lunged at me, its horns aimed to strike. I rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding its charge. I struck back, using my claws, but the baboon was quick, parrying with its strong arms.

We were locked in a dance of attack and dodge, the baboon with its horns and agility, and me with my claws and occasional vine strikes. I realized I had to be strategic, using my abilities to create an opening.

With a concentrated effort, I called to the vines again, this time creating a more complex trap. The vines rose and fell, creating moving distractions around the baboon who looked startled. It leapt and dodged, but the vines were relentless, guided by my will.

Finally, one of the vines managed to wrap around its leg, pulling it off balance. Seizing the opportunity, I lunged forward, my clawed paw ready to strike.

As it met the baboon’s mane, I felt how easy it was to tear open its flesh. After all, my only adversaries up to this point had been crabs who had a thick shell covering most of their bodies.

The baboon let out a startled bark as my claws found their mark, the sudden vulnerability in its defense exposed. It struggled fiercely, trying to break free from the vine's grasp and my overpowering hold. But the combination of my physical strength and the entangling vines gave me the upper hand.

I kept attacking the creature until it managed to kick me in the belly, staggering me back.

I regained my composure and looked at the baboon crouching in front of me, clearly in pain. It was now severely injured, most of its mane now covered in blood. The monkey was now at my mercy, I could have ended its life with my next attack.

As the thought of putting an end to this fight was still vivid, I also realized that I did not kill for sport. I would protect myself if need be, but I wasn’t sure that this baboon was driven by blind rage, it must have had a reason to attack me. It was probably the first time it had seen a creature of my kind, and maybe it was just trying to ascertain its dominance or evaluate my strength.

I once again looked at the monkey who was struggling to stand up ready to face me.

“It doesn’t have to be this way. I have no interest in taking your life.”

As I said that I took a step back, hoping to convey the thought that I was giving it a window to flee.

Once again, I locked eyes with the baboon for another long moment. Despite the wounds and the pain, what I saw wasn’t a creature ready to give up. Its determination shone through its gaze and silently conveyed what I had begun to suspect.

The creature in front of me was like a knight who knew no surrender. It would have rather died than walked away.

“Fine, this is how it will end then.”

I lowered my center of gravity and prepared to charge. The monkey, seeing my change in posture, also readied itself for its final push.

I sneakily readied my vines from the monkey’s blind side and began charging. Matching my timing almost to the millisecond, the baboon also jolted forward.

Just as we were about to meet, I sprang my vine into action aiming to entangle its legs and make it trip. Just as they were about to hit, the baboon seemingly sensed the danger and dodged to its right side.

My vines hit the air and the baboon pounced with its horns ready to headbutt my flank. I was surprised at the creature’s newfound strength, but I wasn’t caught off guard. Its movements were now more tired and sluggish from its wounds, which gave me enough time to sidestep its charge and aim a strike at its neck.

My attack hit its mark, and the baboon dropped from its pounce and collapsed on the floor with a loud screech.

Injured and defeated, the creature lay before me, its eyes reflecting a mix of pain and defiance. It was a creature of strength and dignity, a warrior in its own right. But in this world, mercy had its own language.

I approached the baboon, my movements deliberate and respectful. It watched me, its breathing labored, understanding the finality of this moment.

With a deep breath, I prepared to end its suffering. It was a decision not made lightly, but out of respect for the creature and the brutal laws of nature. I focused, ensuring that my strike would be quick and merciful.

In one swift motion, I brought my claw down, ending the baboon's struggle. It was over in an instant.

Phytomancer - Experience +130

First Horncrest Sentinel slayed, experience has been doubled

Phytomancer - Level up!

I stood there for a moment, honoring the fallen creature. In its own way, the baboon had shown me the stark realities of life in this forest. Every creature, including myself, fought for survival, for a place in this untamed land.

Suddenly, I heard some loud screams in the distance, which I recognised as similar to the sounds my fallen adversary had made. What startled me however was the amount of crying and barking that was approaching. There must have been at least 20 of those baboons that probably heard the struggle of the one I had struck down, all heading towards my location.

Of course they don’t run solo, when have you ever seen a monkey live on its own in all those documentaries Juniper.

I jolted in the opposite direction of the sounds as I didn’t want to wait and find out how many baboons were after me.

My heart raced as the cacophony of cries and barks grew louder, the sounds of the approaching baboons filling the forest. I had no time to waste; facing a pack of these horned creatures was not an option. Survival instincts fully engaged, I sprinted through the underbrush.

As I ran, I could hear the baboons closing in. Their calls echoed through the trees, a chorus of anger and grief for their fallen comrade. I pushed myself harder, leaping over roots and ducking under low-hanging branches. The forest became a blur of green and brown as I focused solely on escape.

Exhausted and desperate, I scanned the forest for a refuge, somewhere to hide from the relentless pursuit. The sounds of the baboons were like a thundering wave behind me, urging me forward through sheer terror.

Then, just when I thought I couldn't run any further, I saw a small rocky entrance to what looked like a cave. It was almost invisible unless one was right upon it. The entrance was narrow, just wide enough for me to squeeze through. It was a risk, as I didn’t know the cave's depth or what might be inside, but it was a risk I had to take.

I quickly slipped inside, the cool darkness of the cave enveloping me. My eyes adjusted to the dim light, and thankfully, it seemed empty, a natural hollow carved out by time and elements. I moved deeper into the cave, finding a spot where I could still see the entrance but remain hidden in the shadows.

I reached out with my Phytomancer abilities, calling to the vines and plants that shrouded the cave entrance. I willed them to grow, to weave together, creating a natural curtain that concealed the entrance. The vines obeyed, intertwining and thickening until the entrance was completely obscured from the outside.

My breath came in short, heavy gasps as I listened intently. The sounds of the baboons grew closer, then paused. I could imagine them inspecting the area, searching for any sign of me. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat echoing in the silent cave.

After what felt like an eternity, the sounds began to fade. The baboons, unable to find the entrance to my hiding place, eventually moved on, their cries and barks dissipating into the depths of the forest.

I breathed a sigh of relief and turned around from the entrance to take a better look at the cave. I had seen some faint light coming from the end of it but I was stunned to realize where it came from.

I looked in awe at the rest of the cavern which was dotted with purple glowing mushrooms. Some of the floor was also covered by grass with a similar shade. I took in the spectacle in front of me and thought that maybe, just maybe, I had finally found a more permanent solution to my shelter issues.

https://i.imgur.com/S5iDxyO.jpeg [https://i.imgur.com/S5iDxyO.jpeg]