Besides, even if he falls into a dangerous situation, Rain guessed that Leyla would certainly appear and help him. Although he found the idea of being protected by her appalling but he had no choice.

He said nothing, but his eyes suddenly began to shine brightly. He wasn’t sure why he would trust her, but in that instant he made a decision. The killing intent inside of him instantly shot up.

“I’m coming for you, you bastard!” Rain groaned slightly, before chopping off the vine that was attacking him.

The remaining stump lost its vitality and sank down lifelessly; the place where it was cut off was burned black.

As if responding to Rain’s provocation, the vines that previously retreated went after him again, but he just easily severed it into two.

He did not dare to stay in one spot and proceed forward. The movement below the ground was loud enough that he could even hear them, proving that the tree monster wasn’t being obedient underground.

Bing, bing, bing- numerous veins and branch flew at Rain like rain drops in a storm, there were even sharpened vines coming on his back.

Seeing this, Rain couldn’t help but snort in disgust: “There are two things in this world that I can’t stand.”

Rain pulled his sword out and cut an incoming vine whip into two. “One is when my favorite manga suddenly got a hiatus when it was already in a very exciting climax!”

Rain desperately attack anything he saw; Vines, Roots and branches. Swinging his sword, he then took out his dagger made from an animal’s bone and slashes it forward.

“… and the other is when someone wants to stab me in the back.”

At this moment,

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

Countless arrows flew towards the huge monster tree from behind Rain. He turned around and realized that the two women didn’t back off, but rather approached the tree monster while returning fire.

Well, at least they have some use.

Rain jump backwards and took a safe distance to rest.

He adjusted his breath and leaned over in the grass at a snail’s pace. However, when Rain observed the tree monster up close, he noticed something bizarre.

Behind the guard of the glossy red wickers, there was a humanlike face on the trunk – it wasn’t exactly a face; it was more like a lump that commonly grew on old trees. But now, he saw a bloodshot eye on the lump that only humans had.

What the heck is that?!

Rain’s face distorted. It was as if he just saw a ghost!

Oh my god! Sh*t just got weird! (╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻

Rain really wanted to find a table to flip!

Just what the heck is this? So scary…

As Rain was terrified, ‘Rain, aren’t you so good at getting into life and death situations.’

A familiar voice suddenly rang out from inside his mind.

“Leyla?!” Rain was surprised that his action stilled for a moment and almost got hit by a root spike.

‘Yup, it’s me~’ The voice answered.

“You can use telepathy?”

‘Of course, were connected after all… anyway, you really like getting yourself involved in something dangerous, aren’t you?’

“I don’t have a choice! Even if I look for someone to fight, why should I go my way to find a tentacle monster? Do you think I’m the type of guy who wants to be the receiver, hell no! I would like to be the attacker!!”

Rain hacked the tentacle-like vines and branches while moving with a pale face, but the strands of vines annoyingly agilely chased him.

He could slash them apart if he swung his sword and dagger with all his strength, but ‘they’ came out endlessly from the surroundings and assaulted him.

“Can you help me?”

‘Hm, yes I can, however, if I did that it won’t be beneficial to you.’

“Why do you say that?”

‘Don’t you know fighting in a life and death battle can make you stronger? And so, let this become your training. Anyway, that [ Makopa ] isn’t that strong so be sure to defeat it~’

“What if I died?” Rain suddenly asked.

‘Don’t worry, I will intervene when the time comes, so fight to your heart’s content!’

“I see” Rain faintly smiled. “I’ll trust you for once…”

‘Hmph, you really not cute at all~’

Contrary to Rain’s condition, the two girls were in much more trouble. They were not as fast and strong as Rain and so, dodging one or two vines were almost the limit.

Fortunately, Rain was the one standing in front and taking most of the agro but even so, there were still several attacks coming towards them.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

“Shit!” Rain knew they were in trouble.

“Get back! Quickly!” Rain yelled at the two girls when he saw them, signaling them to back off.

However, it was a bit late. The tree monster seemed to notice that the two girls seemed to be weaker compared to Rain and immediately a terrifying tentacle rain that could be seen in manga and anime covered them as well.

Only the beautiful woman was wearing a bronze armor while the other girl didn’t have anywhere near the armor that she and Rain had, nor did she have a shield.

Although she tried to dodge the vines and roots spikes, a few of them still pierced her body. Blood started flowing out of her wounds and quickly stained her leather armor as she motionlessly fell into the ground. It seemed like she couldn’t stand up anymore with all the damage she received up until now.

Similarly, the beautiful woman was also hit tremendously.

The arrows were still penetrating her body. She was sweating a lot due to the unbearable pain. Her face was pale, but her expression showed determination. She shook her head and bit on her beautiful red long hair to endure the pain.

Her armor was getting soaked in her blood, but she was like a Goddess of War that just wouldn’t back off. There was no fear on her face, but rather hatred and anger in her eyes. But at this moment –

“Crackle !”

A thick root spike appeared from the ground she was lying on. A life threatening root spike hit her accurately, penetrating her abdomen.

The beautiful woman’s body shook. She almost cried out in agony.

“Oh man, I’m so not doing this again!”

Rain ignored the vines flying at him and sprinted towards the beautiful woman who would certainly become a skewer if the incoming vine hit her and immediately held her in his arms. 

“I can’t act like a hero all the time! Becoming one is already enough, I never thought that this would be so troublesome~”

Rain smelled the light fragrance from the beautiful woman’s body, but he had no time to enjoy it at all. Using his [ Stamp ] skill, the ground shook for a moment causing the vines to become still.

Lastly, he kicked the ground to accelerate his jump and immediately somersaulted.

And while jumping off, he put his arms around her back and the back of her knees to make sure of her safety while landing

In that position, with a ‘bam’ they landed. The back of Rain’s legs numbed for a moment but did not mind. Hugged with a princess carry, the beautiful woman was shaking in his arms, making her body small, trembling.

Rain looked towards the beautiful woman in his arms, who was still in extreme shock and gently laid her in the ground. With her large widened eyes and mouth open, at this moment she was actually more beautiful than before, but also a bit silly.

Rain smiled and asked, “Are you okay?”

The beautiful woman hastily shook her head, “I-I’m fine, and you?”

Rain just wiped away the blood in the corner of his mouth and said, “I’m fine, just some internal injuries.”

Seeing Rain’s amazing actions, the beautiful woman began to feel unprecedented interest in Rain, and asked in curiosity, “Why are you doing this?”

“Because protecting girls is a natural thing for guys.” Rain answered coolly.

Hearing Rain’s answer, the woman couldn’t become speechless. Eh, what did he say?

Slightly blushing under his mask, Rain coughed once and said; “Anyway, you should escape from this place.”

What I said was pretty cool… maybe too cool?

“…take that friend of yours away, she looks pretty bad. I don’t think I would be able to protect you while fighting that thing…” Besides, I can’t go all-out with you here.

Rain had once decided to make his mage identity hidden. Because right now, he looks like a warrior no matter what angle you look at him, he intends to hide his magic from others.

Having one or two trump cards can let someone live during a dangerous situation!

“No! I, I will stay.” But the beautiful woman seemed to be more troublesome than Rain expected.

“No! I can’t defeat that thing especially with the two of you here. You’re a burden and you won’t be able to help me at all.” Rain said in a cold voice. In any case, he doesn’t know this two so why should he talk to them politely.

A beauty is a beauty. Annoying will always be annoying.

The beautiful woman seemed to be in shock and couldn’t find anything to refute him. She just lowers her head and grits her teeth in frustration.

-Hm, I somehow felt guilty.

‘Why bothered saving them, might as well let them die.’

-Because I’m a man.

‘Tsk! What a hypocrite.’

-Then so be it.

When Rain and Leyla was having a conversation telepathically, the beautiful woman began shaking her head and looked resentfully at Rain. Her eyes were filled with humiliation and anger.

“I won’t leave no matter what you say! I’m not the type of person to leave my companions behind!”

What a troublesome person!

“Suit yourself.” Rain didn’t argue with the beautiful woman again as he noticed the tree monster was already preparing its next attack.

--- ---

Looking at his monstrous enemy, Rain slightly felt fear. His heart throbbing madly and was beating very fast.

He then raised his head. In his left hand, a bone dagger and on his right hand was a rusty iron sword.

The body of the blade was covered with green ooze; the tree monster’s green colored fresh blood was dripping nonstop from the tip of the sword and dagger.

At this moment, he was on his own. He doesn’t want to rely on another person.

He had no other choice.

But, even if it would cost his life, Rain wasn’t planning to back away from the fight for even one step!

His blood was already boiling, he was very excited, and it was an unprecedented feeling of excitement!

--- ---

When the tree monster started its attack by sending its vines and branches, Rain immediately followed.

His observation was very keen as he watched where the vines would sweep.

He watched the vines carefully, letting it pass by, and when it did, he then grabbed tightly onto it— The Tree monster apparently did not expect that. It tried to curl up the vine and shook it back and forth, trying to throw Rain away.

But Rain held tightly onto it as if his life depended on it. Rain bobbed up and down as the vine tried to shake him off, but it was a futile attempt.

The monster finally got impatient and raised the vine up high, gathering momentum, managing to throw him backwards. Yet Rain utilized the momentum from the swing, somersaulted in the air like a professional stunt man and with a cat-like dexterity, he gracefully landed not so far away from the face-like thing which was located on its trunk.

‘That’s right, this kind of tree monster had a face and that was its weakness.’ Leyla’s voice resounded from inside Rain’s mind.

‘Normally, as a plant type monster, its roots should’ve been its huge weakness however as of this moment, it wasn’t the correct choice. Tree monsters like this one had an [ Instant Regeneration ] ability. Even if you cut its roots it would just go back unless you cut it all at the same moment…but that is almost impossible, especially in your current level.’

‘But there is another weakness and that was the small bell above its face. You should attack it continuously until it died, although it’s a little bit dangerous because of the vines and branch whips but it’s your only last chance.’

Rain nods his head as he listened to Leyla’s every words.

Although it was impossible for a player even if it was on the same level as him to dodge the death scythe like vines and branches and successfully arrived in front of the tree monster, Rain has no problem executing it.

His high stats in strength allowed him to possess several times the strength of a normal human, while his nimble agility and [ Acrobatics ] allowed him to handle the tree’s sudden movements, and his skill [ Aliguyon’s Battle Endurance ] enable him to absorb the impact and still move on with minding the pain.

Even his [ Hyper Intuition ] and [ Dagger Mastery ] was pushed to its limits. His [ Self-Regeneration ] skill was slowly healing his wounds during the fight and even his new skill [ Minor Telekinesis ] was used as an harassment by flinging stones and branches to distract it even a moment.

At this moment, it could be said that all his skills were used to their greatest potentials.