Without saying anything, Red Deer Rhos lowered Keeper Taru against the thick trunk of a nearby tree.
The middle aged man slid down the bark until he was seated, his chest rising and falling as he struggled to pull enough air into his lungs. The blood dripping from many of his open wounds pooled beneath him before slowly soaking into the earth.
Rhos remained crouching over him for a moment before he spared a glance behind himself.
What he saw were trees bending and snapping one after another as the legion of vines forced its way forward, swallowing everything in its path. Green tendrils burst from the earth like harpoons before retreating beneath the soil and trying again at a different angle.
At the forefront of that living nightmare, a streak of green continued to dart between them. Every vine she severed gave birth to two more that immediately lunged for her. Her Totem Art allowed her to stay step ahead, carving open brief windows before retreating again.
It was only because she kept forcing the colony to defend itself that the wild plant’s advance had been slowed down enough for Rhos to put some distance between them.
Nimra had bought them time, enough so that he felt comfortable enough to leave Taru here for a few moments while he figured out what to do next.
’She won’t last much longer’
There simply was not an end to those vines, the colony was too large. If this kept up, sooner or later, Nimra’s spirit energy was going to run dry, then she would be overwhelmed.
Which meant he had to go back and help her. But the issue was how would he go about that?
It was no secret that Rhos carried no weapon, he had no Totem Art and certainly no overwhelming strength. If he ran head first into that thing as he was right now, that would only increase the number of corpses lying in this forest.
A fit of coughing suddenly interrupted his thoughts, drawing his attention back to the Keeper.
"Cough...cough..."
Taru bent to his side before spitting a mouthful of blood onto the ground. The terrible wound across his back soaked the remains of his uniform in more blood. It was apparent now that this man was not going to last much longer.
’So much for the strongest among us’
Rhos looked down at him with disdain. Even in this miserable state, he could not deny some facts.
The man was still physically the strongest among the three of them. He was a Beta Class Ranger after all. Someone who had earned the position of a Keeper.
Unfortunately, none of that did them any good when their most valuable asset had one foot in the grave.
Rhos clicked his tongue.
"You look like shit"
He paused.
"I honestly can’t say I’m surprised you’re still alive, you’re still a Keeper. Even if you’re leagues weaker than the monsters commanding the upper Divisions. You are still stronger than the average Ranger"
Taru laughed weakly and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth before looking up at him with tired eyes.
"...Funny hearing that from you of all people. I’m surprised you’re still alive, Red Deer. You were the first one to run with your tail tucked between your legs when that Wrath appeared. I figured this forest’s monsters would have eaten you already"
A faint grin tugged at his lips.
"I’m more surprised you managed to drag Leopard Cat into your level. That was a smart move. Looks like she really has been carrying you"
He finished while staring toward the flashes of green weaving through the forest.
A pleasant smile crossed Rhos’s lips. It would have been pleasant and sweet if it wasn’t ruined by the veins bulging against his forehead.
"Like you’re one to talk, you piece of shit. You led your Division to their deaths and abandoned them halfway through. And now the two survivors of those you left behind are saving your sorry ass. I’d watch my words if I were you"
Hearing Rhos’s calm voice laced with malice, Taru’s grin disappeared. Silence lingered between them for a few moments before the young man pinched the bridge of his nose.
"We don’t have time for this. You fought that thing before retreating right? I’m sure you must have found the core. Tell me where it is"
In the wilderness, wild animals could usually be escaped or outrunned. Even most creatures would give up the chase if you confused their senses. Wild plants were the difficult ones to deal with, especially colonies.
Once you have entered their territory, trying to escape from them becomes very difficult. Since they have home ground advantage in the forest, running would only be delaying the inevitable.
Unless someone possessed the ability to fly or erase their presence completely, the only real way out was to kill it. That being destroying its carefully guarded core.
Taru’s squinted eyes studied the young man from head to toe. He did so long enough that Rhos was beginning to wonder if he intended to keep it to himself – which wouldn’t be very smart.
"Directly beneath the largest flower..."
He raised one trembling hand beneath the legion of vines.
"About fifteen meters underground. The vines have formed a thin layer to protect it. Even if you do get close, it’s not guaranteed you’ll find it there"
Rhos sighed, committing every word to memory.
"That’s troublesome"
The Keeper reached toward his belt. His fingers fumbled for a moment before finally drawing a short combat dagger. The once-polished blade was chipped in several places and dried blood coated most of its edge. But it still looked sharp enough for practical use.
"If you’re really stupid enough to go after that core, then at least don’t go empty-handed"
He held the dagger out.
Rhos stared at it for several seconds. Weapons had always felt awkward in his hands. This was why he spent most of his Ranger days improving his physical skills instead.
But going empty handed against that thing sounded even more ridiculous.
He took the weapon from the Keeper’s hand, holding it firmly in his comparatively smaller ones. Its weight felt a bit heavy but manageable.
"You’ll have...one chance"
Rhos rose to his feet and rolled his shoulders back. He faced the battlefield and took a few steps before stopping.
"Stay here, if you decide to run..."
He turned his head a bit so his amber eye could meet Taru’s.
"I’ll kill you"
There wasn’t the slightest hint of bluff in his voice, and that cold expression told him everything he needed to know. The Keeper laughed before another coughing fit forced him to stop.
"Being ordered and threatened by an Outborn? Hahahaha!"
A weary smile slowly spread across his battered face.
"....I’ll overlook this disrespect. Just this once"
Without another word, Rhos turned and sprinted toward the raging colony of vines.