Empirica #6

Milky struggled to free herself due to her not specialising in scratching and cutting techniques.

Although she was more proficient in fighting than the average Mink, her various combat techniques and her physique was not suited to dealing with her current problem.

She was born as a reindeer Mink and was not blessed with a physique that had the advantages of many others which could make use of their claws or tail to aid them in combat and to improve their cutting power.

Most of her techniques were based around making use of her speed to tackle her opponents using her antlers or her body so most of them were blunt attacks.

Milky did not learn the sword like many other Minks and focussed entirely on where her strengths lied but that had put her in a tough situation unlike Wanda.

Milky was very frustrated and helpless as she struggled. 'Is this the first time I have every been so stuck on what to do? What do I do? Do I really have to be so helpless and have to be saved?'

It was humiliating for her to accept such a situation but no matter how she thought about it, her struggles would only make things worse for herself.

There was a strange feeling underneath the ground which made her feel far worse than before and a sense of dream covered her entire being.

What was even just as humiliating was that she had been warned to dress appropriately but still chose to wear a loose dress which left her legs, arms and some of her chest exposed.

Due to the sticky grass being stuck to her fur and some on her dress, her dress was being pulled around to as it was dangerously close to revealing what was beneath.

Alyssia who witnessed that sight had coughed awkwardly and thought to herself. 'It is her own fault but guys… if anything is revealed then do not look.. this should be a lesson for her to listen to the advice of others no matter how small it may seem.'

The ground was very soft and the movements underneath could be felt by those stepping on it.

It sounded like something was moving, digging or slithering beneath the ground and was slowly getting closer to the surface.

Anyone that had moved previously and stood still could feel the approaching unknown thing that was moving closer to their location.

It was spread out in many places so there was more than one threat coming.

Yvie looked over everyone and said with a hint of impatience in her voice. "I do not like the idea of something being under us and catching us from below so I will be going."

In her transformed state as a wolverine human hybrid, Yvie bent her body forward and began to tear at the ground with her long and sharp claws.

The ground was dug up and Yvie quickly disappeared into a small tunnel that she had dug in a short time.

Due to the strengthening of her hand and finger techniques, it had aided in the use of her Zoan Wolverine talents or abilities so her ability to dig deep underground had vastly improved.

Even if she ran into a sturdy piece of rock or metal underground, Yvie would not have much difficulty making a hole in it.

There would be some exceptions to that like superior metals or thicker walls but what she had already accomplished was good enough for her age.

In that form, she was far more sensitive to the movements around her under the ground and she could pick up on anything that was closing in on her.

Yvie continued to dig deeper as if trying to reach a certain goal while evading anything that was under the ground with her. 'Where is it.. if I succeed then big sis Alyssia will praise me. Hehehe.'

Ideo continued to attempt to free himself as he resorted to his punches which he had trained all his life in the boxing ring.

Each one was quick and explosive but lacked the additional power due to holding back from using his destruction fist.

He hit his mark each time but the texture of the bungee grass made it like he was punching a rubber band which stretched and bent each time he made contact with it.

It was difficult to get a punch off that was effective enough to cut the bungee grass and it was stuck to his fist after failing.

The difficulty kept increasing for him and he struggled internally. 'How embarrassing.. I talked big before but now look at me.'

Ideo was a proud boxing and world fighting champion who believed himself to have reached the apex of his abilities and that nothing but devil fruits could help him to increase his combat power.

That was until he had met Alyssia and had lost in the finals, she had woke him up from his delusions and had pointed the way to how he could improve himself.

Ideo was feeling disgruntlement towards the training and the journey set out for him and the others but he had soon realised how weak he was.

Just as he was falling into the abyss, a cold voice spoke from above him. "Come on and do not give up so easily. You guys must have some way to cut it or to cut a part of it. Think back to your techniques and to your past battles against others.

What about when you missed your target and made a slight bit of contact as your fist passed by them? Did that not cut them?"

His days in the boxing ring during his younger years had flashed in his mind suddenly and it was a time when his techniques were not as precise or as powerful with the addition of having less experience.

His fist missed his opponent but still grazed the side of their face, there was a sharp wind created by the punch which made no contact when it should have while his knuckle was the point of contact which had created the cut.

Due to the opponent being cut, they could not see as well then had to forfeit the fight but Ideo did not see that win as something to be proud of.

There were times when he practiced a barrage of quicker punches using the same method as his destruction fist which but it lacked the same power so he gave it up.

His thoughts turned quickly and he was suddenly enlightened. 'So I am striking to only graze my target. With the power of my punches now.. the effect should work right?'

Just as he went for the direct punch, Ideo turned his body a little to the side, his fist passed the bungee grass and only lightly skimmed it with his knuckle.

A razor like wind was created from his punch instead of the destructive explosive fire which cut the bungee grass cleanly in half and freed a small part of his body.

His eyes lit up and then he gazed upward. "Thank you for your guidance."

Alyssia coldly looked down and commented. "Different techniques each have their own advantages and disadvantages. You will always run into times when your own techniques which you have honed will prove useless.

Either you develop a new technique to handle those situations or you figure out how to overcome that weakness and improve your technique past what you believed were the limitations."

Alyssia continued to float in the air and her feet continued to move now and again so quickly that it was difficult to see by most people, her mastery over the Moon Walk technique had reached the stage where it looked as if she was hovering in one place without moving her body.

She gave out some advice and made some comments while having the aura that gave off the feel of 'I am a wise sage and this advice I have given you is a mere trifle to me.'.

Her advice did play a small role in helping others to gain some understanding on how to free themselves.

The time was running out for everyone and some strange dark roots began to surface from the ground then made their way towards the ankles of those standing.