Chapter 12: Battle in the forest

With Groff leading the way, Richard carefully navigated through the dense foliage of Hillsbrad Mountain. The scent of earth, damp moss, and wildflowers filled the air as they pressed forward. Nyx moved like a shadow, her dark form flickering in and out of sight as she kept to the trees and underbrush, keeping an eye out for danger.

"Let me know if anything comes close, Nyx," Richard said, his voice barely above a whisper.

A soft purring growl was her response before she vanished into the darkness.

Groff, on the other hand, sniffed the air, tail flicking once before changing directions sharply.

Richard followed closely. Soon enough, Groff let out a short bark, indicating that he had found something.

Parting the thick leaves, Richard spotted a small patch of Briarthorn, its dark green leaves curling slightly at the edges with thick, thorny stems. Carefully, he took out a small knife and began cutting the stalks close to the root, making sure to leave some behind for future growth.

After collecting a few stalks, they moved further into the forest, repeating the process whenever Groff caught the scent of Swiftthistle, which was easier to spot thanks to its thin, sharp-edged leaves and strong minty scent.

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The deeper they ventured, the more signs of monster activity became apparent.

Richard's keen eyes scanned the area, noting deep claw marks etched into tree trunks and patches of displaced earth, clear indications that something large had passed through recently.

As they approached another patch of Briarthorn, a sudden rustling in the nearby bushes put them on edge.

A low, guttural growl echoed through the underbrush, followed by the appearance of several sharp-fanged forest hounds. Their glowing yellow eyes pierced through the shadows as they circled Richard and Groff, their muscles tense, ready to pounce.

Richard took a cautious step back, but before he could react—

A blur of black and violet shot out from the darkness.

Nyx exploded from the shadows, her sleek form moving like a phantom. With silent precision, she lunged at the nearest hound, her claws sinking deep into its flank.

The creature let out a startled yelp, thrashing wildly before scrambling back into the underbrush. The remaining hounds hesitated for only a moment before following, disappearing into the forest without a fight.

Richard exhaled, shaking his head. This wasn't the first time they had been ambushed today.

Along their journey up the mountain, they had encountered several opportunistic monsters, but thanks to Nyx's constant vigilance, none had posed a real threat.

"Nice work, Nyx," Richard praised, casting a glance toward his shadowy companion.

Nyx, still hidden within the twilight shade of the forest, simply flicked her tail, her glowing eyes briefly meeting his before she once again vanished into the darkness.

With the threat handled, Richard turned back to Groff, who was still locked onto the scent of their next target.

"Alright, let's keep moving," Richard muttered, pressing forward.

There was still work to be done.

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After spending a few hours hours collecting herbs, Richard decided to take a short break.

He found a shaded clearing near a small river and bring out a picnic mat from his storage ring and lay it over on a flat rock then take out his luch he prepared from his pouch.

"Alright, let's take a break and eat before we keep going," Richard said, glancing at his two summons.

Groff settled down nearby, his ears twitching as he kept watch over their surroundings, ever alert. A few feet away, Nyx sat elegantly, licking her paws, her sleek black fur blending almost seamlessly into the shadows.

Richard reached into his pouch, pulling out a large piece of dried Rampaging Boar meat—a souvenir from his last mission. He tossed it toward Groff.

The war wolf snapped it out of the air effortlessly, his powerful jaws crunching down in seconds, savoring the tough texture.

For Nyx, Richard tore off smaller, delicate strips, knowing she preferred them that way. He held them out, and she gave them a inspecting sniff before taking them gracefully between her fangs, eating in small, precise bites with a quiet sense of refinement.

Richard also sit down on thr mat and leaned back against a tree , taking a bite of his own simple sandwich, letting the peaceful sounds of the forest wash over him.

The rustling of leaves, the distant chirping of birds, and the occasional breeze carrying the crisp scent of pine and earth reminded him that, despite the dangers, there was something calming about being out in the wild.

For a moment, it was easy to forget that he was on a mission.

After becoming a Wizard he changed so much and now have freedom to travel, to experience new places, to see the world for himself.

After finishing his meal, Richard stretched and stood up. "Alright, back to work."

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The Earth Bear's Wrath

Richard wiped the sweat from his brow as he finished stashing away the last of the Briarthorn and Swiftthistle into his storage ring. With twenty-seven stalks of each herb collected, it was time to head back. Any more would risk disturbing the natural balance of the ecosystem, and the last thing he wanted was to overharvest.

Just as he turned to signal Groff, a sudden chill ran down his spine.

The forest had gone eerily silent.

Not a single bird chirped. Not a single leaf rustled. Even the wind seemed to have stilled.

Groff, usually calm and composed, stiffened, his muscles coiling like tightly wound steel cables. His fur bristled, and a low, threatening growl rumbled from his throat as he snapped his head toward the dense treeline ahead.

Nyx, who had been moving silently in the shadows, emerged abruptly, her usual grace replaced by tense alertness. Her fur stood on end, her violet eyes narrowed, locked onto something Richard couldn't yet see.

Then—

A deep, rumbling growl vibrated through the air, shaking the ground beneath them.

The trees ahead shuddered as something massive pushed through the thick foliage, sending branches snapping like twigs.

A towering Earth Bear stepped into view.

Its body was covered in thick, rock-like fur, its clawed paws resembling jagged boulders. Its dull amber eyes glowed ominously, filled with primal rage.

Richard's pulse quickened. He had read about territorial beasts like this before—Earth Bears were known to be guardians of deep forests and mountains, highly aggressive toward intruders.

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The Earth Bear let out a deafening roar, rearing up on its massive hind legs. The very ground trembled beneath its weight as it towered over them, its stone-plated fur gleaming ominously in the dim light.

Then, with a thunderous stomp, it charged forward, moving with an unnatural speed for something so massive.

Richard's instincts screamed at him to move, but he held his ground.

"Groff, intercept!"

With a mighty push, Groff launched forward, meeting the rampaging beast head-on.

The impact was bone-rattling, sending shockwaves rippling through the earth as claw met stone.

Groff's razor-sharp talons slashed against the Earth Bear's rock-hard hide, but instead of tearing flesh, sparks flew, the attack barely leaving a scratch.

"Damn it—it's like cutting into solid rock!" Richard gritted his teeth, frustration mounting.

Before Groff could adjust, the Earth Bear countered.

With a mighty swing, its massive paw cleaved through the air like a battering ram.

"Groff, dodge!" Richard shouted.

Groff tried to sidestep, but the sheer speed and momentum of the bear's attack was too much.

The blow connected, slamming into Groff's side with brutal force.

The war wolf was sent flying, crashing into the dirt with enough force to carve deep trenches into the ground.

Richard's heart clenched. "Groff!"

But the war wolf gritted his fangs, shaking his head as he stood tall once more, his amber eyes burning with battle hunger.

A low, excited growl rumbled from his throat—Groff was far from done.

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Shadows and Claws

Richard quickly shifted focus, his mind racing.

"Nyx, bind it with Shadow Arms!"

A surge of darkness erupted from the ground, shadowy tendrils coiling around the Earth Bear's legs and back, squeezing tight like iron chains.

The creature snarled, its amber eyes flaring as it thrashed violently, its brute strength straining against the bindings.

The shadows could only held him for few seconds before—

With a roar, the Earth Bear tore free, shattering the bindings as if they were made of paper.

"Damn it… even that wasn't enough to slow it down!" Richard clenched his fists.

Enraged, the Earth Bear threw its massive weight forward, its gigantic claws swiping at Groff in a relentless flurry. Each attack tore through the air, powerful enough to pulverize boulders, forcing Groff into a desperate dance of agility.

The war wolf moved with lightning-fast reflexes, dodging left, right, and back-barely avoiding the devastating strikes. But even though the attacks missed, the sheer force of each swing sent shockwaves through the ground, kicking up dust and debris, turning the battlefield into a chaotic storm of flying dirt and shattered earth.

Groff's keen amber eyes stayed locked onto the bear, his muscles tensing. He was waiting-watching-for the perfect moment to strike.

But he wasn't the only one.

From the shadows, Nyx saw her chance.

With blinding speed, she leaped onto the Earth Bear's back, her dark claws glowing with an eerie violet energy.

Her movements were silent, precise-a streak of darkness against the bear's massive frame.

Before the beast could react, Nyx raked her talons along the softer joints between its rock-plated armor, her claws digging deep into the tender spots along its neck and shoulders.

The Earth Bear roared in fury, a deep, guttural sound that shook the trees around them.

It twisted violently, trying to shake her off, its massive body thrashing as it slammed against trees and boulders, desperate to dislodge the shadowy panther digging into its flesh. It swung his claws at Nyx.

Before Richard could warn her, Nyx was flung off, her body slamming against a thick tree trunk with a pained yelp.

"Nyx!"

She staggered to her feet, a deep gash bleeding along her shoulder, but her ferocious violet eyes never wavered.

In fact—she only looked more enraged.

Despite the injury, she was still in the fight.

The Earth Bear, however, was not finished.

It stomped forward, each step shaking the ground, its massive maw opening, ready to crush anything in its way.

Richard knew they had to end this now.

"Groff, Nyx! Full power—Enhancement Magic!"

A surge of magic energy pulsed from Richard's body, flowing into his summons.

Groff's armor gleamed, his muscles coiling with raw strength, as he lunged once more. His jaws clamped down on the bear's exposed neck, while his claws raked at its eyes, forcing the beast to let out a deafening roar of pain.

Nyx, ignoring her injury, darted forward, her dark claws slicing between the bear's hind legs, severing tendons.

"ROOOARRR!!"

The beast howled, its movements faltering, staggering as pain overwhelmed its senses.

Richard saw his chance.

He drew his sword, a magic artifact enchanted with Armor Piercing and Sharpness Magic—a blade he had purchased before coming to Magnolia.

Since training with the guild, Richard had been learning how to fight on his own, rather than relying solely on his summons.

Now was the perfect time to put that training to use.

With a deep breath, he circulated magic through his body, feeling his strength surge.

His blade shimmered, glowing faintly as it honed itself to a razor-sharp edge.

He dashed forward, muscles coiled with enhanced power.

"Nyx, bind it one last time!"

Nyx summoned her remaining strength, and shadowy arms erupted from the ground, wrapping around the bear's limbs, locking it in place.

With precise footwork, Richard maneuvered past the beast's sluggish defense.

Then, with one fluid motion—

He plunged his blade beneath the bear's chin, driving it deep into the beast's skull.

The sword sank through thick muscle and bone, piercing straight into the brain.

The Earth Bear convulsed, its massive frame shuddering violently.

Then—

With one final, breathless exhale—

It collapsed, shaking the very ground as it fell motionless.

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