Chapter 11: The Shroom Encounter

Kael crouched low in the underbrush, steadying his breath as he peered through the thick foliage. Something was approaching, and he wasn't about to take any chances. As the figure came into view, his eyes widened in surprise.

It was a creature unlike anything he had seen before—a mushroom-like being with a large, king trumpet-shaped cap for a head. It waddled along the forest floor, humming a strange tune in an eerie, warbling voice. Its body swayed as if carried by a light breeze, its stubby limbs moving in an almost rhythmic dance.

Kael studied it carefully. A shroom monster? he thought. It doesn't look dangerous. Actually… it looks kind of friendly. The creature was no larger than an average dog and didn't seem threatening in the slightest.

He hesitated, debating what to do next. Should I just leave it alone? It wasn't hostile, and he wasn't here to pick unnecessary fights. But then again, what if it knew something about the forest? Maybe not all monsters were mindless killers.

Kael made his decision. He stood up and stepped out of the bush, raising a hand in a peaceful gesture. "Hey there!" he called out.

The shroom creature stopped its humming and turned to face him. Its beady black eyes blinked with surprise before it let out a raspy, bubbling voice.

"Whhoooaaa! Huuuman! How long since I seen a huuuman?! What brings yooou heeere?!"

Kael blinked, taken aback by the odd way it spoke. "I live in a village a few kilometers from here," he said, pointing toward the distant treetops.

The shroom wobbled excitedly, giggling to itself. It then started muttering strange words in its peculiar language, the syllables forming an unsettling chant. Kael felt the air around him shift, a deep pulse resonating from the creature as its body began to swell.

Its form expanded, growing larger and larger. Its stubby limbs stretched, its cap widening until it towered over Kael. The cheerful, waddling creature was now nearly twice its previous size, its voice carrying a newfound weight as it chuckled darkly.

Kael instinctively stepped back. "Uh… is this some kind of greeting ritual for your species?"

The creature cackled. "Hahaaa! Nooo! We loooove to eat huuumaans! First yooou, theeen I'll call the reeest of my kind! We will feeeast upon your village!!"

Kael's heart pounded as he tightened his grip on his wooden sword. This wasn't just a random encounter—this thing was a threat. If I run, it might call for reinforcements. If it brings others… the village might not stand a chance.

He had no choice. He had to stop it here and now.

Kael sprang into action, rushing forward with his weapon raised for a powerful vertical slash. The shroom monster grinned, extending its stubby arms to catch the attack.

It's going to try and grab my sword!

At the last second, Kael shifted his stance, feinting his attack before pivoting low. He swept his leg out in a sharp arc, striking the creature's root-like feet. The shroom let out a startled wail as it lost balance, crashing heavily to the ground.

Kael wasted no time. He leapt back into position and delivered a decisive strike with his sword, aiming to end the fight before it could react. His blade sliced cleanly through the creature's cap, splitting it neatly in two.

A wet, spongy sound echoed through the clearing as the halves fell apart. Kael stepped back, breathing heavily, waiting to see if it would move again.

But then, to his shock, the two halves began to twitch. Slowly, the pieces of the shroom's body started pulling back together, reattaching as if nothing had happened. The creature let out a low, gurgling chuckle, its face twisting into a grotesque grin.

Kael's pulse quickened, but he forced himself to stay calm. If it can regenerate, then I'll just have to destroy it faster than it can heal.

Without hesitation, he launched into a flurry of rapid strikes, hacking the creature into smaller and smaller pieces. Each cut separated more of its body, forcing it to regenerate in multiple places at once. Finally, he gathered dry twigs and leaves from the forest floor, then took a sturdy stick and began to spin it rapidly against a dry piece of bark. The friction built up heat, and after several minutes of effort, a faint ember appeared. He carefully fed it with dry grass, blowing gently until the flames took hold, creating a small but steady fire.

One by one, he tossed the shroom's remains into the flames, watching as they sizzled and blackened. He waited until nothing remained, ensuring every last piece was burned to ash. When the fire finally died down, he sifted through the embers, confirming that nothing was left.

Kael exhaled, a smirk crossing his lips. "That was way easier than I expected. Hopefully, not all monsters in this world are this weak."

He turned, beginning his walk back toward the village. The sun had nearly set, and his body ached from the effort, but his mind was restless.

In my past life, I saved lives. But here… it seems like I'll be the one taking them.

The thought lingered in his mind as he made his way home, preparing for the next day's training.

End of Chapter 11