As the dust cleared from the mysterious intruder's entrance, I began to make out a vague humanoid shape that was hunched over, holding two swords and wearing a hat and cape. As my eyes focused on the intruding opponent, it became clear that the majimonster in question was a humanoid plant.
The two shadows I assumed were weapons were actually giant leaf blades that doubled as the creature's arms and weapons. It's hunched over body was actually a stem with a base of four thick roots acting as feet. The hat was actually its head, which appeared to be a giant thistle flower to me, and the cape was another large leaf.
The Dragon's Eye blazed to life as it worked to identify the new challenger.
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Species: Grassassin
Affinities: Verdant/Fury
Grade: Bronze
Trait: Lethal
Description: Grassassins are living plant monsters supported by four flexible stalks. Grassassin's forearms are surprisingly flexible, able to switch between claws for dexterity or unfurled into long blade-like leaves. Binders describe Grassassin as efficiently deadly fighters, able to capitalize on poisoned targets.
Voxea's Notes: Once upon a time there was once a faction of maji known as the Golden Blossom Forest sect. This sect of maji were known as druids by the old tongues, and they specialized in nature and plant magic. The maji who created Grassassin was this fellow others called Bramblehood. I didn't meet the maji who created Grassassin, but I do recall hearing he was a bit unhinged even by the maji's standards. However his monster making ability was second to none, and the sect ended up using a lot of his creations to act as the sect's weapons. Grassassins were being used as the sect's "hidden security" detail. I also recall he made other humanoid plant monsters like the Oaking, Lily Fencer, Walknight, Bluebrawler and...Arpepperest? It something involving chilli peppers and a crossbow. It was weird and it had. perchance for blinding people.
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The Grassassin straightened itself up after its failed sneak attack. "Standing" upright, the Grassassin was about as tall as a teenage boy but was much thinner in comparison. It pointed one of its forearms at Rakka and curled the tip of it like it was the fingers of an open palm and then entered a fighting stance, an orange light glowing around it briefly. It was clearly goading Rakka to fight it.
Rakka let out a loud snort and I could feel the contempt he had for this overgrown weed through the bond. If it's a fight it wants, it's a fight it'll get.
Off to the side, I could sense a huge amount of fighting spirit building up and ready to charge in. During my lessons, my parents taught me that when a binder enters the fray it is hardly sneaky. When another binder intruded upon a fog of war area, and wanted to fight, all participants in the area could feel it. I suppose that my mother was about to jump into the fray herself with Bola because if the Agustus somehow thawed itself out, this one on one would become a two on one at my disadvantage.
Rakka suddenly released a loud grunt before Bola and my mother got into the Fog of War. I could feel that Rakka wanted to fight this new opponent himself. Honestly...I felt the same way. I felt the fighting spirit to the side disappate after that. I suppose Bola and mother had enough faith in us to do it ourselves. I appreciated the trust in my growth, now it's time to ice this weed.
Before I had Rakka rush in this time, I made use of my bond and channeled my aether to patch up some of Rakka's wounds. Thankfully the wounds it suffered from the Agustus weren't severe, so my impromptu healing managed to restore him to full health.
Rakka rushed in on the Grassassin to use its Freezing Horns technique, ready to smash it. I need to teach Rakka more offensive techniques at some point, but Verdant monsters are weak against Ice techniques so repetitiveness be damned!
As Rakka rushed towards the Grassassin with his ice-coated antlers, the Grassassins' forearms began to glow orange and an aura of fury encompassed it. The mad plant was gonna try and counter Rakka's technique with its own!