She looked up at me with wide, curious eyes that shimmered with an otherworldly glow, her expression still tinged with apprehension.
I crouched to her eye level and offered a soft smile. "You need a name," I said gently. "How about Lilia?"
Her eyes brightened immediately. "Lilia?" she repeated, testing the sound. The way her voice wavered made it clear she liked it but wanted to be sure.
"Yes, Lilia," I affirmed. "It suits you. It's gentle and strong—just like the path you'll take with us."
A shy smile crept onto her face as her flower petals shifted slightly, as though mimicking the motion of a nod. "I like it," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Thank you… Akira."
I chuckled softly, standing up as I held her close. "Well, Lilia, welcome to the team. We're going to make sure you grow strong, and together, we'll make sure your story is a beautiful one."
Her small hands clutched at my sleeve as she whispered, "I'll hold you to your promise."
Her resolve made me smile even more. With that, Lilia officially joined our journey—a fragile sprout today, but a powerful, unyielding force in the future.
The dense canopy above cast shadows that danced with the fading sunlight as we pressed onward. Lilia and Voltis had been growing stronger steadily throughout the day. While Voltis sparked and darted between creatures with his Lightning Terrain and Bolt, Lilia proved her worth with her unique set of abilities.
She had a small healing skill that kept us all in better shape, along with her Plant Barrier that absorbed hits better than I had expected. Her roots made self-healing almost effortless, and her Stun Pollen had worked wonders against a group of ant-like monsters earlier.
Yet, I knew her powers needed refinement. The hallucinations she induced with her vines were effective, but they required either an immobilized enemy or sheer luck to make work. Despite her potential, her abilities were slow and better suited for larger battles or group tactics. That didn't matter now—I was determined to help her and Voltis catch up to me.
The forest was alive with the hum of predators and prey, and my heightened senses caught every rustle of leaves and snap of twigs. My focus sharpened as I saw a swarm of wasps attacking massive caterpillars. Normally, I would have avoided such a scene, but then my eyes locked onto something else entirely—a humanoid figure with draconic features that towered over the battlefield.
It was a Bug Guardian, a protector of the caterpillars. Standing three meters tall with lean muscle, dragonfly wings, and a sleek green-and-black carapace that allowed it to blend seamlessly into the background, it was a sight to behold. Its left arm ended in a natural cannon, which it used to blast the wasps away with precision and power. Its red eyes narrowed as they found me watching from a distance.
I froze as its cannon adjusted its aim toward me. Clearly, the Bug Guardian was territorial and didn't appreciate my presence. Raising both hands in a gesture of peace, I called out, "I'm just passing through. No need to fight."
The creature tilted its head slightly, its antennae twitching as it gauged my sincerity. After a tense moment, it lowered the cannon and pointed off to the side, gesturing for me to take a different route. I gave a respectful nod and backed away, keeping my movements slow and deliberate.
Once I was out of sight, I exhaled a long breath. "That could have gone south real fast," I muttered. Asura, fused with me, hummed in agreement.
The rest of the day passed with relative calm. We targeted smaller monsters—beetles, ants, and river creatures—avoiding any large groups or overly aggressive species. By the time the sun began to dip below the horizon, both Voltis and Lilia had reached Advanced Iron rank.
Voltis focused on hunting creatures with dragon genes, like dragonflies and beetles, which strengthened his core attributes. Lilia, on the other hand, targeted flower and tree monsters to enhance her scent and assist skills. Her progression was steady, but I knew we had a long way to go before she could reach the potential of the Flower Queen evolution.
Just as I was starting to feel confident, the forest seemed to grow unnaturally quiet. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end, and Asura's energy shifted uneasily within me.
That's when I saw it—a hulking orange figure emerging from the shadows.
It was a giant orangutan, with thick wooden armor covering its head, legs, and arms. Strapped to its back was a massive hammer that looked like it could flatten trees with a single swing. Its eyes locked onto us, and a deep growl rumbled from its throat.
The sheer size of its hand made Asura's usual armor form look insignificant. This wasn't just a monster—it was a force of nature.
"Voltis, Lilia, back into the taming space," I commanded, my voice steady despite the adrenaline surging through me.
Voltis hesitated for a moment, sparks dancing along his fins, but obeyed. Lilia looked frightened, her small form trembling as she clutched at the edge of my cloak.
"Don't worry," I said softly. "I'll handle this."
With both of them secured, I activated Asura's full armor mode. His golden wax and metal enveloped me, enhancing my strength and durability. Heat radiated from the armor, and the faint hum of his Flame Boost skill reassured me that I wasn't alone.
The orangutan roared, pounding its fists against its chest as it charged. Its steps shook the ground, and I barely had time to dodge as it swung its hammer down with a force that splintered the earth where I had been standing moments ago.
"Asura, Flame Pillar!" I shouted.
A towering column of fire erupted beneath the orangutan, catching it mid-swing. The flames licked at its wooden armor, but the creature seemed barely fazed. Instead, it roared louder, its rage intensifying as it swung the hammer in a wide arc.
I leapt back, using Asura's enhanced agility to avoid the attack, but the shockwave from the hammer's impact sent me stumbling. This wasn't going to be an easy fight.
Focusing my energy, I summoned several energy platforms above the orangutan, using them to maneuver closer. As I descended, I aimed for the exposed joint between its armor and shoulder, slashing with Asura's flaming blade.
The orangutan roared in pain, swatting at me like an insect. I narrowly avoided its massive hand, landing a few meters away.
"We're going to need more than brute force for this one," I muttered, formulating a strategy as the creature lumbered toward me again.
The ground quaked beneath the giant orangutan's feet, its bellowing roars echoing through the dense forest. I stood frozen for a moment, my breath coming in ragged gasps as the sheer size of the beast—towering over twenty meters—dwarfed everything around us. Its gaze was locked onto me, its massive hammer dragging along the ground as it stomped forward.
This was a gamble I had no choice but to take.
"Voltis," I muttered through clenched teeth, summoning him behind the beast. He materialized with a flash of red scales and a low growl, his new dragon-like claws gripping the ground. He wasn't the tiny seal-like creature from before; with his evolution to Advanced Iron rank, his power had grown exponentially.
"Charge up," I ordered. Voltis darted into the shadows, moving nimbly despite his growing size.
I needed to buy him time.
The orangutan swung its hammer with terrifying speed for its size. I barely managed to dodge, using Asura's agility to leap to the side, but the wind pressure alone knocked me off balance. It followed up with a roar, slamming its massive fists into the ground. Wooden spikes erupted from the earth, catching me off guard. One struck my side, and I felt the sharp pain of a broken arm inside Asura's armor.
"Damn it!" I hissed, retreating behind a thick tree trunk. My breathing was labored, and I could feel the strain of the battle weighing on me. Thankfully, Lilia's healing energy flowed through the taming space, dulling the worst of the pain and keeping me on my feet. Without her, I would've been done.
Voltis's charge was nearly complete. The air buzzed with electricity, and I could see the faint glow of his body from where I hid. I just needed a little more time.
The orangutan roared again, smashing its hammer into the tree I hid behind, splitting it in half. I rolled out of the way, narrowly avoiding being crushed. "Hurry up, Voltis," I muttered under my breath.
Finally, the air ignited with a crackling bolt of lightning. Voltis unleashed a concentrated strike directly into the beast's back. The orangutan howled in pain as the electricity coursed through its massive body. Its armor crackled and burned, the wooden plates smoldering from the sheer heat of the strike.
Voltis roared triumphantly, his wings spreading wide as he circled the beast. His red scales gleamed, and I couldn't help but notice the small bump on his forehead—a precursor to the horn he would grow in the future. He was becoming more draconic with each fight.
The orangutan staggered, stunned by the bolt, and I seized the opportunity. Summoning Asura's energy, I created a massive spinning lance of fire. The flames danced around it, spinning faster and faster as I aimed for the beast's exposed shoulder.
"Lilia," I whispered, summoning her near the orangutan. She appeared in a flash of green and pink, her vibrant form standing out starkly against the forest's muted colors. The orangutan's bloodshot eyes immediately locked onto her. It snarled, distracted by the scent that it couldn't resist.
I dashed forward, using the distraction to close the distance. The lance in my hands burned hot as I thrust it forward, slamming it into the beast's shoulder. The impact was like a thunderclap, sending both of us crashing through a series of trees.
The orangutan roared in agony as it struggled to rise. Voltis struck again, another bolt of lightning slamming into its chest. Without wasting a second, I detonated the lance, triggering a fiery explosion that lit up the forest. The heat was intense, and I could feel the ground shake beneath me.
I waited, breath held, for the familiar rush of energy that signaled a monster's death. But it didn't come.
My heart sank. The creature known as Terrawrangler Kongurath wasn't dead, it lived upto it's title as the Forest Titan.
Before I could react, an ear-splitting roar echoed through the forest. The beast's body surged with power as it entered a berserk rage mode. Its strength and speed doubled instantly, and its sanity was replaced with pure, unbridled fury.
"Of course this would happen," I muttered, my exhaustion mounting. I had no choice now.
"Lilia!" I summoned her on the opposite side of the clearing for just a moment. She let out a surprised squeak, but it was enough to catch the orangutan's attention. It spun toward her, allowing me to slip away in the chaos.
I ran as fast as my legs could carry me, weaving through the trees and leaping over roots. My breaths came in heaving gasps, and every step sent jolts of pain through my broken arm. Finally, I found a hollowed-out tree large enough to crawl into. It wasn't much, but it would have to do for now.
I collapsed against the bark, finally allowing myself a moment to breathe. The orangutan's roars grew fainter in the distance, but my relief was short-lived.
From the shadows, a low hissing sound slithered through the air.
I froze, my blood running cold as I recognized the unmistakable taunting sound of a snake.
"Could this day get any worse?" I whispered to myself, summoning Asura's energy once more as I prepared for yet another fight.