As the wood spirit walks slowly toward Drinia and Tino they put up their guard knowing that this creature is very dangerous
Drinia: "Don't come near! Or else I'll transform into a dragon and capture you with my vines..."
Wood spirit: "Very straightforward... But not intimidating at all... No matter what you do older sister, I'll devour the spirit inside you and take its form!"
Drinia whispers something to Tino
Drinia: "Tino... run..."
Tino: "What...?"
Drinia: I said... RUN!!
Drinia starts to run away from the opposite direction back to the Pardia's castle
Tino: What the heck!? Are we going back to the castle?
Drinia: "We'll lure him to those headhunters and make them fight each other."
Tino: "I mean... that's a plan! But I don't think that's effective..."
The wood spirit chase after them
Tino: *Gasp* He's getting close... Do you know what kind of power he had? Does he control trees just like your vines!?"
Drinia: "No! He's wooden tree-like body is capable of producing different kinds of fruit with each had a varied kind of effects!"
Tino: "Incredible! So that's why he just keeps chasing us and not doing any offensive actions"
The wood spirit still can't catch up to them. As the chase continues Drinia finally saw the castle at a close distance
Drinia: (Just a little more...)
Tino looks back
Tino: "He's gone..."
Drinia: "What?
Tino: "He's not chasing us anymore"
Drinia looked back and immediately stopped her movement
Tino: "Where is he..?"
A shadow of the moonlight revealed the wood's spirit position
Drinia: "Above us!"
While floating in mid air the wood spirit produce an explosive fruit
Rease Red Fruit: Explosion
Dozens of rease fruit fall in the sky with no way for them to escape
"Rease" is a red fruit with an explosive component inside of it. The only monster that can eat this without damaging itself is the "treenu" and the main reason why they were capable of such explosion.
Drinia unleashes her vines again to create a ball barrier to block the incoming rease.
Drinia: "He's going to land on us!!"
Jump back when i said now!
Tino: "U- understood!"
Drinia: (When something touches my vines the sensation directly sends to my brain thus making me react supernaturally.)
So when the moment that wood spirit's toe touched the ball vine Drinia spoke out her signal
Drinia: "NOW!!"
The two jumps back to dodge the landing of the wood spirit
Drinia: (With the impact of his landing it will flew us towards the castle)
Tino: "Whoaaww!! The impact is too strong!!"
A blow of wind caused by the wood spirit landing pushes the two directly towards the castle's wall
Wood spirit: "Not bad... But this is your dead end"
[Pardia's Castle, Interior]
-{Second Floor Hallway}
*Before the explosion*
Bloody face between the two sibling fighting it out to death
Juroo: "You just won't give up huh..."
Furoo: "This is humiliating... I'm your older brother and yet we had the same strength"
Juroo: "Don't compare me to yo-"
They suddenly heard a series of explosions nearby
Mr. Tilou throws his hidden dagger while Juroo is distracted
He sensed it but it slashed through his left cheek while dodging
Rula: "Chief!! The target is not on this castle anymore!!"
Furoo: "What the?"
Juroo: "HAHA!! Now I realised that your all just a bunch of idiots! Whose desperate for money that leads to killing random humans"
The headhunters was certainly pissed by those insulting words
From rula's portal a treenu appears on Juroo's left arm then all headhunters took a step back avoiding the huge explosion
Rula: "Die!..."
But juroo grasp the treenu and crushed it to bits before it detonates
Another dagger flew directly to Juroo's head he successfully caught the dagger but another treenu appears on his left arm when he's about to grabbed it again its too late.
It massively explodes and blows off half of his left arm and burnt some of his clothes leaving a huge scar.
That treenu was designed to lower the explosion rate because rula was too close to avoid it
Juroo: "AHHHHHHHHHHHH! DAMN YOU!!!!"
Furoo: "FINISH HIM!!"
Both: "Yes sir!!"
Juroo was completely surrounded again while screaming in pain
Juroo: (I'm dead... Its the best thing I can do, sorry aren...)
*Juroo passed out*
Out of nowhere two of Pyten sharp knives flew coming from the grand hall on the first floor preventing rula and tilou from approaching meanwhile the other knife slashes through Furoo's eyes.
Furoo: "AHHHH!! MY EYESS!!! DAMN IIIIIITTTT!!!"
Aren climb through the stairs towards to the second floor hallway where the battle is going on
Aren: "Juroo!! Its me Aren!!
Rula and Tilou rushes to help Furoo while Aren and his father went to check the unconscious Juroo
Both: "Chief!!
Rula: "Quick let's get you out of here!!
Tilou carries the groaning furoo on his back.
They said something to Aren when they passed him while he's checking the condition of the passed out Juroo
Tilou: "I'm coming back for you..."
Rula: "Wether I'm a headhunter or not I'll blow your head off..."
After saying those intimidating threats they lost already one of their precious comrade and their chief were utterly blinded so the only option they have is to escape...
Aren: "(What on earth happened here)"
Father: "We need to stop the bleeding on his left arm"
Aren's father use some of his clothes to stop the bleeding
Aren: (We thought we arrived earlier than we expected but were too late! When we entered the castle Juroo's left arm was already blown off)
Aren looks down on the grand hall and he saw the two remaining headhunters walking in despair. Rula drags the dead body of Helone along with them. On their emotionless face were drop of tears full of revenge and regret.
Aren: ( Their not our enemies at all. Their just doing their job as a headhunter...)
Aren stood up and spoke out his mind.
Aren: "I'm sorry!! Because of our selfishness you lost a precious comrade"
Rula and Tilou looks back to him
Rula: "You lost your friend too... I utterly destroyed the left arm of your boss, you blinded our chief but that doesn't mean we have already given up on hunting that dragon. There is nothing for you to apologize..."
Mr. Tilou: "See you on Vari Kingdom boy... Your head is now one of our target too."
After all those unexpected events the second threat haven't terminated yet... The wood spirit...
[Pardia's Castle-Outerior]
-{Left Side Wall}
As the wood spirit walks slowly towards drinia and tino he suggested something
Wood spirit: "Why don't we make a deal... You boy help me surrender my sister to me and I'll spare your life. What do you think?"
Tino: "Pretty straightforward... But not intimidating at all"
Wood spirit: "Too bad... I'm hoping we could be friends"
Drinia: (Now... What should I do.... I can easily escape from here but I'm worried about tino...)
Three arrows dashes towards the wood spirit with him being unaware it pierce right through on his wooden skin.
Wood spirit: "Is this... part of your plan too...?"
Drinia: "Uhh.. no..."
More arrows rain down to the wood spirit
Trofinn shows up on one of the trees carrying his bow
Trofinn: "Guys! Are you alright!"
Both: Trofinn!!
Trofinn: (His body is made of pure wood... It seems like we need another plan for this!
(Earlier, We originally plan to distract the headhunters believing that the target is on the right side of the castle. I left my position back there to check if the two successfully escaped so I run after them. Then this wood spirit shows up destroying the whole plan)
Trofinn stretched his bow with his last two arrows making sure that the wood spirit will make some distance
Trofinn: (I need to reveal myself before this creature actually kills them)
Wood spirit: "That's it? You wasted your arrows just like that?"
The wood spirit suddenly dashes towards the two ignoring trofinn with wooden claws growing on his fingers
Drinia: (He's fast!)
Trofinn: (He's not using his full speed earlier!?)
Without a moment to react Drinia can't dodge the surprise attack. However, Tino appears before her with his transformed left hand.
Mammal type: Giant Beast Hand
He use the tremendous power of the hand to throw the wood spirit back onto his original position
Drinia and tino can't believe what just happened
Tino: "Heh! Your not the only one whose hiding his true power"
Trofinn: "You... Your from the Demi kingdom right?"
Tino: "Yeah... But the more I use this power the more hungry I become and the problem is I haven't eaten anything yet... so I might lose control of myself that's why I'm using it only for emergency like this"
Wood spirit: "Thanks for the warning and spitting out your weakness! Now, come! attack me all at once! I'll fight you all fair and square!"
Without a moment to spare the three prepared themselves for an upcoming battle but before they managed to start an offensive action the wood spirit analyzes the situation
Wood Spirit: (Now... Think! First, I need to more careful about that boy who can transform into any kind of mammal type animals. Second, theres my sister who had a decent ability that she'll probably support the two from behind. Third, the man who suddenly shows up out of nowhere. I don't know anything about him yet but I'm pretty sure that's not the only ability he has.
After that brainstorming the wood spirit didn't realise the upcoming vines below the ground thus holding his hand and feet, limiting his movement.
Its now the right time for tino to make an offensive advantage
Tino: "To fall for such a simple trap... Your too naive for fighting all of us"
Mammal type: Reeta's Arm!
A "Reeta" is a four legged monster that believes to be the fastest mammal ever lived inside the continent
Drinia: "That's right... Despite of his horrendous look deep inside... he's just a 14 years old boy..."
"10 years ago"
{Spirit Kingdom}
-{Naria Division}
Back to the old times where everything seems to be normal...
A six years old Drinia with her bestfriend another human-dragon girl name Hena walks towards the Tree Plaza along with his four years old brother named Dren.
Drinia:"Hena, are you excited about tomorrow too?"
Hena: "Yeah!, were finally going outside the kingdom!"
Dren: "I'm so envious... I like a dragon spirit manifest inside me too instead of this wood one. Its just like so cool when you breathe fire"
Drinia: "Hmm.. if you ask me I'd prefer your ability to produce any kinds of fruit when you transform as a wood spirit"
Dren transform to a wood spirit and produce a sweet fruit called "Nectaria"
Dren: "You mean this? But sis, even if I had this fruit with me... its not like I can use this to protect myself"
Their conversation stopped when they heard another man's voice out in the crowds introducing "something" to the residents.
Trader: "Welcome! Welcome! Come closer and take a look on this amazing discovery!!.
A few weeks ago the king of clock kingdom along with his army decided to explore outside the continent"
All the residents were astounded by this information because no one had ever had the guts to went outside the wall of forest, because it protects the whole Hilenia continent and separates it from the whole world.
Trader: "Along on their journey are new discroveries! Like this new type of mushroom!! It is said that when you eat a single piece of this mushroom you won't have to eat for the whole day again"
The residents of spirit kingdom outrages
"This is nonsense!"
"I'm pretty sure that's poison!"
Trader: "Calm down... I'm going to consume this right here right now!"
The trader ate the weird looking mushroom showing that its not harmful to anyone
Trader: "See? Nothing! I'm alright! Who wants to try some?"
The residents was utterly silent, no one will ever want to try that mushroom for themselves
Dren: "I am! Let me try those things!!"
Drinia: "Dren!! That's dangerous!! You don't know wha-"
Dren: "Just shut up sis! I maybe small and young but I'm the bravest one around here!"
Hena: "Big talk for a small child"
Drinia: "Don't blame me if you suddenly collapsed on the ground"
Trader: "Come young little boy and we'll show to everyone that this new mushroom is very efficient and effective"
Dren ate the mushroom without a single hesitation
Trader: (I feel bad for this boy... The mushroom I ate earlier is not the real deal its obviously fake. I don't know what'll actually happen- Meh! As long as it brings me money I don't care)
After a few minutes of consuming the mushroom, nothing strange happened to Dren. However, its still not very convincing to the residents thus leaving the trader alone without a care about his mushroom.
Trader: "Boy? Are you really... really all right? Uhh... Do you feel anything strange...?"
Dren: "Hmmm... I don't feel anything... But I'm pretty sure I'm going to get hungry later on"
Drinia: "I knew it!! The one you ate is not the actual mushroom!!"
Hena: "I'll report this to the Spirit Guards!"
Trader: "Oh no no no!! Don't be like that look at him he's completely fine!!
The trader packed his things and left with his carriage
As the night comes dren can't fall asleep inside his room. So he went outside to look at the moon.
Without him activating it he automatically transform to his wood spirit but he's appearance were more horrendous than before and he feels so very hungry.
Dren: (What happened... I suddenly transfrom... And I'm hungry that I could eat anything right now)
Hena and Drinia were actually neighbors so Hena's mother accidentally saw Dren outside while she went to take some fresh air
Hena's mother: "Is that... Dren? Boy! Are you alright!?"
Dren look at her with a starving look the moment dren gained enough control on his mind he realizes that he devoured hena's mother in to pieces.
With Hena's curiosity about her mother taking so long outside she went out to check her and saw the horrible wood spirit with lots of bloods and internal organs on his face and mouth with her mother lying on the ground.
She screamed as loud as he can waking up his father on his deep sleep. Dren runaway back to his room.However, No matther how many times he tries to go back to being human he can't...
The sun rises and the residents of Naria Division protest and outrages towards Dren's house.
They Spirit Guards took Dren by force bringing him right in front of the king.
Drinia: (It all started that day... That my own life was also ruined because of my little brother ....no... because of that monster)
They made the little boy choose his own fate by either cutting his head off or leave the kingdom and will never ever be allowed to come back.The little boy still wants to live his life so he chooses to leave the Spirit kingdom along with his horrifying spirit form.
Back to the current time tino was about to attack the wood spirit
A series of bolt punches blowing off some part of his wooden body then tino took a step back to avoid the upcoming arrows.
Wood spirit: (What? He still have some arrows in him!? ....No! Its made of vines and yet took the form of an arrow)
The wood spirit ignored all the arrows that pierce his body and it remain stuck on him just to prove how versatile he is
The three stopped for a moment after realising that none of their attacks actually damaged him
Drinia: "I can't hold him off for too long"
Tino: "What should we do now... My stomach is starving..."
Trofinn: "Just keep attacking! There must be a limit to how much he can handle"
Wood spirit: "Too bad... That's not enough to bring me down..."
Meanwhile on the headhunter carriage they decided to go back to Dime Kingdom as soon as possible.
Mr. Tilou is the one driving the carriage while rula was taking care of the dead body of helone and the blinded furoo who lost his consciousness inside
As the moon shines through the night Mr. Tilou and Rula had a short conversation.
Rula: "Say Mr. Tilou where did we go wrong? We've been doing this job for years and yet... we just let them kill helone and blinded our chief right in front of us!"
Mr. Tilou: "I got too cocky... I thought to myself that we don't have to use my ability anymore since we already cornered them... Were on a huge advantage and... when I decided to use it the target was already miles away from the castle"
Rula: "Were strong!! Were supposed to be a lot more stronger than them!! But because of my reckless actions I let them escape..."
Mr. Tilou: "After working with you guys for years I think that's the best time of my life even though were taking that life from someone else."
[Spirit Kingdom-Interior]
-{Grand Hall}
Aren carries juroo on his back with his left arm covered in cloth
Aren: "Dad.... It's feels like he's not breathing anymore"
Father: "Well... He lost to much blood and his left arm is beyond recovery"
Aren: "Pyten is now dead too... And I can't find Drinia... What shoud I do now?.... My heart hurts so much..."
Father: "Don't worry... I'm right here with you"
Aren: "I just want her to go home and be with her family once again... She saved my life so many times when we were hunting on that forest so I realised that this is my own way on saving her"
Father: "Tell me... Do you love her?"
Aren: "..... no?"
Father: "Liar"
Aren: (Its true that I have some feelings for her but... If i found out that she left Juroo and the others on purpose I'm going to kill her myself)