"SCREEEE!*
The massive firebird released a loud cry as it's huge body was pulled off the big branch against it's will.
It flapped its wings furiously and tried to resist the massive force that was trying to pull it down to the ground.
*Roar!*
Arianne released another roar and increase the power with which she pulled the chains, causing thick veins to show across her monstrous arms.
Seeing that its flapping struggle was proving futile, an angry light shone from the intelligent eyes of the beast.
A ball-sized fireball formed before it's mouth in a mere instant and shot at Arianne who didn't even get a chance to react.
A bright yellow light illuminated the dark forest, followed by a resounding:
"KABOOM!"
"Arianne!" screamed Joe with an anxious look on his face, but a second later he had no choice but to use his arms to block his face in order to protect himself from the shockwave caused by the intense explosion.
While the explosion of this fireball was far smaller compared to the previous one that had burned the surrounding 20m of the forest, the speed at which it was formed and launched made up for it as it was almost instantaneous.
*BAM!*
A body impacted the soil, raising a massive cloud of dust.
About five breaths later, the cloud of dust dispersed revealing the situation to Joe and Rosaline's anxious eyes.
Part of Arianne's uniform which had adjusted itself to accommodate her size was burnt in several places.
The smell of burnt flesh pervaded the area.
But Joe and Rosaline far from showing worried looks instead relaxed upon seeing all the wounds on Arianne disappear as if they didn't exist in the first place.
This rate of regeneration was simply phenomenal.
Arianne rose from the ground but stumbled a few times before she could balance herself.
The previous explosion had disoriented her senses.
The firebird upon seeing that the little vermin that had tried to draw it down was unharmed from its previous attack; it raised its head and released an angry cry.
It felt humiliated.
It was a spiritual beast comparable to an early master realm mage, so it had a degree of intelligence comparable to an infant human.
So, seeing that the peak-level beginner mage Arianne was unscathed even after bearing the full brunt of it's attack, a raging flame lit inside it, causing the intensity the burning flame around it's body to rise several degrees.
However, it's loud cry suddenly stopped abruptly.
It looked deep into the forest before a startled look appeared on it's face.
A shadow seemed to move from deep within the forest but soon after that shadow left the dark embrace of the forest and appeared fully in it's sight.
It was a golden-haired boy with silver eyes.
However, what startled the firebird wasn't the little boy, not the ape-like beast that soon followed after him before coming to a stop upon noticing the firebird.
The firebird looked far above the tree, and a look of hesitation flashed within it's eyes.
It looked down behind Joe, and it's eyes fell on the 2m pitch-black snake that was being protected by Joe.
Soon after, the hesitation changed to resolve. It raised its and released a loud cry toward the top of the massive trees.
What greeted it was several strands of webs which shot out at an astonishing speed towards it.
But the firebird was also one not to be trifled, as it quickly shot out a ball-sized fireball toward the incoming webs.
*Boom!*
The semi-dark forest was lit up once again.
Arlo who had stopped in his tracks, Arianne, Joe, and Rosaline couldn't help but turn their heads and look at the monstrous entity that was revealed by the light of the previous explosion.
It was a black steel spider with a thick outer skin as hard as steel.
It's size measured about 20m and the terrifying eyes that lined the front of it's face sent goosebumps around the body of all those who gazed at it.
The black ape that chased after Arlo fell on the ground, as it's body shivered in fear.
In the presence of a stronger beast, it lost all sense of struggle, and could only wait for it's....
As the light from the explosion died down, the several limbs of the spider that were boring into the trunks of the surrounding trees flexed before it leaped with great speed at the firebird.
A great battle erupted.
Arlo quickly moved toward Arianne, "Are you okay?"
Even though there was no visible wound on her body, Arlo couldn't help but worry upon seeing the blood stains on her exposed skin.
Arianne didn't respond and instead shifted her head toward the clash that was ongoing far above the sky.
Arlo furrowed his brows upon seeing Arianne's reaction.
Even though Arianne didn't have any eyes at this moment, he could still tell she was gazing at the firebird.
"We need to leave now!" Rosaline approached Arlo and voiced out anxiously.
Arlo nodded and spoke once again to Arianne:
"Arianne, let us go!"
All he received as a response was a snort that escaped from Arianne's now massive mouth.
Arlo didn't know what to do, but soon after, Joe's voice drifted into his ears.
"We can't leave!"
Arlo turned back to look at Joe who seemed to not leave his position.
He looked behind him and saw a pitch-black snake but he didn't pay it any attention and shifted his gaze back on Joe.
What he didn't know was that somebody else emotion was in turmoil upon noticing the black snake.
It was Old bro!
"What do you mean?" Arlo asked.
"Those two beasts are here for the snake behind him. And I can't let them have it, no! I won't let them have it!"
Arlo frowned upon seeing the determination in Joe's eyes. This was the first time since he met Joe that he saw the latter this determined to fight for something, to the point of risking his life.
Rosaline pitched in from the side:
"How do you know that they are fighting for the snake? That snake looks like it will soon die and honestly, I don't see anything really special about it."
Joe thought about it deeply but in the end, he could only reply with:
"I just know!"
Arlo sighed upon seeing the resolve on Joe's face.
Turning back, he looked at Arianne who was still watching the intense battle in the sky.
'She is hell-bent on killing that bird, huh?'
Left with no choice, Arlo steeled his heart.
Since his only friends wished to fight, he would support them to the best of his abilities.
"Anita! it's time to come out!"
'Huh?' Rosaline was confused. But suddenly her eyes widened when she saw Arlo's right upper arm shine with a blue light before a slime appeared on his head.
The 2m pitch black snake which had been lying on the ground behind Joe with it's eyes closed, looking no different from a corpse suddenly snapped it's eyes open.
A different emotion from the light of indifference shone in its eyes for the first time.
Looking at Anita, a look of surprise shone in it's eyes before it was soon replaced by fear.
Arlo didn't notice any of these changes.
In fact, none of the people present noticed it except from Old Bro.
Looking at the sprawled-down ape-like beast, Arlo formed a plan.
"Anita, it's time to add more skills to your collection.!"
Anita bobbed happily in reply.
"Are these guys nuts?" Rosaline murmured under her breath when she saw the trio wanted to fight instead of escaping.