Salem POV
I was just hanging back while the group came up with a plan to get close to the freaky elephant. They asked me if I knew any of its mannerisms and I just shock my head as I didn't want to get close to that thing.
"We should just knock it out and capture it that seems easier." Ashton said cracking his knuckles.
"No Ashton-san we need to observe it while in its natural environment to get key on its behaviors." Smith said getting her equipment ready.
"Lily, I have to agree with Leo here if you three want to study this thing wouldn't it be a better idea to catch it and take it to the labs in Hercules city." Queens put in thoughts as she leaned back on a tree.
"Normally yes but we still don't fully know what the grootslang is capable of. I know you and the saberwolves are strong Maroon-chan but it might be more dangerous than we give it credit for." Smith reasoned with her and she just shrugged her shoulders.
"Well, this is your field research I won't say much." She than sat down and just watched them do their thing.
Ivory was taking pictures of it and since we we're further away and at a safe distance it was a little fine especially since the grootslang was munching on a large animal and was occupied. The scientists got their equipment ready and went a little closer with the Saberswolves following behind weapons out.
"Aren't you coming?" Whisper asked me when she noticed I wasn't following them and I just shock my head.
"You guys do you. I done my part just tell me when we're leaving." I said jumping on a brunch than closing my eye, then began training my magic flow.
Third person POV
Whisper just looked at the boy as he just relaxed on a tree brunch though see could tell he was training his magic control by gathering etherano. Maroon taught her that a while ago and she cwondered how far he got without a prepare master to instruct him on the fundamentals, but she just shrugged it off and went to her companions.
"The kids not coming?" Leonardo asked whisper to which she shook her head. "Hm training his magic flow I see but whatever he can do as he pleases." He said as he noticed something strange about the other creatures.
"Hey guys you notice how submissive the other creatures got when the grootslang came?" He asked the rest of the group.
"Its most likely the strongest in this area the others don't want to agonies it." Matthew answered while they finally set their equipment.
"So, it's the top dog around here nice." Leonardo nodded but he was still on high alert.
The zoologists began recording the massive amount of food the grootslaang was consuming and George zoomed in and saw it was producing an acid like substance in its teeth before as it tore the tough flesh of what seemed to be a wyvern.
"Interesting it has high pH levels of acid in its teeth." He said writing it down. "It seems to be a little calm." He noted moving a little closer but was brought back by a hard pull by Maroon.
"Don't be stupid Ivory-san." She told him as her too was getting an easy feeling from the surroundings like Leonardo the thing seemed too calm to her like it was planning something.
Once it finished its meal and drank some water it went off into the forest not giving the humans any form of attention and this got question arks appearing on their heads. From what they heard the grootslang was very vicious and attacked ruthlessly.
"Well let's not just stand here we have to follow it." Locknut said packing his stuff fast and the other two followed in suit and the group cased after it mixed elephant.
"HEY KID LOOK AFTER SOME OF THAT STUFF!!" Leonardo told Salem while he ran to catch up with the rest.
While they were running the grootslang was incredibly fast that the zoologist especially Locknut couldn't keep up but the saberwolves were fine. Soon the Scientists fell behind and the rest just stopped to wait for them.
"Man, that thing was quiet fast wasn't it." Leonardo said as he watched the remaining three catchup with them and out of breath and the fat one collapsed on the forest floor making chuckle in amusement.
"W-where did it go?" George asked catching his breath.
"We don't know." Maroon answered.
"W-why-y d-didn't y-you go after i-it?" Matthew asked trying his hardest not to puck.
"Our job is to make sure you guys don't die and not be junior researchers." She answered back rolling her eyes.
They than walked deeper into the forest they saw bones of dead animals and humans which freaked Matthew and the other two tried there best to ignore it and push forward.
"Leo Whisper get ready." Maroon informed her two companions and they nodded getting battle ready. "You three get in a safe distance now." She told the zoologists and before they could question what was going on Whisper moved at high speeds and pushed them out of the way and the grootslang attacked.
The creature seemed to have shaped its lower body to appear more snake like and appeared longer. It lunged at them yet again and Maroon grabbed Lily while Leonardo put his axe on his back and grabbed both George and Matthew and they all ran at high speeds. The grootslaang was even faster and nimble than they thought as it kept up with them no problem and even slithered past the trees.
"Gun magic: Blazing bullets!" Whisper chanted as she shot eight fire like bullets from her gun. The bullets did burn the creature a bit but it was still on there tail. "It withstood my attack the scales must as some sort of pseudo-armor." She told them.
"How tough?" Maroon asked her.
"Well, my fire bullets seemed to have some very slight damage." Whisper told her boss getting her to nod.
As they were running the creature over took them causing the to take change direction. The thing than blasted them with a powerful sonic boom attack from its trunk.
"Wind Magic: Dogoda's protection!" Maroon quickly made a wind barrier around everyone which also decreased the amount of sound blasting in their ears. Though the sonic boom was so powerful that it not only blew them away but a huge proportion of trees and blasting off dirt from the ground.
With Salem.
Salem back at the large river heard and felt the aftermath of the attack as he was eying a fire wyvern which came by. Most animal began fleeing from the area and the boy just stayed there a little flabbergasted.
"What the fuck are they doing!?" He questioned getting over his shock.
Back to the others.
Maroon's shield had managed to minimize the damage they took from the attack and the mercenaries got up while the scientists remained on the ground shaken up from the attack.
"SHIT SHIT!!!" Matthew swore scared out of his mind at what he was experiencing amd began hyperventilating.
"Locknut-san breath try to take it easy." George tried to calm his colleague down before his heart burst but it didn't mean he wasn't scared as well.
"Don't worry Locknut-san Maroon-chan has fought tougher monsters than this we'll be fine." Lily also tried to comfort him even though she too was terrified.
"So do you still want this thing alive." Maroon asked and Lily still nodded. "Alright Leo Whisper take it but don't kill it." She ordered him and he grinned.
"You got it boss lady." He said charged in and Whisper followed suit while she casted another wind barrier around her and the zoologists making sure they don't get in the cross fire.
Leonardo jumped at the creature attempting to hack at it but the grootslang swiftly dodged and smacked him with its trunk which he blocked with his axe but sent him flying across some trees. The creature than flinched in pain as bullets hit its head and it turned to see Whisper snipping at it from a distance.
She than fired another bullet at it and as it was about to dodge it exploded in a flashing light blinding the creature. Leo than came above its head and smashed his axe on it but it did cleave though but it still drew blood making it shriek in pain and with its speed it slammed its trunk flung its trunk to Leo who dodged the attack.
It than picked up a large tree with its trunk and flung it at Whisper fast how barely managed to dodge but the creature smacked her hard with its long hard tail smashing her to the ground and charged at her at high speeds to which she could counter in tie.
"Body reinforcement!" Leo chanted as his body developed green lines and he dashed after the grootslang faster than before. And caught its by the tusks making a crack in the ground.
Whisper not wanting to waste an opportunity shoot it straight in its eye making it back of and roar in pain and anger and fled in the forest but the two where hot on it tail. Whisper shot more some ice bullets to make it change its course and then it camouflaged its self in the tall trees making the two halt there.
"Stay alert Whisper its here some were." Leo said as Whisper and he got ready for a surprise attack.
The grootslang than went straight for whisper again but this time she evaded and Leo punched it hard with a reinforced upper cut sending its upper body in the sky and making a strong wing. He than sung his axe at it but it quickly recovered and caught the axe with its teeth and bite on it breaking it. It than proceed to eat and swallow it.
"Fuck that was my fifth weapon this week!" He yelled in frustration and dodged the monsters' tusks.
Whisper was trying to think of a way to bring the thing down as her current range of bullets don't seem to be doing much its skin was tough.
The grootslang than used its large bodies to coil around multiple trees and fling them at the two. As they dodged it pointed its trunks at Leonardo and fired its sonic boom attack.
"FUCK!!" He cursed as he put a lot of magic in his defensive properties of reinforcement but he still got heavily injured by the attack and was bleeding especially his ears and his shirt was tattered of. But he still got up and spat some blood in the ground.
"T-That a-all you got?" He taunted as he flinched at the pain caused by his injuries. He reinforced he body to help fix some moved bones. The creature than grew annoyed and pointed its trunk at Leonardo again to fire another sonic boom.
Whisper's eyes began to glow as she took aim with the sniper rifle.
"Epoxy shot!" She shot a bullet straight to the grootslang's nose before it fired the attack splat into a glue-like substance completely blocking its trunk nostrils.
The sonic boom was blocked off but caused damage inside its trunk causing it to get blown of the grootslang. Didn't stop there though as Leonardo grabbed its tusk and with the help of, he reinforcements magic he broke it off and fling it into the creature's body.
The grootslaang began thrashing around in extreme agony and collapsed onto the forest floor but still not dead.
"I said don't kill it." Maroon said making her way to the two with the other three following very close behind her. Leonardo just looked sheepish while Whisper bowed her head in shame.
"Relax boss its still alive barely." Leonardo said but whispered the last part causing Maroon to sigh.
"Will this still be enough for your research?" She asked.
"Oh yeah there's plenty we can work with back at the city." George said looking at the defeated creature.
"How powerful was it Ashton-san?" Lily asked.
"Hm am sure it had more tricks up its sleeve but if I had to guess A-rank at best." He answered.
"Hey guys!" They all heard a voice in the sky and saw it was Salem but he looked like an owl harpy. "How are you going to carry that thing?"