The peculiar creature, sporting only two nostrils and a mouth teeming with razor-sharp teeth, emerged from the lawn, its body fashioned from a thick intertwining of grass strands. Its appearance halted the ceaseless movements and sounds of the undead that had surrounded Moonlight.
As the creature approached, Moonlight observed an eerie stillness. Moonlight seemed almost trapped on the ground by skeletal hands reaching out from the lawn. Unlike the undead, the grassy entity didn't walk across the lawn; instead, its form elongated, adapting to its every movement.
Closing in, the creature emitted a low growl, causing Moonlight's heart to race and beads of sweat to form on her brow. Fear widened her eyes, and tears streamed down her face. "I should never have come here," she whispered, realizing the gravity of the situation. "There are so many things left unfinished. I can't die like this."
The creature paused a few inches away from Moonlight, revealing its immense size. Its jaw could engulf an elephant in a single gulp, and a gust of wind accompanied each breath through its enormous nostrils.
Preparing for the worst, Moonlight closed her eyes as the creature opened its massive jaws. However, the impending doom halted abruptly, and the creature withdrew. Something had caught its attention, a peculiar scent that disrupted its predatory intent. It moved closer to Moonlight, sniffing the air, sensing the unfamiliar aroma.
Suddenly, the creature backed away, swinging its grassy body in a bizarre dance and emitting a thunderous roar. Confused and terrified, Moonlight muttered, "I wish Orochi were here," her voice a mix of desperation and sobs.
Convinced that her demise was imminent, Moonlight felt an unexpected release. The grasping hands disappeared, and the creature ceased its roar, facing her calmly. Looking around, she saw the undead frozen like statues, devoid of movement or sound.
Regaining her composure, Moonlight rose to her feet, her gaze fixed on the now-calm creature and the motionless horde of undead that surrounded her like statues. The tears that had streamed down her face moments ago were now replaced by a perplexed expression as she took in her unusual surroundings.
Turning away from the creature, Moonlight cautiously walked in the opposite direction of her entry into the lawn. Fear lingered in her eyes as she approached the undead standing like silent sentinels. As she neared the undead blocking her path, uncertainty etched across her face.
Gulping nervously, Moonlight hesitated for a moment before gently pushing aside one of the undead. To her surprise, the entire horde shifted aside, creating a wide path for her. Bewildered, she cast a glance back at the creature, which remained unmoving and silent.
Resuming her walk toward the end of the lawn, Moonlight focused solely on her destination, anxiety palpable in every step. Upon stepping out of the lawn, a sigh of relief escaped her, and she allowed herself a moment of calm. When she finally turned to look back at the lawn, her eyes widened in disbelief.
Gone were the undead and the strange creature, as if they had vanished into thin air. The once ominous lawn now appeared pristine, its alluring green grasses inviting innocent passersby to tread upon it. Moonlight stood there, contemplating the surreal disappearance of the nightmarish entities that had haunted her just moments before.
Meanwhile, Finn's group ascended to the top of the tree, following the map that led to the path of flowers. The moment they laid eyes on it, both Finn and Creambell were captivated by its beauty. A 15-foot-wide trail, adorned with an array of vibrant blossoms, unfolded before them. The path was created by closely aligned tree tops, each adorned with more flowers than leaves.
Entranced by the spectacle, Finn and Creambell stood in awe. The bandit, observing their reaction, quipped, "I can understand. It always hits the first time."
"It's beautiful," said Creambell and Finn nodded in agreement.
"Shall we move ahead?" asked the bandit.
Snapping out of their reverie, Creambell responded, "Sure," and Finn nodded in agreement.
As they ventured forward, Creambell couldn't help but ask, "So, you're saying no wild beasts come here?"
"At least not when we've taken this path. We've always made it safely to the center of the forest," assured the bandit.
"Will this path lead us straight to the center?" asked Creambell.
"Just a few hundred meters away," replied the bandit. "Once we reach the end, we'll walk through the forest for a bit, but encounters with lower beasts are rare. Hopefully, we won't encounter any this time."
"Hoping the same," added Creambell.
"Have you ever seen a lower beast?" asked the bandit.
"Nope," replied Creambell. "And I don't have the desire to see any."
"Me too," concurred the bandit.
They continued their carefree stroll along the path of flowers, with the bandit leading the way and Creambell and Finn following. Despite not feeling the flower petals, Finn couldn't resist caressing them as he walked. His wooden hands accidentally brushed against a white flower, causing something red, initially mistaken for pigments, to spill from the petals.
Startled, Finn halted and examined nearby white flowers—all tainted in red.
Observing Finn's abrupt stop, Creambell inquired, "What happened?" Finn gestured for Creambell to join him, pointing towards the white flowers now stained in red. Curious, Creambell walked over, and upon touching the crimson tint, his fingers were instantly dyed in red. The recognition hit him like a jolt. "Blood!" he exclaimed, his voice tensing.
Creambell shook the nearby flowers, causing the blood to cascade onto the ground. Startled, he turned to the bandit and urgently commanded, "STOP."
The bandit, a few paces ahead, looked back with a puzzled expression. Creambell signaled for him to approach. "What happened?" queried the bandit.
"We might be in danger," replied Creambell.
Perplexed, the bandit asked, "Why do you think so?"
Pointing at the still-bloodied white flowers, Creambell explained, "Those red stains are blood—fresh blood."
Skeptical, the bandit questioned, "How do you know?"
Creambell displayed his fingertips, stained with blood. The bandit, visibly fearful, stammered, "But no wild beasts come here."
"Let's think positively," Creambell suggested, taking a deep breath. "Perhaps a wild beast mistakenly came here and died."
"But how did it die?" the bandit pressed.
While Creambell and the bandit deliberated, Finn, intrigued, investigated below the blossomed flowers. He ventured a little further, scanning for clues, and suddenly, he noticed something unusual on the ground—a darkened area. Moving closer, he discerned a black fabric concealing something cylindrical in shape.
With his wooden hands, Finn touched the concealed object, attempting to turn it around. As it revealed itself, a shiver ran down his spine, despite lacking an animated heart. The source of his fear became evident—a severed hand, shrouded in fabric identical to the bandit's attire.
Finn urgently sought Creambell and the bandit's attention, clapping his wooden hands together in rapid succession. The noise echoed, successfully interrupting their discussion. Creambell and the bandit turned towards Finn.
"What happened?" asked Creambell.
Finn gestured, beckoning them to his location. They hurried over, and Creambell questioned, "Ok. Now what?"
Finn pointed at the severed hand, and as Creambell and the bandit comprehended the gruesome discovery, fear engulfed them.
"This is bad," the bandit muttered, his eyes widening with concern.
At that moment, a sharp screech pierced the air from above. Moments later, a colossal shadow cast by a flying creature darkened the ground. They collectively gulped in fear, looking up to witness a massive bird-like creature soaring above them.
After a few rounds, the creature landed a few meters ahead. Resembling a gigantic eagle, it deviated from the norm with dragonfly-like eyes and an absurdly long tail feather, curving like a scorpion's tail.
Watching the creature before them, Finn used appraisal on it, and the screen showed,
"King Airrider
Threat Level – B
Description – King Airriders are a rare species of Airriders that can harden their feathers as tough as metals. Moreover, they have command over the wind and can cause huge tornadoes and cyclones to appear out of nowhere.
Length X Width X Height – 20 feet X 30 feet X 13 feet
Weight – 1500 kg"