The Red-Eyed Giant Grasshoppers were no match for Lisa and her party; they swiftly dispatched the swarm of insects, as they were accustomed to encountering similar monsters on a daily basis and were experienced in battling them. After defeating all the monsters, Lisa, as the party leader, inquired about the peculiarity.
"Strange, these grasshoppers behave oddly, as if being chased by something," remarked Lisa as she withdrew her sword from the grasshopper's body.
"I agree," nodded Nia, approaching.
"Um, it is indeed odd," Kana chimed in, surveying their surroundings.
Meanwhile, Monica, the innocent girl, simply prayed to Mother for their safety, as she believed. Suddenly, from the depths of the forest, something rumbling was heading towards the four of them.
For a moment, they were caught off guard, as their moment of respite after enduring the previous grasshopper attack ended abruptly when they were faced with a gigantic red-scaled lizard with yellow slit eyes.
The young Salamander attacked ferociously, but Lisa reacted quickly, using her sword to block the onslaught. Her action provided Monica with the opportunity to cast a buff spell on Lisa and Nia, enhancing their defense and strength.
Meanwhile, Kana, with full concentration, began chanting a mid-level attack spell, Binding Roots. However, the process took time, forcing Lisa and her companions to endure longer in battle.
The body of the young Salamander, though not as large as its mother's, was still sizable and strong enough to challenge Lisa's party. Lisa was thrown back by the swing of the Salamander's tail, seeking advice from her companions.
"Hey, any ideas on how to defeat this monster?" Lisa asked, turning back to her friends.
While Nia struggled to hold the lizard's jaws with her large shield, Monica shook her head quickly, indicating she had no solution. Panicked, she turned to Kana, who was still focused on chanting. However, Monica's panic made Nia, who was struggling not to become the Salamander's prey, shout in frustration.
"Hey, idiot! Help me first, come on!!" Nia yelled, frustratedly asking for assistance.
Meanwhile, the Salamander's attacks grew fiercer, putting Lisa's party under more pressure. In such dire circumstances, they had to find a way to defeat the monster before it was too late.
The anxiety in their hearts eased when Kana finally finished chanting her spell, loudly announcing its name.
"Now, take this, you wretched lizard! Binding Roots!" exclaimed Kana, raising her glowing staff, and her spell took effect immediately.
Underneath the Salamander's feet, roots grew rapidly, entwining and binding not only the monster's legs but its entire body. As a result, the Salamander stumbled, unable to move at all.
"Hahaha! Excellent, Kana!" Nia cheered with a relieved expression on her face, praising Kana while giving her a thumbs-up.
The Salamander thrashed about, trying to free itself from the entangling roots that felt like chains. Lisa, approaching the creature with her bloodied sword, planned her final attack carefully in her mind.
With a cold stare, Lisa directed her rapier towards the Salamander's forehead, and with all her might, she thrust it. However, before the sword could penetrate the monster's skin, a strange sound echoed from the bushes nearby.
Lisa and the members of Valkyrie Party reflexively turned towards the source of the sound, and what they saw left them stunned.
Emerging from the bushes was a man exuding a chilling aura to everyone present, even causing the young Salamander to tremble at his presence.
Lisa immediately assumed a defensive stance, her rapier aimed at the newcomer, and her companions also stood ready around her.
Not only did the man's presence create tension, but his appearance was also unusual. He wore tight-fitting attire akin to leather, covered by a brown shirt and cargo pants, along with black boots.
His face was obscured by a gas mask, giving him a mysterious look, and he had peculiar objects on his hands and waist, arousing suspicion.
"Ah, it seems I'm too late," the man said with a heavy voice, his hands patting the gas mask-covered face.
Lisa, though still cautious, dared to inquire, "W-who are you?"
Ronan stared at them with sharp eyes, as if deliberating whether to answer or not. After a moment, he responded in a flat tone, "Me? I am someone tasked by someone worthy of your respect and reverence. I am here to eradicate all threats on the southwest border of this forest. And I consider you to be one of those threats."
His words made Lisa and her companions more vigilant. Ronan's presence, with all his intimidating gear, added tension to the atmosphere.
Ronan had followed the trail of the young salamander that fled into the forest, passing through the insect monsters and mist barrier. At that moment, he concluded that it was unsafe to let the young salamander go, especially with the existence of the secret city being built deep in the forest. That's why he was determined to eliminate the monster, even if it meant going through Lisa and her companions.
However, his plan was interrupted when the Salamander they had bound managed to break free from the root trap. Lisa and her friends were forced to shift their focus to the rampaging monster, realizing that they now had to face two threats at once.
"Damn it..." Lisa muttered, trying to brainstorm for a solution. However, the situation became more complicated when the freed Salamander lunged towards them, its mouth wide open, ready to devour them with its sharp teeth.
Ronan casually drew the plasma pistol hanging from his waist and fired it at the Salamander's eye. In an instant, the lizard's eye was scorched by the deadly plasma explosion, rendering it partially blind.
Lisa and her companions watched the scene with a mixture of awe and fear. They couldn't help but be impressed by Ronan's prowess in combat, but his expressionless and merciless demeanor behind the gas mask made them uncomfortable. Despite the young Salamander beside them writhing and screaming hysterically, Ronan remained calm and unaffected by the creature's screams.
"Actually, I'm quite fond of reptiles," Ronan murmured in a calm voice, while toying with the plasma pistol in his hand. "But alas, this is an order from my superior. At least, the body of this reptile will be an interesting souvenir for that professor."
Lisa and her companions stared at Ronan with barely concealed surprise. They realized they were in a dangerous situation, faced with a difficult choice between surrendering to Ronan or facing the possibility of violence or even death.
"And for you," Ronan continued in a cold voice, "I suggest surrendering and following me. That is the best option I can offer. If you refuse, then I'm afraid I'll have to resort to violence or even kill you on the spot." Ronan's words made the atmosphere tense.