Over the years, Bounty Hunters had encountered many different species of beasts. They had fought creatures beyond imagination, ones that defied the boundaries of known science. But what Larry described was different—unlike anything they had faced before. A Meteor Beast in the form of a tree—a Tree Beast. No one had heard of such a thing since the invasion of Earth by the Meteor Energy. The Hunters found it absurd, almost laughable, until reality came crashing down on them.
And crash it did—literally. A sharp, sudden crack echoed through the forest as a massive branch snapped and fell directly towards Victor. Sean, closest to Victor, was the first to react. His body moved instinctively, activating his energy core and focusing adrenaline into his arm.
"Get down!" Sean shouted.
In a split second, he threw his entire weight into redirecting the branch, shoving it away from Victor, who stumbled backward, his face pale. The massive branch crashed into the ground between the group, splitting them into two—Garret, Rina, and Larry on one side, with Sean and Victor on the other.
"What the hell was that?" Garret gasped, his eyes darting toward the pinkish tree. His pulse raced, his heart thudding in his ears. The tree looked otherworldly, glowing faintly under the sky's dull light. Garret didn't want to believe what Larry had said, none of them did—not even Larry himself. But something felt wrong, horribly wrong.
"There's no way that was just a coincidence," Victor panted, wiping sweat from his brow. "We need to get out of here—now!"
Before anyone could make a move, thick roots shot out from beneath the earth. They snaked through the underbrush, wrapping around Larry's ankles and dragging him toward the tree. He struggled against the roots, but more sprang up, entangling him completely. Panic surged through him.
"Larry!" Garret yelled.
But the roots weren't done—within moments, Sean and Rina were also ensnared, fighting desperately against the tightening tendrils. Sean thrashed, trying to activate his core energy again, but the roots seemed to suppress his power, tightening their grip until his arms were pinned to his sides.
"Rina!" Garret yelled again, slashing at the roots with his sword. He was the only one with a weapon, the sharp blade slicing clean through the writhing vines. Victor, meanwhile, had already bolted, fear taking over as he disappeared into the woods.
Larry struggled, feeling the roots tighten around his chest, squeezing the air from his lungs. Just then, a mechanical voice echoed in his mind.
[An Unknown Ability has been detected on the host.] [The Ability has been successfully rejected.]
The moment the voice spoke, the roots loosened and then retreated, dropping Larry to the ground. He gasped for breath, his vision swimming as he fought to get back on his feet.
"What... what was that?" Larry muttered, but there was no time to think. The roots had also released Sean and Rina, causing them to collapse onto the ground. Garret sprinted over, falling to his knees beside his sister.
"Rina, are you alright?" Garret asked, his voice trembling. He grabbed her shoulders, trying to help her up.
That was when Larry noticed something—the screams he had heard weren't just from pain. There was something else. The system message started to make sense. He could feel it in the air, in the blood that flowed through the two. Something had changed.
"Get away from her, Garret!" Larry shouted. Without hesitation, Garret jumped back, just as Rina lunged forward, her mouth wide, teeth glistening, aiming for his neck.
Garret's eyes widened in shock. Rina's eyes were pitch black, her teeth elongated and sharp like daggers. Her nails had grown into vicious claws, her body contorted into something feral. She crouched low, moving in a way that was eerily inhuman.
"Sister... What has that thing done to you?" Garret whispered, stepping back, disbelief etched across his face.
Rina snarled, her lips curling back. She leaped at him, claws aimed at his throat. Garret dodged to the side, planting his sword into the ground so he wouldn't risk harming her. He could only watch as she lashed out, her fingers missing him by inches.
"Rina, please! I don't want to hurt you!" Garret pleaded, evading her strikes. Her eyes were empty, devoid of the warmth he had always seen. "Snap out of it!"
"Give up, brother," Rina hissed, her voice low and guttural, as if something else spoke through her. "Join us. Together, we can rule."
Garret felt his stomach turn. This was not his sister's voice. It was deeper, filled with an unnatural resonance. He realized then—this wasn't just Rina. The tree, the damn pinkish tree, was controlling her.
Meanwhile, Larry had managed to stand. He was facing the massive tree, its bark pulsating slightly, as though alive. The tree itself wasn't attacking him, and thanks to the system, whatever mind-altering ability it used wasn't affecting him. But Sean—Sean wasn't as lucky. He stood just a few meters away, and Larry could sense the blood within him, shifting erratically. Sean was staring at Larry, his eyes now pitch black.
"A Dhampir," Sean spoke, his voice dripping with venom. "You dare interfere with me and these humans? You will pay with your blood."
The words echoed in Larry's head, a deep baritone resonating through his very soul. He watched as Sean, with inhuman speed, grabbed a massive branch, his blackened eyes locked on Larry.
"Damn it!" Larry cursed, adrenaline surging as he leaped aside. Sean hurled the branch, and it crashed to the ground, shaking the earth beneath them. Larry barely avoided it, but his dodge sent him crashing into Garret. Together, they hit the ground, rolling to a stop amidst the underbrush.
"Get up!" Garret shouted, pushing Larry off of him as he scrambled to his feet.
Sean and Rina were closing in, moving in sync, each on all fours, their movements unnaturally smooth. They advanced like predators, eyes locked onto their targets.
Garret clenched his fists, his body trembling with tension. Larry struggled, the fall having drained the energy from him. His legs felt weak, barely able to support his weight.
"Stay down, Larry," Garret said, determination burning in his eyes. "I'll protect you."
He could see it clearly now—their attackers couldn't use their core energy. That was their one advantage. But it wouldn't last if they were overwhelmed.
Sean reached Garret first, his claws slashing towards Garret's face. Garret ducked back, just narrowly avoiding the strike. He could feel the tips of Sean's nails graze his skin. The moment Sean overextended, Garret made his move.
"Infernal Core: Flame Strike!" Garret shouted, his fist bursting into flames. He swung hard, landing a direct hit on Sean's ribs. The blow sent Sean stumbling, a pained growl escaping his lips.
But before Garret could follow up, Rina was on him. She jumped at his back, her claws ready to sink into his flesh.
"Infernal Core: Overall Flame!" Garret roared, his body igniting completely. The sudden burst of fire forced Rina back, her body tumbling away, but Garret knew it wouldn't keep her down for long.
Sean, recovering quickly, lunged at Garret. This time, his kick landed squarely on Garret's chest, the impact sending Garret flying backward, crashing into a nearby tree. Garret coughed, struggling to get air into his lungs, his vision blurring as Sean closed in on him.
"You thought I'd forgotten about you?" The deep voice echoed in Larry's head. He watched, helpless, as Sean advanced on Garret. But something else caught his attention—Rina. She was moving toward him, her gaze fixed on Larry, a dark hunger in her eyes.
"Rina… please… I know you're still in there!" Larry yelled, his voice cracking. She paused, her body shivering as though fighting an internal battle. But the respite was brief—her face twisted, and she lunged again, claws outstretched.
Larry rolled away, her claws narrowly missing his throat. He lay there, his body trembling, the fear almost paralyzing.
'Is this it?' Larry thought. 'Is this how I die? Weak and helpless?'
He could sense Rina's blood—the struggle within her—but she was losing, the influence of the Tree Beast taking over. Her claws raised again, ready to end him.
Then, he remembered it—that voice. The sentient being that had saved him before, the power that had surged through him when he was on the brink of death.
"I'm strong," Larry whispered, then yelled louder, "I'm strong!"
He rolled just as Rina's claws came down, dodging by inches. He got to his feet, his senses heightened.
"Let's see how strong you really are, Dhampir," Rina hissed, but this time her voice was her own—no echo, no deep undertone. For a split second, Larry thought he saw her—his real sister, trapped inside the monstrous visage.
She struck again, claws slashing from both sides. Larry raised his hands instinctively, catching her wrists and holding them in place. For a moment, he managed to stop her, their faces inches apart. He could see the strain in her expression, her dark eyes flickering with something like recognition.
"Rina, I know you're still in there!" Larry shouted, his muscles straining to hold her off. But she was strong—too strong. He felt her pushing against him, her claws slowly inching closer to his face.
Rina's eyes flickered, and she hesitated, her grip loosening slightly. Larry saw it—a glimmer of the sister Garret had been fighting for. But just as quickly, her eyes darkened again, and with a guttural growl, she twisted her body, bringing her knee up into Larry's stomach.
Larry doubled over, the wind knocked out of him. He stumbled back, his vision blurring from the pain. Rina leaped at him, both arms raised high. He was too slow to react, and she struck him with her full weight, sending him crashing to the ground. The impact sent pain searing through his body, his head hitting the earth hard.
The world seemed to blur around him, the sounds of Garret's struggle with Sean mingling with the pounding of his own heart. He felt weak, his body refusing to move. Was this really it? Would he die here, under the influence of some twisted creature?