DK uncorked the small vial Lucy had tossed his way, the bright, glowing red liquid swirling inside. Without hesitation, he downed the health potion in a single gulp. The warm sensation spread through his body almost immediately, soothing the stinging cuts and bruises scattered across his skin. Next, he grabbed the mana potion, the faintly glowing blue liquid shimmering in the dim light of the Hollow Thicket. As the cool energy coursed through him, he felt the familiar hum of his Nexus Core intensify, replenishing his reserves.
HEALTH: 15/15
MANA: 47/47
Despite the rejuvenation, a lingering fatigue clung to his muscles, the kind that potions couldn't fully erase. DK flexed his fingers around the hilt of his blade, willing the weariness to the back of his mind. He had to keep moving—there was no room for hesitation here.
Lucy watched him carefully, leaning slightly on her staff. "Feeling better?"
DK nodded, wiping sweat from his brow. "Yeah. Still tired, but I can manage."
"Just don't push too hard," she said, her tone firm. "Potions can only do so much. If you burn out, no amount of magic will save you."
Before DK could respond, a low rumble vibrated through the ground, followed by the telltale rustling of vines. His gaze snapped to the trees ahead, where two more Vine Fiends emerged, their glowing crimson eyes locked onto him. Their writhing, thorny bodies moved with unsettling purpose, and DK tightened his grip on his blade.
"They're not wasting any time," DK muttered, stepping into a defensive stance.
The two Vine Fiends attacked in unison, their tendrils lashing out like whips. DK sidestepped the first attack and parried the second, the force of the impact sending a jolt through his arm. He darted to the side, looking for an opening to strike. Channeling mana into his blade, he prepared to execute a Swift Strike on the closer Fiend.
As DK lunged forward, the second Vine Fiend struck from his blind spot, forcing him to abandon his attack and roll out of the way. The two creatures were working together, their movements coordinated in a way that made it nearly impossible to focus on one without the other interfering.
"Alright," DK muttered, a determined grin spreading across his face. "If you're going to work together, I'll just have to take you both out at once."
He moved with deliberate steps, baiting the Vine Fiends closer together. The creatures followed, their vines flailing as they tried to trap him. With a burst of speed, DK maneuvered them into position, their cores now within striking distance of each other.
"Let's see how you handle this," he said, his Nexus Core humming as he activated Swift Strike.
His first swing cleaved through the side of one Vine Fiend, dark energy trailing behind his blade. Pivoting smoothly, he struck the second creature, cutting deep into its thorny body. The creatures roared in unison, their vines flailing wildly as DK executed the final slash, cleaving both of them simultaneously.
ENEMIES DEFEATED: 3/10
Lucy, standing a safe distance away, raised an eyebrow as she watched the display. "Efficient," she remarked. "Not bad for someone who was ready to drop a few minutes ago."
DK chuckled, his chest heaving as he took another health potion from his pouch. The warm glow spread through him, mending the new scratches and cuts he'd earned in the fight. He followed it with a mana potion, the cool energy refreshing his Nexus Core once more.
HEALTH: 14/15
MANA: 45/47
"Fuck. The potions are no able to replenish my stats completely. Is this result of fatigue?" DK had a worried look about the quest and how he could do it alone.
The ground rumbled again, and this time, three Vine Fiends emerged from the shadows, their crimson eyes glowing with predatory intent. DK felt a flicker of apprehension but pushed it aside. He was starting to understand their attack patterns—the way their vines moved and the timing of their strikes. This fight wouldn't be easy, but it wouldn't overwhelm him either.
The three Fiends surrounded him, their vines darting in from all angles. DK kept his movements sharp, dodging and parrying as he waited for the right moment. As they closed in, he infused his blade with mana once more and activated Swift Strike.
The first two swings were precise, cutting through one Vine Fiend's core and leaving it a crumpled heap. He transitioned seamlessly into a second combo, targeting the other two creatures. His blade moved in a blur, each strike infused with enough power to cut through the thick vines protecting their cores. The final slashes cleaved through both creatures simultaneously, leaving them to collapse in a heap of tangled plant matter.
ENEMIES DEFEATED: 6/10
DK staggered back, sweat dripping down his face. His muscles ached, and his breaths came in ragged gasps. He reached for another potion, his hands trembling slightly as he uncorked it.
"DK," Lucy called, her tone edged with concern. "This is your third round of potions. You can't keep this up forever. Fatigue isn't something you can just drink away."
"I know," DK replied, downing the potion in one gulp. "But I'm not done yet."
Lucy frowned, watching as he replenished his mana as well. Despite her reservations, she couldn't help but be impressed by how methodical DK was. He knew exactly how much potion to drink, how much energy to expend, and when to push himself. It was almost like he had a guide no one else could see.
HEALTH: 12/15
MANA: 40/47
The next wave came quickly—four Vine Fiends emerging from the trees, their vines writhing in a chaotic frenzy. DK gritted his teeth, adjusting his stance. This was going to be his toughest challenge yet.
The first Fiend attacked, its vines whipping toward him. DK dodged and countered, cleaving through its appendages with a Swift Strike combo. As it fell, the other three closed in, forcing him to activate another combo immediately. His blade moved like a blur, cutting through the creatures one by one. The strain on his body was immense, but his focus never wavered.
By the time the fourth Fiend collapsed, DK was panting heavily, his hands trembling as he leaned on his blade for support. The ground trembled with a low, rhythmic pulse as the Elder Vine Fiend emerged from the shadows. Unlike its massive, hulking counterparts, this creature was deceptively smaller, its lean, compact form cloaked in a dense web of writhing vines. Its movements were unnervingly fluid, the tendrils curling and uncurling like living snakes ready to strike. Crimson eyes, glowing with higher intelligence than others, locked onto DK and Lucy, exuding a presence far more dangerous than its size suggested.
DK didn't flinch. His grip on his blade tightened, his chest rising and falling with labored breaths as he braced himself. The creature's smaller stature didn't fool him; its aura was suffocating, far heavier than the previous Vine Fiends. Every instinct screamed at him to be cautious, but his determination burned brighter.
Lucy, standing just behind him, took a step forward, her staff already glowing with the beginnings of a spell. The air around her shimmered faintly as mana crackled, a sharp contrast to the eerie stillness of the Hollow Thicket.
"DK, this one's different," she warned, her tone sharp. "We don't have to take this thing down. We can regroup and—"
"Stop," DK interrupted, his voice steady but firm. He raised a hand to halt her spellcasting, his gaze never leaving the Elder Vine Fiend. "I've got this."