Chapter 13: Mantis Scythe
Pressure surrounded everyone, creating a physical weight that settled over the small Enchanted Forest clearing. The battlefield grew silent, as if the forest itself was holding its breath, waiting for the battle to begin. The three combatants maintained their deadly positions, the only sounds being the occasional rustling leaves, distant animal noises, and the steady rhythm of their breathing.
At the center of this confrontation stood Yuno, no longer just a humble mushroom but a fighter reborn. The round cap on his head glistened under the fractured sunlight, while his newly evolved wooden body had transformed into a natural defense system. Beside him stood Piggy, small yet resolute, her intelligent eyes focused and ready. Opposing them was the Praying Mantis, its sickly green exoskeleton gleaming as it raised its serrated scythes, prepared to deliver a fatal strike.
For several tense seconds, none of them moved. The standoff between them crackled with an invisible energy, the prolonged silence becoming almost unbearable. One mistake, one moment of hesitation, could mean death.
Yuno felt the weight of the tension, but instead of letting fear consume him, he steeled his resolve. He had fought too hard, survived too much, to falter now.
He took a deep breath.
[Activating Skill: Bark Skin]
His body underwent a familiar transformation. The once-soft fungal tissue hardened, forming a layer of bark-like armor over his body. Cracks and ridges appeared across his skin, giving him the appearance of a miniature tree rather than a mushroom. But this time, he was stronger, more prepared.
His newly formed limbs carried him forward with a speed and power he had never possessed before. The moment he moved, the mantis reacted, its predatory instincts flaring to life.
The beast lashed out.
Its deadly scythes sliced through the air, aiming to cleave Yuno in two.
CLANG!
The mantis's strike met Yuno's hardened body, but unlike before, it didn't cut through him. The impact sent a jolt through his form, but the blow was absorbed by his new defenses.
BOOM!
The force of the collision sent dust and leaves flying. The mantis withdrew a step, its clawed feet gripping the earth for stability. Yuno, too, landed safely a short distance away, unscathed.
His confidence surged.
For the first time, he had withstood an attack that would have otherwise killed him.
But the mantis wasn't finished.
Its head twitched, its compound eyes narrowing in a mixture of confusion and fury. The predator in it recognized something was wrong, its prey was stronger than expected.
And then.
It lunged.
Blades of death moved at blinding speed.
Yuno tried to dodge.
But he was too slow.
SLASH!
A searing pain exploded across his body.
The mantis's scythe tore through his wooden armor and his cap, carving a jagged wound deep into his side. He staggered, a choked sound escaping him as red system alerts flashed before his eyes.
[Warning! HP Dropped by 35 Points!]
[Defense Reduced by 10% for 30 Seconds!]
Yuno stumbled back, his confidence shaken.
My armor wasn't enough…
For the first time since his evolution, he felt vulnerable. His mind raced. The mantis was stronger than he had anticipated. If he wasn't careful, this battle would be his last.
Then.
A soft snort.
Yuno glanced at Piggy.
She was watching him, her round eyes filled with unwavering trust.
No words were needed.
Don't give up. We can still win this.
Yuno clenched his fists.
I can't afford to hesitate.
He forced himself to breathe, steadying his mind. If brute force wouldn't work, he needed a different strategy.
His gaze met Piggy's. A subtle tilt of his head.
She understood instantly.
Her small body tensed, muscles coiling in preparation.
Yuno took a slow step backward.
The mantis saw it.
And took the bait.
It screeched, lunging forward.
Scythes raised high.
NOW!
At the last possible second.
[Activating Skill: Camouflage]
Yuno vanished.
The mantis froze.
Its compound eyes flicked around wildly, searching.
But it was too late.
Their brief hesitation gave Yuno all the time he needed to make his move.
With a loud and determined battle cry, Piggy surged forward at an incredible speed, her compact yet powerful body moving like a blur across the battlefield. The mantis reacted, its predatory instincts screaming at it to dodge, but it was already too late. It had no time to reposition itself. No time to react.
It was completely vulnerable.
Piggy launched herself into the air, twisting her body mid-flight with a display of both raw power and precise control. Her hooves, small yet packed with devastating strength, glinted under the forest's dim light as they prepared to strike.
And then.
BOOM!
The impact was like a small explosion. Her hooves crashed against the mantis's thorax with bone-crushing force, sending the monster skidding backward across the dirt. The creature's legs trembled as they struggled to maintain balance, cracks forming along the glossy surface of its exoskeleton. The sheer force of the attack sent vibrations rippling through its body, rattling it to its very core.
At that exact moment.
Yuno dropped his camouflage.
He was already behind the mantis.
"You should have kept your eyes on me," he whispered, his voice filled with cold determination.
Without hesitation, he threw himself forward, putting every ounce of strength he had into this single attack. His wooden body, reinforced by his skills, struck the mantis's exposed back with devastating force.
CRACK!
A horrifying crunch echoed through the battlefield. The exoskeleton shattered under the sheer pressure, splitting open like a brittle shell. The mantis let out a piercing, inhuman shriek as its body convulsed violently. Thick, toxic fluids burst out, splattering onto the ground in sickly green puddles. Its limbs flailed wildly, scraping against the earth in a desperate attempt to retaliate.
But Yuno didn't let up. He couldn't.
The fight wasn't over yet.
"Piggy, one more time!" he shouted, his voice carrying unwavering resolve.
Piggy reacted instantly, her hooves digging into the dirt as she sprinted forward. She moved like a bullet, pure muscle and instinct working in perfect harmony. The battlefield trembled beneath her as she closed the distance with frightening speed.
Then.
She leapt.
Her body twisted midair, her small yet incredibly dense frame gaining even more power as she prepared for the final blow.
She descended like a meteor.
And then.
CRUNCH!
Her hooves smashed into the mantis's skull with such force that the ground beneath them cracked. The impact sent a shockwave through the creature's entire body. The mantis twitched once, then fell still.
Silence returned to the clearing.
The only sound left was the heavy breathing of the two victors.
Then.
[Ding! You have conquered Level 18 Praying Mantis!]
[You have gained 300 EXP!]
[Your companion Piggy earned 300 EXP!]
Yuno stood there, unmoving, his body still tense from the fight. His wooden frame rose and fell as he took slow, deep breaths. He stared down at the lifeless mantis, his mind still processing the brutal battle they had just endured.
It was finally over.
They had won.
Yuno let out a long, shaky exhale, allowing his body to relax slightly. "That was… too close," he muttered, still feeling the adrenaline coursing through him.
Piggy, still filled with energy, let out a proud snort, her tiny tail wagging rapidly as she trotted around in excitement. She was clearly celebrating their hard-earned victory.
But Yuno knew something.
This was just the beginning.
A new system notification flashed in front of his eyes.
And with it…
A new challenge awaited.