"Okay...we're setting down near Serene Woods. It's one of the more...peaceful places in the Nature Universe." Sheer said.
"He's right about that. With the abundance of many kinds of wildlife, many areas in the Nature Universe are known to be quite brutal." Rhatla said.
"Well it is the Nature Universe, Circle of Life after all." Lance said.
"That's one of the great things about this universe that's unique. No buildings, no people… just nature and animals." Hope said.
"I'm starting to like this universe already. Nothing but greenery, lush, vast and….utterly devastated?" Legolia asked.
Everyone looked out the window to see things around the serene woods were really not so peaceful as they thought.
"Okay… Serene Woods, looking not so serene right now." Kazuma said.
"You're...right about that." said a plant-like humanoid along with a few others.
"What happened here?" Perfuma asked.
"We were just living peaceful lives. But then, these beasts came from nowhere and attacked our home." they said.
"That sounds troubling. I thought the creatures of the Nature Universe all lived in harmony." Gundham said.
"Yes, but these new creatures, they… they are ruthless, territorial, aggressive." the creature said. "Not only that, but they're large in size and unlike anything we've seen."
"Sounds like you guys got a case of invasive species on your hands here." Hope said.
"Seems like it." Cheetah said.
"Oh boy… She's getting that look in her eyes again." David said. "But… Good thing we all know what this means."
"Yup." Mahiru said.
"Are there any leads we can go on to finding these creatures? Any specs on what they look like?" Hope said.
"They've claimed a large, dense forest as a part of their own. It's been renamed the Forest of Dark Beasts because of how dangerous and evil these creatures are." the dryad said.
"Hmm...if we leave this be...it'll be very likely that these beasts will attack again and again until all in their path are eliminated." Benimaru said.
"Until there is nothing else left. This cannot stand. Strap up, everyone. We're going in." Zamazenta said.
"These creatures must have a nest, if we find and destroy it, we can stop them for good." Saki said.
"Were you not paying attention just a minute ago? These are territorial savage beasts we're dealing with here." Zenji said.
"He's right. If we destroy some place they live, they'll just take over another place." Jexi said. "Best choice would be to eliminate their leader and force them to retreat far away."
"Besides, what's to say that method doesn't take out the entire ecosystem along with them?" Cheetah asked.
"Jexi and Cheetah are right. If we're going to clear these guys out, we have to do this the old fashioned way." David said.
"A show of strength. Show them how much more dominant and earn their respect. Only then will they listen to us." Cheetah said.
"Since we have no clue what their leader looks like...we'll have to enter the forest and face the enemy head on." Jexi said.
"Then the hunt is on, as you humans say." Necroapache said.
"You just took the words right out of my mouth." Cheetah said.
The group headed towards the christened Forest of Dark Beasts, heading in to hunt down the creatures terrorizing the Nature Universe. They were in front of a part of the forest where the trees had darkened, and there was not a lot of light going through.
"Well, I have to give the Nature Universe credit. When creatures take over a part of it, it sure knows how to change its environment." Hope said. "But what sort of invasive species could do this?"
"Hmm...it was probably some beasts lost in this universe through smuggling." Tigre said.
"Really?" Hope asked.
"Yeah. Smugglers from the Beast Universe pass through here all the time." Tigre said. "It's a quick route to selling off rare beasts and monsters."
"That horrifying thing to consider. Beasts are probably in pain. Gonta can understand how they must feel." Gonta said.
"Yeah… Smuggling is pretty low on its own. But smuggling animals? I mean, these are living breathing creatures with their own sentience and lives we're talking about here!" Yoko said.
"All smugglers care about is the money they get from doing this. But yeah, animals are still living creatures." Papelne muttered. "This is why I despise humans like them."
"These animals probably despise us more." Theo said. "Exterminating invasive monsters and beasts are part of an adventurer's job too."
"Huh, deja vu." Vargas said. "Reminds me of my last stand against a member of the Gods Loyalists."
"Anyway...in we go." Hope said.
The group then began marching into the dark woods, unaware of what fierce beasts would be lying in wait to battle them and try to strike them down.