The Last Deer Standing
Part 1
Inside the vowels of the island, the growl's of a feral beast could be heard.
"Grrrrrrr…"
"Eek! S-stay away from me! I know martial arts and I'm not afraid to use them!"
"N-no, is just Razor stomach grumbling." The wolf boy explained.
"Oh, right…. I'm sorry I freaked out..." I apologized to him for my rudeness.
This is the worst. Not only did I wound and got lost, but it was with Razor of all people.
The way he looks at me is just creepy, and I heard he was raised by wolves— that can't be good for my health. I need to be careful.
With a snap of my fingers I lit up a flame, illuminating the space of the small room-like hollow and the wolf boy of red eyes.
Something went wrong when the fire started, there's more to this Island than we thought.
Those fallen leaves that caught fire where put off in an instant by Tartaglia, and yet the earth still tried to swallow us. It's the same as my broken boot, but it doesn't makes any sense…
Unless, the curse considers everything on the island to be valuable. If that's the case then we need to be careful and get out of here quickly.
"Razor." I called.
"Yes…?"
"We have to find a way out of here and warn the others. I'm starting to think this place is a lot more dangerous than we originally thought."
"Right!"
"Good…" I found myself lost for words.
Guess I'm the one stuck leading around here. But what should I do…? Is there a way out of this tunnel?
I pointed my flames at the ceiling. It was closed completely. If I had a Geo Vision I might be able to swim up the quicksand and get out the same way I came, but that isn't the case.
I aimed the flame around me, we where stuck inside a hollow the size of a bedroom…
There! I found a crevice…
Ugh, so heavy, I can't move…
"Sand, prey girl is full of sand." Razor points out.
Oh, I hadn't notice how much sand I had pooling in my cleavage.
Boing* I shook off about tenth pounds of sand stuck in between my boobs.
"Grrrrrrrr"
"W-what is it now!? I told you I knew how to defend myself didn't I!?"
"No, is just, Razor stomach is acting up again."
"Oh… hehe, sorry about that, that was uncalled for." As if!
One time is a miss but if his stomach keeps growling like that then that's trouble!
The idiot kiss— emergency food aside, we haven't had a decent meal for over a week! And this boy was just measuring me in rations before…
'…one prey girl feeds a single Razor, now large prey girl feeds entire pack, lupicals and neighbors.' I remember him saying.
This is bad, this is really yikes levels of bad! This boy grew up amongst wolves, and for as much as I hate the deer monicker, Xiezhi's are technically a deer kind of illuminated beast.
One wrong move and I could leave these caves in the wolf stomach.
First off, to take care of that crevice. I brought up my flame and inspected it, it seems to lead into some sort of tunnel.
"Great, stand back Razor." I said and brought up my Mora pouch.
The curse likely took the heel of my boot because one of the leaves caught fire on the torch I was carrying, and we where swallowed by the earth after a few more leaves simply burned.
I managed to survive, and I hope the others are alright, but I doubt this was the curse intention all along. These caves don't look new, and I don't think the quicksand was only meant to scare me.
Hadn't I landed here I'll be dead by now, this curse is troublesome. However, as the idiot said, if we pay in advance there shouldn't be a problem.
I materialized my father's steelyard and weighted one of the rocks to the value of Mora I had.
The scales tipped and the results came in. I know exactly how much I have to pay in order to safely own and bust this wall down.
Having stored my father's steelyard, I took a step back and tossed the appropriate amount of Mora at the ground, then I materialized the new catalyst I just got.
A golden lamp, the kind used to walk around at night, materialized before me.
The time has come to try this beauty.
"Boom!" My flames erupted from the crevice and busted the wall open.
The flames grew twice as large as I was anticipating. This catalyst sure is strong. I stood back and braced myself for any sign of recoil.
"…."
Few seconds went by and no sign of the orange glow from the curse, only the color of my flame illuminated the cave.
"Prey girl is strong." Razor praised me.
Hehe, why does it feels so good to be called strong? This catalyst is the best thing I've ever gotten my hands on.
With this it won't be long before that dork has to respect me too.
But enough celebration! We need to get out of here and hurry for the others.
I opened the window on my lamp catalyst and lit the flame inside, before extinguishing the one in my hand. It is a lamp after all and I'll be less exhausted than if I had to constantly keep my flames up.
"Razor, there's no time to lose, I carry the only source of light we have so I'll lead the way, okay, follow me!" With great conviction, I assumed command and lead the way.
"But Razor can track big lupical smell." I stopped in my tracks as I heard.
"Wait, what did you just said…?"
"Razor can smell big lupical scent coming from that tunnel ahead, Razor can find him if he leads."
"Oh… I guess that would be a good idea then… That birdbrain could be in danger… y-you know what, you should lead the way." I quietly decided to let him lead.
And so our exploration of the dark island caves began.
Part 2
With Razor leading the way, my new catalyst floating in the middle and me following, we walked along the dark and cramped tunnel that extended underground.
"Yikes, how did I get this much sand in?" I said as I dusted my clothes.
No wonder I felt so heavy all of a sudden. In between my body-blessing and the desert-full-of-sand I was packing, I must've nearly doubled my weight. If only I could let this knot loose… ah, much better.
I loosened my skirt and was able to get the sand off it and my shorts, then I stored the codex I carry around my hips inside my Vision.
Ah, it feels so liberating to loosen up that tight skirt—
"Wall." Razor reports from the front.
We came across a seemingly dead end, but it was only just a wall to climb. Luckily for us the wall didn't reach all the way to the ceiling of the cave.
"Climb, Razor go first."
"Hold on a second, Razor." I stopped him and headed for the wall as I tried to tie up my skirt…
Ugh, why I can't close this skirt anymore?
"As I thought, this wall is crumbling apart amidst it's cortex." I said as I took a closer look at said wall.
It was crumbling a little on its cortex, nothing too worrisome as the fall isn't that high, is barely two peoples tall, but knowing how this island operates…
"We can't climb this, if you snap out a rock or it crumbles, we run the risk of getting hit by the curse." And I don't have enough Mora in hand to pay for this whole wall.
In my defense, I didn't think I'd be buying walls inside a deserted island when I got off the ship.
"Then, we must find another way."
"Not really, here I'll give you a boost and you'll help me out later, that way we won't place the wall under unnecessary strain." I proposed one of my brilliant plans.
Honestly, sometimes I amaze myself. Had any other brainless samurai been in my place and he had fell off climbing and triggered the curse. Lucky for him I'm on my way to his rescue… and darn it, I can't close this skirt…
"Hmm! Guh!"
"Prey girl is… alright?" Razor asked with concern.
"Ah, yes, I'm fine. Is nothing really." Guess I didn't realize how thick my hips had gotten.
I need to fix the clothes I have at the ship or else I won't be able to use most of them.
Oh well, I still have my shorts on me at the moment and some spare skirts at the ship, I don't need this one anymore. I've only lost my boots and my skirt anyways, is not like I'll walk out of here in birthday suit or anything. It'll be fine.
I tossed aside the skirt and crouched down, pushing my long hair over a side of my neck.
"Common Razor, I'll give you a boost."
"R-right." Razor said.
And I think I heard his stomach grumbling a little just now.
He soon passed his leg over my head and sat on my shoulders.
Alright, here I go… Huh?
"Here I goooo… Huh…?" I can't get up.
What's going on here?
"Here I— haaaaa!" I summoned my warrior spirit and put my back into it.
Still couldn't push up an inch.
"Prey girl lacks muscle, gotten heavier too, Razor heavy too." The wolf boy pointed out.
Guh, how could I have forgotten about my weight gain?
"Alright then, change of plans, Razor, you will give me a boost and then I'll pull you up." But I don't mind this weight gain in the least.
It's good weight, after all.
Razor understood the idea and crouched besides me. Standing up I'll have to work with both his weight and mine, but pulling up is just going to be Razor weight to deal with. I can handle that.
I walked besides him and rolled a leg over his shoulders, before sitting down on his nape.
"Grrrrrrrrrr!"
"Razor! Nows not the time to think about food, focus!"
"R-right…" The wolf boy meekly replied.
And I rather not think too much about the reason he's feeling hungry right now.
Using my Pyro Vision, I made my catalyst to levitate up to the top of the wall, where it shall wait for me.
Finally with a bit of a shake, Razor stood up.
Boing*
"Grrrrr…"
"Razor!" I snapped at him.
With a loud stomach rumble, Razor helped me climb the wall at long last, there wasn't much issue to be had because I supported most of my weight on Razor shoulders, and then came his turn.
I held onto a firm rock at the top and extended a hand.
Boing* "Okay, is your turn now." I said.
Below me, the boy wolf stood giving a hungry look, but he soon shook his head and grabbed onto my hand.
I held firmly and started to pull him up. As expected, it's much easier this way—
SCRATCH.
The sound of fabric ripping off was heard.
My bra couldn't take the abuse anymore and decided to let go.
Boing* My bust bounced off to nothing but gravity and freedom.
Meanwhile, below my generous bosom, the bra I was wearing had landed atop the face of the boy wolf, blinding his view.
"GRRRRRRRRR!!" His stomach grumbling intensified.
"Kya!" I panicked and tried covering my boobs with my free hand… and then I started to fall.
I had forgotten I didn't had a free hand…
"Kyaaaaaaa!" I fell after I let go of the rock I was holding on, and so did Razor who was holding onto me.
"Kuhak!" He cried when he landed on his back.
Just as the back of his head hit the ground, my bosom fell over him and squashed his face.
Bo-oing*
Razor head was bench-pressed between the ground and my boobs.
"GRRRRRRRR!"
"Ah, Razor I'm so sorry—"
"GRRRRRRRR! HAGM!" *Chomps*
"Yeouch!!" I cried when I felt a pulsating pain in my breast.
He just bit me. He really sunk his fangs and bit me!
"You just bit me!!?" I backed away from him and covered myself. "The heck do you think you're doing you creep!? I knew I couldn't trust you!"
"N-no, that wasn't… I can explain…"
"Ohhh, so you can explain huh!? This is gonna be rich, go on, make my day!"
"I didn't mean… I was… It was him!!" Razor pointed accusingly at a huge werewolf—
"Eekya!! W-what the heck is that!?" I backed against the wall, horrified.
The monstrous purple top of a werewolf appeared seemingly out of thin air and was holding a claw, pointing at himself in confusion…
Huh? Isn't that Electro energy?
"Razor, isn't that your—"
"Begone, prey girl enemy! Haaaaah!" Razor hastily materialized his claymore and charged at the Electro werewolf.
Said werewolf still was looking around in confusion as if he didn't know what was happening.
"Hyaaaa!"
"Ouui!" Razor drove his claymore down and the werewolf yelped before disappearing.
"Begone monster! Leave prey girl alone!" A cold sweating Razor yells.
Observing this scene from up close, I covered my vast chest with both hands and thought, hold on a second.
"Razor, wasn't that your Vision power of sorts?"
"N-no! That was foul monster! Attacked prey girl, Razor chased him away!" The boy wolf lied trough his teeth.
"Razor, I know what a Vision power looks like, but I'll ask again because I want to hear the truth from you. Are you sure that monster just now, has nothing to do with you?"
"Y-yes, Razor has never seen that wolf before!" Razor, nervously defended himself.
"Right, could you run that by me again? And swear it this time."
"Ehm… y-yes, swears on Razors honor!"
"Hold it! Did you just said, 'honor?' Cause if so I'll have you know your sentences lose all credibility the moment you throw that stupid word around!"
I know at least one idiot who could've taught Razor how to lie his way out of any situation.
Razor started looking around nervously, like he couldn't think of what to say to defend himself.
Uhm… guess he really didn't mean what just happened.
"Never-mind, Razor…." I gave up.
I won't chastise him if he really didn't mean it, and I feel bad for his wolf spirit now. I hope he's okay…
"Let's keep going, and better keep our eyes open just in case."
"Right!" Razor says, before he proceeds to open his eyes widely and focus on my boobs.
"Alright pal, now you're just asking for it!"
One quick scolding later, I found my bra had been totaled, but I could still tie it around Razor head to keep him from looking when we would climb the wall. His stomach was grumbling fiercely trough the entire process.
After getting up, I found another set of tunnels that diverge into different branches. It seems we still have a long way to go before we can escape this cave and reunite with the idiot.
Having gotten a hang of our circumstances, I turned to the wolf boy behind me.
He was wearing my bra as a blindfold. Loud noises would come out of his stomach every now and then, his mouth was salivating dangerously.
Hmm… looking at him right now, I'm starting to feel like an abuser of sorts… keeping him hungry and blindfolded like that… should I…? No! What the heck am I supposed to do under these circumstances, get eaten?
'Here Razor, enjoy your meal.' *Stands straight lacing arms behind the back of the head*
'Thanks for the meal!' *Razor Pounces voraciously*
'Ahm!'
As if!
Razor will be fine, is only a little longer before we find the idiot and then I'll borrow his haori! In the meantime I can guide Razor around and there won't be any problem at all.
"Razor, hold my hand!" *Boing* I demanded.
"Y-yes!" He nervously agrees.
I held firmly onto him and began walking for the tunnels.
"Which way is that birdbrain scent coming from?"
Sniff, sniff* "From the left."
"Good, hold on tight, I'll lead the way from now on." I pointed my lamp catalyst at the way and pulled Razor along.
We'll get out of this place, for sure!
And… is starting to get chilly in here or is it that I'm starting to lose my clothes? I'm not really going to walk out of here in birthday suit, aren't I?
But to my dread and concerns, something made a tear sound as we walked amongst the dimly lit caves.
Part 3
"Left." Razor said.
"Right."
We must have been walking nonstop for twenty minutes now. His grip would tighten every now and then, we must be getting closer.
As we did so, something came into the light of the lamp. It was a camp of sorts.
One that hasn't seen much life for at least a couple hundred years.
The tent was rotting, books laid spread and burned all over the place, a cooking pot half buried in the ground. Nothing indicates that someone had been around to use it, not even a hilichurl.
I turned back to my companion.
Boing* "Razor, hold on for a second alright, I need to check up on something."
"Right." He replied, drenched in sweat.
Poor thing must be feeling hot from all the walking around inside this damp cave. Meanwhile I'm freezing to death here without something to cover up.
Having left the blindfolded Razor behind, I headed for the strange tent.
If there's books, then this must've belonged to an adventurer or explorer at least. Maybe we could learn more about this island.
If I remember correctly, the curse only triggers when I try to steal something, but it shouldn't work if I have no intention to keep the item with me.
Let's test that theory. I nabbed one of the books and braced myself.
Few seconds went by, no strange glow of any kind came to dish out my punishment.
Seems it's safe. I scrolled trough the book and found most of its pages burnt or illegible. The years haven't been kind to you, little one.
I put it back and started looking over the rest of them, until I came across one that reads, Journal.
The Journal in question looked much better for wear than the rest of the books spread around. It makes sense that a print-purposed book wouldn't hold as much as one particularly designed to journey with an adventurer dangerous way of life.
I opened it and started perusing over the pages. Most of it where still worthless or impossible to read, but there's something here that caught my attention.
"… debt hounds until there's nothing left and still… The plausibles became the air they breathed, and rent took them…" The page was darkened under years of mud and dampness.
Well, that wasn't very helpful at all. This guy was just rambling about bills and rent in such an important journey. What a derp. Let's see what it says towards the end of the book.
"… we where ambushed by the automatons until there was nothing left…"
Huh, automatons he said? Doesn't that means there were once Ruin Guards on this island?
Boing*
Having had nothing else to find, I stood up and returned the book to were I took it from. Nothing of use here, but I guess I should've seen it coming. Is better I forget about figuring the mysteries of this island and focus on reuniting with the others so we can all get out of here…
Well, at least I found this tent that I can use to wrap around me and cover myself up.
I took the tent and used it as a mantle to cover my exposed body. With this I won't need to tolerate that jerk bullying or have to ask him to let me borrow his haori.
WHOOSH!
The curse raged behind my back.
"Danger, prey girl stand back!" Razor hurried and took off his blindfold.
Boing* Luckily I managed to cover myself in time with the tent.
Ah, I got careless and took the tent without thinking to pay for it first, but that doesn't matter, I can handle a curse or two more. So bring it pal! What's it gonna be? Am I going to grow a few inches taller? Will I get even thicker than before? Will I lose my hat next?
I don't care! So long as I know what's coming and I'm ready for it, nothing can stand in my way!
The orange glow shot for the walls of the cave and then came down, revealing metallic limbs who once buried inside the earth.
With half the work done by the orange glow, the sentinels pushed and dug themselves out of the wall, causing dirt and debris to fly everywhere.
Four Ruin Sentinel's now faced against us.
One Ruin Cruiser, a Ruin Defender, a Destroyer and a Ruin Scout. The Ruin Cruiser lost not a second to shoot his firebolt at us.
"Get back! Ahg!" Razor drew out his claymore and deflected the firebolt from the Cruiser sentinel.
These things mean business. Now would be the perfect time to call Xiao… but no way! He wasn't around when my body changed, how would I explain all this mess to a fellow adepti?
'Disgrace to our race!' I bet he'll say something like that.
Ugh, focus! I got this, two Vision holders should be more than enough to handle four sentinels.
"Get ready to burn, junk!" I brought over my catalyst and launched a fireball at the Cruiser.
Said Cruiser sentinel backed behind the Defender, who formed a shield to block my fireball.
"I'm not done yet!" I spun on the ball of my feet to build momentum.
Bo-oing* "Incinerate!" As soon as the fireball impacted, I followed the strike with a flame eruption.
The Defender shield held back from both blows, but now I have all four of my seals loaded for a consecutive strike—
"Ahhh— Ufff!" The weight of my chest pulled me down, only because I leaned a little forward.
Bo-boing* I hit the ground with a bounce.
I remember practicing these moves back at home, launching my body forwards as I direct the flames at my enemies, but I never thought a change in body proportions would render all my practice useless.
"Look out!" Razor warned.
While I was stuck kissing the floor, the Defender put down its shield and jumped overhead like an angry spider.
I pushed up to my feet and dashed forward, leaving just as the Defender landed where I was standing just a second before.
Heh, don't underestimate me you junk, I won't be caught so easy—
"Eah!!"
Once again, my body proportions pushed me a little too forward and I went down, face first.
Boing* "Ughf!!"
"Prey girl!!!" Razor shouted alarmed.
He found himself busy dealing with the Ruin Cruiser at the time, but I noticed he was looking over me.
In less than a second since I looked up, I found the Ruin Defender coming down on me like an angry and heavy spider.
It's going to flatten me—
"Aaaghhh!!!" Immense pain shot trough my back.
I felt as if I was being crushed under the weight of an anvil. I think now I understand how the idiot feels, but I don't have time to sympathize with him.
"Wrath of the Flame!"
Flames, a shield and four seals erupted all around me, launching the Ruin Defender airborne.
I stood up and spun on the ball of my feet, this time carefully as to not fall, before materializing my biggest Seal of Approval yet.
"Turn to scraps!" My Seal began its descent, following the arc traced by the airborne Ruin Defender.
As soon as the junk hit the ground my anvil impacted like a brick crushing a toy. Flames erupted amidst an explosion and gears flew everywhere.
That'll teach it to mess with me!
PROOK.
At the strange sound, the earth gave way under my feet, and out of it came a blooming flower like machinery.
While I was busy dealing with the Defender, the Destroyer had went underground and sneaked up on me.
It's metal maws snapped and closed against my shield, trapping me in place. Out the Destroyer mouth also formed a ball of condensed heath, that seemed to suck me in, beating against my shield and closing any means of escape.
But in doing so it had exposed its core.
I brought both hands downwards and ignited its core in even more flames, causing it to overheat and a small explosion to undergo below my feet. The Pyro shield ate the brunt of the damage and vanished with the flames, but the Ruin Destroyer short-circuited under the heath instead.
Now for the finishing blow, I spent all four of my newly recharged seals and formed another anvil over my head.
With the shield broken and the core disabled, I graciously performed a backflip to get out of the way, and the anvil began descending on the Ruin Destroyer I was once standing.
Bo-oing*
"Eeaaaahhhhhh!!!" My gracious backflip turned into a disgraceful landing and rolling after I failed to account for my new body proportions.
A memory of granny came to mind amidst my disgraceful rolling.
She always used to say that if I've ever grew the goods, she would kick me out the dojo and that I should give up on martial arts and go breed a family or something.
"Ugh…" I finally managed to stop my rolling.
The Seal of Approval, like any Vision technique, vanished the moment I lost my concentration and the Ruin Destroyer escaped underground.
I brought up the tent I used as a mantle and wrapped it around myself again. From where I laid down I managed to spot Razor. He chased after the Ruin Cruiser and the Ruin Scout.
"Heyaaa!" His battle cry echoed trough the cave as he brought down his claymore on the Cruiser.
But it was in vain, as it managed to avoid the strike completely and drop a ball of energy as decoy.
Razor was just a second short before managing to adjust his footwork and roll away from the decoy, which exploded like a bomb afterwards.
Behind him the Ruin Scout came up spinning it's limbs like a helix blade. Razor brought up his greatsword and deflected, before spinning in place and smashing upwards against the Scout.
CLANK.
The blow sent the Scout flying away and Razor was able to focus back on the Cruiser behind his back.
It was then when I realized that the Scout that Razor sent flying was coming down my way.
"Eek!" I hastily jumped out of the way…
Boing* And missed my window for a proper landing.
Guh, I'm starting to get sick of falling so much! But while I was busy getting up, the Ruin Scout recovered and caught me in its metallic tentacles.
"Ahhh!" It pulled me off the ground and immobilized my arms and legs.
My tent-robe started to slip down, riskily.
Oh no, this is starting to look a lot like those Not Safe For Law School novel's that my classmates liked to read back during lunch break.
I'm in danger!
Making truth to my worries, the Ruin Scout pulled out it's core and started gathering heath
Oh, so I'm just getting fried alive then—
"Razor! Help me, hurry!!"
Then, out the corner of my eye I saw purple.
CLANK.
The raspy sound of metal tearing apart could be heard behind my back, and a low bestial growl.
Soon I started to fall down to the ground with the limbs of the Ruin Scout.
Boing* "Ahh!" I failed my landing check again and hit the floor.
Behind me I saw a feral beast tearing into a broken Ruin Scout. It was that purple werewolf from before.
"GRRR!" I heard it growl.
Not missing the chance to recover, I pulled up the tent I was using as a mantle and aimed my hands at the Ruin Cruiser that Razor was chasing. It has given us trouble for the last time!
"Razor, after me!" I called my teammate to prepare.
Three fireballs spewed from the palm of my hands, flying besides Razor and homing in on the Cruiser.
It began evasive maneuvers around the narrow cave, followed by the three fireballs until it hit a stalactite near the ceiling and then was caught by the fireballs.
With each impact the Cruiser spun in the air and began a wild descent. The blows from my fireballs weren't enough to destroy it completely, but then came Razor holding a huge electro wolf claw.
"Hah!" The claw buried into the rusty metal of the Cruiser, and Razor Electro energy began a reaction with my own Pyro energy.
The sound of a small explosion ripples trough the cave and the Cruiser was launched against the wall in pieces.
"Yes! We did it— ow ow ow!" The floor felt scalding for some reason.
Looking under I found it turning red hot by a beam coming from the Ruin Destroyer that had escaped underground.
It made me wish I had shoes right now.
"Ow ow ow, Razor help me!" I cried for the wolf boy.
I was hopping from one foot to the other and couldn't concentrate enough to implode my assailant when I felt someone pick me up.
"What the…" I found myself laying in the arms of a wolf-like purple monster.
It made my sweat run cold for a second, but I soon realized I should've been electrocuted long ago if this being meant me harm.
His energy, the sparks coursing trough me felt warm, barely enough for me to feel my hair standing to the static.
The way it was handling me was so… gentle.
"Destroy! Smash!" Razor battlecry brought my attention back to the battlefield.
He jumped high into the air and descended with a cleaving smash onto the Ruin Destroyer that was attacking us. The impact crushed the sentinel spinal body and caused it to collapse into pieces.
I breathed in relief as I watched Razor jump away from the automaton explosion, the battle was over.
Part 4
The Electro werewolf gently placed me down. The cave had turned slightly bright under the fires of the destroyed Ruin Sentinels and the light of the curse emanating from the island.
I witnessed in silence as the earth swallowed all the broken pieces and gears from the destroyed sentinels.
And I was wondering why the curse hadn't gone haywire from all the fighting we did, it was waiting for one side to lose so it could take its full toll on them.
With even the fires being engulfed by the earth and the orange light dissipating, we where left once again with the light of my lantern for seeing our way around… and a big source of purple light.
"Prey girl, is prey girl okay…?" A pale Razor came to check on me.
I tightly clutched onto my mantle, feeling a little embarrassed.
"I'm fine…" I lied of course, I took a big hit to the back amidst all the combat and fell down one too many times for my liking. "More importantly Razor, your arm is bleeding..." I said, focusing near his shoulder.
I took mostly blunt damage so I'm not showing any wounds, but Razor had one big scratch in his right arm.
I felt embarrassed to admit it, but he really was concerned about me this whole time. And meanwhile I've been treating him so coldly...
I want to show him I care about him too.
"Here, let me help you with that." I brought up a yellow sash that I usually carry around my waist, and used it to wrap around his wound.
"T-thanks." He told me…
I wish I had taken Mona's catalyst before, I could have used healing magic instead…
"Smell, Razor can smell him. Big Lupical is right ahead!"
"Really!? That's great, finally we're going to find someone else around here!" I was static to hear the good news.
The idiot is the one who worries me the most out of everyone. This island isn't safe for a crippled samurai to wander around on his own.
"Let's hurry up along and find him."
"Yes!" Razor seemed happy too.
I was about to leave when I stopped to address the big wolf in the room.
"And you…. thank you for saving me…" I said thanks to Razor Vision spirit.
The werewolf waved me off like it was nothing. How gentlemanly of him. And then continued staring…
Staring?!
"And pray tell pal, what exactly are you looking at over there?" I asked with a strained smile at the werewolf whose eyes where glued to my bosom.
I held the tent robe closer as it draped around my body.
The Electro Werewolf, majestic in form as he seemed, showed no sign of looking away even after the polite hint I gave him.
Welp, guess he's made his choice then.
"My, aren't we being a little indiscreet here don't you think? Incinerate!" Flames of retribution erupted from my hands.
"Oui!!!" The werewolf gave a canine yelp as he vanished with the flames.
"Lightning Fang!!!" And Razor cried dramatically at the fate of his wolf friend.
With a big strained smile, I placed a hand over his shoulder to console him.
"Don't worry Razor, he'll be fine. He just learned a lesson about what happens when you stare at other's like a creepy wolf. Don't be like him when you grow up, you heard me? Be a cool wolf."
Part 5
I was running in the dark, Razor leading the way before me, he had started running just moments ago, said 'He' was just ahead, that his scent was fresh.
I hurried to catch up but started seeing movement from the corner of my eyes as I did. It where the shadows on the walls, generated by the light of my catalyst in what would once be a pitch black cave.
But a shadow like that could only mean one thing, the narrow cave had began to grow in size, it became apparent as our shadows grew along with it until they became four stories tall. Looking around the ceiling I spotted the same orange crystals that I was seeing back at the surface, all webbed like veins in the walls.
"Here! Right here!" Razor came to a stop and started sniffing his surroundings.
I finally had the time to catch up and regain my breath.
"Don't just run ahead like that, this place is giving me chills— eep!" My bare feet slides on a rock.
Said rock began a sudden descent into the darkness that lasted five seconds, before a prook sound could be heard.
I aimed my catalyst at the darkness and found a long fall awaiting for us.
"This place is huge, Razor!" I said.
I had my catalyst spin around us to get a better sense of the cave. The orange veins stretched across the ceiling and descending below us, as they centered in a wide area of crystal pillars of the same color. Over us the ceiling appeared to have holes it in, which stretched further and further, but no sign of the stars, which means theres a closed up roof at the end of it.
I had a feeling we've been descending all this time as we made our way trough the caves, but I wasn't expecting it to be this much.
Now that I've a better look at our surroundings, this section of the cave appears to have a cylindrical shape. With the ground we're standing on acting more like a walkway going from one wall of the cave to the next.
It's almost like a spiral staircase, adorned by all the orange veins that gather at the bottom.
"Lupical, down there!" Razor pointed at the pillars from the floor of the cave.
He's right below us.
"Simp!!! Over here!!!" I shouted.
Soon enough I heard my echo coming back to me, but I received no response from him.
"Oh no… he's not responding..." I felt my heart sink.
It was quiet, too quiet for my liking, and there's no way he couldn't hear me from this distance.
"Big Lupical is still alive, Razor can feel it!" The wolf boy reassured me.
"R-right! It's possible he's only unconscious." I hoped. "Let's hurry down there!"
"Right!" Razor began running ahead.
I sent my catalyst floating before him to illuminate the way, as we began our descent.
The ground beneath us started heading lower and lower. This place really was like a huge staircase. We pressed on with our descent.
PROOK.
Something made a sound from below, which caused us to stop in our tracks.
"Simp!? Are you there!?" I called as soon as I heard something.
But before me Razor had begun to growl.
"No… it's enemy!" He drew out his greatsword.
I stood my ground behind him and brought the lamp catalyst closer.
The sound of crushing stone was heard and four creatures came out of the ground ahead of us.
I clutched the tent mantle closer and sent my catalyst ahead to illuminate the creatures.
"Flowers!" Razor said.
Whopper Flower's to be more precise. Four of them, one Pyro, one Cryo, an Electro one and a Hydro variant.
From what I heard around Liyue, Whopper Flowers are plants that fused with the power of the elements to gain a semblance of intelligence and took the form of carnivorous plants.
They resemble medium sized creatures of round onion like heads with petals coming out of their body like a garment of sorts. Out their heads comes a crown that stretches into three long leafs with elemental orbs dangling from them. Each Flower just slightly different from the other according to their elemental variant.
"Grrrrr! Enemies about to attack. Prey girl stand back!" Razor lunged forward with his greatsword raised over his right shoulder.
The four flowers made different notes of a squeak sound and three of them buried underneath the earth.
The Electro one stayed behind and shook its crown, causing three balls of Electro energy to fly out and block Razor from coming closer.
Even if his Vision element matches the Flower that doesn't means he's any more resistant to its attacks.
That might not be the case for pure Elemental creatures but humans or half illuminated beasts like us aren't among them.
Razor responded by switching his greatsword into a reverse grip and flung it over like a lance.
The weapon pierced past the Electro ball and took off a leaf from the crown of the creature, which swayed its body to the side at the last second. The sword buried in the ground with an earth crushing sound.
The Whopper Flower soon dug underground as Razor jumped over the Electro balls and drew his sword out the ground.
"You go Razor!" I cheered.
The wolf boy was doing amazing lately, and I couldn't deny my sheer excitement and relief to have found these monsters down here.
I was fearing we had encountered the Entity of the island for a moment, but it's only two pairs of monstrous plants.
With Razor claim of Simp being alive down here, it's only a matter of time before we rescue him and escape from this place.
Wait for us birdbrain, we're here to rescue you!
Two rocky prook sounds where heard around me, one came in the image of the Pyro Flower appearing past Razor and right before myself, the other sound came far from behind my back where I couldn't see the assailant in the darkness.
They're trying to prey on me while Razor is distracted battling the one that stayed behind. But it won't work, because this time, unlike with the monkeys, there's no unfair advantage stopping me from giving it my all.
There's two of us and four of them, which means I just need to take care of these two while Razor handles the others.
I tightened my grip on the mantle draped around my body and brought my catalyst closer in preparation for battle.
The Pyro flower went first and fired fireball after fireball from the crown coming out it's head. I stuck my hand outside the mantle and in the span of two seconds, fired three fireballs to match it.
The fireballs collided with one another and exploded into bright flames that pushed away the darkness of the cave, but I wasn't done yet.
A large Seal of Approval formed and descended upon the Pyro Flower head, causing the ground to shake from the impact and leaving a loud thud that echoes across the cave.
Whopper Flowers aren't immune to any elements like slimes or the monkeys where. I at least have heard that much. They might have some resistance to the element they're associated with but nothing more.
It took me only five seconds to defeat one of those creatures before I turned around gathering Pyro energy by my bare foot and sunk it inside the ground, the earth melting like butter to leave way for my upcoming attack.
Boing*
My bust weigh threatened to trip me over, but the strong grip on the mantle held it together and my firm footing allowed me to adjust without falling this time.
The chill I was feeling running down my back led me to believe which Whopper Flower was standing behind. Out the dark ground shoot out dozens of icicles coming in a wave at me, but because I saw this coming I had my counter ready in less than a second.
"Take that!"
Out my foot erupted a small wave of flames and shot fort underground, leaving a trail that splits the ground as it goes and collided with the icicles wave.
In the blink of an eye, Pyro clashed with Cryo and carved a path trough the middle of the wave, continuing on before impacting on the Whopper Flower hiding in the darkness.
The dark cave came alight as the Cryo Whopper Flower was sent flying while partially engulfed in flames.
But almost simultaneously as the flower received my attack, the icicles wave didn't stop either and rapidly closed in on me.
TSHINK. SHINK.
"Ahh!" I let out a frightened squeak.
The icicles tore at the mantle I was using to cover myself and pierced into my detachable sleeves and scarf. Digging holes into the fabric and completely holding me stuck in place.
My attack carved a path wide enough for me to stand in the middle and come unscathed, even with my voluptuous new body, but my clothes still took some damage.
I tried moving my arms and soon found it hard, as the mantle was being held firm by the long icicles protruding from the ground, and the sleeves started ripping apart.
Nevertheless, this is nothing I can't melt with a few flames, what matters is that I defeated my two adversaries in just a few seconds.
"Razor, I did it! I beat the Whopper Flo… wers…?"
A sight that I couldn't believe with my eyes, took my breath away.
"Bluglublugglu!" Razor made some bubbles, from inside a water sphere of sorts.
Besides him stood the Hydro Whopper Flower, looking silently at me while ignoring Razor as he fought to escape the water prison.
I remember now, that one too buried underground like the two that assaulted me, but when did it ever come out? I didn't hear the prook sound they make when coming out the ground.
Then, the Hydro Flower swayed it's body to the side and smacked the leaves of its crown against the water prison.
The attack couldn't reach Razor, but it made the floating water sphere bounce off, and heading out over the edge of the cliff.
"Razor no!!!"
"Blugg!" Razor tried to say something as the water sphere stuck out and popped.
"Uahhhh!!!"
The wolf boy began to fall to the lower levers of the cave.
"Razor, open your Wind Glider!!!" I cried out.
Soon I heard the characteristic sound made by Mondstadt ingenious device, the one we always keep stored in our Visions, and a shout that followed.
"Razors fine! Prey girl must escape until Razor catches back!" The wolf boy assured from below.
I couldn't see him from where I was standing, but I chose to believe in him. I had a bigger problem in my hands now.
"Ugh… I can't move!" I tried to free myself from the icicles.
But this only caused rips and tears across what little clothes I still had left, which promptly convinced me to stop.
Two Whopper Flowers closed in on me, the Hydro and the Pyro one…
"Wait, what!? How are you still standing!!?" I couldn't hide my shock.
The Pyro Whopper Flower closed in, showing not even the hint of a scratch or any damage on its leaves.
The flower is Pyro resistant, sure, but not Pyro immune, and there's no way it could've come out unscathed from an attack of that magnitude.
I quickly looked back to where I had dropped my anvil on the creature and found a crater of sorts with a huge hole dug in the middle…
No way!
It dug underground to escape my attack, and because I had to turn around in a hurry I never had a chance to notice I had missed.
Besides the two, also joined in a beaten and battered, but still standing, Electro Whopper Flower.
"Impossible! Even you survived!?" This was unbelievable.
This one definitely showed signs it had been fiercely attacked, but to think the Hydro one managed to capture Razor before he could finish the job.
This can't be!? We fought side by side before and Razor isn't that weak. What it's going on here…?
But the bad news kept coming.
My lamp catalyst continued floating overhead as I stuck trapped between the icicles and my clothes, then the light caught another flower approaching.
It was the Cryo one. It's right side was completely crispy and pieces of it plant like body where hanging by a thread.
I saw it get blown away by my attack, that I'm sure and the damage it's visible over its body, but to think that wasn't enough!?
Was my attack weakened by the clash with the Cryo Flower owns?
"Guh… let me go…!" I fought to escape for real this time.
But even though I didn't mind tearing my clothes apart now, it was still managing to hold me down despite the fact.
I quivered in place from the fear I felt, and the image of the four carnivorous flowers closing in amidst the darkness of the cave, suddenly brought me a chilling realization.
It was me they where distracting, not Razor.
Part 6
Rips and tears could be heard as I tried to free myself. My scarf got completely stuck in one of the icicles and I started taking my sleeves off as I tried to make my way out, using the fires from my Vision to carve a path without catching the tent mantle aflame.
We fell completely for the monsters trap.
The Hydro one waited for its moment to strike and took advantage of the noise from my battle in order sneak up on Razor and drag him out of battle, all so they could come together and face against me, while I was alone afterwards.
And for that they needed to keep me distracted while the true plan was pulling a sneak attack on Razor.
If I had been paying attention I should've been able to intervene with my ranged attacks, but I found out way too late.
The flowers began to growl softly as they closed in, forming a circle on all sides.
This is it, I'm going to die if I don't do something and quick, yet I'm trapped like this, and even if I managed to break free in time, I don't think I could take on all four flowers and win still.
I need help in urgency, it's time to call Xiao.
"Xia…" The name began to sink back in my throat as I thought about the situation.
I, a fellow illuminated beast… half illuminated beast at least, I'm standing here, draped in an old mantle that's now full of holes, topless underneath and nothing but my black shorts and my hat are left of my original attire, everything else was lost or torn apart.
What would he say if he saw me like this? And my mind begun to run trough all the possibilities.
"Disgrace to our race! You bring dishonor to the noble Adepti!"
Ugh! The clear cut scenario of the Liyurker father, popped in my head. No excuse will be good enough.
"Hey, astrologer. This girl was running topless inside the cave."
"Nothing to be surprised, it was no secret who the shameless one of us was, after all."
Guh! And what if he tells the others!? Mona will never respect me again if she finds out.
"Hey Fatui, this girl was running topless inside the cave."
"You know girlie, there's more liberating ways to live life, like killing enemies."
Hack! I don't want to be looked down by that Fatui scum of all people!
"Hey wolf boy, this girl was running topless inside the cave."
"Razor knows, Razor was there. Razor now hungry."
Now that I think about it, I need to get Razor to shut up about what happened down here once we regroup.
"Hey captain, this girl was running topless inside the cave."
"Princess! How could you do this and not invite me!?"
Noooo! Eula will never shut up about this…!
Oh no, I can feel my hair standing up from thinking what…
"Hey samurai, this girl needed to be rescued from mere flower's—"
SWOOSH.
The roar of flames crackled and echoes throughout the entire cave. The icicles melted and then evaporated. The mantle flew off me and disintegrated. The four Whopper Flowers shook from the suddenness of it all.
I stood at the center of the rising steam, wearing nothing but shorts and covering my chest with my hands. Even my hat got blown away.
Red aura flared like a flame around my body, who stood completely covered in a diamond shaped shield of Pyro energy, and four magic seals floating behind my back.
I decided to stop holding back. This wasn't the time to be fooling around.
I came on this journey for a reason, and one reason alone, to protect Simp. Yet I barely managed to convince him to let me come along, but what excuses could I make if he heard I had to be rescued from four mere flowers?
I clenched my fist and the aura around my body flared even more.
The Whopper Flowers began squeaking in fright.
Whopper Flowers are weaker monsters, so I've heard before. They hold no Pyro immunity, and I can't keep using this new body as an excuse forever.
This is it, this is the fair fight I had been looking for. The one to prove to myself and the others that I can fight too, and that I'm worth keeping around for more than just court cases. I can't walk away from this nor can I call for help now.
This isn't about my ego or survival even, it's about something more. I know someone who'll never stop moving forward until he hits the impenetrable wall that is the Electro Archon.
And if I wish to protect him, I must first prove I can stand by his side when he's finally ready to do so. I must show him I can pull my own weight, and perhaps one day… I'll be the one to save him.
"That is my dream… at least." To do everything I can to save him.
I will not longer cower, nor will this new body hinder me in anymore.
I will grow and become stronger right here and now, then I will overcome this obstacle on my own, and I'll never stop fighting until that dream becomes a reality. I will make true to my word, a new stronger me will be born and these enemies will be the first ordeal I'll face as the new me.
"Haaahhhh!" I yelled and charged against the Cryo Whopper Flower.
The burnt out Cryo Flower winced in fright as it saw me heading its way, but soon shook it off and aimed its crown at me, shooting a barrage of icicles one right after the other.
With my Pyro shield up I bulldozed trough it all and came within melee distance of the scared creature.
The Whopper Flower pulled up its head and spins in circles, trying to strike me with the Cryo orbs sticking to its crown.
"Hyah!" I sunk my feet and crouched underneath the attack.
My bare feet sliding across the ground as I came right next to the monster. I stopped covering my chest and using every muscle in my body I landed a heavy uppercut against the Flower body.
POW.
The creature let's out a pained groan as it's sent flying overhead. It felt like punching a scarecrow and I had no problem sending it airborne.
As it flew helplessly, I pulled back my right and brought fort my left, where I had been storing energy for my next attack.
The Cryo Whopper Flower was swallowed by a Pyro Seal of my making and exploded with the roar of the flames, bathing the cave in blinding light.
I grinned ever so slightly after witnessing my prowess, but quickly shook the thoughts and focused again. I need discipline and concentration.
I must master the flow of battle and deliver the same fate to the three other monsters remaining.
Once that's done I can head down and find Razor, then we can rescue the birdbrain together.
I gathered all my thoughts in just a second, but even then I still wasn't able to avoid the sudden purple laser that impacted against me.
This time it was the deafening roar of thunder that echoes across the cave, and dust rises up with the darkness, blocking the light of my catalyst.
The Electro Flower had been preparing a powerful attack from the moment I turned my back on it, but it soon squeaked in terror when the dust settled and saw my teal eyes glaring him down.
"Nice try, but I was prepared for this to happen." I informed.
My shield had shattered with the impact of the laser, and I was left standing unscathed as a result.
I would have preferred to dodge the attack all together so I could save my shield for later, but losing it like this isn't an issue.
The Electro Flower couldn't keep it together anymore and fled underground in fear.
As I saw it did so, my aura flared when all four seals floating behind my back where consumed, and materialized in a large anvil overhead, but it soon deformed into a huge fireball. Then I crouched down and jumped.
Boing*
I vaulted over and smacked the big fireball down.
It shot fort like a raging sun and dug underneath the earth like it was melting butter, where it went on to display the homing properties of my normal fireballs.
The ground set alight as a moving mound traveled fifteen meters ahead before an explosion occurred and out the earth burst a flame pillar, with a flower monster turning to ashes inside.
And to think I was considering calling for help because of these things. I just needed to give it my all and take control of the flow of battle. Having this mighty catalyst also helps out a lot.
"I'm sorry, but I'm not someone you can defeat so easily. Especially not now that I have become stronger." I proclaimed as I focused on the only Flower left in sight.
The Pyro Whopper Flower seemed to have completely overcome its initial fright from seeing me get serious, and had been charging its elemental energy.
It seems witnessing the fate of its friends wasn't enough to discourage it. But that's alright with me, I don't intend to ever give nothing but my all in battle from now on. It won't make a difference whether the flowers are frightened of me or not.
I will prove that man that I can protect him, and I will do so starting now.
The Pyro Whopper Flower then swallowed all the flames it gathered and began shooting out fireball followed by fireball like it where rain, but that wasn't enough to faze me.
The seals behind my back had started to regenerate once again and I broke into a zigzag run to avoid the incoming volley of attacks.
Boing, boing, boing, boing, boing.* Sounds followed after me.
CRACK. WOOSH. WAASH.
The fireballs cracked as they fell behind my back, miss after miss, they where unable to keep up with me now that I'm accustomed to this new body.
The Pyro Flower tensed as I swiftly dodged all of its attacks, but didn't stop shooting it's volley of flames.
Our giant shadows danced across the walls of the cave. One shooting an endless volley of flames and mine zigzagging around when the fourth seal formed behind my back.
Overhead us my new lamp catalyst had began emitting steam from all the power I was drawing trough it.
The Whopper Flower grew hasty in its offensive, as it felt that even despite being Pyro resistant, my next attack would put an end to our match
Boing*
My right foot stamped against the ground and time seemed to slow down, I brought both hands together with the wrists touching and all four seals got spent aiming at the Pyro Whopper Flower.
"HAH!!!"
A volley of half a dozen fireballs per second shot fort, clashing against the flowers owns and engulfing them more and more as they went.
I had copied the same technique the Whopper Flower was using against me. I figured my power output would be greater, and I'll be able to overwhelm its attacks while maintaining a good defense for myself.
My fireballs volley and the flower clashed, lighting the dark cave from night to day. Some attacks flew here and there, I couldn't maintain the homing properties when creating this many fireballs all at once, but with the numbers it'll be nearly impossible for me to miss.
Slowly but steady my volley advanced more and more, edging closer as the Pyro Flower attack started running out of steam meanwhile my own only grew more fierce.
My eyes hurt from the brightness of it all, I couldn't see a thing in front of me anymore but I wasn't about to stop.
My hair and horns flew back with the gust of wind the attack had created, my skin felt like it would burn from the heath alone. Nothing but the crackle of flames could be heard echoing all around me, and then it all ended, suddenly all of it came to a stop when I put my hands down.
When the flames finally subsided, all I could see was the charred dark ground in front of me and the wall pass the edge of the cliff.
I had to let out a gasp in amazement, overhead, the catalyst that's been floating high above the battleground had caught flames from helping me manage all that power.
Not even ashes remained of the Whopper Flower, as it was expected.
"I might not be the strongest of the Adepti, but I sure am not one to be messed with." I respectfully informed as I turned behind my back and fired one more fireball.
It flew in a straight path and hit the water sphere coming out the crown of the last of the Flowers, causing the bubble to evaporate and the plant was sent flying into a daze when it popped.
"You didn't really think I had forgotten about you? Always hiding and lurking around while waiting for the chance to strike. Did you think i would fall for the same tricks a second time?" I chastised the foolish flower.
There, I didn't need saving, I saved myself and I'll be the one doing the saving now. I didn't need to live in shame either, I just had to get serious.
I've grown stronger than I was before, thanks to this encounter.
"Victory is mine." I said as I posed with my hands on my hips.
Boing*
I was so happy I didn't even bother to cover my huge chest anymore. No mistake, fails or saving needed this time, I won by myself!
I was about to finish off the Whopper Flower when a scream echoed all the way up here.
"GAHHHHH!!!"
"Razor!!?" I called back.
Turning my back on the flower I noticed an orange glow shining from down the cliff, coming out the lower levels.
"Razor, it's everything alright!? Answer me!!" I desperately yelled back.
But soon my own voice echoed back to me, and no response was given.
The orange light then disappeared suddenly, and only the light of my catalyst remained.
"This is bad, I need to hurry!" I turned around and aimed a hand at the Whopper Flower.
Overhead the stunned Hydro plant gathered a red hot anvil, one much smaller than any other as the seals had stopped regenerating and I had none to power this attack, but it was good enough nonetheless.
I mustn't waste anymore time and head down to rescue the others.
However as I prepared the finishing blow, I heard a prook sound coming nearby.
"Huh?"
I quickly focused on the Hydro Flower, but it was still in a daze of sorts. Tilting from side to side like it was counting stars.
Then I heard the sound again, and it was coming from below.
I looked down, but couldn't see my feet…
Boing*
I pushed my breast aside so I could see the ground, then I heard the prook sound again and looked over my shoulder, and looked at the charred ground where I had let loose my fireball volley from before.
The charred ground had a hole dug in it. It was hard to spot because of the darkness and the blackened ground but it was there nonetheless.
I followed with my eyes and soon found a mound of dirt forming below my feet, followed by an all too familiar sound.
PROOK.
"Kyaaa!!!"
Boing*
Out from below burst out the Pyro Whopper Flower. It opened the three large leaves on its head as it came out and caught me sitting down on its crown.
"Ugh… Why you!"
I fought to escape, but it had me completely caught in place.
Then my sweat turned cold, my eyes widened, every hair in my body began to stand and the insides of my stomach burned from the sudden drop of adrenaline my frightened heart had.
The Whopper Flower was gathering Pyro energy underneath my butt.
Dreading what was coming I winced as my inner voice suddenly spoke to me, and told me at least I had fun while it lasted.
FWOOSH.
"EEEEEEEEEEKKK!!!"
The crown of the Pyro Flower erupted in flames like a volcano and the moment I felt the heath I jumped out with my butt caught on fire.
"Eahhhhh!!! Ouch!!! Eeekkkk!!! Ahhh!!! Kyaaa!!! Yeouch!!! It burns!!! Eeeppp!!! Ahm!!! Why does this keep happening to me!!!?" I cried.
Where did all my cool from a moment ago went? I thought I had gotten strong. I thought embarrassing moments like these where past me now.
Not thinking straight I shamelessly pulled down my shorts before jumping out from them, and the flames stuck with it and left me alone.
Breathing a sigh of relief I fell to my knees, fondling my butt to soothe the pain. Humiliated in birthday suit in the end. I've never been so happy the idiot wasn't around to see me.
Besides the kneeling me, burned my shorts, leaving with one last reminder that I was completely naked now.
Damned plants— they ruined my moment… No!
"This isn't over yet! I'll carve a dress out of your leaves when I'm done with you!" I stood up and furiously aimed my hands at the Flowers.
What happened was humiliating but I mustn't fret over just something like this. I was completely dominating the fight a moment ago and there's no way I simply got lucky. I got this!
I've more or less adapted to fighting in my new body and unlike the monkeys these flowers don't have any unfair advantage against me.
I'm still the same girl I was a moment ago and I didn't stop being strong just because a stupid plant pulled an embarrassing sneak attack on me.
In order to win and rescue Razor and Simp I must focus and fight like I did before.
The Hydro Flower still tilted side to side in daze while the Pyro Flower pulled fort its crown and pointed forward in preparation for an attack, but I would be faster.
I tried focusing vast quantities of power just like before and aimed the palm of my hands at the Flower. My attack will neutralize it's and even home-in on the target so it won't escape underground this time.
"Haah…!?"
However, nothing happened. Nothing came out of my hands, not even a mild spark.
"Eh???" I was completely in shock and dumbfounded to my very core.
Even the catalyst that I had floating overhead the battlefield had somehow fell down without me realizing and now relied on its natural flame to illuminate the darkness of the cave.
I thought I had lost my powers for a second, but after I looked behind me I caught sight of my Pyro Vision standing right next to my burning shorts. I was agonizing too much to notice I dropped it as I took off my shorts.
Boing*
I panicked, turned around and ran to grab it when suddenly I heard a crackling sound and decided to look behind my back, noticing a fireball headed straight for my butt.
"Eeekkk!"
I got distracted and came under attack, the Pyro Whopper Flower had no intention of just letting me leisurely pick up my Vision.
The sudden panic I felt from the fireball triggered a reflexive instinct in me and I turned sideways, before launching into an aerial cartwheel jump.
The fireball flew right underneath my head as I held back my hair and horns mid-jump, then managed a masterful landing on my feet just like I've practiced many times before.
Boing*
"Aahhh!" My heavy breast's took me down to my knees and I face-planted.
Guhk! I thought I had mastered moving around in this body already, but I'm still too tense over the humiliation from before. I need to concentrate if I want to master the flow of battle again.
The pathetic fall left me lay on my knees, bent down fully naked with my face and shoulders touching the ground and my butt sticking out, but at least I avoided the fireball to my butt.
It was not luck, it was no accident, I just got caught by surprise and I'm still a little shaken which is why I'm now making one amateur mistake after another, but I'm still the same girl I was a moment before. I just need to collect myself so I can fight back.
Then amidst my inner pep talk, I thought of something funny and felt my stomach burning again from the fright of my heart leaking so much adrenaline.
As if time slowed down again, I pulled my face out the ground and shook my hair so I could see over my shoulder, where I noticed a fireball headed straight for my stuck out butt.
Ah… just like the funny thought I had a moment before. What if I wasn't the only one who could use homing fireballs?
My sweat ran cold and I grimaced as the fireball hits its mark and the flames spread across my bare butt. Then the inner voice spoke to me again, reminding me of what I had thought of just a moment before
'…there's no way I simply got lucky. I got this!'
FWOOSH.
"KYAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!" I cried jumping straight to my feet.
The burning pain in my butt cleared my head of all doubts and objections I had before, leaving only revelation.
"I was wrong!!! It was luck!!! I didn't become strong it was all luck!!! Ahhhmm!!! What was I thinking!!!? Of course I don't got this— it was just dumb luck!!!"
I got cocky because I got lucky and my behind was roasted as a result.
"Who was I kidding!!!? Of course I'm not strong!!! Strong people don't get their butts caught on fire twice in a row!!! I never had any control over the flow of battle in the first place— it was all simply luck!!!"
It all feels so clear to me right now.
The second I tried boasting about not falling for the same trick twice I went and got ambushed by the Pyro Flower who had just used the same trick to escape my attack, twice.
Of course I fell for it. I've always called adventures a thankless task so I never took part in any. Everything I know about monsters is either from books or I heard by word of mouth.
Of course I'm no stronger than four mere flowers, I'm a complete amateur. My experience in combat is practically zero outside a few noisy costumer's and an idiot samurai.
The reason I was doing so well at first was because the Whopper Flowers got frightened when I was too full of myself to know lawyers are meant to fight in court.
"YEOUCHHHH!!! Why is it so hot!!!? Why is the flame getting bigger!!!? Why does this keeps happening to meeeee!!!?"
The flames wouldn't put off, they only grew thicker and hotter at an alarming rate. I had no shorts to take off this time so I ran, jumped, danced, hopped like a bunny then dropped and rolled before I dragged my butt across the ground and even the wall trying to shake the flames off, but nothing worked.
Boing, boing, boing, boing, boing, boing, boing…* Sounds followed with every hop I made.
It's like the fire was magical in nature and normal means of extinguishing a flame just wouldn't cut it. I had to use my Vision in order to get rid of—
"That's right— my Vision!!! Aaahhhh!!! It hurts!!!"
With a desperation I've never had experienced in my life before, I turned towards my Vision and sprinted straight at it hoping to pick her up.
PROOK.
The abhorrent sound came from the ground besides where my Pyro Vision laid, as it erupted when a red Whopper Flower came out and grabbed the scarlet jewel with one of its elongated leaves.
"W-w-w-wait what are you trying to—"
FWHEEPH.
The audacious Pyro Flower tossed my Vision across the air like it was yesterday trash. I watched in despair as it went over the edge and fell down the cliff like a pretty red shooting star. I had no hope of catching it unless I wanted to risk falling down to my dead.
My last hope for turning these dire circumstances around had now been completely lost.
Something sounding like a snapping violin cord reverberated deep inside of me.
"AAAHHHH!!! OOOHHHH!!! THAT WAS IT!!! YOU'RE DEAD PLANT!!!" I roared.
That was the last straw. The circumstances be damned— I'm pummeling that plant right now!
The Pyro Flower freaked out when it saw me charging straight for it like a naked madwoman.
In fright, the Whopper Flower tried burying underground to escape, but I dove to the ground and caught it by the leafs on its crown, then dragged it out like I was reaping an oversized radish at the harvest.
It came out with a prook and I punched it in its onion head to stun it.
The burning pain transformed into murderous rage and I stopped caring if my ass was still on fire. If Hu Tao can self-immolate to fight then so can I!
"Catch these hands plant!!!"
Hook, left, right, hay, jab, straight, left, elbow, jab, cross, hook, uppercut, left, right, smash, hay, cross, right, straight, left, hook, jab, right, uppercut, hay, hay, hay, straight, left, elbow, hook, cross, uppercut!
In my merciless barrage the Pyro Whopper Flower got beaten like a punching bag at the gym and my ass still aflame I switched into a kicking stance.
Axe, stomp, right, knee, heel, sweep, front, left, side, punt, axe, spin, sweep, side, left, punt, heel—
"Ahh ah, ah, aahhh!!! Ouch!!! Ouch ouch oucha ouch!!!"
I couldn't resist the pain anymore and had to pause for a second but then the bloodlust returned.
Roundhouse, sweep, punt, left, side, knee, heel, right, axe, stomp, sweep, left, side, heel, roundhouse, straight, right, knee, sweep, side, punt, spin, heel, backflip!
With furious impulse I performed a backflip kick to build distance with the Flower and prepare for my next attack, then kicked the ground upon landing with a jump in clockwise spin.
"DROP KICK!!!"
KAPOW.
The ball of my feet dug into the Whopper Flower onion head and pierced through with a crispy crunch sound, breaking the monster cranium in pieces like a watermelon.
I landed with a slide of my feet as the body of the Pyro Flower ripped into many small petals and leafs behind me.
Boing*
Stupid plant got what it deserves for messing with the wrong lawye—
"Ahhhhh!!! Ahhhmmm!!! It burns!!! Why isn't it coming off!!!? I just defeated the Pyro plant I thought that would-- wait it keeps growing more!!!? How big is this going to get!!!?"
I dreaded just to look at the fires in my behind. It would appear the magical flames weren't so magical after all, just lively.
The giant five stories shadows by the cave wall that once looked so scary and ominous to me before, now showed a cocky idiot frantically dancing with her butt on fire.
As I agonized with the shadows on the walls, out the corner of my eye the Hydro Flower had recovered from it's daze and produced another floating water sphere, and I ran for it like my ass was on fire.
A piece of the Pyro Flower onion head got crushed under my foot as I ran past and dived straight into the floating water sphere so hard that my upper body came out the other end.
Boing*
"Ahhh, ah, haahh, ahhahmm!!!" Relief, at last.
By the grace of the Geo Lord I finally got the flames off my butt! A cooling and goosebump-like shiver of relief spread across my body.
"Ahhhh." I rested my head on my hands.
Then I felt a sharp pain when something struck me across the face.
"Puhack— bluglugluglu!" I cried from the sudden blow.
The Hydro Flower swung one of its giant leaves and smacked me with the seed that was dangling from it. The blow sent me flying back into the water, this time getting caught completely inside the floating sphere.
I guess with all the excruciating pain I kind of forgot I was still under enemy attack and dived straight into a trap. There was still one more Whopper Flower left trying to eat me.
I tried kicking and swimming to escape but the water mass just begun shifting like a current and forced me back to the core of the sphere. I needed my Vision which I lacked in order to break free.
The Hydro Flower standing outside the sphere drew back another one of its limbs-like leafs in preparation for an attack, but I saw it coming this time and brought up my arms to block when suddenly I felt another sharp pain.
"Bluarg!" I bubbled the cry underwater.
A sharp pain ran trough the middle of my back, causing me to straighten up inside the floating water sphere. There was one more enemy I hadn't noticed around.
I turned to look over my shoulder and found what I could only describe as a water avatar of the Hydro Whopper Flower. It must have created it while I was busy fussing over the fire. and before I could even bubble a complaint another sharp pain came for my shin this time.
"Blaglarglar!"
I stood straight inside the floating water sphere, gritting my teeth and applying pressure on my aching right leg with both hands. While I was distracted with the avatar one the regular Whopper Flower had struck me with an attack.
The pain was so great that I'm convinced the water mass from the sphere wasn't mitigating the strikes at all.
This Flower really wasn't playing around, it was doing everything it could to knock me out so it could eat me. It had even coordinated a team attack with its avatar against me.
A blow from the Hydro Avatar hit my left flank, causing me to let go of my aching leg and bend to the side, knocking some of the little air I still had left in me, only a second later another heavy blow from the Hydro Flower landed straight in my stomach, causing my body to bend completely with my pained butt sticking out, then a golf-like swing from the Avatar Flower struck my sore behind, forcing a knee-jerk reaction to straighten up and grab my ass, then the Hydro Flower swings its dangling seeds and smacks me across the boobs, leaving a deep pain to ripple trough my nervous system.
I was never given the time to block or even recover in-between blows. I barely had time to wince before a new attack arrived.
"Bluarghhhh!" The last vestiges of air finally left my lungs and my vision began fading in and out.
I was completely outclassed and at the end of my wits, holding on just by sheer will and resilience alone, but I couldn't just give up and call Xiao for help now.
No, oh no!
If they find out how hard I've been getting my ass whooped by these Whopper Flowers then I can forget about Simp letting me come along to face the Electro Archon together.
I bet he would even steer the ship back to Monsdadt and drop me there just in case. And Xiao will have my birth certificate burn like I was never born so I can't bring dishonor to the Adepti name anymore.
I weathered all the blows when luckily for me the floating water sphere time ran out and it began to collapse. The Hydro Flower noticed and spreads the three leaves on it's crown like a voracious mouth to try and trap me inside before I could escape.
Seeing I was about to be eaten, instinct kicked and in a burst of adrenaline and reflexes I stretched both arms upwards and my legs to the sides, catching open the crown of the Whopper Flower in a shaky isotoxal star triangle shape.
"Gasp!" With the water sphere gone I finally got a chance to catch my breath.
The Whopper Flower fought with all its might to trap me inside its crown, and I too gave it my all to pry it open.
"Hmmgg! Like heck I'm getting eaten right—"
BONK.
A dull pain washed over the back of my head and my vision went dark for a second, with birdies and little stars dancing around.
The next thing I knew everything around me had went completely dark. I was trapped inside the Whopper Flower crown from the waist up.
"Aahhhhhh!!!" I cried whilst kicking and punching.
The Hydro Flower elevates it's crown until it pointed up, causing me to stand completely upside down with my legs kicking outside it's mouth. With all three long leaves perfectly sealed together, water started pouring inside till it was completely filled up.
"Blurg!?" My cries where silenced once again.
This monster was trying to drown me so as to make it easier to eat me. I tried punching with all my might but my blows didn't carried the same power in such a tight underwater space, but I needed to escape somehow.
My lower body was still sticking out so I bent and supported my feet on the crown, and began trying to pull my upper body out when something smacked me across the butt.
CLAP.
"Bluaarrgg!!!"
The pain stung so much that it caused me to stand straight upside down. I must've been struck by the Hydro Avatar that's still outside. Then I was struck again.
SMACK. CLAP. SLAP.
"Ugh!!! Blurg!!! Blarg!!!"
I was getting hammered inside the crown like I was a nail and my ass the nailhead. The Hydro Avatar was making sure that I went from a half meal to a full meal course.
But in response I gritted my teeth and when the next strike struck and wrapped my legs around the water limb of the Hydro Avatar, dragging me along when it tried pulling away, and tilting the Whopper Flower till it tumbled to the side.
"Haaahhh!!!"
I let go when my feet finally reached the ground, whereas I put my back into it and tossed myself backwards in a body slam. The Whopper Flower weighted as a much as a scarecrow and was unable to resist getting dragged along.
SPLASH. POW.
The blow caused the crown to loose open and I was able to pull myself out. Upon getting the soaked hair off my face and looking forward I found the Whopper Flower twisting and turning in pain over a pond of water.
The Hydro Avatar was nowhere to be seen, and I observed no holes around the ground this time. My body slam from before seems to have dealt it's final blow. All that was left now was dealing with the last Whopper Flower.
"Hah, ah… huff… you… you thought I was going to lose to you…? Come here you stupid plant!"
Making use of the opportunity, I caught my breath and charged forward while the flower was still stunned, driving a punch on its lower body, then danced around till I managed to catch it from behind, bending my back and slamming the monster backwards with a German Suplex.
The Whopper Flower hits the ground with a dull thud and something made a boing sound along with it.
I rolled on my back and jumped to my feet, whereas I jumped again launching into a double drop kick.
POW.
The blow sent the light-weighted flower rolling across the ground, stopping right before the edge of the cliff.
My chance!
I rolled with the drop and quickly got up to chase after it. The monster got up hastily and started swinging wildly in its daze.
I sidestepped one attack as I ran then jumped over another one of its wild swings, before performing an hurricanrana wrestling move, wrapping both legs around the head of the creature and used the momentum from me falling over to flip the Flower over the edge of the cliff.
The Whopper Flower slammed on the ground with a loud thud and a bounce before it fell down the cliff, only for one of its elongated leaves to desperately catch onto the edge.
Seeing it still fighting to survive awakened a desire for vengeance in me and I walked over to the edge, where I looked down on it…
Boing*
Where I pushed my breast aside to look down on it. It was slipping, trembling in fear as it looked down below, then giving me the puppy eyes when it looked up.
A sadistic smile crept over my face and I said.
"The law knows no kindness." And stepped over its limb.
The Whopper Flower lost it's grip and began its descent into the pitch black darkness that was the bottom of the cave.
Five seconds later I heard the sound of a crash that echoed all the way up to me, and I finally fell to my hands and knees in relief.
"Hahaha… ha ha ha… ha… Take that you mere flowers… I bet you thought I was going to lose didn't you?"
My cold sweat finally turned hot, and my heart beats felt much more agitated than before now that I finally started to calm down.
"Whose weak now…? Who needs Xiao anyways? I never gave up and won by myself in the end, just like I always knew I could…"
Thought I had to fight way harder than I ever thought I would, nobody needs to know those pesky little details.
My butt hurts, my whole body hurts, I'm soaked wet and covered in dirt from head to toe's, but it's nothing some healing magic, a bath and a long rest can't fix.
Those damn plants really put out a fight, and maybe this wasn't the honorable and immaculate battle I was hoping for, but at least I won in the end. Nobody needs that worthless honor anyways. Fixation with that stupid word only creates troubles and headache's.
But just in case, I'm not fooling anyone if I embellish things a little and say I fought, let's say, four full grown Regisvines. I'll even convince Razor to corroborate with my innocent lie if I have to.
I might be a novice when it comes to fighting right now, but I'll grow stronger and more experienced as I go, then the birdbrain won't have to worry about letting me come along.
I can just fake it until I make it in the meantime.
Now I just need to pick up my catalyst and craft myself some clothes with the petals from the body of the Pyro Whopper Flower that I left behind.
Or so I thought, but as I turned around I found a bright orange light shining along with my catalyst firelight. The Entity of the island had concluded the fight was over and came to collect its dues. The broken Pyro Whopper Flower body was swallowed by the earth, then the Entity light disappeared and only the flames of the lamp remained to fend off the darkness.
"…"
Deep breath's Yanfei. Take a deep breath.
"The idiot has a haori I can borrow, and he needs rescuing anyways."
With great pain, I got up and picked the golden lamp catalyst with my own hands, then began descending trough the dark cave once more. There's a samurai and a wolf boy who's saving I still need to see trough.