Revenge pact

After Maxwell urged her to join the rest of the group, Vera swiftly dashed across the path towards the other Arbour Abomination.

"Veda!" Upon announcing her arrival, Vera integrated herself into the three-person formation. Jerald assumed the central position, while Veda took the left flank, and Vera on the right.

"Vera! Are you okay?" Veda, her spatha in hand turned her head to meet Vera's gaze.

Managing a gentle smile, Vera nodded and fortified her defensive stance, preparing for the impending encounter.

"Vera and I will clear the path, you deliver the finishing blow at its weak spot." With a bead of sweat running down her cheek, Veda announced the plan to the Fifth Rising Star.

"Got it..." He nodded.

The group moved as a unit, a sloppy one but a unit nonetheless.

Despite the Stewart twins having many years of cooperation under their belt, the addition of Jerald to the team introduced a layer of complexity that disrupted their coordination. Consequently, their battle speed and awareness suffered as a result.

Deeming that the group was now too close for its liking, the monster employed its numerous appendages in retaliation.

The monster swiftly propelled its many limbs at the approaching magic knights, provoking a series of calculated reactions.

Unlike when she was interacting with others, Vera demonstrated a level of skill that'd scare most kids her age. Seeing that there were three large appendages in front of her and eight smaller ones coming toward her sides.

The usually timid girl, calmly watched as the large leading limb approached her face intending to knock her head right of its neck. She sharply inhaled and got to work...

With her Earthly Aura-coated spatha in her grasp, she swung it decisively, slicing right through the appendage and causing a splatter of green liquid to land on her face.

SPLATTER

Disregarding the peculiar liquid that found its home on her countenance, she swiftly ducked to evade any potential harm from the remaining, slowed-down limb.

Her interaction with the second one was just as brief, further proving why she deserved her spot in class 1A. Continuing on her sprint, she crouched, lowering her entire upper body, and employed her blade, which continued to emit the subtly blue hue, to execute a diagonal slash at the appendage. This action sent a sizable chuck of vegetation soaring into the air.

The monster's third assault was aimed lower, honing in on the girl's lowered head and thighs. Leaping a few feet into the air, she lowered her head to observe as the attack narrowly missed her. Sensing the monster's vulnerability she thrust her blade into the limb, causing more blood to seep from the wound.

Although she had just successfully neutralized every attack directed at her, she now faced a new challenge- numerous smaller appendages that posed the threat of injury.

Noticing their swift approach, she acted immediately, using the pommel of her spatha as a foothold to propel herself even higher, she prepared herself to unleash a frightening spell.

Harnessing mana from her mana core, Vera commanded the manna particles to converge around both her hands, softly uttering the name of the devastating attack.

"Blaze magic: Searing Whirlwind"

The mana enveloping her hands ignited, giving rise to a large flame emanating from both her palms. In mid-air, she gracefully rotated her petite frame, conjuring a miniature tornado that cremated any appendage that dared to approach.

Her crimson eyes remained sharp and vigilant as she scanned her surroundings for any impending attacks. However, all that met her gaze was black ash and stumps of the monster's limbs.

"It'll take ten seconds to regenerate, we must get closer." Veda who had also appropriately dealt with the onslaught that came her way turned to face her crimson-eyed twin.

The Stewart twins continued on their rampage, obliterating all the appendages that dared to approach. Although their styles differed greatly, they complemented each other seamlessly.

Vera predominately relied on her devastating Blaze magic, reducing any approaching limbs to ashes, while still skillfully utilizing her razor-sharp spatha to dissect the same appendages.

Meanwhile, Veda, the twin with white hair, adopted a more knightly approach, opting to rely on her martial arts and Eartly Aura rather than her chilling Ice Magic.

The twins persisted for another five seconds, steadily closing the gap between them and the monster's core- the ominous bright flower. As they pressed forward, the intensity of the attacks they confronted escalated, growing more vicious by the moment.

Eventually, the two of them found it more challenging to completely evade harm, their bodies adorned with cuts, bruises, and glistening with a combination of blood and sweat.

"Five more seconds Vera, we can make it!"

"HM!" Nodding her head, Vera pressed on; ignoring the numerous minor injuries she had managed to sustain.

The final obstacle loomed ahead, a colossal appendage of unparalleled size. It was incredibly thick, boasting a girth akin to three robust tree trunks, and eventually tapered to a sharp point.

This ultimate appendage hurled itself at a velocity that should've been impossible for either of the girls to match.

Fortunately, they didn't need to outpace it or even match it; instead, they relied on their ability to anticipate its trajectory and evade accordingly, knowing that it could not alter its course mid-air.

"Vera!"

"Veda!"

Synchronizing their manoeuvre, Vera and Veda initiated their counterattack. Vera soared above the massive appendage, her striking gazing locked on the looming limb. With a sharp exhale, she summoned a bright red magic circle to materialize in her right palm.

Veda opted for a different approach, instead, she crouched low and waited for the massive limb to pass above her tied-up hair.

In perfect synchronization with Vera, Veda conjured a white magic circle in her left palm.

"Stewart twin..." Both girls spoke in unison, their voices intertwining to create a chilling warning of their impending attack.

Simultaneously, both girls released a large surge of mana into their magic circles. The outcome was two separate beams of their respective magic affinities, Ice and Blaze magic.

Veda swiftly encased the underside of the limb in frost, while her sister unleashed a scorching blaze from above.

Following their spells, they both wielded their Earthly Aura-coated spathas to slash at the appendages, further amplifying the damage they had inflicted.

"IMPACT!"

SLASH

Following their devastating attack, the appendage fell to the ground with a resounding thud, causing the soil underneath to vibrate subtly.

Veda, who had been beneath the falling appendage, skillfully evaded its weight, emerging unscathed beside the now "lifeless" limb.

'We eliminated all the major obstacles for Cecil, now he should be able to destroy the flower...'

"Now it's up t-"

"VEDA!"

SPLURT

Suddenly, Veda's thoughts were interrupted as a long, stick-like appendage pierced through the side of her abdomen from behind...

'What?! It managed to regenerate already, it's barely been five seconds!' Blood escaped Veda's mouth as she struggled to comprehend what had just happened.

Quickly reacting, Vera coated her foot in a thick layer of Earthly Aura and delivered a powerful kick to the thin appendage, causing it to snap like a harmless twig and preventing it from further harming her sister.

"Veda, are you okay!" Her composure shattered by her worry, Vera rushed to her sister's aid.

Veda lay on the ground, bleeding profusely while simultaneously struggling to maintain consciousness.

"Flame magic: Total Incineration..."

Having created a substantial orange magic circle, Jerald Cecil demonstrated a jaw-dropping level of mana output and control. He unleashed a massive torrent of flames at the arbour abomination's flower, instantly eradicating the monster and leaving it with no further opportunity to retaliate.

Despite Flame magic generally being considered weaker than Blaze magic, Jerald had just cast a spell that eclipsed all of Vera's previous feats.

After he skillfully exploited the opening created by the Stewart twins, Jerald abandoned his typical apathetic demeanour and rushed to Veda's side, his expression now displaying genuine distress.

"Stewart!"

Extra Information:

Rank: White rank

Edible?: Yes

Drops: Gland found in its flower and magic crystal.

Weaknesses: Fire and blades

Behaviour: Only attacks, when prey isn't paying attention. Gets more aggressive when exposed to fire or struck with blades.

Habitat: Forests

Attacking style: Aggressive and uses multiple appendages. Utilizes its poison vapour to knock out its prey.

Abilities: Manipulate surrounding vegetation, regenerate its limbs (takes 10 seconds), poison gas that knocks prey out.

Description:

When in hiding, this creature takes on the guise of an unassuming large tree, blending seamlessly with its surroundings until it either identifies its prey or comes under attack. However, when it enters its 'active mode,' it undergoes a grotesque transformation, manifesting multiple large appendages crafted from branches, roots, thorns, twigs, vines, and other woody elements. At the centre of its bark-covered form, a radiant flower blooms, concealing a sizable poison gland within. This gland releases a noxious toxin that incapacitates any creatures unfortunate enough to inhale it.

It's worth noting that the creature's flesh's dexterity varies depending on the number of creatures it has absorbed and the quality of said creatures absorbed, making it a formidable and adaptable adversary.