Chapter 40: Ch 40: Into The Forest
Naida walked through the dense foliage of the Volkan Forest, as if the towering ancient woods were simply an extension of her own backyard.
Raidan stayed close behind her, while his hand never left the hilt of his Mythril sword.
His eyes constantly scanned the thick canopy and shadowed bushes for any signs of magical beasts.
On the other hand, she cheerfully explained the magical herbs to him.
"Look here, Raidan."
Calling out, she knelt beside a patch of damp, mossy soil at the base of a giant oak tree.
Her delicate fingers brushed against a small plant with vibrant silvery leaves.
"This is Silverleaf Fern. When you crush the leaves and mix them with clean water, it creates a powerful paste that instantly draws out toxins from spider bites. It is an essential item for any adventurer."
Raidan crouched next to her, observing the gentle way she handled the delicate flora.
"You really know everything about this forest, don’t you?" he asked, genuinely impressed by her expertise.
Smiling, she placed the fern into the bamboo basket hanging from her slender waist.
"My grandfather taught me everything when I was just a little girl. The forest provides everything we need to heal people, as long as we know where to look."
She suddenly stood up and pointed toward a cluster of glowing blue mushrooms clinging to a rotting log nearby.
"Those are Mana Caps. They are incredibly rare to find so close to the outer edge. If you dry them under direct sunlight for exactly three days, they can be brewed into a potion that restores a person’s magical reserves."
[ System Alert: Botany Knowledge (Basic) acquired through observation. ]
"Then I suppose they fetch a very high price in the city?" Raidan inquired, ignoring the system.notification.
Naida nodded, her brown hair swaying in a mesmerising way.
"They do. The Shrines usually buy them in bulk, but I prefer to keep a small stash to help the ordinary mages and city guards who cannot afford the official prices."
Her selflessness earned another wave of admiration from him. Every single word she spoke simply reaffirmed his newly made vow.
He would protect this beautiful kindhearted apothecary from the absolute cruelty of the Olympus, and build a happy family.
He didn’t care if she’s some kind of NPC or an expertly crafted living doll.
Rustle~rustle~
All of a sudden, a particular bush to their right moved.
"Stay behind me," he stepped before her heroically.
His heart pounded against his ribs as he expected a bloodthirsty dire wolf, a vicious goblin, or some terrifying magical beast to leap out from the bush.
However. "Squeak!"
It was just a ball of white fluff.
A baby rabbit, barely larger than an apple, sat on the ground. It twitched its tiny pink nose and looked up at them with large, innocent black eyes.
Naida’s rigid posture wiped away in an absolute instant. She bypassed Raidan’s fiercely protective stance with a joyful giggle and scooped the little creature right into her arms.
"Oh, look at you! You are just the cutest little thing!"
She rubbed its incredibly soft fur against her cheek.
Raidan felt his face burn.
"Well, I suppose the forest is not entirely filled with deadly monsters."
Chuckling, he tried relaxing his shoulders.
Just then—
Boink!
A massive shadow fell over them
The orange sunlight was suddenly blocked out entirely.
A giant figure made its entrace under their disbelieving eyes.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
It was a rabbit, yes, but that was where the similarities ended. This beast stood over 10 feet tall, possessing bulging biceps that were thicker than tree trunks.
It had ominous red eyes that screamed pure violence, and its fluffy white chest looked like it was carved out of solid rock.
It looked less like a woodland creature and more like a seasoned gladiator wearing a fluffy bunny suit.
Squeak~ Squeak~
The tiny rabbit in Naida’s arms let out two happy squeaks and playfully waved its little paw at the towering behemoth.
The giant mother rabbit glared down at Naida and Raidan, aggressively twitching a pink nose that was roughly the size of a boulder.
It flexed its massive, muscular arms, casting an even darker shadow over the terrified duo.
[ System Appraisal: Giant White Rabit (Level 25) ]
[ Danger Level: Mid. ]
"Should we run, Raidan?" Naida asked while clutching his tunic, her voice shaking a little.
Raidan turned back and flashed a fearless smile.
"Of course not. We are not going anywhere. I said I will protect you didn’t I?"
Saying that, He took a defensive stance, holding his Mythril Sword.
Seeing this scene, her young heart unknowingly skipped a beat.
The giant mother rabbit raised its massive, muscular fist, clearly preparing to crush them into dust.
Raidan did not hesitate for a single second.
[ Skill Activated: Cloud Step. ]
Raidan jumped onto the empty air.
And with his agility power sitting at a staggering 166 points, the world around him seemed to slow down.
Above him, the monstrous rabbit’s descending punch looked like a heavy boulder falling through thick mud.
Wooosh!
Raidan pushed off the air once again, vanishing from the spot, leaving behind only a swift afterimage of scattering dust.
In the blink of an eye, he appeared right beside the giant rabbit’s head.
He drew his sword in a fluid, unstoppable arc.
The blade cut through the air with a sharp whistle, striking the beast right on the back of its thick neck with pinpoint precision and overwhelming speed.
Boom!
The impact sounded like a thunderclap.
It’s neck and spine completely blasted into smithereens because of the kinetic force.
As a result, the giant creature’s red eyes dimmed slowly, and the enormous eight-foot-tall body crashed onto the forest floor, kicking up a massive cloud of dirt and leaves.
[ System Alert: Giant White Rabit (Level 25) was efeated! ]
[ Exp +1,200 ]
After the kill was confirmed, he landed on the ground effortlessly.
On the other hand, Naida’s mouth went agape.
She blinked several times to see if she wasn’t dreaming right now.
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