As the Azure Mountain Bear spat water balls toward them, Legory's Rafflesia intercepted every attack with thick, overlapping vines that feels like a living shield. Each impact sent sprays of water in every direction, yet the massive flower remained rooted, absorbing the force before instantly regrowing any damaged vined.
Growing impatient after seeing its ranged attacks fail to break through the living barricade, the Azure Mountain Bear let out a deafening roar and launched itself forward. Its enormous body soared through the air with terrifying speed, intending to crush everything beneath its weight. Anticipating the charge, Legory calmly raised his hand. In an instant, countless emerald vines erupted from the ground, coiling around the bear's forelegs and hind legs. The vines tightened with tremendous force, attempting to halt its momentum and pin the beast in place before it could reach them.
The battle quickly became a clash between relentless offense and unyielding defense. The bear relied on explosive bursts of speed and overwhelming power, struggling violently against the restraining vines, while Legory fought with calculated precision, allowing his beast to weather every strike before retaliating. Thorn-covered vines twisted around the battlefield like serpents, seeking every opportunity to tighten their grip. Rather than meeting strength with strength, Legory's fighting style focused on controlling the battlefield—turning every exchange into a trap until his opponent's aggression became its greatest weakness.
Sam watched the confrontation with widened eyes, fascinated by how incredibly strong and swift both beasts were.
The Azure Mountain Bear was so focused on breaking free from the Rafflesia's vines that it failed to realize they were coated with a potent toxin. As the venom seeped into its body, the beast's immense strength gradually waned. Even so, it refused to surrender. Letting out a furious roar, the bear slammed both forepaws into the ground with every ounce of strength it had left.
The earth trembled violently.
Jagged stone pillars burst from the ground in all directions, tearing through the vines and sending boulders flying across the battlefield. Trees were uprooted as the ground cracked beneath Legory and Sam's feet. For a brief moment, it seemed the bear had regained the upper hand.
But the effort had come too late.
The poison had already spread throughout its body. The bear's forelegs began to tremble uncontrollably before its earth spiritual energy dissipated. The towering stone pillars crumbled into rubble, and with one final unwilling roar, the Azure Mountain Bear collapsed onto the ground.
Sam stared at the fallen beast in disbelief. "It... wasn't the vines that defeated it?"
Legory gave a faint smile. "The vines merely restrained it. The poison hidden within them was the real killing blow."
"So you planned for this from the beginning?"
"Against strong opponents," Legory replied calmly, "patience is often more reliable than brute force."
Beside the roaring waterfall, where the mist drifted gently over a quiet stream, a single Moonlight Lily floated serenely on the calm water near the rocky bank. Its silver-blue petals emitted a soft radiance, untouched by the chaos that had just unfolded only a short distance away.
Rather than stepping into the water, Legory extended his hand. The Rafflesia responded immediately, sending a slender vine gliding silently across the stream. It curled delicately beneath the Moonlight Lily, careful not to damage its fragile stem, before gently sweeping the precious herb back toward him. Legory caught it with practiced hands and stored it inside a jade container.
"Let's leave," he said, his expression growing solemn as he scanned the surrounding forest. "That battle was loud enough to attract unwanted attention."
Sam nodded without hesitation. "I don't want to find out what comes looking."
The two quickly disappeared into the dense forest, leaving behind the waterfall and the corpse of the Azure Mountain Bear before another powerful beast could arrive.
Sam quietly followed behind Legory, watching him from time to time. She noticed that he would often glance at the ground, inspect broken branches, or stop briefly to look around before continuing. Although she couldn't understand what he was looking for, she could tell he was checking for signs of nearby beasts.
Unable to hold back, Sam Said, "You're good"
Legory nod and pointed at a set of faint claw marks on a nearby tree. "Just making sure nothing stronger has passed through here recently."
Sam looked at the marks but couldn't make sense of them.
Legory added, "after spending enough time in the wild, you start noticing these things. It becomes a habit."
Sam nodded thoughtfully as they continued walking. It wasn't anything flashy, but it showed how experienced he was. Watching the way Legory carefully observed his surroundings, she couldn't help but admire this grumpy NPC boss.
After traveling for a while, Legory finally stopped and surveyed the surrounding area. Satisfied that they were far enough from the previous battlefield, he took out the Moonlight Lily from its jade container.
"I think this place is safe enough," he said, holding the glowing flower out to Sam. "Go ahead and absorb it."
Sam nodded and sat cross-legged on the soft forest floor. Taking a deep breath, she activated her absorption ability. An earthy-brown ribbon of spiritual energy slowly extended from her chest, gently wrapping itself around the Moonlight Lily.
Unlike beast souls that struggled violently, the Moonlight Lily possessed no means of resistance. Its luminous petals quivered softly as though bidding farewell before its soul gradually separated from its body. The ribbon carefully drew the glowing essence toward Sam, where it dissolved into her body without the slightest resistance.
The moment the soul merged with hers, Sam felt a gentle warmth spread through her entire being. It wasn't an overwhelming surge of power like she had imagined. Instead, it was calm and comforting, like soaking in a hot spring after a long day. The soothing energy flowed through every corner of her body before settling deep within her soul, leaving her mind unusually clear and peaceful. Even the fatigue from their journey seemed to melt away under the Moonlight Lily's tranquil aura.
As the sensation slowly faded, a translucent interface appeared before her eyes.
Three skills shimmered quietly, waiting for her to choose one.
Sam couldn't believe it.
1. Mana Ray — Rapidly restores the mana of a friendly target. The amount recovered scales with the caster's Elemental Attack.
2. Mana Bank — Permanently increases the caster's maximum mana. The increase grows as the skill levels up.
3. Blessing of Mana — Passive. The soul spirit continuously absorbs the surrounding mana, gradually restoring the caster's mana over time.
"Bingo!"
Sam couldn't help but grin.
This was exactly what she had been hoping for.
Her thoughts drifted back to the previous day, when she was discussing her next soul skill with her boss inside the shop.
---
"So, have you decided what kind of skill you want?" her boss asked while sorting plants.
Sam shook her head.
"Not exactly. My first soul skill is already a passive one," Sam said. "It helps with farming, but..." She smiled awkwardly. "It consumes a ridiculous amount of mana. Most of the time, I have to use my health or stop working just to wait for my mana to recover."
"Hmm..."
Her boss tapped the counter thoughtfully.
"If that's your problem, you need a skill that supports your first one."
"My first skill?"
He nodded. " What you need is enough mana to keep your skill running for longer."
Sam slowly understood what he meant.
"So... something that increases my mana?"
"Or recovers it." He smiled. "Both are good choices."
After a brief pause, he added, "Actually, the Moonlight Lily might be perfect for you."
"I've read it's a very weak plant beast."
"It is," he admitted. "It doesn't have any offensive abilities, so it's often hunted by other beasts. But that's also what makes it special."
"Special?"
"The Moonlight Lily survives by absorbing the mana in its surroundings, especially moonlight during the night. Its entire nature revolves around gathering and storing mana."
Sam's eyes brightened.
"So its soul skills..."
"...have a good chance of being mana-related," her boss finished. "Whether it's increasing your mana reserve or improving your mana recovery, either would pair well with your first passive skill."
"I guess it's worth trying."
He chuckled. "For someone who spends more time tending fields than fighting beasts, I can't think of a better choice."
---
Returning to the present, Sam looked at the three glowing skills before her.
Not a single one was offensive.
Instead, each one was designed to improve mana in a different way.
Which makes her head hurt a little.
"What choice should i get?" She asked herself. The first one could be use on herself to generate her mana.
The second one is obviously making her mana increase greatly, but the third one is quite interesting.
'Soul spirit continously absorb mana'. Its quite vauge but she could feel its worth a try.
After a few minutes, she decided to pick the third option.