Cromus stared at the imposing creature. It stood nearly as tall as he did but was twice as broad, its rose-like head a darker hue than its smaller kin. The head was fully bloomed, and a faint fiery glow pulsed ominously from its core, like the heart of a dying ember. Thorn-covered vines coiled tightly around its muscular frame like natural armor, several twisting together beneath its shoulders to form a grotesque second pair of arms. Its back bristled with bloomed roses, each thorny petal glinting like the edge of a blade. Beneath the dense vines, bark-like skin streaked with scars told the tale of countless battles fought—and won.

  The Roseback exuded primal power, a predator with no equal in its domain.

  Ush froze under its smoldering gaze. Her breath hitched, her body unwilling to obey even the simplest command to move. Cold sweat clung to her skin. Nearby, Loose Tooth, normally jittery but quick to speak, stood motionless, his eyes wide with terror.

  The creature's roar broke over the group like a physical force, reverberating through the clearing and shaking the very earth beneath their feet. It raised one of its thorn-covered vine arms, pulling it back as it twisted unnaturally. The thorns on the tip of the limb began to elongate and sharpen into a lethal spear, aimed directly at the frozen Ush.

  Time seemed to stretch into eternity.

  Cromus was the first to react. Rushed in letting out a guttural yell with Raging Boar raised high. The great blade cut through the vine arm in a single, decisive stroke, severing it cleanly. But the force behind the arm was too great, and the detached limb hurtled forward like a deadly javelin, unstoppable in its trajectory.

  To everyone's astonishment, another figure moved simultaneously with Cromus. Jagz—small, wiry, threw himself into the path of the incoming projectile. His tiny hands grasped the thorny vine, the sharp edges cutting into his flesh as he braced himself against the ground.

  “Not my sister!” Jagz growled, his voice strained but resolute. His feet dug furrows into the dirt as he held firm, the momentum of the attack slowing ever so slightly. The veins in his arms bulged with the effort, his unexpected strength a shocking revelation to the group.

  Kaazz seized the moment. He grabbed Ush by the shoulder and yanked her backward, placing himself between her and the oncoming danger. His makeshift walking stick swung up in a wide arc, connecting with the vine just as Jagz lost his grip. The stick’s force, combined with Jagz’s earlier effort, diverted the deadly limb’s trajectory just enough for it to crash into the ground mere inches from Ush, sending up a cloud of dirt and splinters.

  For a heartbeat, silence fell over the group. Jagz stumbled back, his arms bleeding but his grin wide.

  Cromus shot him a quick look of approval. “Didn’t know you had that in you, Jagz,” he said, gripping his blade tightly as he turned back to the Roseback. The massive creature, unbothered by the loss of its limb, let out a low, rumbling growl. as more vines spread and twisted over the damaged ones.

  Two arrows slammed into the monster's chest, their flames sputtering out as vines snuffed them. From the back line, Sais shouted, “Good job! Keep it up!” before loosing another arrow that struck the creature's right shoulder.

  The Roseback reared up, its vine arms unfurling like deadly whips. Shadows deepened as its fiery core flared, casting flickering, blood-red light across the clearing. The air thickened with the scent of roses and rot, a suffocating prelude to the chaos about to unfold.

  Cromus rushed at the monster, Raging Boar gripped tightly in his hands. As he closed the distance, he drew the massive blade down to his left, his muscles coiling like springs. The moment he entered striking range, he unleashed an upward swing at a sharp angle, the blade biting deep into the Roseback’s vine-covered torso. Without hesitation, he reversed the grip mid-swing, bringing the blade crashing back down in a devastating arc.

  Both cuts struck true, slicing through thorny armor and bark-like flesh. The creature let out a thunderous roar, the glow of its fiery rose head intensifying as its vine-covered arms slammed down toward Cromus. He narrowly dodged the first strike, stepping back just in time.

  From the backline, Sais spotted an opening and loosed another arrow. The projectile streaked through the air toward the creature’s exposed chest, but as it neared, the vines in that area swelled unnaturally, forming a shield that caused the arrow to ricochet harmlessly to the ground.

  “It’s adapting!” Sais shouted, his tone sharp with frustration.

  The Roseback surged forward, one of its massive arms swinging outward in a wide arc. The thorns on the limb tore into the shimmering mana shield surrounding Cromus, sending him skidding back several paces. The shield flickered, its green glow dimming for a moment under the force of the blow. Gritting his teeth, Cromus poured more mana into the barrier, the faint hue brightening again as he steadied himself.

  Meanwhile, Jagz scrambled to help Ush to her feet. “Come on! We can’t fight that!” he barked, dragging his sister toward the bushes where Sais was positioned. His voice wavered slightly, but his determination was unshakable.

  Kaazz, standing a few paces behind Cromus, raised his makeshift staff. Muttering an incantation under his breath, he pointed it toward Raging Boar. The weapon ignited with a fiery glow, flames licking along the blade’s edge. Cromus glanced back for the briefest moment, nodding his thanks before twisting to avoid another barrage of thorny vines crashing down where he had been standing.

  Sais kept his arrows flying, each one aimed with precision, though fewer found purchase as the Roseback’s defenses grew more unpredictable. "Aim for the head!" he called, frustration mounting as his shots were deflected or absorbed by the creature’s shifting vines.

  Cromus waded into the fray once more, Raging Boar now cutting through the creature’s relentless vines with greater ease. Each strike sent fiery embers cascading through the air, the flames searing through the dense growths like a hot knife through butter.

  Kaazz scanned the battlefield, his sharp eyes searching for openings. Whenever the monster’s attention was drawn to Cromus, Kaazz launched precise bursts of fire magic, each one targeting vulnerable spots. His flames left charred scars on the Roseback’s bark-like hide, but the creature pressed forward undeterred, its glowing rose core flaring brighter with every wound.

  Jagz and Ush reached Sais, who kept loosing arrows while stealing quick glances at the battle. “I think it’s getting stronger the angrier it gets,” Sais muttered, his voice tight as he nocked another arrow. The Roseback’s towering form loomed over Cromus, its presence seeming to suck the light from the clearing, a relentless shadow pulsing with fiery rage.

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  Cromus was hit hard. The force of the blow sent him flying backward, his body skidding across the ground before coming to a stop next to Loose Tooth, who was still frozen in place. His mana shield absorbed the brunt of the attack, but a quick glance at his interface told him it had taken another 50 points of damage—on top of the 30 from earlier. He could only afford to spend 20 more mana reinforcing it before the damage would start eating into his health pool.

  “Got to end this fast,” he thought, gritting his teeth as he forced himself to his feet. He turned to Loose Tooth, intending to yell something to snap the goblin out of his stupor, but the words died in his throat.

  Cromus’s stomach dropped as he saw Kaazz step forward, vulnerable now that Cromus was no longer drawing the monster’s ire. The Roseback’s vine-like arms whipped around in a blur, slamming into the old goblin with a sickening crack. Cromus could only watch in horror as Kaazz was sent flying through the air, landing in a crumpled heap several yards away.

  A surge of anger surged, boiling blood activating. His breath came in short, ragged gasps, his vision narrowing until the Roseback was the only thing he could see. His mana flared instinctively as his rage reached a breaking point, and before he even realized it, he’d activated Animal Affinity. The spell cost him another 50 mana, leaving him with only 30 points remaining, but he no longer cared.

  The glow of the spell enveloped his left arm, reshaping it into the savage talons of a Bearded Vulture Bear. His grip on Raging Boar tightened as his rage fueled his every motion. Letting out a roar that echoed through the clearing, Cromus charged.

  He hit the Roseback with unrelenting fury, slashing with his talons and cleaving with Raging Boar in a deadly rhythm. Vines were shredded with every strike, torn apart like dry leaves in a storm. Pieces of the creature flew in all directions as Cromus became a living blender, driven by a singular goal: to reduce the Roseback to vine mush. His movements were a whirlwind of blood and fire, raw power coursing through every strike as the Roseback recoiled under the sheer ferocity of his assault.

  The Roseback roared, its fiery core flaring wildly as Cromus’s relentless assault carved deep gashes into its vine armor. Thorny limbs lashed out like whips, seeking to entangle or strike him, but Cromus’s enhanced reflexes and raw fury kept him one step ahead. His talons tore through the vines with savage precision, while Raging Boar cleaved apart any that dared to reach too close.

  The ground around them was littered with shredded vines and broken thorns, but the Roseback showed no sign of slowing. Instead, it reared back, its bloomed roses unfurling further, releasing a thick cloud of pollen into the air. The golden mist spread rapidly, clinging to Cromus’s skin and armor. A sickly sweet scent filled his nose, and for a brief moment, his vision blurred.

  Cromus stumbled, coughing as his grip on Raging Boar faltered. The pollen clung to him like a living thing, sapping his strength. Poison? No... worse. His mana reserves ticked down with alarming speed, draining as the cloud wormed its way into his defenses. He gritted his teeth, forcing himself to move. The Roseback seized the opportunity, its massive vine arms sweeping down toward him in a crushing blow.

  At the last second, Cromus roared, summoning every ounce of his remaining strength. His talons flashed upward, catching the descending vines and halting their momentum. His legs trembled under the pressure, but he held firm, his eyes blazing with determination.

  “Fuck off… You stupid weed!” he growled through clenched teeth, forcing the vines aside with a surge of raw power. With a final, desperate effort, he launched himself forward, driving Raging Boar deep into the Roseback’s core. The fiery glow of its rose head flickered wildly, then dimmed as Cromus twisted the blade with a savage cry.

  The Roseback bellowed in agony, its massive form writhing as its vines thrashed uncontrollably. Cromus yanked his blade free, stumbling back as the creature’s movements grew more erratic. Its rose head began to collapse inward, the fiery glow within it intensifying until it became blinding.

  “Get down!” Sais shouted from the edge of the clearing, loosing one final arrow. The projectile struck the Roseback’s collapsing core, shattering it completely. Mana rushed from the core sending vines and bark rippling outward. Cromus dropped to the ground, shielding his face as the blast tore through the air.

  When it all settled, the Roseback scattered the main body unrecognizable, the remains of its once-mighty form reduced this. Cromus struggled to his feet, his body aching. His mana reserves were nearly depleted, and his limbs trembled as the adrenaline faded.

  Behind him, Kaazz groaned as Sais healed him. He pushed himself up from where he’d fallen. Ush and Jagz emerged cautiously from the bushes, their faces a mixture of relief and awe. Loose Tooth finally moved, his legs shaking as he staggered toward Cromus.

  “You... you killed it,” Loose Tooth said, his voice low with disbelief. His hands still trembled as he stared at the remains. “Thought we was gonna die.”

  Cromus wiped a mixture of sweat and vine goo from his face, leaning heavily on Raging Boar. “Well, it wasn’t what we expected,” he said, glancing at Kaazz, Sais, and the others. “But we beat it together.”

  Jagz puffed out his chest, his small frame swelling with pride. For once, the goblin’s confidence seemed well-earned, and even Cromus had to admit it looked good on him.

  Cromus chuckled weakly, the sound mingling with the tension still lingering in the air, before turning back to the ruined remains of the Roseback. Among the shredded vines, a faint glow caught his eye. He stepped closer, brushing debris aside to reveal a single object nestled within the remnants of the Roseback’s core—a red fruit, its surface glimmering faintly with an otherworldly energy.

  “What is that?” Sais asked, stepping forward, his bow still loosely gripped in one hand.

  Cromus bent down, picking up the fruit carefully, holding it up so everyone could see. Its rich crimson hue seemed to pulse faintly in his hand, almost alive. Kaazz instinctively reached out toward it, his hand trembling.

  “Cromus... please,” the old goblin said, his voice weak but filled with quiet urgency.

  Cromus glanced at Sais, who gave a small shrug. “We did this to help him,” Sais said, his tone even. “I say give it to him.”

  Without needing any more prompting, Cromus handed the fruit to Kaazz. The shaman took it reverently, his eyes wide with awe. He turned it over in his hands, inspecting it as though it were the most precious thing he’d ever seen. Then, without hesitation, Kaazz bit into the fruit savagely, juice running down his chin as he tore at it again and again.

  The others stared, stunned into silence, as the old goblin devoured the fruit with almost feral intensity. When he finally finished, his face was a mess of crimson juice and pulp, but he wore a satisfied smile that bordered on bliss.

  “What... just happened?” Jagz muttered, glancing uneasily between Kaazz and Cromus.

  Then, before anyone could speak, a strange transformation began. The wrinkles on Kaazz’s face smoothed, the deep lines around his mouth and eyes fading. His hunched posture straightened slightly. He didn’t become young exactly, but the change was undeniable.

  Cromus stepped back, his eyes wide. “THE HELL!” he blurted, his voice echoing in the clearing.

  The others stood frozen, unsure whether to be awed or terrified. Kaazz wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, his face calm and serene. For a moment, he seemed to glow faintly, his skin radiating vitality that hadn’t been there moments ago.

  “Feels... good,” Kaazz said, his voice steadier now, carrying a strength it hadn’t held in years. He looked down at his hands, flexing them as though testing their newfound energy.

  Loose Tooth broke the silence. “Well... that’s... uh... different.”

  Jagz nodded slowly, his puffed chest deflating slightly. “Yeah... we’re definitely not fighting another one of those.”

  Cromus let out a long breath, shaking his head. “We’ll figure it out later,” he said, though his gaze lingered on Kaazz with equal parts concern and curiosity. “For now, let’s get out of here before the little thornspitters think they can attack again.”

  The group began to gather themselves, their steps lighter but their minds heavy with questions. Cromus cast one last glance at the ruined remains of the Roseback before following the others, the image of Kaazz’s transformation burned into his thoughts.