Nyxia frowned. "Miko, where can we find the herb?"
Miko floated around thoughtfully before replying, "Hmm… It should be available at a pharmacy." "Do you have money?"Miko asked.
Nyxia's face went blank. "No."
"Then what are you asking me for?!" Miko huffed dramatically. "We'll have to find it ourselves in this forest."
Nyxia "Sigh..Where do we start?"
Miko's eyes flickered slightly as he said in a more serious tone. "This herb grows near water sources with high humidity. So, our best bet is to locate a river or a lake first."
Nyxia nodded. "Alright, then let's find the water source."
But just as she was about to take a step, Miko's voice turned grave. "Wait. You need to be prepared."
She turned to him, slightly puzzled. "Prepared for what?"
Miko hovered closer, his usually playful eyes turning sharp. "This herb is a Tier 2 spiritual plant, which means it always has a guardian beast protecting it. The beast's strength usually matches the herb's tier… so we'll likely face a Tier 2 guardian beast."
Nyxia's throat went dry. A Tier 2 beast? She had barely started fighting Tier 1 creatures properly, and now she had to deal with something stronger?
Sensing her hesitation, Miko's glow softened. "Don't panic just yet. We're not walking into a death trap." Then, with a mischievous smirk, he added, "At least, not intentionally."
Nyxia shot him a glare. "Not funny."
Miko chuckled. "All I'm saying is, you better be ready. If we're doing this, we play smartly."
Nyxia clenched her fists, inhaling deeply. This was her path to getting stronger. There was no turning back now.
"Then let's go."
Miko floated around Nyxia, his golden glow flickering slightly as he spoke. "Listen, we don't have to fight it head-on. That would be foolish."
Nyxia raised an eyebrow. "Then what's the plan?"
Miko smirked, his big eyes gleaming with mischief. "We outsmart it."
Nyxia crossed her arms, waiting for him to explain.
"I can conceal your aura," Miko continued. "If the beast can't sense you, it won't see you as a threat. You just have to sneak in, grab the herb, and get out before it notices."
Nyxia nodded slowly. "Sounds simple enough."
Miko's glow dimmed slightly as he added, "But there's a catch."
"Of course, there is," Nyxia muttered.
"I can only mask your presence for a quarter of an hour," Miko admitted. "After that, you'll be fully exposed. If you're still there when the concealment fades…"
Nyxia took a deep breath, her fingers tightening into fists. "So, we have to be quick."
"Exactly," Miko said. "Get in, grab the herb, and get out. No unnecessary movements, no distractions."
Nyxia nodded. "Alright. Let's do this."
They started their journey to find the herb.
Nyxia and Miko moved cautiously through the dense forest, searching for a water source. As they ventured deeper, they encountered a spirit rat, a creature twice the size of a normal rat, with gleaming red eyes and sharp, menacing teeth. Nyxia immediately became vigilant.
Miko had already warned her, "These rats always attack in groups, so be careful."
Without hesitation, Nyxia clenched her fists and faced the spirit rat with confidence. She knew she couldn't afford to wait and let it summon reinforcements. Taking a decisive step forward, she launched a punch straight at the rat's head.
The spirit rat reacted swiftly, dodging her attack with ease. It turned to look at Nyxia, its beady eyes filled with disdain, as if mocking her slow movements.
However, before it could make another move, Nyxia's body twisted sharply, her foot digging into the ground as she used the momentum to pivot and launch a powerful side attack. The rat's eyes widened in shock—it hadn't expected such speed! Before it could even react, her fist connected with its neck, crushing its spine instantly. The creature collapsed, lifeless, never understanding how this seemingly ordinary human had moved so fast.
Nyxia wasted no time and quickly collected the rat's body. Its teeth were incredibly strong, a valuable material that could be sold for a decent price. She couldn't afford to waste resources—after all, she was dirt poor. Every little opportunity to make money mattered, whether big or small.
Miko's eyes sparkled as he watched her loot the corpse. "I love collecting spoils from battle too! Let's make money together, okay?" he said excitedly.
Nyxia smirked but didn't respond. With the body secured, they resumed their search for the herb.
After three hours of searching, Nyxia's steps slowed as she glanced around the dense surroundings. They had unknowingly reached the boundary between the periphery and the middle layer of the forest. The deeper layers of the forest were far more dangerous, home to beasts that she was not yet ready to face.
Nyxia let out a sigh. "Miko, maybe the herb isn't in this forest after all," she muttered, disappointment lacing her voice.