Nothing stood out to her. If there was something strange, it escaped her notice—likely due to her inexperience.
A pang of disappointment settled in her chest as she shook her head and turned back to Larry. She understood what he was trying to teach her but felt frustrated at her own lack of awareness.
Larry's voice was patient yet firm.
"Deer are prey animals, constantly hunted by a variety of predators. Since they lack natural defences, they move in herds—more eyes and ears increase their chances of detecting danger. A herd also ensures their young have better survival rates."
He paused; his gaze steady. "Now think. A herd usually consists of both bucks and does. So, what's strange about this one?"
"I don't see any fawns in the herd," she observed after a moment of thought.
"Nor are there any bucks… except one." Larry's gaze swept their surroundings, his expression sharpening.
He reached for his belt, selecting a potion with a deep purple hue. "Take out my shield from the inventory," he instructed before bringing the potion to his lips. "Then stay hidden until we've taken care of the beast."
Liz nodded, pressing her lips into a thin line of determination. Raising her right hand to the side, she activated a skill for the first time since entering the forest.
{Inventory}
A rare ability from the Space and Time series—powerful but absurdly demanding in mana. Sweat beaded on her forehead as the skill drained a chunk of her energy.
With effort, she materialized a full-body shield that weighed nearly half as much as she did.
It was rhombus-shaped, forged from an iron-mithril alloy, its gold-trimmed edges contrasting against a silver-coated surface.
A helm-shaped engraving adorned the center, gleaming under the filtered sunlight.
Larry accepted the shield with ease, strapping it onto his arm before giving her an approving nod. "Good. Now hide."
He didn't wait for a reply. With practiced ease, he moved toward the herd, posture low, steps silent—one with the shadows of the forest.
{Stealth}
Larry's figure melted from perception as he darted forward, weaving between trees and rocks to obscure his approach.
{Haste}
Tip-tap.
The soft splash of his boots against the water broke the forest's stillness. The herd reacted instantly—panic rippled through them, sending the creatures into a frenzied retreat.
Larry surged ahead, closing the distance. His leather armor and metallic shield, though weighty, barely slowed him thanks to his mana-infused speed.
Grrrr…
A low, menacing growl vibrated through the clearing, filled with latent aggression. The sound came from his left, where the head of the herd had once stood.
There it was.
A towering monstrosity with glowing crystal antlers, each longer than his arm, stood amidst the stampeding deer, its piercing gaze locked onto him—unblinking, calculating.
Snarl.
A guttural, bone-rattling sound erupted from its throat, baring hundreds of bloodstained teeth.
Larry shifted his stance, his focus solely on the beast. The herd had never been his target.
He raised his sword, his shield steady—ready to put an end to this creature.
The monster's eyes burned with rage. With a deep huff, it charged, lowering its head.
Crystal antlers gleamed in the sunlight, pointed straight at him.
{Mana Reinforcement}
Larry braced himself, planting his feet firmly into the ground. He didn't flinch, even as the beast's charge transitioned into a powerful three-meter leap—its crystal antlers aimed straight at him.
Clang!
Shield met antlers in a deafening impact. The force sent Larry skidding back half a dozen steps, his boots carving trenches into the dirt.
{Wind Blessing (Sword)}
He retaliated instantly. His blade, enhanced by the spell, came crashing down on the beast's antlers. The strike barely left a mark.
Unlike the fragile Leafwing Monkeys, this vampiric creature had a natural armor too formidable for casual strikes to break through.
{Ball Lightning}
A crackling orb of lightning, the size of Jane's head, surged toward the creature. But the beast was no fool. It twisted mid-air, dodging with uncanny agility before landing several meters away.
Clever.
Its glowing eyes flicked between Larry and Jane, calculating, analyzing.
Choosing its next prey.
Snort.
A sharp expulsion of breath, accompanied by a flick of the nose, signaled the creature's irritation.
Larry didn't hesitate. He surged forward, closing the distance in an instant. {Mana Reinforcement} coursed through his body, enhancing his speed and strength beyond human limits.
Wind swirled around his blade, sharpening its lethality.
The beast's antlers flared with a brilliant blue hue—a warning.
A frigid beam erupted from them, streaking toward the charging warrior.
{Lightning Bolt}
Jane's spell shot forward, crackling through the air. It met the icy beam mid-flight, colliding in a burst of light. Not as destructive as her earlier attacks, but fast enough to intercept the deadly magic before it could freeze Larry solid.
Larry surged into the smoke, his body low, speed increasing.
Then—Thud.
His blade sliced clean through the buck's front leg. Black, corrosive blood sprayed in all directions as the beast tumbled forward, a shriek of agony ripping from its throat.
Larry's sword spun in his grip, already poised for the finishing blow. Their eyes locked in a fleeting moment of recognition—predator and prey—as the beast fell.
Mana surged into his blade, its glow intensifying, amplifying the razor-sharp edge.
The buck lunged, jaws parting wide, rows of jagged teeth gleaming—one last act of defiance.
It clamped down on his shoulder just as the sword cleaved through its neck.
A sickening crunch.
Larry grunted, staggering back. His shield clattered to the ground as searing pain exploded through his body. His free hand flew to the wound, blood seeping through his fingers. Flesh torn. Bone shattered.
And the venom… already spreading.
Jane rushed to his side, a potion vial already uncorked in her palm. Worry flickered in her eyes as she poured half the liquid over his open wound, the mixture sizzling faintly on contact. She pressed the rest of the bottle into his hands.
"Drink," she ordered.
Larry took it with a small, strained smile. "Don't worry. I already took an anti-toxin before the fight." He tried to sound reassuring, but the sharp edge of pain in his voice betrayed him.
Jane frowned. "You're still injured. Even with potions, bone takes time to mend. Let's not tempt fate—finish what we came here for and get to safety."
He nodded, exhaling through clenched teeth as he passed her his sword. Slumping against a tree, he allowed himself a moment to rest while Jane and Liz set to work.
The two moved with practiced efficiency, carefully extracting the mana stone from the beast's chest. Its corrosive blood bubbled ominously, forcing them to remain precise and cautious. Once the crystal antlers were safely secured, they stepped back.
Larry glanced at the remains. If it had been any other creature, he might have regretted leaving so much behind. But this was a vampiric beast—its body would soon decay into nothing, leaving only the parts they had salvaged.
"Let's move," Jane said, packing the last of their spoils.
Larry exhaled, bracing himself for the journey back. They had what they came for. Now, they just had to make it home.
Liz safely stored their loot and the shield in her inventory before they set off toward the village.
Had they lingered just a moment longer, they might have witnessed something far more terrifying than the beast they had just slain.