Adventurer of Many Professions-Chapter 88: Surrounded By Trees!

Raymond’s senses screamed a warning. His hand instinctively went to the hilt of his sword. They had been too careless. The ’Vine Demon Trees’ weren’t the only danger in this part of the forest.

Without another word, he gestured to Sylph and Lorene, signaling them to be ready. Their eyes locked, understanding the urgency without needing to speak.

The ’Vine Demon Trees’ might be slow, but something was moving beneath them, something that was no less dangerous. And it was coming for them.

At that very moment, Raymond’s fighter instincts screamed at him ’Danger!’

His heart raced, adrenaline surging as he felt the ground shift beneath him. Without a second thought, he grabbed both Sylph and Lorene, his powerful arms hoisting them up as he leaped sideways.

’Whoosh!’

In the blink of an eye, a thick, sharp branch exploded from the earth exactly where they had just been standing, its jagged tip slicing through the air with terrifying speed. If they had been even a fraction of a second slower, the branch would have pierced through them with deadly precision, armor or not. It was a close call.

Raymond’s eyes snapped to the surroundings, and it didn’t take long to realize that one of the ’Vine Demon Trees’ had silently crept within 20 meters of them, its monstrous form looming like a silent predator. The once-dominant forest now felt much more dangerous, as if the trees themselves were watching their every move. Explore more at novelbuddy

"Back off!" Raymond’s voice cut through the tension. He yanked both of them backward, pulling them to safety, out of range of the ’Vine Demon Tree’s’ reach. But in his haste to protect them, he had left his backpack behind; an oversight that could prove costly later.

As the three of them retreated, Sylph’s eyes widened as she looked at the looming ’Vine Demon Tree’ waving its enormous branches. She was confused. "When did it get so close? It almost ’sneaked’ up on us... and now it knows how to attack?"

Before anyone could answer, Lorene’s voice rang out with alarm. "Look, they’re coming this way!" She pointed, her finger trembling slightly.

Indeed, the entire cluster of ’Vine Demon Trees’ had heard the commotion. They were moving toward them, stretching their long, spindly arms with a menacing grace. It was clear now: the trees weren’t just guarding their territory, they were prepared to drive out the intruders.

Despite having no faces, the ’Vine Demon Trees’ weren’t blind. Their "tree hearts," located deep inside the trunks, allowed them to see and hear everything around them, making them incredibly perceptive. It was like they were aware of Raymond and his team’s every move, every breath.

Sylph’s eyes widened in fear as she watched the massive trees slowly advancing. Their thick limbs swayed, resembling giant, nightmarish dancers preparing to strike. "What should we do? They’re closing in fast…"

Lorene, her face pale and her hands shaking, was already backing away. "Why don’t we just leave for now? We can come back once they’ve calmed down…"

The sheer sight of the ’Vine Demon Trees’ was enough to rattle anyone, especially considering their terrifying size and the sheer number of branches. But Raymond, ever calm under pressure, surveyed the advancing trees with a focused expression.

"No, we’re not running." He let out a short, confident laugh.

He pointed behind the group of ’Vine Demon Trees’, catching the attention of Sylph and Lorene. As the trees moved, their giant forms shifted, revealing a hidden clearing behind them. And in that clearing? ’Red’ spots, numerous red spots scattered across the ground like a patch of vibrant jewels amidst the sea of green.

Blood-red, unmistakable, and gleaming under the filtered sunlight.

"’Blood Vine Grass!’" Raymond said, his voice filled with excitement.

Sylph’s eyes locked onto the plants, and she gasped. "So many! There must be at least ten of them!"

The trio’s hearts raced as they realized the incredible opportunity in front of them. "If we harvest all of these ’Blood Vine Grasses’, our mission will be complete! We’ve hit the jackpot!" Sylph’s voice was full of determination.

Lorene’s face lit up with excitement. "Yes! Finally!"

But Raymond, ever the strategist, quickly brought them back to reality. "It’s the central area of the ’Vine Demon Trees’. Sneaking around won’t work. These trees won’t let us just take the ’Blood Vine Grass’ without a fight." He paused for a moment, letting the gravity of the situation sink in. "So, what do you want to do now? Run?"

Without hesitation, both Sylph and Lorene shook their heads, a newfound resolve in their eyes. They had already invested too much time and effort to back down now.

"No more running!" Sylph declared boldly, clutching her magic wand tightly. "We’ve come this far, and we’re not turning back now!"

Raymond gave them a smile of approval, nodding. "Good. But first, we need a plan." His mind quickly spun into action. "Sylph, I want you to wait until the ’Vine Demon Trees’ get about ten meters closer. That’s when we’ll make our move. Use your explosion magic at the spot where they’re most densely packed. The rest… I’ll handle."

Sylph’s eyes sparkled with confidence. She had been itching for a challenge, and now it seemed like she would get the perfect opportunity. "Got it! I’ll blow them to pieces!"

Lorene, still a little shaken but clearly steeling herself for what was to come, nodded in agreement. "We’ll follow your lead, Raymond."

With the plan set, the tension in the air was palpable. Raymond motioned for the two of them to stay behind him as he positioned himself in the safest area. The ’Vine Demon Trees’ were closing in, their slow march relentless, but Raymond and his team were ready.

As Sylph prepared her explosive magic and Lorene steadied herself, Raymond’s hand gripped the hilt of his sword, his muscles tense with anticipation.

Raymond’s instincts were razor-sharp as he assessed the situation. He knew that waiting for the ’Vine Demon Trees’ to come closer by another ten meters was critical. If Sylph unleashed her explosive magic too soon, she risked destroying the ’Blood Vine Grass’ they had worked so hard to find. That would be a devastating loss, one that could set them back significantly. The tension in the air was palpable, but Raymond trusted Sylph’s patience.

With a quick glance to make sure the two were ready, Raymond raised his sword high. Without a moment’s hesitation, he charged toward the ’Vine Demon Tree’ that had nearly skewered them moments ago.

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As Raymond dashed forward, the ’Vine Demon Tree’ responded with frightening speed. Its two long, thick arms sank into the soil, disappearing from view as the remaining two lashes violently toward Raymond. The branches whipped through the air like serpents, determined to crush anything in their path.

Raymond’s fighter instincts kicked in, honed through countless battles. He ducked low, his body twisting with impressive agility to avoid the first strike. The second branch came at him from the opposite direction, and he leapt into a swift roll, narrowly evading the deadly assault.

’Chi! Chi! Chi!’ The unmistakable sound of something shifting beneath the ground echoed in his ears.

Raymond’s foot dug into the dirt as he sprang to the side, barely escaping a sharp branch that shot from the earth like a spear.

’Bang!’

The sharp branch struck the ground where he had just been, sending a cloud of dirt into the air. But before Raymond could fully regain his balance, another branch erupted from the soil just a few feet away, this time coming straight for him.

It seemed unavoidable.

Raymond’s heart raced, but he twisted his body with a move that defied logic. The branch’s jagged tip grazed the side of his waist, cutting into the leather armor but missing his skin by mere inches. A cold sweat trickled down his back as he exhaled sharply, narrowly escaping death’s grasp.

’Whoosh! Whoosh!’

Just as Raymond thought he had a moment to breathe, the two remaining long arms from the ground launched at him again. This time, there was no room to dodge.

Raymond hissed through his teeth. "No choice."

Gripping the hilt of his sword with both hands, his arm muscles bulged, preparing for the fight of his life. He roared with fierce determination. "Hah!"

With a swift motion, the blade sliced through the air, meeting the oncoming branches with a powerful diagonal strike. ’Swish! Swish!’ The two thick arms shattered in midair with an explosive crack, severed cleanly by Raymond’s skilled strike.

But the battle was far from over.

Despite the loss of its arms, the ’Vine Demon Tree’ was far from helpless. It waved its remaining stumps in fury, and even though the limbs had been severed, they were still long enough to lash at Raymond. He danced around them, evading the blows with uncanny grace.

In that moment, Raymond realized that the two underground arms had no time to return to defense, leaving the ’Vine Demon Tree’ exposed.

Taking full advantage of the opening, Raymond closed the distance, charging directly toward the ’Vine Demon Tree’ with his sword held high. He planted his feet firmly, ready for the decisive strike.

With his sword aimed squarely between the upper and lower arms of the ’Vine Demon Tree’, Raymond knew exactly where to strike. This was the tree’s weakest point, the heart of the ’Vine Demon Tree’, the very core of its being. Destroying it would mean the tree’s death.

"Die!" Raymond shouted, his voice a mix of fury and focus.

With one powerful thrust, Raymond pushed his sword deep into the tree trunk. He could feel the resistance as the blade met the dense wood, but with the strength of his warrior’s body and the precise technique of a seasoned swordsman, the resistance shattered like glass.

’Swish!’ The sword drove through the ’Vine Demon Tree’, slicing through the tough bark like it was butter. The tree’s heart was punctured, and Raymond twisted the sword viciously, widening the wound.

The ’Vine Demon Tree’ trembled violently, its limbs thrashing as if in its final moments of defiance. With a sickening crack, the massive creature fell to the ground with a resounding thud. The leaves on its branches withered instantly, turning from vibrant green to a sickly yellow.

It was dead.