Having caught up with the S Rank Monster and even managed to spot Verdell splitting off from the rest of the adventurers as he had the monster chase after him alone while giving the rest of the adventurers the opportunity to escape, Scaly stopped herself from jumping forward to save Verdell.
Not because she had decided to give up on completing the quest that had been given to her, but instead because she felt curious about what this dwarf was planning by splitting off from the rest of the adventurers, as it almost seemed to her like this little dwarf was intending to take on the powerful monster far stronger than him on his own.
Given the fact that she had already personally witnessed how powerful the magic of this dwarf was back in the dreamscape, she felt like this was a very real possibility and thus ended up holding herself back from attacking the living swamp log in the shape of a giant wolf. After all, it might be difficult to befriend Verdell and complete the quest if she stole his prey from him.
At the very least, that was how she would have thought if someone suddenly stole her prey and so, she decided to just silently follow behind the two from afar without interfering…
This is… Weird… Why hasn't he attacked it yet?
But as the chase through the pine tree forest continued, Scaly realized that the little dwarf showed no intention of attacking the monster chasing him. Instead, looking more like he was doing his best to avoid clashing with the monster as he used all his strength to run away.
Feeling increasingly confused about what she was witnessing as she suddenly saw Verdell jumping off the edge of the natural bridge between two towering mountains-
Awwwoooo-!
Whoosh-!
Only to see the living swamp log howling loudly filled with killing intent before suddenly shrinking a bit while at the same time sprouting a pair of murky green wings that it then used to chase after the escaping Verdell.
Yes. Escaping.
It was only at this moment that Scaly realized that Verdell wasn't in the process of setting up a perfect and deadly attack but instead in the process of escaping from the living swamp log now in the shape of a winged wolf.
And realizing that he was in fact escaping from the living swamp log and not trying to set up some kind of elaborate ambush was something that made Scaly feel a sense of growing excitement. After all, it meant that there would be no problem with her stepping in to kill the monster.
On the other hand, her stepping in to kill the living swamp log in the shape of a flying wolf might end up having a positive effect when it came to establishing a friendship with Verdell. In other words, she would be able to kill two birds with only one stone.
Whoosh~!
Not wasting a second after this realization hit her, Scaly no longer bothered hiding herself and happily jumped off the natural bridge after the winged wolf that was already close to reaching Verdell. Feeling confident that she would be able to easily take care of this monster now that it had willingly jumped into the air.
At the end of the day, though it had managed to grow a pair of wings and gained the ability to fly, it was clear from a glance to Scaly that this living swamp log was abysmal when it came to flying. Meaning she would be able to easily play around with this inexperienced monster who had seemingly entered a weakened state to chase after Verdell-
Swish-!
BANG
And before the winged wolf even had the time to react, Scaly made full use of her momentum. Accelerating even more with the use of wind magic before slamming into the winged wolf. Directly piercing its soft exterior. Making direct contact with the true body of the living swamp log hidden inside the exterior shell made of algae.
The living swamp log didn't even have the time to react to this sudden and unexpected ambush, as the winged wolf form dissolved around it as it began falling from the sky alongside Scaly, who had by now started using her claws to try and tear apart the wooden log that was the main body of the living swamp log. Completely ignoring the tendrils of algae that began trying to pry her off, as she realized almost immediately that the living swamp log was unable to make use of its full strength without any plants nearby.
Even if placed somewhere without plants, it was clear that it should have also been capable of using earth magic, but midair, it was at a complete disadvantage, as both its plant magic and earth magic had been severely weakened. Essentially making it impossible for it to mount a proper defense against Scaly, who by now tore off a sizable chunk of the wooden log and threw it aside after ensuring that it was no longer connected to the living swamp log.
Craaaack~
And as she successfully managed to pry apart the core of the living swamp log with her claws only a few hundred meters from the ground, Scaly felt the living swamp log firmly under her control start going berserk. Struggling violently, as the tendrils of algae became more aggressive in their vain attempts to break through her scales.
But even though the algae tendrils began using far more strength to try and pry her off the log itself, it was of no use, as the overall strength didn't increase by much.
Let alone pry her off, the tendrils barely had the strength to scratch her scales. After all, they were made of algae and weren't exactly suited for getting through something as tough as her scales.
Still, Scaly didn't dare to slow down as she continued ripping apart the wooden swamp log trying to pry apart the core that had caused it to go on a rampage the second she began getting close to it. Understanding that the only reason why everything was proceeding so smoothly was because she was up in the air where this powerful monster couldn't leverage its powerful plant magic against her, something that would undoubtedly change the second it got close to the ground.
Rumble~
In fact, as she looked towards the fast-approaching ground below, she realized that the living swamp log was already exerting its influence on the surrounding foliage and trees below, causing them to grow rapidly upwards towards the two of them in a clear attempt to prevent her from prying apart the core of the living swamp log… And at the same time also provide the living swamp log with a much-needed piercing power capable of getting through her scales.
After all, those rapidly growing trees had conveniently shaped themselves into massive spear heading towards her at a terrifying speed-
CRAAAAACK-!
[Gained 41.068 Exp]
[*Ding* Reached level 21]
Unfortunately, before those towering trees now over a hundred meters tall could get to the living swamp log, Scaly managed to successfully pry open the core of the living swamp log. Killing it the second the core keeping it alive was torn in half.
As for the towering tree now only a dozen or so meters from reaching her… Scaly managed to just barely let go of the now dead living swamp log and flap her wings and take to the sky before she ended up being skewered by those towering trees now shaped like spears.
The remaining body of the living swamp log was not exactly making her feel the slightest bit interested, as it was ultimately a log of wood. Not something she could eat, causing her to completely disregard it after she made sure it was dead.
An action that would have enraged any adventurer who saw it and knew about the living swamp log, as this log was by far the most precious part of the living swamp log and a well-known material among S Rank Adventurers for crafting powerful weapons. Be it for a mage staff or a sword handle, this kind of material was considered of the highest quality.
Not that Scaly would have cared much about it even if she knew, as she didn't exactly have any use for the material in the first place.
Instead of the remains of the living swamp log that had by now hit the ground and rolled into a nearby river that had been passing under the natural bridge she had originally jumped off, Scaly was far more focused on catching up with Verdell, who was still gliding forward without showing any signs of stopping.
Knowing that she had to act fast to catch him, as he had already drifted towards the edge of the mountain range where it was likely for him to encounter other adventurers who might take the chance to jump up and take him away before she had the chance to befriend him and complete the quest, something she absolutely couldn't allow!