"Man proposes, but God disposes."
Tempest mused to herself as she learned this lesson the hard way.
She was aware that the mutated swamp was a master of disguise and had planned to use it to humiliate Kiba. Unfortunately, her plan backfired because she was unaware that the swamp was evolving and gaining sentience.
Earlier, the swamp used to attack based on instinct alone to satisfy its hunger, but now it acted with calculated precision. It now targeted prey that was powerful and useful for its evolution. Tempest fit the bill perfectly, while Adira and Elara, who were fighting nearby, did not, as they were weak and no longer useful as sustenance.
This was why the swamp did not target them or other warriors from the last few months, even though they believed it was because they were careful.
As for Kiba, the swamp had a feeling he was indigestible. So despite the powerful lifeforce he radiated, he wasn't a target for the swamp.
Its veins and tentacles were easily mistaken for the roots of trees or some plant vines, and it was able to camouflage itself so well that even Tempest, with her extensive knowledge and experience, did not suspect a thing.
So, when Tempest cautiously made her way through the area, she believed she was avoiding any potential dangers. But suddenly, the swamp sprang into action. It sensed enough power from her to satisfy its hunger of the last few months. Its veins and tentacles burst forth from the ground, wrapping around Tempest's legs and pulling her towards its depths.
"Damn!" Tempest cursed.
The swamp was trying to consume her, claim her as its own!
But Tempest would not be defeated so easily, definitely not in the presence of a man to a swamp! She pulled the sword from her sheath and stabbed it into the ground, using it to reduce the pull of tentacles.
"Get lost!"
With a fierce shout, she summoned her power through her sword, channeling it as a massive burst of wind that struck the vines and roots, sending them flying in all directions.
Tempest jumped to her feet and wiped the dust from her armor. She looked at Kiba, wondering how she should react.
It was he who should have fallen along with his arrogance... not her!
The irony that she fell in her trap wasn't lost to her, but before she could laugh at the irony, Kiba pointed at her back.
"What?!"
She turned around, and what she saw made her face fall. The surroundings seemed to distort and change, as if they were being relocated to a different location.
"The swamp is leaving its camouflaged state!"
The swamp's true form was revealed to be a massive, grotesque creature that seemed to be made from mud and quicksand. The vines and tentacles rushed out from it, like the limbs of the creature.
"They weren't like this last time..."
Tempest looked at the thick and sinewy vines stretching high into the sky like twisted, gnarled tree trunks. On the other hand, the tentacles were long and whip-like, constantly writhing and twisting. Even the air became thick and heavy, and the light was distorted, giving everything a strange, otherworldly appearance.
"It has evolved!"
A chill ran down Tempest's spine. She felt a presence that was almost Alpha!
SWOOSH~!
The swamp resumed its attack, its vines and tentacles striking at Tempest from all directions.
Tempest was no ordinary warrior, though. She demonstrated by fighting with all her might, using her wind powers to slash through the vines and whip the tentacles away from her.
Sadly, as the battle raged on, she was eventually pushed back by the swamp's relentless attacks. The vines and tentacles seemed to grow stronger by the second, and Tempest was finding it difficult to keep up.
"What the….?!"
In the distance, Adira and Elara, who were busy fighting, also noticed the changes.
The swamp's actual form had terrified them, but when they noticed its relentless attack on Tempest, they didn't care about their fear.
They were warriors, and being low-ranked didn't matter!
They couldn't back down!
Like arrows, they charged at the swamp with everything they had. Adira's twin blades were a blur as she cut through the vines and tentacles surrounding Tempest with lightning-fast strikes. Conversely, Elara used her massive maul to bash and smash the swamp's defenses.
However, the swamp was relentless, growing more tentacles and striking at the two warriors and Tempest.
"ARGH!"
Adira and Elara smashed into the nearby trees, their weapons breaking into pieces.
WHISH!
The swamp had no interest in consuming them earlier, but now that it had used so much strength, it wouldn't mind. Tiny tentacles emerged from the swamp and started ensnaring Adira and Elara.
"NOOO!"
Tempest let out a fierce howl. She couldn't let her juniors be killed because of her stupid actions!
She let go of her sword and released her wind domain.
STAB!
Alas, before the domain could fully form, a vine stabbed through her stomach, disrupting her concentration. Her energy started flowing into the swamp!
Some distance away, Kiba was sitting on the ground, his back resting against the trunk of a broken tree.
He looked at the tentacles as they almost covered Adira and Elara, felt their hearts sink, yet their faces didn't show fear.
"Real courage… "
Kiba then glanced at Tempest.
"She's no different. The women of Eden are truly different."
Kiba couldn't help but acknowledge Ice Queen.
She might be a genocidal maniac for those who truly knew her outside Eden, but for those inside Eden, she was a source of inspiration. Perhaps this was why Eden had such brave women.
"This place will be so much fun!" Kiba's lips curved up into a smile. He was glad he made that compromise with Ice Queen.
CRACK!
The armors of Adira and Elara cracked to smithers, and the tentacles now pressed against their bare flesh.
"That swamp dares to touch their soft flesh?!"
Kiba's eyes narrowed in fury.
Those soft breasts that had never experienced the love of a man's mouth were being abused!
The swamp had the guts to take advantage of their bodies, much before he had the chance to!?
"Forgive me…"
Tempest muttered as her eyelids turned heavy.
Just then, as all hope seemed lost, she felt the vine inside her stomach tremble as if in fear.
She forcefully opened her eyes and saw Kiba stepping forward.
He raised his hand, and with a flick of his wrist, reality began to warp and bend to his will.
The vines and tentacles that threatened to consume the three warriors were frozen in place, unable to move.
Adira and Elara were shocked.
What's going on?!
They were sure the tentacles were going to feast on their flesh… but now?!
BURST!
The tentacles ensnaring them burst into pieces, as if they were exploded from inside.
Adira and Elara lost their balance and started falling.
But before they could touch the ground, arms slipped around their waist from behind, startling them.
They turned around, and when they saw the handsome face of Kiba, goosebumps erupted all over them.
"A man!"
Even the prospect of death from the swamp didn't terrify them as much as the face of Kiba did.
They now knew what it meant to be out of the frying pan and into the fire...
Kiba blinked.
"????"