Banished from the herd, I was actually a member of a very rare species. ~With the unique skills that only I can use, I can grow and evolve quickly. I will become an unrivaled monster~ - Episode 66: Forest Turtle 2

Episode 71: Forest Turtle 2

“(I’ve lost over two hundred |Life| points… Even with my [Mollusk Body] resistance to blunt attacks, this is insane.)”

After the Forest Turtle flew over the hill, I quickly checked my |Status|. Even with the shield, it seemed the defense-piercing effect had worked, and my |Life| had dropped significantly. My cells necrotized into a gooey mess, but thanks to the [Storage], they regenerated almost immediately.

“(Well, as long as it’s this much, it won’t affect the fight at all. [Jump]!)”

With a powerful jump, I cleared the hill and chased after the Forest Turtle. On the other side of the hill was a cliff, with nothing but a barren wasteland stretching out below. The entire area was stripped bare, not even a single weed in sight. I had thoroughly dissolved and purified this land with [Decomposition Liquid], then used [Factory] and [Weapon Creation] to compress and harden the surface into a massive, durable shield. No plants could take root here again.

“Gyuruuoo…!”

The heavy thud of the Forest Turtle’s landing echoed across the wasteland. Using its shell’s vines and tree trunks, it slowed its descent. Its four legs seemed unharmed by the impact. This was all as expected. The Forest Turtle had over 900 |Toughness|. I didn’t expect a fall like that to hurt it.

Throwing it from the hill wasn’t to deal fall damage, anyway.

“([Aerial Jump], [Impact], [Charge Thrust]!)”

I dove straight down, targeting the turtle with my defense-piercing greatsword. I didn’t have the height or the [Assassination] boost like before, but the [Consecutive Hits] bonus was sufficient.

“Gryuu!”

Realizing it couldn’t dodge in time, the Forest Turtle grew the trees on its shell into a shield and covered them with a net of vines. However, it was pointless. The trees and vines were still part of the Turtle’s body, so the greatsword’s defense-piercing effect worked on them. The vine net was sliced through like threads, and the tree shield met the same fate. 

With an unpleasant metallic screech, my sword drove deep into the Turtle’s shell.

“Gwoah!”

The incredible force of the blow made the Forest Turtle collapse to its knees, and the ground cracked slightly under the pressure. But the sheer power was too much even for my greatsword, which shattered under the strain.

“([Jump]!)”

Without pressing my attack, I quickly retreated. Last time I had kept attacking and paid for it with a counterstrike. This time, I’d avoid overextending. Using [Receiving], I landed softly and locked eyes with the Forest Turtle.

“Gryururur!”

“([Replicant Form])”

Now that I had gained enough distance, I formed six poison whips. This was where the real fight began.

“([Whip], Double!)”

I launched a [Weapon Skill] with two of the whips. Their tips lashed out so fast that they were barely visible, leaving cuts on the Forest Turtle’s legs.

“([Whip], Double! [Whip], Double!)”

I followed up with consecutive [Weapon Skills]. The Forest Turtle, despite its bulky appearance, was surprisingly agile. It made it hard to aim accurately at its face or legs. But even if I hit its shell, the [Consecutive Hits] count would still rise, so it didn’t matter.

“Grur!”

“([Instant Shift]!)”

The turtle dodged through the barrage of whips and charged at me. I immediately stopped my attack and narrowly avoided the rush. The vines it sent to attack me next were met with my defense-piercing greatsword.

“(Huh?)”

I managed to cut the vines, but my greatsword shattered in return, turning back into necrotized cells. The greatsword made from the Grand Beast was weaker in durability. I’d need to avoid using it unless I was sure I could land a solid hit.

“([Replicant Form])”

I reformed a poison sword for defense while still using my poison whips. With rapid strikes, I shredded all the vines the Forest Turtle extended. With my [Multi-Sword Style], I had the advantage in these volume-based battles. Taking advantage of another charge, I cracked my whip across the Forest Turtle’s face.

For a moment, the Turtle emitted a faint green light, then it charged at me again. The way it kicked off the ground so forcefully showed no signs of being affected by the poison whips.

“(That [Seven Herbs Blessing] is troublesome.)”

The [Seven Herbs Blessing] was the Forest Turtle’s [Skill] that neutralized Status Ailments. It was frustrating that my Poison was being nullified. But the fact that it had used that skill meant its |Mana| was also depleting. So it wasn’t entirely in vain.

“Grur!”

“([Instant Shift]!)”

I continued dodging and dealing damage with my whips. At first, the Forest Turtle had recklessly charged at me. But now it was beginning to show signs of caution, scanning its surroundings.

Normally, by this point, the area should have been overrun with plants. In fact, the [Sea of Forest] still had the advantage. But there wasn’t even a single sprout growing here yet.

“([Replicant Form], [Charge Slash], [Charge Thrust]!)”

Taking advantage of the Forest Turtle’s distraction, I charged at it with a full set of Hydra weapons.

However, the Forest Turtle calmly spun its body halfway and unleashed a high-speed tail strike. Its long, powerful tail was unlike that of a normal turtle, fully conveying the force of its |Power|. I instinctively swung my poison sword. A hard, metallic sound rang out, as if I had struck something far harder than flesh. The poison sword cut through the thick, sturdy tail halfway. But it couldn’t fully stop the impact. Unable to completely deflect the enormous force, I was blown sideways.

“([Aerial Jump]!)”

But I quickly kicked off the air and corrected my course back toward the Forest Turtle. I couldn’t afford to give it any breathing room—if I did, the [Sea of Forest] would start regenerating. As a countermeasure against the [Sea of Forest], I had turned the ground in this area into a shield during my preparation time. Just like grass doesn’t grow on paved roads, I had hardened the soil to the level of steel, blocking any seeds or roots from taking hold. 

However, such a simple trick wouldn’t last if the Forest Turtle noticed it. If it figured out what was going on, it could easily escape back to the forest, and that would be game over. That’s why I had to keep up the pressure and not give it any chance.

“([Compact Thrust]!)”

I thrust my poison spear forward, but it was blocked by a tree trunk that extended from its shell. I immediately aimed a whip at its face while simultaneously raising a hammer. Swinging multiple weapons at once, I clashed with the turtle’s trees and vines dozens of times in the blink of an eye. 

To close the gap in |Status| between the Forest Turtle and me, I had reduced all my attacks to [Compact]-type [Weapon Skills]. Along with the [Consecutive Hits] bonus and the support from [Dominion], the battle was tipping in my favor. My current Additional Effects were ‘Skillful’, ‘Sharpness’, and ‘Absorb’—boosting my [Weapon Skills], enhancing cutting power, and absorbing |Mana|. Thanks to this triple boost, I was winning the slugfest.

Gradually, the tide turned. The Forest Turtle began to back away, step by step, as if trying to escape my range. Not letting it get away, I closed the distance, and my chain attacks grew even fiercer. 

That’s when I noticed it—|Mana| was gathering in the Forest Turtle’s right rear leg. It was hard to see since it was in the shadow of its body, but it seemed like it was lifting its right rear leg—

In that instant, a flashback of my battle with the Giant Bear came to mind.

Back then, when the Giant Bear gathered |Mana| in its leg, it used it to manipulate the ground and launch me into the air. The memory flashed across my mind, and in the next moment, I leaped.

“Gryuaaah!”

Almost simultaneously, the Forest Turtle’s rear leg slammed down. The sound it made was like the crash of its earlier landing but magnified many times over. The ground around the Forest Turtle shook violently, cracking apart as deep fissures rapidly spread outwards. The overwhelming shockwave churned the earth, causing it to collapse and rise in various places.

“(…This must be the [Tortoise Earthquake].)”

It was a [Skill] that used |Mana| to expand the attack’s range. With the Forest Turtle’s |Power| surpassing 1000, it was capable of causing such large-scale destruction. I couldn’t help but be awestruck by its sheer force.

“(But the real danger isn’t just that…)”

The destruction had shattered the shield I’d made from the surface, causing it to lose its strength and effectiveness as a weapon. It could no longer block the roots from invading. As I fell, I looked down and saw countless plants already sprouting from the cracks in the broken shield.