When I became a 〖Feral Beast〗 and gained a 〖Territory〗, I obtained fragmented knowledge about 〖Zone Control〗.
That’s why I was able to refine 〖Mana〗 without hesitation when I used 〖Territory〗 for the first time.
Whether that was a hidden effect of a 〖Skill〗 or an instinct as a Demon Beast is uncertain, but there are more important things now.
One of the pieces of knowledge I gained from 〖Evolution〗 is about the collision of 〖Zone Control〗.
〖Zone Control〗 is a force field that rewrites the environment and laws.
And 〖Zone Control〗 cannot overlap. If multiple 〖Zone Control〗 are established in the same location, it becomes a battle for territory.
A powerful shockwave seems to occur at that time, and if that were to happen, it was inevitable that the Forest Turtle would awaken, so I had cut off the 〖Armory〗 before entering the 〖Great Forest Sea〗.
But, alas. Now that the Forest Turtle has awakened, that is meaningless.
I can’t let the Forest Turtle have the advantage of 〖Zone Control〗 all to itself.
I quickly refined 〖Mana〗.
“(Here I go, 〖Territory〗!)”
~Unidentified Information Recording Area~
…
War-Inducing Weapon Creation, Fue Toukouya has activated 〖Territory〗.
〖Zone Control: Armory〗 has come into contact with The Forest Shackle Wielder, Dwazov’s 〖Zone Control: Great Forest Sea〗.
The Kai-Geki Phenomenon has occurred.
…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A violent shockwave ran through the forest, shaking the trees and plants.
At the same time, a response came from the 〖Zone Control〗.
“(Whoa, it’s heavy!?)”
It felt like pushing a large tree by hand.
It wouldn’t budge with just a little bit of force.
I knew it, but I was at a disadvantage in the clash of 〖Zone Control〗.
Compared to the Forest Turtle’s vast sphere of influence, the land that the 〖Armory〗 could control was tiny.
“(But I was able to incorporate the area around me into the 〖Armory〗)”
I watch the plants and flowers turn into weapons with a crackling sound.
Even though I’ll be moving locations, it’s good news to know that my abilities work here.
“Guguruu…”
As the Forest Turtle groaned, the roots of the Great Tree began to move on their own. It’s a 〖Skill〗 that manipulates plants.
Several roots quickly stretched into the air and rained down in a mountain-like trajectory.
“(With this much distance, they won’t hit me!)”
Normally, a creature could avoid the mountain-like trajectory by moving out of sight, but unfortunately, that doesn’t work on a slime.
I move right, left, and back, dodging the attacks while also counterattacking.
“(〖Compact Shot〗, double!)”
With 〖Multi-Weapon Style〗, I simultaneously fire poison arrows from two poison bows—they’re more like ballistas than bows—.
The roots of the Great Tree moved to defend, but the poison arrows, which used a whole Hydra fang, easily pierced through the roots.
“Guryuaa!”
However, they didn’t pierce the Forest Turtle.
Vines extending from the shell’s forest intercepted the two poison arrows.
Perhaps because they are part of the Forest Turtle, they are incredibly hard despite being thinner than the roots of the Great Tree.
“(Well, it’s within expectations. 〖Compact Shot〗, double!)”
I don’t think that such a jab-level attack would be effective.
As planned, I shoot poison arrows while running away.
The Forest Turtle’s average 〖Stats〗 are approaching 900, but its 〖Speed〗 is a low 700. If it’s a pure speed comparison, I have the advantage with 〖Flee〗 and 〖Rampage〗.
In fact, even with the trees in the overgrown area hindering my progress, the distance is not closing at all.
But, of course, it’s not just blindly chasing me.
“Girushaa!”
“(Tch, 〖Mossy Turtle’s Blink〗, huh?)”
When the Forest Turtle lets out a cry, the trees in my path instantly bulk up. It’s a 〖Skill〗 that forcibly grows plants.
The already dense trees have grown huge, forming a tight, seamless scrum.
“(Go around… no, it’s too wide, and the time loss would be huge.)”
However, it’s impossible to forcefully mow them down with the 〖Feral Beast〗’s physique and 〖Power〗 like the previous trees.
This wall of trees cannot be broken through with half-hearted force.
“(Then it’s time for not half-hearted force! 〖Replicant Form〗, 〖Charge Swing〗!)”
I mimic the Hydra’s poison hammer and activate the 〖Weapon Skill〗.
With a force incomparable to before, I kick off the ground and swing the poison hammer with all the momentum of the charge.
A roar echoes, and there’s a brief stalemate. Immediately after, it was the large trees that broke.
Two or three of them are snapped together, and I slip through the gap and move forward.
The gap I forced open was too narrow for the Forest Turtle to pass through, but it wouldn’t have any trouble there.
Since it can manipulate plants with 〖Skill: Green is in My Hands〗, the large trees were forced to open a path when the Forest Turtle approached.
“(Alright, I’m out of the overgrown area!)”
I let out a cry of joy as I leave the area with a strong influence from the 〖Great Forest Sea〗.
Since the range of the 〖Great Forest Sea〗 moves as the Forest Turtle moves, the plants around here are also rapidly growing, but it’s much easier to move than before.
“(〖Compact Shot〗, double! 〖Compact Shot〗, double! 〖Compact Shot〗, double!)”
Since I have some leeway, I fire poison arrows in rapid succession.
The Forest Turtle was also firing branch arrows and life force bullets, but since 〖Budding Collapse〗 doesn’t activate with long-range attacks, I could concentrate on attacking.
“(Oh, 〖Combo〗 is kicking in)”
Most of the poison arrows were being blocked by the vines extending from the shell, but it seems that they are also considered part of the Forest Turtle.
The poison arrows that were initially knocked down by the vines have now increased in power to the point where they are repelling the vines that catch them.
There are countless vines, and they regenerate immediately even if they are cut off, so there is no progress in terms of 〖Life〗.
But it’s enough just to be able to strengthen the 〖Combo〗 bonus.
I wanted to inflict 〖Poison〗 if possible, but it seems that it can’t be done from the vines.
Just like it’s meaningless to soak human hair in poison, 〖Poison〗 can only be applied from parts that have blood or cells.
“Guryuu…”
I sense a thoughtful aura from the Forest Turtle.
When it comes to 〖Feral Beast〗 class, both 〖Challenge〗 and 〖Bewitching Glimmer〗 are less effective. If I continue to force this monotonous situation, it will probably make a move to break through it somewhere.
That’s why, originally, I would need to pretend that the opponent’s attacks are working, or deliberately close the distance to make them immerse themselves in this situation, but in this case, that’s unnecessary.
After all, I’m already arriving at my destination.
“Slash”
The place I arrived at after running through the forest. I stop in the center of a gentle hill. Flowers were blooming all around.
A few moments later, the Forest Turtle also steps into the flower field.
“Guurululuuu…!”
The Forest Turtle charges at me at full speed, as if to vent its frustration, towards me who is standing still.
I take out a huge wooden shield from 〖Weapon Storage〗 and prepare for the Forest Turtle’s arrival.
Every time the Forest Turtle takes a step, the ground shakes, and flower petals scatter into the air.
But more flowers than those that scattered were blooming with the power of the 〖Great Forest Sea〗.
“(〖Slash〗!… guh)”
I mimic a defense-ignoring greatsword and swing it at the Forest Turtle as it enters my range, but the greatsword shatters the moment it hits.
That’s how much destructive power the Forest Turtle’s charge held.
“Gurua!”
A tremendous impact hits me upon contact.
It’s probably an advanced 〖Skill〗 of 〖Charge〗 called 〖Turtle Tackle〗.
“(Ouch…)”
The speed bonus isn’t much, but the weight is on a different level.
The wooden shield is crushed in an instant, and I take heavy damage just from the impact.
“(—〖Parry〗!)”
But, because it lacks speed, it was easy to time.
In the very short time before the shield was destroyed, I managed to deflect the Forest Turtle’s charge.
As a result, the direction of the charge is slightly upward.
I pushed up the Forest Turtle’s huge body, which had floated off the ground, as if I were doing a tomoe-nage throw.
Perhaps thanks to that push, the Forest Turtle danced under the moonlight and fell over the hill.
Below the hill—where there used to be a nest of bee Demon Beasts, and now it’s covered with a thick shield of earth.