"As we made it to Griffon Port, we couldn't help but notice that something was... off... about the place.

"For starters, there wasn't anyone flying around near the town. Several of the buildings' homes were also abandoned - the doors left wide open.

"Instinctively, I drew my sword when we crossed the front gate. I told the girls to wait here... they agreed without hesitation.

"The fog was heavy beyond the gate... something was here... and it wasn't friendly.

"No... scratch that. Something is here... and I'm walking right into its trap...

...

"I almost feel sorry for the poor bastard."

The entrance to the Port Town lies empty... dormant... isolated. The darkness of the moon only makes it that much more eerie. Due to your extensive training, however, you find comfort in the darkness.

What you don't find comfort in, however, is the strangely thicker amounts of roots in the ground. Had the town not been in a jungle, you'd have instantly suspected it to be the works of an all too familiar monster... however, you're still in Unknown Territory. Who knows what kinds of creatures could do this in this world?

Regardless, though, your sword is drawn, and your Fire Rune is in your hand, ready for its use.

Then, you spot something in the distance... a thick patch of roots in the ground, rising up with a bulge coming from the center. In a way, it's entangled around something... or perhaps, someone.

You decide to get closer. When you reach the roots, you carefully pull a part of them apart to look at what's inside.

A glazed-over eye looks back at you, lifelessly.

"A griffon... drained of all his blood and nutrients... that can only mean..." your eyes widen in alarm when the roots move back over the body on their own.

You take a few steps back and turn around, where the sound of a hiss comes from within the fog. You glare at the source of the hiss, as the sound of leaves rattling steps towards you from within the dark grey mist.

SUFFODIO

Seeing the creature crawling its way towards you only makes you grit your teeth.

"Great... a Suffodio. What the hell are you doing in this world?!" you spit, as the Suffodio screeches and lunges its root-like fingers into the ground.

You've dealt with plenty enough of them to know what it's doing, though. Taking a quick look at the ground, you find the tips of its roots inching their way towards your feet.

You quickly roll out of the way, right as the roots shoot out from beneath the ground in spiky formations... but then, more of them start to grow where you land.

Your Red Eye activates, and your monster blood begins to rush into your veins, giving you a boost in speed, strength, and endurance. You manage to dodge a few more and slide underneath one of the extended roots that was aiming to catch you from the sky, before you reach your hand out and snap your fingers while holding the Fire Rune towards the roots.

"FLEI!" you shout, igniting the roots into flames.

The burn is immediately felt by the Suffodio, as it rears its fingers out of the ground and screeches in pain. You take this moment to rush it with your sword.

Upon slicing at it, the Suffodio flies back, now injured from the Silver. It glares menacingly at you and swipes, but you manage to dodge it and slice some of its fingers off.

However, it doesn't stop its hind legs from kicking you back a few meters.

You grunt as you land with a roll, but regain footing and look back up at the monster.

It then opens its mouth and makes a gargling sound.

Your eyes widen, and you reach for your Fire Rune again. With it in your grasp, you lift your hand as a huge swarm of bees flies out of the creature's mouth.

"Flei!" you shout again, bursting a large number of the bees into the flames. However, a few of them manage to get on you and begin pricking you with their stingers.

"Grr... damn it! These bees are aiming for my vital areas! I better do something fast!" you think to yourself, before deciding to pouch your Fire Rune and draw a poison vial from it.

You then take a deep breath before chugging the poison. At once, you feel the burning inside your body, as it slowly drains the life out of you, but the sweat pores from your skin starts to drain all over the bees.

Upon contact, the bees fall to the ground, dying before impact.

You then cough a few times, before drawing your Fire Rune out. "C'mon, you sticky bastard! Come and get me!"

The creature, rather than take you up on your challenge, turns around and starts to run away.

"Oh, no you don't! COME BACK HERE AND-" you begin, but the sound of Gabby's screaming interrupts you.

You turn around and notice her leg being gripped by a root. She's in the air, and her wings are flapping rapidly, as she tries desperately to escape.

With a frustrated growl, you decide priorities are in order... and so, you let the Suffodio get away while rushing to help your Pack Mate.

"Hold on, Gabby! I'm coming!" you call out to her.

Gripping onto your Fire Rune, you ignite the roots before they could truly cause any damage to Gabby's leg.

The roots from within the town start to lower into the ground the further away the Suffodio goes. At once, several bodies fall from the trees above... dead griffons, all of them.

Gabby quickly clings onto you, frightened and startled at the sight of all the dead bodies. Soon Gilda and Greta arrive, with Gilda looking concernedly at you both.

"What the hell happened here, Regol?!" she asks, unable to hide the fear in her voice.

You feel like scolding them for entering the town, and not waiting as instructed, but you decide against it, as the fear in their eyes says it all... they're worried about the inhabitants of this town. And unfortunately, you have to break the news to them.

"Looks like a creature came from my world, and made a Feeding Ground out of this town." you say, looking around for any potential signs of survivors.

Sadly, though, it would appear you four are the only ones alive for miles, not counting the Suffodio that just escaped.

"What... w-what will we do now?!" Greta asks concernedly.

You would usually suggest that you just leave it be. This place isn't really worth the trouble... not like you'd be wanting to return any time, after their horrible treatment earlier.

But this is different. A Suffodio drains nutrients from the world, itself. If such a creature were to get their roots all over this island, who knows how much danger the locals of the neighboring towns could be in?

No, you have to deal with this threat now.

And so, you devise a plan.

"Alright, listen. Look at me... you three might not like this, but I need you to gather as many resources as you can from the town's remains. Food, water, supplies, things like that. And see if you can find any survivors. If you can, get as much information from them as you can. Finally, wait over at the Docks, and see if you can find the best boat we can take, and load it up."

They look at each other concernedly, before Gilda and Greta give you a determined nod. They then fly over towards the surrounding buildings and get to work, while Gabby looks worriedly at you.

"What about you, Regol? Wait... where are you going?" she asks.

Turning around and brandishing your blade, you reply, "I've got some hunting to do."

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

Eh, decided to stop doing the Party System. Relationships will rise and fall in their own time.