The jungle was a blur of green shadows and glowing eyes. Lin crouched in the undergrowth, heart pounding so hard it hurt. The new power from his system flowed through him like a second bloodstream; his body was light, every sound sharper, every smell like a map. He could feel the weight of the three girls behind him — Lina's stubborn breath, Aria's calm under tension, Sera's restless fire.
For the first time since landing in this cursed world, he wasn't running blindly. He was hunting.
Above, the Vine Panther Queen tore through the clearing, vines whipping like spiked serpents. Its roar cracked the canopy, birds scattering like shards of shadow.
[System Notification!]
Class: Jungle Stalker active.
Ability: Cloak of the Wild – you are invisible to plant-based senses for 30 seconds.
Lin's lips curved. "Finally, a cheat that doesn't try to kill me."
He darted forward, silent as a ghost. Every paw step of the Queen left glowing weak points in his vision, little red cracks in its monstrous frame. He tightened his grip on the vine-blade he'd fashioned from a panther tail.
Behind him, the girls crouched under a fallen log.
"Where is he?" Lina whispered, fingers white on her spear.
"He's out there," Aria murmured, eyes scanning the trees. Her usual composure cracked; she bit her lip. "He's… different."
Sera coughed, her palm glowing faintly from residual fire. "Different or suicidal? We've only known him a little while, but he keeps throwing himself in danger for us."
Aria's eyes flickered. "Maybe that's why I—" She cut herself off, cheeks flushing.
Lina shot her a look but said nothing.
Out in the clearing, Lin slashed. The vine-blade sank into one of the Queen's tendrils. Green sap hissed. The monster roared, spinning, vines thrashing.
[Critical Hit! 250 Damage dealt.]
"Nice," Lin muttered, rolling aside as a vine impaled the ground.
The Queen's glowing eyes swept the clearing, but Lin's Cloak of the Wild hid him. He darted again, striking another tendon. Sap sprayed, hissing like acid on leaves.
Behind the log, Sera gasped as a stray vine slashed near them. Without thinking, she leapt up, fire curling from her mouth. "Leave him alone!" she shouted and spat a jet of flame.
The Queen hissed, vines retracting.
[System Notification!]
Ally Detected: Sera – Element: Fire/Wind.
Bond Proximity Bonus Active.
Lin's eyes widened. A soft glow linked him to Sera for an instant. He felt her power pulse through his veins, a surge of warmth.
He dashed back, catching Sera as she stumbled from the effort. She fell against his chest, trembling.
"Idiot," she gasped. "Don't die, okay? You're the only reason I'm still fighting."
Lin blinked, heat rising to his cheeks despite the chaos. "Don't… say stuff like that right before I get eaten."
She gave a weak laugh. "Then don't get eaten."
A roar cut them off. The Queen lunged. Lin grabbed Sera, flipping them both aside as a vine slammed into the earth where they'd stood.
"Lina! Aria!" he shouted. "We're going to have to hit it together!"
The two girls sprang from cover. Aria raised her hands, wind spiraling around her like silver ribbons. Lina's spear glowed as she channeled raw determination into it.
Lin dropped Sera gently. "Stay behind me." He turned to the monster. "Alright, Erevos, you wanted a jungle level? You're getting a jungle boss fight."
[System Notification!]
Hidden Synchronization Detected – Bond Skill Unlocked: Pack Instincts.
Effect: Fighting alongside bonded allies increases all stats by 15%.
A pulse of green light shot from Lin into the three girls. They gasped, eyes flaring with new power. Even Lina felt it — her spear humming like a living thing.
The Queen roared again, summoning a storm of mini-panthers from its vines. Dozens of glowing eyes filled the trees.
Lin moved first, instincts guiding him. "Aria, blow them away!"
Aria spun, wind lashing out in a wall, scattering cubs.
"Lina, spear their roots!"
Lina drove her weapon into the ground, shattering creeping vines before they could wrap around Aria's ankles.
Sera inhaled, fire glowing in her throat. "Get down!" she shouted, and unleashed a stream of flame so hot the sap on the trees turned to steam.
The combined assault struck the Queen — wind fanning fire, spear pinning vines, Lin's blade slashing through the softened tendrils.
[Massive Damage! 1,500 HP removed.]
The Queen shrieked, staggering. Its glowing eyes dimmed, vines curling inward.
Lin panted, chest heaving. Sweat stung his eyes. He turned to Aria. She stood close, wind ruffling her hair, face flushed. Their gazes locked.
"Nice work," he said, voice low.
She blinked, then smiled, a small, rare smile. "Back to back?"
He grinned. "Always."
They pivoted, back to back, as more mini-panthers lunged. Together they struck, moving like mirror images — her wind throwing enemies off-balance, his blade slicing them apart. Aria's cheeks flushed deeper every time his shoulder brushed hers.
Behind them, Sera whispered to Lina, "They look like they've been fighting together forever."
Lina smirked. "Or like they're dancing."
Sera glanced at Lin's face, then down, expression unreadable.
The Queen roared one last time, vines glowing red.
[System Notification!]
Boss Phase Two: Vine Panther Queen – Overgrowth Mode.
The ground erupted. Vines shot from every direction, thorned and burning. Lin cursed, shoving the girls aside. "Stay behind me!"
He darted forward, Jungle Stalker senses flaring. The world slowed again, glowing weak points everywhere. He leapt, slashed, dodged — a blur of green light.
The girls joined, attacks synchronized. Sera's fire spiraled with Aria's wind into a flaming tornado that Lina hurled her spear through, striking the Queen's core.
The monster howled, vines writhing.
[Massive Damage! HP Critical.]
It stumbled, collapsing. Lin raised his blade for the finishing strike—
The Queen's body convulsed, a dying roar tearing through the jungle. All its vines exploded outward in a last desperate attack.
"Lin!" the girls screamed.
Lin turned, eyes widening. Too fast. The vines slammed into him, thorns piercing his chest. Pain like fire and ice shot through him.
[System Notification!]
Fatal Strike Detected.
Respawn Countdown: 00:10.
His vision blurred. He saw Aria reaching for him, wind swirling uselessly. Sera's face pale with horror. Lina's mouth moving, shouting his name.
Lin tried to grin. "Don't… cry. I'll be back… in a sec…"
[Respawn Countdown: 00:05.]
Darkness closed in.
[To Be Continued…]