Chapter 30: Killing the Tree Knight

The cherry tree was burning.

As soon as that fact hit everyone present, a change occurred.

"HISSS!"

The sound of heavy breathing, followed by rushed, heavy footsteps running. The Tree Knight sped through the gap, reaching the flaming tree in one go.

Using its remaining hand, it tried to pat out the flames. However, the gasoline had seeped into the dry bark and was burning even brighter. It didn’t even slow down.

It desperately continued the futile action, like a kid grasping at straws in the dark.

But as expected, it was of no use.

The tree burned brighter, flames climbing up to the canopy. Even the falling petals started to burn, making for a sad, but beautiful sight.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

Soon after, as the Tree Knight’s hand charred to near-charcoal, it reeled backward and let out a harrowing cry—so powerful that if they hadn’t blocked their ears, their eardrums might’ve been damaged.

The tree was already half-burnt. Even if the flames died down, there was no way it would bloom ever again. It was already considered dead.

But as if to fight for its last vestiges, the Tree Knight moved.

It no longer stood still, but rather ran toward its enemies with a sharp wooden blade in hand.

"Shit...!"

It was so fast that nobody could even react in time.

Like a phantom gliding over the shadows, closing the distance instantly.

"AAAAAAAAAAH!"

It cried hard, like a child who had lost its parent.

But still, its sword swung hard, unstoppable.

Hershey, who became the first target, could only stare with wide eyes as the blade slid across her neck. She felt only the heat of the wooden blade before her consciousness faded fast.

"GAAAAH!"

It didn’t end there, however.

While her head was falling to the ground, the monster waved its sword countless times. It chopped Hershey’s body into thousands of pieces until nothing but a blood puddle was left behind, as if venting its anger.

"HERSHEY!!!"

Therese, who was a short distance away, felt her heart clench.

She didn’t know what to do, and couldn’t believe what she’d just seen. Death had come to them so easily.

"...Huh?"

And before she noticed, the knight was already standing behind her, covering her with its own shadow. Therese tried to turn around, but the wooden sword had already finished its path.

Slash! Slash, slash, slash!

In a literal blink, even Therese was reduced to nothing but a puddle of flesh and blood.

"YOU...!!!"

Shymine was livid.

However, she knew that being angry would just make her reactions slower.

Instead of shouting futile words of anger, she poured all her emotions into her attacks.

Large conical ice formations appeared above her. Slowly, they changed shape, taking on the spiral form of drills. Shymine gritted her teeth, ignoring how her body temperature jumped to 45 degrees Celsius in a single beat, and waved her hand down.

"DIE!"

The four giant drills flew forward with precision.

However, they were too slow compared to the enemy. They would’ve been dodged easily, without doubt—if not for Hazel, who remained calm the entire time, as if it had nothing to do with her.

Hazel used her ability once more.

This time, at full power.

She extended her hand forward and motioned as if she were grasping something.

The next moment, a giant semi-transparent hand appeared, holding the monster in place. It appeared so suddenly that even the monster was confused for a split second.

A short moment, but enough for Shymine’s attack to connect.

The drills dug into the Tree Knight’s body, damaging it heavily.

However, at the last moment, the monster managed to slip out of Hazel’s grasp and avoid a fatal hit. It kept its limbs, but in exchange, half of its side and half of its head had vanished into ice shards.

"...!"

Of course, this situation was bad.

Shymine had used too much strength, leaving her wide open. Hazel was still mobile, but too far to matter. And her ability had just been dispelled, making it impossible to cast it again so quickly.

WHOOSH!

The knight moved like a willow leaf. Sharp and direct.

The next moment, it was already standing behind Shymine, a fresh set of bloodstains coloring its sword.

"S...hit..."

Shymine could only curse as a diagonal wound spurted blood like a fountain.

She’d been cut through, diagonally, straight through the heart. There was no surviving that.

In less than a minute, only Hazel and Raive remained alive.

The two were standing near each other, so the Tree Knight didn’t miss them either.

It turned to them, lowered its stance, and—

"Raise the ground!" Raive commanded.

Hazel followed it by reflex, raising the ground before them.

However, she didn’t have enough time to make a wall. At most, it was just a small speedbump.

THUNK! WHOOSH!

"...!"

But lady luck was smiling down on them.

The Tree Knight tripped while running at full speed, launching it forward uncontrollably. Like a rocket, it sped past between the two, before hitting a boulder some distance away and destroying it in the process.

"Alright, now, the finishing blow—!"

Raive commanded again, but realized Hazel hadn’t responded.

He turned his head, curious as to why she wasn’t moving, but quickly understood.

"N-No way..."

Hazel... was dead.

While the Tree Knight flew past them, it kept waving its sword in a futile attempt at regaining control. And as it did, the sword ended up hitting Hazel, cutting half of her head off.

It was a grotesque sight, but Raive knew not to waste time.

He grabbed the dagger sheathed at his thigh, his sidearm, and rushed toward the fallen knight.

The damage it took from tripping was too heavy. No—it was already too damaged before that. As such, it was now in a state where it could no longer move.

If it had an HP bar, there would’ve been just a pixel left in it.

Raive frowned, but he didn’t pity the monster.

It had killed everyone, after all.

"This... is for everyone you killed."

Raive whispered as he aimed the dagger at the monster’s neck.

Then he pressed in, and twisted.

CRACK!

The sound of something breaking echoed. The core of the enemy.

As soon as he heard that, Raive heaved a sigh of relief and fell to his backside.

They’d won on their first try, but the price was too heavy.

Everyone but Raive died.

He frowned, wondering if this would still be the result if they tried it again.

But just as he was getting worried, above the knight’s corpse, the loot appeared. A lot of it.

Compared to the green dungeon’s loot, the red dungeon had at least 10x the quantity!

A reward befitting its danger level.

"Huh?"

And among the loot, a specific one caught his eye.