Endzone: Simulated Apocalypse

After the short rest was over, the group picked up their pace and headed back on the road. Cyanide took the tip from Dianna and opened his Achievements tab. He had a bunch of them complete in there, but all the ones before the [Beast Hunter I] didn't actually yield any rewards. This one, however, did—a Weapon Mod, titled [Beast Hunter]. How fitting… and utterly uncreative.

Regardless, the utility of this mod was very simple: +5% increased damage to mutants of the beast category. Of course, this wasn't much at all, but since Cyanide had no other mods and plenty of mod slots on his new Rank 5 weapon, what was there to lose?

Besides, as long as he kept killing Beasts, he would eventually unlock the [Beast Hunter II] and [Beast Hunter III] achievements, which both granted better versions of this mod. If he was really lucky, he could even get the [Apex Predator] achievement, which required the slaying of a Blood Baron known as the 'King of the Forest', much like the Scowling Sawblade of the factory a while back. This achievement gave an amazing reward—the Blueprint for a Mythic Weapon, «Eye of the Storm».

In any case, the group made their way deeper into the rainforest. This place was huge, far bigger than the forest on the other side of the cave they had fought the Corruption Core in. It took a long time to navigate what with the rainforest's difficult terrain and various dangers, but with Lust's help, they soon made it to what seemed like two large stone double doors side by side, hidden behind some thick vines.

"… This is where the Sentinel is?" Ragnar asked, tapping his feet on the ground. "And here I was, thinking it was going to be heavily guarded with mutants or something."

"It still may be," Kirika said. "Just inside."

"Well, how bad can it be, right?" Ragnar gave a chuckle. "Massive venus flytraps? Flying monkeys?"

But in response to his laughter, everyone else in the group merely glared at him, and slowly, his awkward laughing died down. Last time he said something along these lines, they really happened.

So, instead, he merely walked forward and prepared to part the vines with his hands, but Cyanide stopped him with his words.

"If you want don't want to die, don't touch those vines."

"What…" Ragnar slowly backed away, and narrowed his eyes. "It's poisoned?"

"I was hoping no one would warn him," Luna muttered.

"Stop pretending," Cyanide said calmly to Ragnar. "You were just baiting us to see if any of us would say something, weren't you?"

At this, Ragnar smirked. "Nothing escapes your eyes, assassin."

"There is no point trying to test us, Titan of Shadows," Cyanide said in an almost mocking tone. "I am the only one here who somewhat cares about you staying alive. That much should be obvious."

"Yeah, well. Can't hurt to try, can it?" Ragnar smirked and cast [Searing Edge], setting his blade on fire before swinging his «Fury's Edge» at the vines. The burning rock blade immediately set fire to the greenery, and burnt them all to a crisp with ease. The ashes fell to the ground, revealing the stone doors in its whole.

"She's beyond this door," Lust said, voice eager. "I can feel it. My sister…"

"Huh? You things got genders too?" Ragnar arched an eyebrow, greatsword slung over his back. "Learn something knew everyday, I guess."

Saying that, he boldly kicked open the stone doors leading inside, and-

"Woah, shit-!"

Suddenly, he was pulled inside by what looked like a slimy green tentacle, and raised high up in the air. The others immediately crowded around the main entrance in surprise, and looked inside.

There, dangling high in the air, was Ragnar, being held by the same green tentacle that had grabbed him inside. Below him, a massive lotus-shaped flower opened towards him, but it was nothing as peaceful as a lotus. Instead, it had multiple rows of sharp, sharp teeth, and a tongue that looked more like a sword than a tongue.

The flower stroked its own mouth's innards with its tongue eagerly as Ragnar struggled to free himself from its grasp, but he was being constricted so tightly, and his greatsword was hard to maneuver in that position.

"Tch… really wish I had a short weapon right now, assassin!" He yelled, and Cyanide gave a sigh before pulling out his Kitchen Knife. He had been planning on dismantling it earlier, but luckily he chose to wait for later.

Winding his wrist up, he launched the knife at where Ragnar was with perfect accuracy, and from beside him, Dianna whistled in applause.

"Not bad, Cyanide. I approve."

On the receiving end of the throw, Ragnar caught the knife like a champ, and immediately stabbed down on the flower's tentacle. The massive plant screeched in pain, letting go of him, and Ragnar began falling from the air.

"Woah-!"

He was well on his way to falling into the monster's mouth with no hope of making it out, but luckily, Cyanide was present. Immediately dashing into the air with his insane agility and speed, the assassin…

… landed a painful kick in Ragnar's stomach, and sent him flying into a wall.

"Oof!" Ragnar grunted as he hit the ground, clutching his abdomen in pain. "Ugh… goddammit, Cyanide! Was that really the only option you had?!"

"Yes," Cyanide replied calmly as he evaded the flailing flower's various tentacles with ease, and did a backflip. "What else did you want me to do? Princess carry you out of danger?"

"Tch… whatever," Ragnar snorted, looking around. "But that aside… where's my goddamn sword?"

Cyanide landed beside him, dusted his clothes off, and pointed at the still-wildly-thrasing flower.

"He ate it."

"…"

"…"

"Oh, NOW I'm PISSED," Ragnar muttered through grit teeth, cracking his knuckles and glaring at the massive flower. "GIVE ME MY FUCKING SWORD BACK, YOU BOTANICAL BASTARD!"

Saying that, he charged at the enormous Venus Flytrap-esque plant, fists bare and head fuming.. Cyanide gave a sigh in exhaustion, closed his eyes briefly, then followed after him to take the flower down once and for all.