Erik glided silently through the dense forest, his invisible presence navigating the wilderness effortlessly. His boots made a faint, muffled crunch as they touched the forest floor blanketed in fallen leaves and debris, all under the enveloping chorus of nature's symphony.
The deeper he ventured into the wilderness, the more dense the environment became. The underbrush increased significantly, the canopy overhead seemed darker, and an alien yet familiar feeling hung in the air.
The air began to change, growing thick with humidity that coated his skin in a fine sheen of perspiration. The smell of damp earth and foliage grew more pronounced. The number of small, buzzing creatures increased with climate change. Mosquitoes swarmed around him, their tiny bodies a nuisance that Erik swatted away with mild annoyance.
Pushing past the dense vegetation, Erik suddenly found himself at the edge of a massive lake. It sprawled before him, its tranquil surface glistening under the filtered sunlight and rippling gently with the wind. The water was murky, as many plants and mosses were growing to the bottom.
The lake's perimeter was uneven, scattered with small pebble beaches and pockets of marshland, creating an irregular border that melded the water and forest into one harmonious scene. Large water plants of various hues of green bobbed in the shallows, their roots hidden in the muddy lake bed.
His keen eyes scanned the area for signs of Verandors, looking for tracks that would lead him to more of the beasts.
However, to his disappointment, there seemed to be no creatures near the lake, and the tranquility of the location remained undisturbed by any menacing presence. Erik couldn't help but be enamored with the strange beauty of the scene unfolding before him, something that made him not think about the absence of Verandors.
Erik's keen eyes swept the area, his mind locked in a vortex of intense focus and predatory instincts. While surveying his surroundings, he noted a cluster of indigenous ferns and trees draped in moss encircled the lake. However, these natural elements partially concealed an intriguing object that snagged his curiosity. With his interest piqued, he advanced stealthily, taking silent steps toward the mysterious find.
Hidden amongst the dense vegetation was a rare and giant plant, a Florathyst Vine, standing out like a gem in a sea of green. It was a massive, spiraling vine that twisted upwards to a height of nearly 15 meters, its thick stem dotted with vibrant violet flowers, each the size of a human hand.
The flowers grew on the vine in a complicated pattern, and each petal displayed a shimmering glow that seemed otherworldly. The leaves were broad and glossy, with a deep emerald color. The veins in the leaves were silver, which made them look like they had precious metals running through them.
Erik's breath caught in his throat as he took in the splendor of the Florathyst Vine, a specimen of extraordinary rarity. But it was not just the plant that had him spellbound.
<This…>
Erik's eyes started darting left and right, for it wasn't the plant he was searching for, but what lived on it. A Mirror Centipede.
The Mirror Centipede wasn't a particularly strong Thaid. The elongated body usually stretched nearly a meter, coiling and uncoiling on the Florathyst Vine.
Though it lacked discernible eyes, the anterior end of the creature was adorned with a cluster of sensory organs, and its green skin helped it blend into the plant.
These delicate, almost mystical appendages could detect changes in light and movement with an uncanny precision that belied their fragile appearance.
It wasn't because the Thaid was particularly sought after that Erik was left speechless, but because of its brain crystal power. This creature had a permanent cloning ability. It had many drawbacks, but the fact that it was permanent meant that if Erik managed to get the power, he could make permanent copies of himself.
The Thaid used them for hunting, defending themselves, and preparing burrows during the winter. The main body was stronger than the copies. Still, they significantly increased the Mirror Centipedes' survival chances and bolstered their tactics.
Erik's eyes scanned the intricate foliage of the rare plant, and his senses heightened as he searched for any sign of the Mirror Centipede. The plant was a bewildering maze of vibrant leaves and twisting tendrils, providing numerous hiding spots for the elusive Thaid. The plant's uniqueness was not lost on Erik, but his focus was on his prey.
Erik's fingers lightly brushed against the foliage, feeling the texture and searching for any anomaly that might betray the creature's presence.
Minutes seemed to become agonizing hours as Erik painstakingly navigated the convoluted maze of vegetation. His mind whirred with thoughts and calculations, dissecting each potential hiding place, scrutinizing every shadow, and parsing every subtle hint of movement.
After what felt like an eternity of patient vigilance, Erik's unwavering persistence was finally rewarded. A subtle, almost imperceptible shift in the intricate pattern of the plant's leaves drew his keen eye, and he honed in on the elusive target.
There, nestled among the vibrant sea of green foliage, lay the sleek, emerald body of the Mirror Centipede, a master of disguise.
Erik's actions unfurled like a well-practiced dance, a performance that transcended the boundaries of ordinary perception. His movements were a mesmerizing blur as his blade descended upon the centipede.
The precision of his strike was nothing short of awe-inspiring, a testament to his honed skill, as it sliced through the creature's body with surgical accuracy, snuffing out its life in the blink of an eye.
Yet, even as the lifeless centipede lay before him, its vibrant camouflage now useless, Erik knew that his job had only started.
As Erik gazed upon his prey, a renewed sense of purpose coursed through him. The search was far from over, and he was resolved to pursue it relentlessly.
The young man's heart beat with anticipation, for he understood that if he found the beast, the sky would be his only limit, and making a powerful guild would be a matter of time.
With the skill of a seasoned expert, he delicately dissected the centipede's head. A thorough examination confirmed his suspicions: it was merely a clone, lacking the brain crystal that marked the original.
A fleeting shadow of disappointment crossed Erik's visage, but it swiftly yielded to a resolute determination.
The true Mirror Centipede still eluded him, lurking somewhere in the vicinity. Erik did not intend to leave this creature behind; he would not cease pursuing it until he uncovered the elusive original.
The relentless fire of determination burned in his eyes, propelling him forward on his quest.
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