Chapter 177: Treeman's Grove
Alros is in the middle of his magic training when one of his clones barged into his training area. The original had to divert his attack less he turned his clones into red paste.
"It better be important," he glared at the clone who whispered something into his ears.
His annoyance morphed into one of shock and joy.
"Really?" he asked, the clone nodding. He smiled, as plans formed in his head.
"Looks like we will get another group of monsters,"
-x-
Alros exited the system space, where he was met with a group of his clones in charge of guarding the crystal.
"Report," he said. The leading clone walked to the front, reporting a lengthy one. While it contain some important information, like the number of monsters they killed and subdued, as well as the adventurers they killed and captured, he did not care for that as he want to hear only one particular information.
However, he waited, knowing there is no harm in being patient. His patience was rewarded when the leading clone said the thing he wanted to hear.
"A group of treeman is spotted south of here, at the deeper part of the Marsh of Torim. A squad of clones followed the group and send several messages.
Currently, they reported they found what they believe to be the Freeman's groove,"
"Excellent. Lead the way," the leading clone nodded before flying southward, Alros following his clone.
-x-
With their ability to fly, they were able to traverse the more difficult terrain, arriving at a makeshift outpost, where several clones can be seen inside.
The clones bowed towards the original, who waved them of as he head towards the leader of the group.
"Report,"
"Observation detailed an estimated 300 treeman in the area. 10 of them are treant. There are also several other plant-based monsters that cannot be classified as treeman but close to them.
There are 100 of those," Alros nodded, digesting the new information. He had been hoping to find them, and he did, even if he had to stay inside the Marsh for more than month.
"Are there any other monsters group in the area, or elsewhere?" he had been focused on searching for the treeman he neglected collecting the other monsters.
The clones shook their heads, which make him sighed.
"I just have to be content with only having 8 extra lairs. For now, observe the group. And send some clones to hunt for more Giant Marsh Frogs, and other swamp monsters.
I want to fill a lair specifically for swamp monsters,"
The clones nodded before they flew away, doing as he commanded.
-x-
"Hhmm, this attack will be difficult," Alros uttered. To his surprise, the treeman's grove are just one of the group connected to a larger group.
While he want to subdue all of them, he had to abandon such thought when he sense the presence equal to the one who destroyed his clones Swamp Ogres with ease, which told him there are A-rank monsters present.
So, he had to make do with the smaller grove, and all of it's inhabitant. Though, even with the smaller and should be manageable target, he is stump on how to handle them.
Compared to the Lizardmen and goblins, treeman did not feel pain, literally. Their skins are literal barks, able to handle a sword strike with some trouble.
It would take heavier weapons to even be able to pose trouble to them. As for the treats, they are huge monsters, even bigger than hobgoblins.
They would be classified as A-rank monsters if not for them not able to move quickly and possess a rather easily identifiable weakness; their glowing cores.
Destroying it will kill the treants. However, it does not make them easy to kill. Similar to treeman, they possess the ability to control plants in limited capacity.
Their skins are thicker and stronger than treeman, making it hard to hurt and subdue them. They, as stated before, literal giants that tower the other treeman. Only the Alpha Lizardman could compare to them in height and they still shorted compared to the giant monstrousity.
However, if he can subdue them, the reward will outweigh the risk, making it more enticing. Still, it still near impossible to defeat them without suffering large amount of casualties.
He then turned towards the other plant monsters. There are several different species, though the Torim Kingdom did not deign to give them a species name, instead opting to consider them the same as treeman, even if it is not true.
Instead, he named them himself. There are three different species, or so he consider. The first one looked like treeman, with the exception being they less sturdy, and more aggressive, one he could determined by observing them fighting of against a couple of goblins that came close to the grove.
He call them treewraith, due to their terrifying visage and screech, looking like a possessed treeman more than a treeman.
The second monsters are treeman, except they are more bestial. They walked on all four, their face looked like a deer head, while their limbs similar to one found in cats. He refer to them as treebeast.
For the third one, they are immobile though they are definitely monsters. The monster in question able to produce fruits, one that smell like it belong to dumpster that left to rot for a year. The fruits also exploded, and the juice can burn flesh.
Then, there is the last one, a monster that belonged in hentai. It can move, though the pace is literally snail pace.
However, it does not mean it is not dangerous. On contrary, it likely the most dangerous. It could stretch it's vine in every direction, capable of moving and grasping their target.
Their vines is hard and though, which make it very hard to be cut off. It also possess special flower like structure, except it is not one, hence, flower like structure.
The flower lookalike varied in size and grow everywhere on the monsters' bodies, with the largest at the very top.
That one is equivalent to a mouth, able to open and close as it will close in on captured victim, sucking on the victim until they died.
The smaller flowers also have the same capabilities, except it is much weaker, and used mostly as a way to trap victims rather than as extra mouth. He named them Devouring Vine Monster.
As incubus, he planned to turn the monsters into literal hentai monsters. However, he still need to capture and subdued them. As he contemplate on the method to do so, he felt the flame created by his clones.
Idea formed in his head as he looked at the burning campfire.