Chapter 633: Humanoid Root System!
In other words, wiping out these monsters was not something you could solve with a few brave words.
Ryuunosuke spoke fast and decisively, issuing orders as everyone listened.
"The squads rotate in and out. We feed the units and begin the hunt."
"These monsters didn't appear here for no reason. First, we figure out the cause."
"Every round, one squad stays outside and holds position at all times."
"At the same time, the squads outside keep their eyes open for any change in the surroundings."
"If anything feels wrong, contact everyone immediately with the Dragon Hunter Token."
"If the token doesn't work, then use your voice and shout."
Najenda stepped forward at once. "And you, Captain?"
"Do you want one of our squads to accompany you?"
This was not some ordinary creature. If anything happened to Ryuunosuke, things would become far more dangerous for everyone.
"No need. I'm fine with Gaino here," Ryuunosuke replied.
He looked at the group, his tone firm.
"Be careful. If anything goes wrong, do not try to tough it out. Contact us and evacuate immediately."
Then he crouched and drew a circle in the sand.
The island was not perfectly round, but this was the easiest way for everyone to understand.
"This island is divided into five areas."
"We start with this section. No rush."
"At the very least, we need to understand the monsters' characteristics and strength before deciding the next step."
He lifted his head.
"Akame, Kuina, you two come with me."
"Kobayashi, you stay here for now. The next batch can go in after."
With that, Ryuunosuke turned and went straight into the forest.
The others followed, splitting off into their assigned directions.
Even one fifth of a giant island was still massive.
The four squads ended up far apart from each other.
Not long after, Akame spoke, eyes narrowing as she studied the trees.
"Brother Ryuunosuke… could these trees be monsters too?"
"Kuina and I tested it. We can't cut these trees down at all."
She looked down at Murasame in her hand, confusion in her voice.
Murasame was not famous for durability or sharpness, but it was still at least a sword.
With Akame's strength, it made no sense that she could not even cut a tree.
"It's not just Akame neechan," Kuina added, frowning. "I felt it too."
"Normal slashes don't work on these strange trees."
"Even with Armament Haki, we only do a little damage."
"And it heals fast."
Ryuunosuke's gaze swept across the forest.
"These trees carry the same aura as those monsters."
"And there are far too many. This doesn't look natural."
"I suspect it's connected to the monsters."
Gaino followed up, voice cautious. "Captain, should we clear these trees first?"
They had been focused on hunting the monsters.
But now, the trees themselves looked like the bigger clue.
"Let's start," Ryuunosuke said, nodding.
Instead of chasing monsters blindly, cutting into the trees would give them answers faster.
He released his aura, gripped his twin swords, and struck a massive tree beside them.
Slash.
In one clean sweep, the trunk was severed.
The cut was neat.
Green sap flowed out immediately.
Ryuunosuke's expression sank.
"The smell of blood."
The liquid reeked like it.
Not fresh blood, either.
It was the nauseating stench of blood sealed in one place for far too long.
"Brother Ryuunosuke… this…" Kuina's face tightened, clearly uncomfortable.
Akame did not flinch, but her eyes sharpened.
If anything, the smell probably dragged her back to the hell she had crawled out of.
Gaino stepped closer, then shook his head.
"It can't be extracted. The energy is too fragmented."
"And there's rejection."
When Ryuunosuke cut down the tree, Gaino tried to extract and absorb the substance.
But the energy scattered too badly, and the repulsion was immediate, so Gaino abandoned it.
Ryuunosuke stepped to the stump.
"Get up."
He grabbed the stump with one hand and hauled upward.
The ground tore.
In the next instant, a humanoid monster was ripped out of the earth.
Red skinned, just like the monsters they had fought.
It looked like a person had been planted into the soil, and the tree had grown out of it.
If that was true for everything on this island…
Then this place was beyond unsettling.
"What are these…" Even Akame looked shaken.
"I don't know," Ryuunosuke said, voice low, "but it's definitely nothing good."
"Don't touch these trees for now."
"Let's find the monsters and collect their energy first."
He tossed the humanoid body aside and pushed deeper into the forest.
Soon, they ran into another monster.
A battle erupted.
At the same time, the other squads also encountered monsters and engaged.
…
Meanwhile, in the small grove near the coast.
"Kobayashi, I'm hungry!"
Kanna clutched his stomach, looking pitiful. "I want to find something to eat."
"Nothing here is edible," Kobayashi replied flatly.
Then she glanced sideways.
"Tohru. Give Kanna something to eat."
"Would you like some secret recipe roasted dragon tail? It's healthy and nutritious!" Tohru appeared instantly, proudly holding out a plate of roasted dragon tail.
Kobayashi sighed, lifted Tohru's skirt, and saw the newly severed tail.
Utterly helpless.
Tohru was still Tohru.
Boom!
A surge of water suddenly erupted nearby.
The next moment, the Straw Hat crew and Shizuku appeared in the grove.
Sabo stepped forward, smiling brightly.
"Miss Kobayashi."
"I'm Sabo of the Revolutionary Army, and the younger brother of Brother Ryuunosuke!"
"Oh," Kobayashi said, unmoved. "You came too?"
"The captain and his people went into the forest for now, and… we can't go in."
Even being Ryuunosuke's brother did not spark much interest in Kobayashi.
She looked conflicted.
Part of her wanted to follow Ryuunosuke into adventure.
It was the kind of life she had always longed for.
But doing that would also shatter her old wish to return to a normal life.
So she stayed stuck, hesitating.
Shizuku and the others also showed little interest in entertaining Sabo's group.
"Did the captain go inside?" Sabo asked. "Are we supposed to wait here?"
Shizuku tilted her head, then asked softly, "What happened here?"
Kobayashi paused, then explained everything she knew.
Shizuku was part of the crew.
That meant she was a partner.
After hearing Kobayashi's words, Sabo's expression turned awkward.
He did want to go find Ryuunosuke and fight beside him.
But from the way this island sounded…
It might be smarter not to force his way into that battle.
.....
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