He came down hard. The ground cracked as he slammed the flaming sword into the center of the vines, where the monster-girl was rooted.
The monster screamed, her vines flailing in chaos—only to be sliced and set ablaze one after another.
His eyes glinted madly, teeth bared in a crazed grin. "It's been SO DAMN LONG since I got to go wild!! You like luring people in, huh!? THEN HOW ABOUT THIS—!!!"
He drove the sword straight into the ground. Mana surged down the blade, igniting the roots below in a blast of concentrated fire.
A shockwave rippled through the area. The monster shrieked—a twisted, gurgling scream—as her vines withered and charred, curling into black ash.
The ground erupted in a burst of flames and splinters.
When the smoke cleared, the twisted tree-stump monster was nothing but smoldering wood and scattering embers.
Hazuki stood in the center, panting, sword still raised high.
Ridan, voice flat, chimed in from the blade. "…You're nuts."
