The forest grew quieter as Mina ventured deeper, the lively chirping of birds fading into a distant murmur. Here, the trees towered higher, their trunks thickening and roots snaking across the forest floor like ancient veins pulsing with faint mana.

A faint, cool mist hung in the air, swirling among the undergrowth, a clear sign she had crossed into territory beyond where ordinary warriors trained. The heart of Greyvale Forest wasn't deadly, but it was certainly less forgiving than its outskirts.

Mina didn't mind.Her golden ponytails bobbed gently with each step, and the pouch tied to her waist jingled softly with the Moondew Pears and Windwhisper Apricots she had just gathered.

She walked with the confidence of someone who had never doubted her own strength; her shield clinked lightly against her back.

"So the last one is the Silverlace Bloom…" she muttered, pulling out the parchment again. The herb's illustration shimmered faintly, its delicate silver petals arranged like threads woven into a star.

"Hmmm… It says it grows in shaded moist areas with high mana concentration…"

She lifted her gaze, scanning the misty terrain. "That means I should go deeper. Easy!"

Tucking away the parchment, she skipped down the sloping path.

After several minutes of walking, the forest thickened dramatically. The mist grew denser around her ankles, and a crisp chill filled the air. Mina shivered slightly but pressed on, her tiny boots creating soft thuds against the damp earth.

A faint glimmer caught her eye. Ahead lay a cluster of rocks forming a natural alcove; from its center glowed a faint silver sheen.

Mina's eyes widened with excitement.

"There it is…"

The Silverlace Bloom emerged from a crack in the stone, its petals shimmering like threads of moonlight that swayed gently despite the stillness around it. She approached to reach out, but froze as a low growl rumbled through the ground beneath her feet.

The mist rippled and the leaves trembled.

Just then....

HISSSSSSSSSSSS!

A monstrous serpent surged from behind the rocks, coiling protectively around the Silverlace Bloom. Its body was as thick as a grown man's torso and twice as long as Sage's entire Guild Hall was wide.

Dense scales covered it,each one about Mina's palm size, glowing faintly with green mana. Its yellow eyes locked onto hers: unblinking and predatory.

A 2nd Order Common Beast — Verdant Ironscale Serpent.

The moment their eyes met, Mina stiffened; a chill crept up her spine. The beast opened its jaws wide to reveal fangs longer than Mina's forearm, dripping with faint green venom that sizzled upon hitting the ground.

Mina let out a low whistle. "Oh wow… you're actually strong. Finally."

The serpent lunged at her.

Mina's shield was off her back in an instant.

The serpent struck like lightning, its jaws snapping shut where Mina had just been standing. But she had already leaped backward, her shield raised and shimmering in the soft forest light.

The impact of the serpent's jaws crashing against her shield produced a metallic clang that echoed through the trees. The vibration jolted up her arms, but Mina grinned through clenched teeth.

"Now this is fun!"

With a swift push, she shoved the serpent's head aside and dashed to the side, her boots pounding against the damp earth. The creature recoiled, its long body thrashing against the rocks with enough force to split them apart.

"HssssSSSSS!"

The beast's tail whipped around like a giant iron whip.

Mina ducked just in time, but the sweeping tail clipped the top of her shield, sending a shockwave down her spine and throwing her backward across the forest floor. She rolled several meters before planting her shield into the ground and skidding to a halt.

Spitting out a leaf that had lodged in her mouth, she muttered, "Okay… okay… maybe you're not too weak."

The serpent reeled back, its scales bristling with verdant energy. The air around it shimmered before tightening into an emerald aura.

Mina felt her heartbeat quicken.

She recognized this—a beast preparing to unleash a technique.

"Here it comes…!"

The serpent's chest swelled as mana surged through its body. It opened its jaws wide, forming a swirling mass of green light at the back of its throat.

"Poison Breath…" Mina murmured. "A strong one too."

Then it unleashed it.

A massive cloud of corrosive mist blasted toward her, instantly melting leaves and bark in its path.

Mina slammed her shield into the ground.

"Level 2 Knight Skill — Bastion Stance!"

Mana surged through her small frame and flowed into her shield. A translucent barrier expanded outward from its surface like a protective dome.

SHRRRRRRRREEEEE!

The poisonous mist collided with Mina's barrier, sizzling violently as acidic hissing filled the air. She dug her heels into the earth, pushing against the overwhelming force. Sweat beaded on her forehead, but she kept her eyes sharp.

"Is that all you've got....?!"

As suddenly as it began, the poisonous wave ended.

Steam rose from the ground around her as grass dissolved into dark patches of slime. Panting slightly but holding firm, Mina watched as her barrier flickered and dissipated into thin air.

"That was close," she admitted with a sigh before cracking her knuckles. "My turn."

The serpent recoiled from its failed attack and coiled its body for another strike. Mina observed it closely; seriousness replaced her usual pettiness and stubborn pride for this moment.

"Level 2 Knight Skill — Shield Dash!"

Mina felt her mana surge, coursing down her arm and into her legs.With explosive speed, she shot forward like a cannonball.

Her boots cracked the ground behind her as she charged straight at the beast. The serpent flicked its tail in an attempt to intercept her, but Mina twisted mid-dash, sliding low beneath the whip-like strike.

The motion was fluid, almost dance-like.

She stomped her foot and launched upward.

Her shield collided with the serpent's head in a thunderous crash.

BOOOOOOM!

The impact sent the massive creature reeling backward, its head smashing through a tree trunk and snapping it clean in half.

Stunned, the serpent wobbled on its coils.

Mina landed gracefully, gripping her shield with a confident grin. "You're tough," she said. "But I'm tougher."

Shaking off the blow, rage ignited in the serpent's eyes as it lunged again. Its body twisted while its tail whipped around in a spiraling motion, its signature killing technique.

Mina planted her shield firmly into the ground again, catching the tail strike with another resounding clang. The force made her boots sink slightly into the soil, but she held steady.

Her eyes gleamed with determination.

"Got you."

She seized the serpent's tail with both hands.

For just a moment, the creature froze,almost bewildered by her audacity.

Then Mina pulled with all her might. Defying expectations of her size, this little battle maid lifted the thrashing two-ton serpent clear off the ground.

"HIYAAAAAAAH!"

With sheer strength and skill, she swung it around. The serpent became a blur as Mina spun in place, using its own weight to build momentum.

CRAAAASH!

She slammed it against the ground...again and again and again.

Each impact sent tremors through the forest floor, splitting trees apart and shattering rocks while flocks of birds took flight in panic.

Leaves rained down from above like golden-green confetti.

"Haaaah! Haaaah! Stop wiggling!"

With one final swing....

BOOOM!

She smashed the serpent straight into a boulder, reducing it to rubble.

The creature shuddered once before falling still.

Mina huffed as she wiped sweat from her brow. "Stupid snake…Petty uncle Sage better praise me for this…"

Pushing aside its lifeless head, she knelt near its center and made a small incision with practiced ease. Reaching inside, she pulled out a glowing green core about the size of a child's fist,the Beast Core gleaming brightly in her hand.

She stared at it for a few moments before shrugging and wiping it clean on her armor.

Without a second thought she proceeded to extract all the serpent's valuable remains, its glistening scales, menacing fangs and the precious venom sacs.

After that she strode past the chaos and made her way to the alcove.

The Silverlace Bloom shimmered softly, untouched by the violence just a few meters away. With delicate care, she cupped the flower in her hands, plucking it with a gentleness that starkly contrasted with the destruction she had left behind.

Her golden eyes softened as she examined it.

"So pretty…" she murmured.She tucked it carefully into her pouch, securing it between layers of cloth.

"That makes three!" Mina's smile widened, radiating triumph and joy. She glanced back at the forest, the shattered trees, the crushed earth, and the massive serpent corpse lying twisted like an abandoned rope.

Puffing out her chest proudly, she thought to herself, "Heh. Petty uncle Sage will be so impressed."

With her shield resting on her back and her pouch brimming with ingredients, Mina turned toward the forest exit. Her tiny footsteps echoed softly among the ruins she left behind, while mist curled gently around her like a curtain.

"Mission complete," she whispered happily. "Time to go home."

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