The rest of the ordeal was child play for Kara. She retreated to a rear position, positioning herself behind the scrawny trunk of a dying tree, away from the oncoming storm. The cover was small, but her body was even smaller. She lifted her arms above her to avoid having them stick out, the tip of her sword nearly poking out of the top.

She hid her Life Force once again, observing the Warriors with her Siren’s Web as they struggled with the overwhelming HP and defenses of the Ents. With the Ranger gone, it was only a matter of time before they would realize this battle was a futile one. He provided too much utility and distraction for them to be able to last the fight.

This round was a survival game, not a kill game. Kara didn’t understand why everyone forgot about this fact. Fighting was not a necessity. Anyone that took risks now gave up on better chances of winning points in later Missions.

Eventually, the Warriors cursed, abandoning the battle. Two of the four Ents had fallen to the ground, unmoving, but their weapons would break before they got the rest. They called to run away, and the three Warriors began running away from the Ents, dodging branches and trunks with jumps and tattered cries.

The more humanoid Ents, seeing their prey begin to escape, began to take hulking steps after them.

The first Warrior that passed Kara did so without noticing her. The second did, as her face went wide with freight with mouth opening.

She was too late. Kara stepped out, letting the third Warrior impale himself upon her blade. She stepped to the side, twisting his body towards her. His momentum allowed the blade to free itself from his guts as he crumbled on the ground, wheezing.

The other two Warriors were wise enough to not stop and to instead speed up. The charge of the Ents shook the ground as herd charged, as if an earthquake was heading their way. The smell of gasoline retched in front of the foolish creatures, their actions no doubt altered by the Game.

The Ents were spending more energy on killing things than it would after eating them.

But then again, if Missions followed the same rules as reality, then there wouldn't be much of them.

Kara did not rush herself. She remained tight control over her Life Force, ensuring that it remained within her. Quick movements would give her away. Walking to the side was not an option-- she simply would not be able to distance herself in time. The Ents may have had poor sight, but the bleeding body of the Warrior a few steps away from her oozed out his life.

Walking as quickly as she could, Kara docked and weaved through the two giant legs of the Ents, and then did her best in twisting her body as the branches which stuck to their legs attempted to snap her in half.

She passed with a few light lashes on her skin. She glanced behind her, seeing the whimpers of the man cease as one trunk came down onto his body. More followed as the trunks dented the grounds with their stomps. After the Ents resumed their chase, not a single piece of the warrior was left.

It was not cruelty, Kara guessed--whatever served as a mouth probably resided in the bottom of their trunks.

“Well, it’s time I head out,” Kara whispered to herself in a distracted manner.

The sweat ran on her skin, the cruel cold giving peace to pulsing muscles. Though it was foreign and lacking in glamour, it had certain durability to it. It felt tight, enveloping, and well put together. It would not break and fall at the joints, and the agony of brittle bones cracking no longer thundered within her body.

Other than the vexation itch growing below, everything was as good as she could hope for. Once again, she found herself hoping that the Rat would forever remain asleep, even if that proposition was not entirely beneficial in the long run. To hell with winning the Games. At least she could live.

She began jogging, following the sunken earth the Ents left behind in their wake. It ensured that the path was clear, and though she was confident in coming out victories against any foe she might face, she still needed to save her resources for the end boss.