Once everyone is through I close the gate and then lead the way towards the jungle. The closer we get to it the more out of place the jungle looks, it doesn't fit the surroundings. For starters the foliage of the jungle has many strange and bright colors to it.

The jungle also has steam rising from it that has created a low hanging layer of clouds. The clouds then drop rain on the mountains on either side so there are many streams flowing into the jungle. However, the jungle doesn't look swampy at all, at least from what we can see.

For safety's sake I decide to find a spot on the mountain to set up camp. So, we climb the side of the mountain until we are above the jungle and then find a flat spot. Brightfire brought a couple of big tents for us to use, although I can't fit into them.

It is a good thing I can shapeshift or I would be sleeping outside in the rain. As it is, Nala and Albion are going to have to sleep in separate tents, one won't fit both of them. So Nala will sleep with Lin and I, while Albion will share a tent with Brightfire.

Once the tents are set up and Lin has set some wards, we head down into the jungle. We follow along the side of one of the streams because the foliage is a bit thinner. It looks like the stream floods fairly frequently, so the smaller foliage gets washed away.

Considering the constant rain, it probably floods any time a storm from outside hits the mountains. Luckily, I didn't see any storms when I was flying here, so we should be alright for the moment. It is also a good thing that the place we chose to camp isn't close to any streams.

We don't need to worry about freshwater, so camping close to one isn't necessary. As soon as we truly enter into the jungle the temperature jumps up by at least twenty degrees. Despite the rise in temperature I feel a strange chill, it feels like someone ran an ice cube up my spine.

"Be on your guard, this place feels strange."

Lin says "I agree, the mana here feels sluggish."

Brightfire says "Did that plant just move?!"

As I look over at where Brightfire is pointing I see a bunch of vines flying towards us. Instinctively, I breathe out hard and all of the vines get incinerated in mid air. All the surrounding foliage seems to shrink back away from the flames of my breath.

Brightfire says "What was that?!"

"I have no idea!"

Lin says "It is a carnivorous plant, but I don't recognize the specific type."

When the flames die away the foliage instantly starts moving back towards us. Just as I am thinking about burning the entire jungle down, a bright light appears behind me. Instantly, smoke comes from the plants and they let out high pitched screams.

The plants then rip themselves out of the ground and run away from the light. Instead of chasing them, I look behind me to see that the light is coming from Albion's horn. Some of the plants don't escape, but as they die Albion's horn actually grows.

This whole time while his body has been growing his horn has remained the same. Yet now it is growing with the death of each plant, but I have no idea why. When the last of the plants is gone, the light fades away leaving Albion looking exhausted.

Considering the situation we retreat to outside of the jungle to let Albion rest. If those plants are common, his ability will be extremely useful for exploring. Not to mention, it seems that he can become stronger by killing the plants.

Since I haven't found any other way for him to get stronger I don't want to pass up this chance. After all, who knows when I might come across something else that will allow him to grow. I am also curious what kind of abilities he will gain as he grows stronger.

The only thing that worries me is that I wasn't able to spot the hostile plants. Even though I scanned with my mana, I couldn't tell the difference between them. Meaning I have no way of finding them or even knowing how many there are.

For all I know the entire jungle could be alive, it would explain a few things. Out of curiosity I scan Albion and I find out that his core has upgraded. He was already a sacred beast, but he hasn't been able to improve before this.

That must be why his horn grew, it has to be related to his core upgrading. Unfortunately, that still doesn't tell me why killing the plants would improve his core. I also noticed that the rest of us didn't get any experience for the plants he killed.

"Any ideas?"

Brightfire says "I don't know what's going on. All I know is that this place feels unnatural."

Lin says "We don't have enough information for me to tell what is going on. Sorry."

"I guess we'll just have to find more information then. Albion seems to have recovered, let's try again."

This time I lead the group towards the jungle further away from the stream. Since I can't detect the plants, I am focusing on watching for any movement. Of course, this is difficult because with the wind there is always something moving.

However, a root ripping itself out of the ground to attack is still fairly obvious. Luckily, it is only one tree out of the many around us that attacks with its roots. As the roots attack, a mouth opens on the tree, it is big enough to swallow a human in one bite.

This time, Albion's light is more directed, like a flashlight, and shines directly on the tree. It would seem that in addition to his light growing stronger, he also has better control. The tree that wanted to eat us is cut apart and burned by Albion's light.

This time, as it dies, I notice something like black smoke being burned away by the light. There is other smoke from the tree burning, but this is different, it is hard to describe. For one thing it doesn't go up like normal smoke, it lingers around the tree.

It is hard to be sure, but I think I saw Albion's horn grow a tiny bit right when the smoke was destroyed. As soon as the tree is dead Albion stops the light, but he doesn't look exhausted this time. None of the nearby plants reacted to the light, so I am guessing that they are normal.

Once I am sure nothing else is going to attack us, I lead the way deeper into the jungle. I move slowly and carefully, keeping my senses at maximum to spot attacks. Thanks to that I manage to spot the creature before it manages to ambush us.