Dealing with the Demonic Beast

"Lord Green, I found tracks!" Green was studying the marks on the rock face when a shout suddenly came from nearby.

Green followed the voice. At the edge of a thicket, an armored soldier gripped his Longsword and stared intently into the brush. His trembling legs, however, betrayed his fear.

Green stepped beside him and patted his shoulder, signaling him to fall back. The soldier gave him a grateful look and hurried aside. The other soldiers gathered around the thicket, drew their swords and shields, took formation, and prepared to fight.

Green looked into the brush. The grass at its edge lay twisted in every direction, and the nearby shrubs were flattened as though something enormous had trampled through them. Drops of green slime clung to the leaves.

Without moving, Green used Wizard's Hand to part the brush gently. Behind it lay the entrance to a round tunnel a meter across. Fresh earth surrounded it; the tunnel had clearly just been dug.

"Huff... huff..."

Heavy breathing came from the soldiers beside him. The huge tunnel put considerable pressure on them. They were trained fighters, but facing a Demonic Beast that could kill them in an instant, it would have been strange if they weren't afraid.

"Lord Green, what do we do now?" Crado came to Green's side and bent respectfully as he asked.

Green did not answer Crado at once. Instead, he looked at the Chip's interface.

"Chip, scan!"

[Ding! Scan results follow!]

In the view through Green's right eye, a huge red target appeared, radiating energy outward. It was more than twenty meters below the ground.

[Ding! The target's energy is being consumed rapidly. Large amounts of energy are gathering at its body surface. It is highly likely to be molting!]

The Chip's message made