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"This is an ordinary wood-growing fungus. It's common in forests! Is there something special about it?" Andariel brushed the hair back from her temple and looked at the bare tree, plainly puzzled.
She still couldn't see anything dangerous about it.
Apart from being rather large, leafless, and seemingly dead, it looked perfectly normal.
"Is that so? Then take a look at this."
Diabolo's lips curled slightly. The umbrella in his hand spun rapidly, gathering rainwater above its canopy. A torrent formed from the rain and shot toward the giant tree.
Hiss!
A branch was sliced clean off by the flying water. Dark-green sap spilled from the cut and mingled with the rain.
"Awooo!"
The giant tree suddenly let out an animal-like roar. It sounded like dry bark scraping together, a sickening, mechanical rasp.
Every remaining branch on the bare tree came alive, thrashing wildly before lunging at Diabolo.
"Look out!" Andariel cried.
Bang!
The branches stretched taut, stopping just short of Diabolo's body.
"Whew."
"A legendary Animated Plant!"
The shock in Andariel's eyes vanished almost at once. She glanced at Diabolo, who was still smiling, and felt an unexpected flash of anger.
He's insufferable. He must have chosen that spot on purpose, just out of its reach. And here I was worrying over nothing! Andariel fumed.
She had yet to notice how often her usually tranquil heart had stirred since Diabolo appeared. The Holy Light within her, meanwhile, kept warning her to beware of the man before her.
And yet...
Andariel dismissed the Holy Light's warnings. Deep down, she believed