The broken gear

Vs. Violet Eater

The cold air slowed the plant from grabbing Thomas and Nelle. The plant hovered multiple tendrils above the cold air, having it mildly rain a purple liquid. Nelle quickly turned the cold air into icicles and shot them at the plant while Thomas managed to cut another tendril.

"Thomas, can't you use your fire magic?"

"How did you know that?"

"That doesn't matter right now."

"No, I can't, I can only make sparks and create small fires, I can't weaponize it."

A vine grabbed Thomas by the leg and grew thorns almost instantly, causing Thomas to scream. He kept slicing it until it was severed. The plant growled as if it was in pain. One of its tendrils curled up into a large cylinder-like shape which tried to crush Thomas, while another tendril seemed to be covering itself in the purple substance.

Thomas managed to roll away in time having the plant hit the soil. The other tendril started shaking itself at Nelle spilling the substance everywhere.

"I think it might be poison."

"What."

"The thing it's throwing at me."

"Don't let it touch your skin."

"I'll try."

The flower seemed to create another deafening roar. This time both of them spotted the object.

"I know what to do," Nelle said as she stopped fighting and let the tendrils wrap around her.

"Nelle!"

Thomas had let his guard down and the plant managed to grab his legs making him fall. He saw the flower opening its petals while Nelle was lowered into its center.

Thomas managed to grab a piece of a fence and tried to throw it at the flower. He missed the shot and instead hit the black sphere. The plant let go of Thomas and Nelle who fell grabbed onto a filament. The plant emitted thunderous roar that echoed through the park while using its tendrils to cover the sphere.

Thomas stood up with his sword and saw that there were small green glowing flakes floating from the plant. It started to shrink back to its original form. It opened its petals to reveal Nelle holding a black glossy rock-like object glowing yellow and blue that was about 4-5 inches in her hand.

"What is that?" he said out of breath and watering eyes.

Nelle healed Thomas and looked at the object. "Upgradite, it's used to enhance and improve creatures."

"Isn't it illegal to have that much?"

"I think so, I'm pretty sure you only need about an inch."

"I didn't know it worked on plants, I've only seen people use it on themselves and other animals to train. I also didn't know it could look like that, isn't it usually pink with the same glowing color?"

"The more you add the more the colors change."

"What are we going to do with it?"

"Keep it."

"Why? It's illegal to carry that much."

"We might need it soon," Nelle put it in a leather backpack. "You also need to practice your magic, we would have been able to stand our ground more if you knew how to use fire magic."

"How do I learn more?"

"There should be a couple of books that can teach you."