The Hooded Samurai

Chapter 2: Inforestation [Part 2]

I'm on my own now. It's dark, it's cold. I don't mind the cold, though. At least I can think clearly instead of having sweat fall into my eyes while my senses get obstructed because of the dizziness the heat of the sun inflicts on me.

The daylight has arrived. Not as warm as yesterday. Guess it'll be a decent temperature. I packed my bag for the plunder and I unsheathed my katana as I stood up in front of the entrance.

"So, the moment has finally arrived. It's just a couple of branches, right? All I gotta do is clean this place up and take the trash back. Why the heck would people pay gold for branches anyway?"

I shook the thought off and went through as I gripped my katana's handle tightly.

As I entered the forest, the sunlight seemed to get dimmer the further I went. Eventually, all I could see was a mist, a fog covering the ground. I looked up and saw the sky, but the leaves covering over me made it look like stars were shining in the darkness of night.

"These damn trees..."

I mumbled to myself as I ventured. I noticed that for some reason, these trees had no branches. As I examined the leaves closely, it appeared as if they were moving...Not being blown by the wind, but as if every leaf together was one individual. It was breathing.

I shivered and kept my guard up. I then noticed a particular spot opened up where no tree was planted.

"Ah, perfect. A spot to camp."

I put up a tent and lit a small torch. I don't think lighting a fire in a place full of wood is a good idea. Who knows how flammable these things are...

Just then, I heard a branch snap. I quickly stood up and faced toward the direction of the snap. I looked all around me as it echoed through, not knowing the exact direction the sound came from.

"Hold up...a branch snapped?! A BRANCH SNAPPED!"

I quickly followed to where I assumed the noise came from. I was right, it was a branch indeed. There was a small group of...sticks with legs and arms? Ok, what is this.

I walked up to the sticks watched as they danced around and made snapping noises. Is that how they communicate?

"Hey little guys~! Goodness, I don't even feel like killing y'all! You look so funny and adorable." I smiled and kept observing them.

They stopped and stared at me. I slowly backed up and placed my hand on my sheathed katana to get ready. Any sudden moves, and I'll have no choice but to slice them up like firewood.

I felt a piece of wood fall on my shoulder and I turned around. There was another branch figure the size of a tree right behind me.

I could probably kill this one easily. I backed up slowly but forgot that the smaller branches were behind me. I accidentally stepped on 2 of them. They limped over and seemed pretty dead. Oh crap.

I gave an awkward smile. It did not like that. They all made snapping noises in unison and made it sound like an army of chariots speeding up to me. I instantly turned around and ran away.

"PLEASE LEAVE ME ALONE! I'M SORRY! AAAHHH!"

I kept running until I was far enough to unsheathe and get in position. They were a few feet away. Alright, if I stomp on the little ones, it'll let me focus on the big dude.

As soon as they got close enough, I stomped and killed the small branches. I then swung my katana at the big one and...

"DAWG I MISSED?! HOW DO I MISS A SKINNY AND EASILY CUTTABLE THING LIKE THAT?!"

I turned around and saw it charging back at me. Fire! Duh! Wait...I don't have my flint! Dammit!

I looked around and saw a well-sized rock to throw at the branch. I hurled it towards the creature and it went flying as far as the rock pushed it. I sighed and collected the 5 smaller branches.

"Alright, that marks 8 branches."

The tall one was the size of 3 small ones. I headed back to my camp.

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"How am I supposed to take 20 of these out...?" I mumbled to myself as I stared at the lifeless pile of sticks laid out in front of me.

So far, I've managed to kill 6. Not bad. But damn, I really wish I had magic right about now...

I went back to exploring the forest and killed a few more small branches. It was the big ones that accompanied them who made this even harder.

I approached a third group of about 6 of them. And, as usual, there was a tall one. Woah, that one has a sword shaped branch. Awesome! No, wait, not awesome. Ughhh.

"Enguard!" I yelled as I aimed my blade at them. I guess it yelled something back in branch language, assuming from the sound it made...

It charged at me, plunging it's sword straight into the tree behind me, just narrowly missing my hip.

"DAYUM-" I yelled and jumped away from it. I swung my katana at it and it kept on dodging.

"Oh c'mon! I said 'enguard' for a damn reason! Quit strafing ya damn-" It put its guard up and blocked my attacks. Why did I have to speak. Wait, did it just understa-

I was nearly caught off guard when it suddenly swung at me, but I managed to parry it's attack and I countered it with a stab right through its...wait, its basically hollow.

I shrugged and just sliced my katana upward through it's hollow body, cutting it in half vertically. It seemed to keep moving, though with less balance, of course. I sliced through its body horizontally and ended it.

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I was back at my tent and I counted the amount of branches I had collected.

"Woah, 25 branches?! Perfect!"

I had killed about 16 small branches, 3 groups of 5-6 each, along with 3 tall branches, each about the size of 3 small branches.

[Woah! Wafflez doing math!]

"Hmm...I guess I am learning through combat, huh? Cool."

I packed up anything that I brought with me and headed out for the exit. Uh...wait...Where's the exit...?
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(Sorry for the goofy drawings ☠️ I'm trying to make this entertaining😁)