Chapter 285: The House of Roses’ Waiting
The sun hung low in the sky, casting an orange glow over the dense forest as Josephine, Belle, Xena, Alina, Ravia, and Raine prepared for their latest hunt. The air was thick with anticipation, and the members of The Deadly Bouquet moved with the grace and confidence of seasoned warriors. Their monster children, formidable companions each in their own right, followed closely, their eyes gleaming with eager determination.
Josephine, her fiery red hair cascading over her shoulders, led the group. Her curvy, strong frame moved with the fluidity of a former Mythril-ranked mercenary. Beside her trotted Magria, the Magma Bear, its molten fur glowing faintly in the dim light. The other women followed suit: Belle with her pink-purple hair and big, intelligent eyes; Xena, the ever-cheerful archer with her dark orange hair tied back; Alina, the cute swordswoman, whose modest demeanor belied her deadly skills; and finally, the tomboyish butler sisters, Ravia and Raine, both as lethal as they were elegant, flanking the group like silent shadows.
Their prey today was no ordinary beast. Nestled deep in the forest, the matured Corpse Flower awaited them—a grotesque, carnivorous plant monster with twisting vines, the stench of rot, and the ability to animate the corpses entwined in its monstrous form. The very air around it reeked of death and decay.
"Ready, ladies?" Josephine’s voice was steady and calm, her emerald eyes scanning the darkening forest.
"Always," Xena replied with a playful wink, nocking an arrow to her bow. Beside her, Galia, the Galewing Butterfly, fluttered its delicate wings, ready to aid her in battle.
Belle nodded, her Papilio Slime, Pilia, perched on her shoulder. The purple slime’s wings shimmered, reflecting the fading sunlight. "Let’s make this quick. I have potions brewing back home," she said, her voice soft but determined.
Alina drew her sword, the blade gleaming. "I’ll handle the vines. Keep them off me," she said, her cute pout masking her fierce resolve.
Ravia and Raine exchanged a look. "We’ll scout ahead and circle around," Ravia suggested. "The flower won’t see us coming."
"Just be careful," Josephine warned, her eyes narrowing. "This thing is more dangerous than it looks."
The battle began with a sudden, explosive burst of movement. Xena’s arrows flew true, striking the Corpse Flower’s central mass, but the thick, rubbery petals absorbed the impact with little more than a shudder. The plant responded by lashing out with its vine-like tendrils, snapping towards the group with terrifying speed.
"Watch out!" Josephine shouted, slashing a vine in two with her morningstar. Magria roared, unleashing a blast of molten rock that incinerated several vines in one fiery explosion. The air filled with the acrid smell of burning plant matter.