Your Sword

The sword hisses with metallic relish as you summon it from the sheath.

Gripping the handle with both hands, you move in a focused lunge towards the malevolent monster girl.

Leaves are trampled underfoot as you make the arcing swing for a clean cut…

… right into the tree bark!

The holy blade slices through the air and very nearly her slender neck but at the literal last-second, Lily ducks.

She ducks and slides around the tree, narrowly avoiding being the first unholy creature here to experience your bladed justice.

For now.

Much to your snarling chagrin, as you clutch the handle of the sword that nearly severs the tree itself.

Damn it.

Bracing one boot against the earthly pillar, you fiercely pull the weapon out and immediately circle around where she escaped.

To see absolutely noone there.

“Hehehe…” And now, you’re **** to again hear the mocking sound of her laughter.

The exact source of it seems to originate from every direction.

East. West. North. South.

She was everywhere, and yet, nowhere within sight.

Nowhere where you could strike the botanic bitch down.

“Damn it,” you grunt out aloud, stalking away from the tree and stepping over the log right in front of it.

“Ohhh, you came so close, little hero. Closer than all the others. For a moment, I thought the goddess no longer favored me.”

“Show yourself!” you shout out at the forest all around.

And the forest, seemingly speaking through her, responded back in cawing fashion, “Why, so you can again try and attack nature’s faithful servant again with your barbaric tool of destruction?”

You hear running footsteps.

“So I can render justice for all the lives you stole.” Turning swiftly, you hasten the pace- just as a womanly figure darts from tree to tree now within your direct visual field.

“Oh no, those lives are ours to take. Penance for mankind’s sins against the world.”

You run now, blade in one hand, towards the haughty sneer.

More bare feet on leaves.

“But you can join them, little hero.”

You sprint around another tree, and see nothing.

“And make us strong. So strong.”

Frustration grips your features like a mask.

“Don’t you want to earn nature’s forgiveness?”

You whirl back around, but only the wind greets you.

That, and another flash of movement from behind another tree.

“You’ve earned this blade, that’s for sure,” you think to yourself, while (presumably) pursuing the plant girl.

Breaking into another sprint, you hear another crunch of bone under your heel, but don’t pause to lament the loss of life.

Not when you can still slay the woman responsible.

“Oh, are you lost?”

Reaching that same area, you see the same as before.

Frustration builds.

“Perhaps you tire of my games.”

Another twig snaps, closer to your position.

Taking off, you run even faster, passing through near identical rows of trees.

Wasn't I just here?

You see that greenish blur yet again, running even deeper into the heart of the woods.

Not pausing to think, you give chase. Plenty of it.

Especially when you hear her laughter even closer than ever before.

“Let’s do this in the open, hero.”

You round another tree and jump over the top half of an armored corpse, the helmet still clinging unto his skeletal face.

Sliding down a slight hill to reach a new level on the forest floor, you smash through a barrier of foliage, finding yourself now in…