[Fleurdrakon: Dracondora tortuosa]
| → Potential: (-) 0.2%
| → Encoding: ⊎◬⊙⊏⊞⌁⊘⊓⊐⌂⊙⊎⊞⌬⊓⊏
| → Greed Skill: [???]
| → Greed Mastery: [N/A]
'Phin, are you able to get an Appraisal?' Willow asks, squinting at the airborne Flora. It continues to fly in a circular pattern, twisting and turning its serpentine body.
'Y-yes, Captain' he shakily affirms. 'Its name is Fleurdrakon, and this one has a -0.2% potential.'
'Hm.' Willow traces it across the sky, subtly scrutinizing its every movement. 'I'd estimate it to be at minimum Grade VI. When it first roared, nearly every Florae here immediately cowered.'
Without warning, the Fleurdrakon dives, plummeting toward Unit 00's ledge. At the last moment, it veers off, slamming into the rocky cliff beside them with a quaking impact - showering debris and crushing several unfortunate Florae beneath its massive form.
'Stay on guard. We don't know what it's capable of,' Willow warns. In one swift motion, she draws her dual Kusarigama. 'Switch on your intercoms, everyone. We'll have to engage.'
Upon a closer look, the Fleurdrakon's body bears numerous large flowers, sprouting arbitrarily along its underbelly. The vibrant, multicolored petals twist and compress, clinging onto the vertical surface. Beneath the tangled vines, its exoskeletal scales glint like polished stone.
Fleurdrakon, meaning 'Flower Dragon...' Phin ponders. It's unlike any Flora I've read about - to start, none possess its aerial mobility. Its draconic appearance, too, is unique.
The Fleurdrakon suddenly arches backward, its spinal column twisting with a sickening crunch. It leers at the Botanists, gnashing its gargantuan teeth.
'My guesses were correct. Its body consists of segments that can gyrate individually. This should give it exceptional flexibility - but it can also be a weakness,' notes Siegmund Forster, the reconnaissance lead.
'Indeed.' Willow nods. 'It's too agile for artillery, but I might be able to sever it at the joints.'
With a loud creak, the Fleurdrakon's jaw unfolds with grotesque elasticity, expanding wider than bones should permit. A green, fleshy appendage slithers out, its tip unfurling midair to reveal bright red petals.
Its a flower... Phin watches in shock. This kind of encapsulated anatomy is incredibly unusual!
The flower-tongue's stamens twitch wildly - each the length of Phin's arm. Without warning, they shoot forward, elongating and accelerating at breakneck speeds.
Shit! Phin stares in horror as one of the tentacle-like stamen grazes his shoulder. The Terrasuit's protective shell shatters, and slick blood splatters into the air.
For a moment, his vision blurs.
'Phin!' Eri tackles him to the ground, narrowly evading a decapitating strike. 'You've gotta focus!' she shouts over the thunderous crash of rubble.
With undiminished swiftness and lethality, the stamens retract into the Fleurdrakon's tongue. Jagged cracks crisscross the terrain where they had impacted. The vine-covered beast bares its teeth - almost as if smiling.
Phin scrambles to his feet, arms held up in a feeble protective gesture. That attack was devastating. And we don't know how many more tricks it has up its sleeve. Cold sweat drips down his pale, clammy face.
'Alright, unit,' Willow announces. 'I'll attempt a cross-sectional slash. It appears to be vulnerable to piercing damage. Marksmen, back me up - artillery, prep evasive utility.'
'Yes, Captain!' the unit resounds over the intercom.
Wait - this doesn't make sense, Phin thinks. Kusarigama are mid-ranged weapons, and the Fleurdrakon is still about 100 meters away. She's undeniably skilled, but it's suicidal to engage solo.
However, he gasps as Willow slings her twin chains. They rocket outward with impossible velocity - the two streaks of silver weave through the air, curling around opposite sides of the beast with surgical precision.
How is that possible? Flora Seeds like those of Arcslatters have extensile properties, Phin reasons. However, the anti-Flora Ichor applied on combat gear usually nullifies their effects - hence why Seed-imbued weapons don't exist. Yet hers is surpassing any feat of mechanical genius alone!
The Kusarigama blades converge and dig into the Fleurdrakon's flesh, wedging themselves between thick vines and compact skeletal plates. Purple goo spurts out of the newly opened wounds - sending the monstrous Flora into a frenzy.
The Fleurdrakon disengages its abdominal flowers and thrashes against the chains' cold judgment, attempting to take flight. Damaged vines dripping purple blood hang off its body like noodles.
Willow squints her eyes in deep concentration. I just have to obtain the right angle - if my blades can lodge between its segments' joints, it'll be a sure kill. With a sudden heave, she slams the panicking Fleurdrakon back into the cliff.
Shit! That's not it... Willow grits her teeth. Straining against the Flora's enraged flailing, she drops to one knee. This damn thing won't stop moving!
'Our bullets aren't doing anything - its armor is too thick!' Eri shouts.
With an ear-splitting snap, the Fleurdrakon breaks free. It launches into the sky before veering back for retribution. Then came the unimaginable: flowers, of all colors and sizes, begin to sprout uncontrollably across its body. Within seconds, the spasming beast resembles more an art palette than its previous form.
'God damn,' Drasil sighs. 'I don't even want to know what that thing does.' He turns towards Willow, who is slowly recuperating on the ground. 'Hey, Captain. This might be a bit much to ask, but I need you to trust me.'
Despite the direness of their predicament, Willow manages a weak chuckle. 'Is that all?' She climbs back to her feet, just in time to witness the completion of the Fleurdrakon's transformation. 'So, Dietrich - what's the plan?'
Drasil grins, his unshaven face twisting upwards. His gaunt eyes gleam underneath moppy black hair. 'Anchor.'
'Drasil Dietrich, you genius - say no more.'
The Fleurdrakon begins to swerve erratically, maneuvering its way towards Azure Peak.
It's intentionally being unpredictable. The bastard's smart, I'll give it that. Willow crouches, readying a throw. All I need is one secure hit.
C'mon...
Right there -
The twin Kusarigama chains once again coil around the Fleurdrakon's serpentine form, this time latching onto the newly bloomed flowers. As if reenacting their previous interaction, Willow heaves the chains with all her strength, sending the Flora crashing into the cliff. Large rocks rain down, shattering atop the Fleurdrakon's spinal spikes.
Just ten more seconds... Willow groans, every tendon in her arms screaming. Her feet scrape against the stone, legs buckling under the strain.
Unseen by all but her, a shadow descends behind the writhing monster. Drasil lands expertly on its back, hauling his tremendous Gunsword.
'Gah!'
The newly blossomed flowers clamp onto his legs, digging into them with jagged thorns. He growls, stabbing his blade into the fleshy carpels and ripping free. His gait stumbles, but he pushes forward.
Just then, a voice crackles through the intercom.
'Now!'