While Rephan was dashing through the forest, he felt that something was different with his body.
His speed had become much faster.
Though not faster than what he had achieved during the fight with the serpentine daemon.
His overall senses were sharper too; every detail of his vision was more striking, and every scent hit his nose differently…
Including his own, suddenly aware of the fact that he had not showered in a while.
Overlooking that, Rephan's auditory senses had become much more acute.
Now, he could somewhat judge the distance between him and the daemons just based on hearing alone.
The new barrage of sensory information washed over Rephan, painting his surroundings in vivid colors.
'Is this how Gordon sees and feels all the time?'
'No, his senses must be even better than mine considering the fact that he has had access to mana for a longer time.'
'Now I know why it feels like he has eyes at the back of his head sometimes.'
Slowly adjusting to the newly enhanced senses, he never lost speed as they blitzed through the forest.
Gordon, who had also noticed Rephan's increased speed, spoke up.
"Your body seems to be acclimatizing to the mana pretty well."
"That's good; you will need the strength."
"Our next hideout is in the branches of an enormous tree up ahead."
"Stay alert!"
Rephan's gaze grew focused after hearing Gordon's warning.
The sound of the incoming horde of daemons had faded into the distance a while ago.
An enormous tree had come into view.
It towered above them, so much so that Rephan got a crick in his neck trying to glimpse its canopy.
It had thick green vines wrapping around its trunk in a chaotic manner, providing footholds for climbing.
But something was off about the tree.
With his newly enhanced senses, Rephan could hear digging and grunting coming from behind the tree
Gordon signaled for Rephan to halt.
Turning to Rephan, he placed his index finger on his lips.
And gestured for Rephan to circle around the tree in the opposite direction.
Turning around, Gordon advanced nearer to the base of the tree, his rifle at the ready.
Rephan held his revolver at the ready as he too advanced closer to the tree's base, anxious about what he would encounter if he got closer.
Walking around the girth of the tree, the digging sound growing louder with each step he took.
He could sense the presence of a creature on the next turn.
The sound of gunfire rang out on the other side of the tree as Gordon began unleashing a hail of bullets.
Rephan was forced to make a decision.
Join Gordon in fighting the daemon or wait until it was all over.
Closing his eyes for a moment, he sprang out from his hiding place, revolver already aimed.
He fired a shot but, seeing it glance off the daemon's armor; he paused and took cover.
Gordon was on the back foot, jumping back frequently to try to create distance between him and the daemon.
Shifting his gaze, Rephan focused on the daemon.
The daemon was a giant armadillo with brown plates of armor covering its entire body and a club at the end of its tail.
Its build resembled that of a tank.
Rephan would know because he had seen the terrifying machines in Boss' gallery.
Most of the bullets Gordon fired ricocheted off of the daemon's armor like pebbles falling on sheets of metal.
Even its head had a plate of armor shielding it.
However, every armor had a weakness.
Joints.
And that's exactly where Gordon had been trying to hit.
He had managed to find his mark a couple of times, but it was not enough to bring the daemon down.
So far, he had only managed to hamper its movement a bit.
Gordon's movements were calculated and precise.
Every roll and every jump were made for a purpose.
The daemon, on the other hand, moved like a living wrecking ball, destroying any and everything in its path.
Waving the club at the end of its tail whenever it got close enough to Gordon.
Gordon sometimes used the surrounding trees for cover, though they never lasted long under the sheer strength of the daemon.
The sound of gunfire, heavy footsteps and the occasional tree shattering rang out in the forest.
Steeling his resolve, Rephan caught Gordon's eye while he was dodging another strike from the daemon's clubbed tail.
Gordon only nodded, his face tense and full of concentration.
Rephan nodded in response and cleared his head of all distractions.
With this daemon, Rephan had noticed that its armor only covered its back, leaving its underbelly unprotected.
He had an idea, but it was risky; he might be squashed like a bug if he failed.
But it was worth a shot.
If he wanted to survive on Mirror Earth, he had to act and take chances.
He did not want to be relying on Gordon every time to save his arse.
Letting out a breath, he hid behind the buttress roots of the huge tree as he waited for his opportunity.
Stopping all movement; he activated the enchantment of his ring, effectively making him undetectable to the daemon.
Gordon kept fighting the daemon, getting a few shots in its joints occasionally, further hampering the daemon's movement.
And then Rephan saw it, his opportunity to take down the daemon.
During the course of the fight, Gordon had been leading the daemon closer and closer to Rephan's position.
And there on the next swing of its clubbed tail, its side was open to Rephan.
Rephan steadied his grip on the revolver and jumped out of his hiding place.
Judging the distance, he slid under the daemon and let off a series of shots, perforating the underside of the daemon.
The daemon bellowed one last time before tumbling down.
Now this was the tricky part.
Rephan had hoped to slide under the daemon and out the other side.
But he had not managed to slide out fully from underneath the daemon.
He closed his eyes, expecting to be crushed under the giant daemon's full weight.
Just then, he felt a yanking force on his arm as Gordon pulled him out from under the collapsing daemon.
The behemoth's body soon afterward toppled onto the ground before them, crushing the soil beneath its weight.
Rephan was flat on his back, panting for air.
Gordon lay on the ground beside him.
He turned his head to face Rephan.
"I'm beginning to think you are bad luck."
Rephan continued to stare at the forest canopy.
"Yeah, me too."