The group had trekked Mystic Mountain for two months, driven by curiosity and a sense of adventure. Each step revealed more of the mountain's enigmatic beauty, blending elements of both reality and fantasy. The soldiers, hardened by training, found themselves in awe of the natural wonders before them.

"The name says it all; there is a lot of mystery here," one soldier mused, his eyes darting around the vibrant landscape.

The trees, with limbs swaying in an almost sentient manner, seemed to react to their presence. Some branches reached out as if to embrace the newcomers, while others recoiled in silent fear. The dwarf plants

employed their own tactics of concealment, curling their leaves tightly or folding them over completely.

A myriad of birds and butterflies flitted around them. But it was a butterfly with luminous wings and a tiny human-like face that captivated their attention.

"They look like the little fairy Tinker Bell in Peter Pan's movie!" Chatty exclaimed, his voice filled with childlike wonder.

"Indeed they do!" echoed another soldier, followed by a chorus of agreement.

The mountain's flora was a riot of colors, with flowers that seemed almost otherworldly in their brilliance. Each petal and bloom was a testament to the mountain's mystical allure, making the soldiers' previous encounters with nature seem mundane. If they describe these flowers, people are unlikely to believe them.

As they ventured deeper, the mixture of excitement and anxiety within the group grew. Every step brought the possibility of discovering new secrets or facing unknown dangers.

"Silent!... Listen…" Jack commanded, his hand raised for silence.

The soldiers froze, straining to hear the faint sound growing louder.

"The sound seems to be coming towards us," Shun said, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Indeed, be prepared. Deploy yourself." Jack whispered an instruction, drawing his sword with a practiced motion while others readied their bows and arrows.

From behind the bushes, an enormous black cat with a regal crest on its head emerged, its eyes fixed on the soldiers. As it moved, its lizard-like tail swished menacingly, cow bristles running down its back, and its front legs, covered in scales, ended in sharp claws were revealed.

This demonic beast is called 'Tatzelwurm.' Also known as 'The Dragon of the Mine-Tunnels' or 'The Alps Dragon.'

The soldiers were stupefied, and their instinct was to move back as far as they could with their weapons prepared in their hands. The soldier standing next to Jack was taken aback to the point of fear, causing him to misstep and get his foot caught in a thick vine.

The beast shrieked, so high-pitched and deafening that they had to dock to shield their ears.

The fallen soldier, closest to the beast, bled from his ears and nose, his face contorted in pain.

Jack, seeing his comrade in distress as the team leader, rushed to his side. He knelt and noticed the soldier's foot tangled in a vein-like plant. With a swift motion, he freed the foot with his dagger.

"My head… it hurts…" the soldier groaned before vomiting a strange blue liquid, which Jack found peculiar because he was aware that blue vomit indicates acid poisoning.

'What could poison him?' Jack was thinking deeply as he ran with the soldier on his back. He laid him down while the other soldiers were on guard with their weapons.

"He is poisoned!" Jack informed the group.

"The beast must have poisoned him!" one soldier speculated.

"But he didn't touch it!" another argued.

"Ask him!" yet another soldier suggested.

"His ears are damaged! He can't hear! And he seems to be hallucinating!" Jack responded.

Four Eyes and Shun are preoccupied with observing every movement of the beast.

As Four Eyes pondered the beasts they had previously encountered within the magical array, "the cat's breath" came to mind. "It must be toxic," Four Eyes said while maintaining his gaze on the beast.

"That's the only possibility! Everyone, wear your gas mask!" Jack ordered.

The soldiers quickly donned their masks, their eyes still on the slowly approaching beast. The Tatzelwurm emitted another high-pitched wail, accompanied by visible toxic fumes.

As the cat advanced, it hissed and bared its fangs, its movements deliberate and menacing. The soldiers, now protected by their gas masks, stood ready to confront the enigmatic creature, their hearts pounding with a mix of fear and determination.

In the face of this ancient terror, the soldiers knew that every second counted. They prepared for a battle not just for survival but for the truth hidden within Mystic Mountain's depths.

The massive black cat crept closer, hissing and baring its fangs, a menacing gleam in its eyes.

Jack's voice, though authoritative, barely broke through the ringing in their ears. "Let's use our bows!" he yelled, but the soldiers could only faintly make out his command.

Jack sheathed his sword and drew his bow and arrow, setting an example for the rest. Following his lead, they nocked their arrows and took aim, focusing on the creature's head.

As Jack released his arrow, the others followed suit. The projectiles found their mark, embedding in the cat's neck. Despite the success, they quickly realized that the arrows were ineffective against the creature's thickly furred head, which remained unscathed.

"We need to target its body and tail!" Jack shouted, though most couldn't hear him clearly.

Jack and Four Eyes, communicating through a shared look, sheathed their bows and drew their swords once more. They aimed for the tail, hoping to weaken the beast. However, the cat, now wounded and enraged, seemed to anticipate their move. It swung its lizard-like tail viciously, striking out at them.

From a distance, the soldiers continued firing arrows, attempting to distract the beast. Meanwhile, Jack, Four Eyes, Shun, and two other soldiers moved in for a direct assault. Jack struck first, his blade slicing into the cat's tail. A stream of green liquid gushed from the wound, splashing onto Shun's arm. His clothes sizzled and corroded instantly, a clear sign of the acid's potency.

The soldiers exchanged worried glances, realizing the cat's blood was dangerously acidic. Shun quickly tore off his sleeve to prevent the acid from reaching his skin, retreating slightly to regain his composure.

The cat, driven mad by the pain, lashed out with increased ferocity. Its tail whipped back and forth, releasing more shrill cries and toxic fumes. The soldiers' ears bled from the intensity of the sound. Still, they pressed on, determined to protect each other and survive this ordeal.

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