[h2]BLIGHTED WOODS
Hazel, Hayato, Joe, John, Soka[/h2]

As the group moved across the clearing, Hayato took in their surroundings. This clearing hadn't always been such; stumps and piles of sawdust just beginning to sprout grass were clear signs that construction had only recently begun here. The bunkers looked too smooth for regular concrete, so they had probably been raised with earth magic. The way they just sort of melded into the ground at their bases cemented that theory. There weren't any paths leading into or out of the forest to this clearing, at least none that had been often traveled by anything other than native creatures. So the researchers probably had their own telepad, or had set up some kind of rendezvous schedule with the MMO Corps--the para-military organization that was basically the "grown up" version of the Academy. 

So they were, quite literally, surrounded. But if this place was so dangerous normally, surely they wouldn't have built an outpost here. Could something have caused the Exbeasts to become more aggressive? Were these some of the intelligent kinds who could coordinate attacks?

Hayato and the others were no doubt keeping their eyes peeled with every step they took, but even as they crossed over the treeline into the forest proper, all they could see were the normal plants of the forest. Low, woody shrubs with spindly limbs clawed at their clothes as they pushed past, and thick tangles of snake-like vines hung from larger trees, obscuring their vision. Small conifer-like trees, their needles sharp and prickly, only grew about head height every once in a while, a stark contrast to the larger, oak-like trees that made up the majority of the forest.

As he poked a group of the vines out of his way with his sheathed katana, Hayato sighed. 

"Did the things see us coming and run off or what?" he began to ask, but his stride was brought to an abrupt halt when his sword refused to come out of the vines. Grumbling, he started trying to untangle it and pull the sheathed weapon free--only for one of the vines to suddenly lash out at him!

As Hayato reflexively ducked and yanked his blade free of the sheath, leaving the scabbard in the monster's grip, other strange figures began to rise up out of the very earth, all around the group...

[hider=Blighted Woods Exbeasts]
[b]Twig Blight[/b] - Small imp like creature made from twisted woody shrubs, disguises itself as low brush. 
HP - 40
MP - 30
Attack - 16
Magic - 4
Speed - 20
Accuracy - 13
Defense - 12 
Evasion - 20
Resistance - 8 

[b]Vine Blight[/b] - Medium sized mass of vines and brush, hides in brush and canopies and waits for prey. Once discovered, it takes a humanoid shape formed of entwined plantlife, with a mass of vines below the torso serving as tentacles for locomotion and attacking.
HP - 80
MP - 50
Attack - 15
Magic - 15
Speed - 7
Accuracy - 18
Defense - 14 
Evasion - 8
Resistance - 10 

[b]Spell:[/b]
Entangle - Vines that entangle an opponent's feet. If your attack isn't higher than 12, you won't have the strength to pull away and your speed drops by 10 points. 10 MP

[b]Needle Blight[/b] - Like Twig Blights but covered in thorns and coniferous needles they can launch at enemies.
HP - 100
MP - 100
Attack - 5
Magic - 20
Speed - 15
Accuracy - 15
Defense - 5
Evasion - 10
Resistance - 10

[b]Spell:[/b]
Needle Spray - A ranged attack of plant element magic, travels 30 feet at max, can hit up to three targets. Adds 5 speed and 10 magic. 20 MP
[/hider]