### 193

You draw your magical blade and sever the blood-sucking vine with one swift stroke. The sundered creeper screeches as it recoils, spraying you with sticky green slime, and it whips away into the trees above. Gagging at the stench of the creature’s foul ichor, you pull yourself upright and stagger away along the trail. You are within a few yards of the beach when your escape is suddenly blocked by a wall of flailing vines which descend with alarming speed from the canopy of low branches. You must fight them.

Haemodyls: COMBAT SKILL 47 ENDURANCE 47

These vine-creatures are especially vulnerable to your magical blade: add 2 to your COMBAT SKILL (in addition to all other combat bonuses for this Special Item) for the duration of this combat. Also, if you possess Animal Mastery, you may add a further 2 to your COMBAT SKILL for the duration of this fight. However, these vines are immune to all forms of psychic attack, except Kai-blast and Kai-ray.

If you win the combat, turn to 19.