[Nico keeps the vines from grabbing them all the up until they reach the source. He kept the ground moving in other directions to trick the thing into thinking there were more of them. That left fewer vines for him to have to deflect with shards of stone and bone - which was not easy while on the run!
The vines are more concentrated around the bush, and he's not sure how much longer he can hold them off when he sees Kanji go flying. Shit. There's a flame and smoke starting to rise up from under the bush, and the vines are going wild, and he is running low on gas, and all he has to fight with is a kitchen knife. Time to beat a path back to the others.
He starts toward Kanji, shouting his name as he goes. A vine tries to snap at him, but falls short. They seem to be losing speed and strength.]