BXBX NOVEL Chapter 195 194: Completion (1)
I understood why Jahi wanted us to experience our strengths with something we weren\'t comfortable with, I really did, but...
Of our entire group, I was the most well rounded, as I knew how to fight up close and personal, as well as how to utilize my Ice, Water, and Wind Magics to the fullest of their abilities, granting me a diverse repertoire of lethal attacks to choose from.
However, everyone else didn\'t have that same skill with both magic and blade; Jahi was the closest, and her control over her Light Magic was good, but not the greatest.
As for Anput and Leone, both lacked the fine tuned precision that they displayed with their preference; Anput was clumsy with her Metal Magic, and Leone, while decent with a blade, simply wasn\'t that strong physically, creating a large weakness for her to attempt to cover.
So, I understood why our Demoness wife wanted us to switch roles, but I was still irked by the lack of mana rushing through my veins as I sliced through these hordes, only amplifying the slowly growing irritation that I was feeling from the lack of blood.
I guess this was good training for me to curb my bloodlust, but...
Growling in mild annoyance, I watched as my face hardened in my dagger, before I lowered the blade and sheathed it, crouching down to start gathering the various Cores and Crystals the Ghouls dropped.
While I did so, I reviewed each of my girls Requests; Jahi\'s was done, and I would be able to help Anput as I completed my own Request, since Magma Nettle was found outside Coal Serpent dens.
As for Leone\'s, she needed the shells from the Obsidian Crabs deep inside the Plains of Yama, and since I had no idea what they were, I could only hope that they traveled in large groups, so that I could contribute to completing her Request as well.
Each day I inched closer to leveling up, and the anticipation, as well as a dash of nervousness, was slowly building up as that number grew ever closer to evening out.
What would the new system be like?
How useful would the shop be?
More questions floated around in my skull, but Jahi stood in front of me, snapping me from my thoughts.
"How many materials did you get?"
Patting the pouches, I replied "I got 14 Cores and 11 Crystals from this horde."
The Demoness nodded, a thoughtful look in her eyes before she turned around, glancing at Anput.
"This was the last horde, so let\'s get down onto the Plains!"
We all nodded, tying all of our pouches tight before getting up and resuming our journey, eventually stepping onto the flat, rolling Plains of Yama.
Glancing around, I searched for Coal Serpent dens, swiftly pointing them out to everyone else.
As we approached the dens, I had Leone tell me what Magma Nettle and Obsidian Grass looked like, so that I could get my two stalks and one bushel of those herbs.
To no ones surprise, Magma Nettle was a orangish red jagged leaf that grew on tall, thin stalks, which sprouted from the upturned earth the Coal Serpents used to make their dens.
Apparently, the mana the Coal Serpents put out helped the Magma Nettle grow, as did the various decaying corpses inside their homes.
As for Obsidian Grass, it was a deep black...
Well, grass.
And it grew in clusters around the Plains, sprouting up at random points; the bushel I needed was gathered in no time, and I tied it all together with an extra string I had in my pack.
Reaching the loose rocks and earth that signified a den, Leone and I nodded to one another as we stalked forwards, waiting to hear the hissing of a Serpent.
It didn\'t take long, and as we reached a dozen feet away we saw a fleshy pink tongue flicker out of the den\'s entrance, quickly followed by the wide, large head of the Coal Serpent.
Pitch black scales marred with a few gouges, the Coal Serpent slowly slithered out onto the Plains, raising its body ten feet off the ground as it stared down at us.
Meeting its piercing red stare, Leone and I took a step back as it hissed again, only to roll to the sides as it lunged forwards, its fangs sinking into the ground and leaving a puddle of orange liquid pooling from the marks.
With Jahi\'s golden light draped around our bodies, Leone and I pulled back and created space for the Demoness and Jackalkin to pelt the Serpent with magic.
Two golden discs flew forwards, accompanied by a singular silver spear, all three slamming hard into the Coal Serpent\'s scales.
Hissing in pain, it narrowed its deep red eyes at us and reared its head back, a dull orange glow spilling from its mouth.
However, before it could spit whatever spell or attack at us, the spear that Anput had hurled at the monster shimmered, the metal changing shape as it bent around the Serpent\'s neck.
Slamming its head into the ground, the monster hissed again as its skull was rattled, before falling silent as the two golden discs sliced deeply into its body, cutting its head off.
Watching as their magic dissipated, we all waited for the monster to dissolve, leaving behind a few of its scales and a fang.
Anput sighed in annoyance at the lack of rib bones, making Jahi and I purse our lips.
"Maybe..."
Glancing at me, Jahi nodded, letting me finish.
"Maybe we need to \'harvest\' the materials ourself? When I severed the Ghoul King\'s arm, it remained after death for a few more moments than the rest of its corpse, so maybe if you target the ribs and yank them our while its alive, you could..?"
The Jackalkin gave me an... interesting look before nodding, glancing back at the den.
"Think there\'s another in there?"
We all turned to look at the silent entrance, and I shrugged.
"Could be..."
I stalked forwards again, my footsteps silent as I approached the dark hole.
With my dagger in hand, I strained my hearing to listen for anything; hissing, slithering, rattling...
Besides that, I lowered myself to a crouch and scooped up a rock the size of my palm.
Hefting it, I chucked it inside the den and retreated carefully, hearing a few hisses from the den.
Readying myself, I watched as two smaller Coal Serpents slithered out, their eyes meeting mine.
One was a deep gray, and its long, slender body was covered in scars, some scales even completely torn off.
The other was thinner and the same deep black as the first Coal Serpent, and it angrily hissed at me, opening its jaws to reveal the four sharp fangs that dripped with venom.
Continuing to back away, I watched as Jahi and Anput attacked in the same way, but this time...
When the gray Serpent tried to bite at the three smaller lances Anput hurled at it, I shot forwards, veering far enough away from the more aggressive, darker Serpent.
Keeping myself low, I launched myself towards its exposed throat, raising my dagger and targeting the abundance of missing scales on its body.
Sinking the dagger deep into its flesh, I wrenched the blade out as it hissed in agony, before dodging to the side as it slammed its body into the earth.
Hearing its companion\'s hiss, the other Serpent tried to move to help it, only for three golden discs to cut deep into its scaled body, slicing cleanly through it.
Jahi severed the monster into separate parts, and I jumped over the gray Serpent and approached the dead monster.
Anput sharpened each lance and pierced the gray Serpent\'s body, pinning it to the ground.
It writhed and hissed, but each long piece of metal held it firmly to the ground.
Collecting the various bones and scales the aggressive one dropped, I turned towards the still living Serpent and grinned, clenching the hilt of my dagger.
Coating my blade in a sharp gale, I went to work on its midriff, hacking off scales and revealing the dark flesh beneath.
Then I went deeper, my blade slicing easily into the soft flesh of the Serpent.
As the blood splashed around me, my grin only widened, and I shivered as I cut my way down towards the bone.
Removing chunk after chunk of meat, I eventually grabbed a rib and snapped it off, tossing it behind me.
The more I worked, the more the Serpent writhed around, its hissing growing weaker as more and more blood poured from its body.
It took me a few moments, but I eventually had a pile of bones, meat, and some organs behind me, while my body...
Stepping back, I glanced down at my drenched armor, the thick, sticky crimson liquid coating the front of me.
Glancing over my shoulder, I saw Anput, Leone, and Jahi staring at me with blank eyes, all three standing still as they alternated their eyes between the now dead Coal Serpent, who was missing a majority of its internal workings, and me, who was drenched in blood.
Tilting my head to the side, I innocently asked "What?", making each of them shiver before shaking their heads.
Anput walked forwards and started sorting through the bones, while Jahi approached me and stared down at me, her lips pursed.
Grabbing my shoulders gingerly, she looked me over for a few more moments, her amethyst eyes confused.
Tilting my head more, I waited for her to speak, before giggling at what she said.
"Why... why do I find this so hot?"