Sieg was moving his ears around. “What is bad?”

Does nothing seem off? I have a bright flame here and yet the visibility is still poor.

“Wait! I hear something! What is that ticking sound?”

I don’t know but I’ve heard it before and I don’t have great memories of it.

I connected to the underground leyline currents, used [Fire Dragon Dance], and turned up the brightness and had them illuminate the area.

“Whoa to think you could do this too!” Krau backed off by jumping to the side. He bumped into a tree and knocked it over…

Unfortunately, I won’t be able to do much if I’m acting as a torch to illuminate the darkness. We have a shadow behemoth problem.

“Wait an ancient beast? Here? Our rank isn’t high enough for this!”

I know it’s weakness but we have to get close to it, this sound is a problem though. Follow me!

I spread out more fire dragons and went toward where it was the darkest.

Krau started to violently tap on his tablet. “I still think we should go back and report to the AA.”

That is if it lets us leave. What is a shadow behemoth doing here though? Don’t tell me it escaped from a dungeon or something.

“What?”

I didn’t expect Krau and Sieg to understand what I was talking about but this might be a case of strange monsters. A shadow behemoth isn’t exactly strange it is just uncommon.

The ground became darker and darker. I had a dragon fly close to the ground and it got swallowed.

Right, this is where even walking becomes dangerous. None of you can fly by any chance?

“We can’t sorry…”

How about climbing trees and jumping from branch to branch?

Sieg shook his head. “We aren’t that agile.”

Figures, alright, let’s see if I can do this.

I tried to use [Ice Dragon Dance] simultaneously with the active [Fire Dragon Dance] but I failed. I should be able if I could use at least a tail to have it take over some movements. I looked at the 2 panicking non humans.

Right, I guess this should be no problem.

I popped out a tail and had it help me with [Ice Dragon Dance].

“Whoa look at that! Wait a fox beast kin? I’m so sorry what happened to your race…”

Uhh, not your fault, hop on the ice dragons, they are cold but this is the best I can do.

“Huh? What happened to them?”

Sieg explained to Krau what happened to the fox beast kin and how they got wiped out due to humans hunting them down.

I had the leyline currents guide the ice dragons while my tail kept them active. This was extremely rough because I was connected to the underground leyline currents. I should have gone for the air leyline currents if I knew that I would do this. The ice dragons flew high enough to not get swallowed by the darkness that was covering the ground.

“So, you’ve been hiding being a beast kin all this time?”

“Well think about it Krau, they are thought to be extinct, even with us being more accepted now what would happen if extinct species start popping up?”

Krau cocked his head. “But isn’t that what happened with Tails of Symphony?”

“They are famous that’s different!”

“But he’s famous too” Krau said as he pointed at me.

“Hmm you have a point.”

Hey guys I know that this is exciting for you but we are in a life-or-death situation.

It was hard to see where we were going. I wonder if we were already in the stomach of the shadow behemoth.

I took 100 liters of my Secret Weapon #2 out of my pocket. They were stored in big jars of 5 liters each. My tail held them, boiled them, and emptied them into the abyss. I was prepared to repeat this process.

“Whoa! What was that?”

One of my secret weapons.

“Was that milk?”

That was poison yes.

The darkness disappeared slowly to my relief.

My secret weapons never fail me!

Sieg’s horse ears picked up a change. “The ticking sound stopped!”

Oh no, I don’t like this at all.

A bright flash tried to blind us and something I didn’t hope to ever see again appeared.

Great, a scythe dog. Guys these things like snacking on foxes, I will keep him busy.

The strange cloud of buzzing and clicking noises roared and swung its scythe at me. I blocked it by sending an ice dragon at it.

Do any of you know shadow magic by any chance?

The two shook their heads.

Right screw this then.

I moved us outside the range of the light it emitted.

“It disappeared? What was that?”

“Can we go home?” Sieg said as he saw the shadows disappear from the ground.

I have no idea what that was, I call it a scythe dog and if we don’t at least deal with this shadow behemoth, someone else will get caught by it.

The ground was safe and the light returned to the area. We could see a 5 meter tall dark shadow in the distance though.

I guess that’s phase 2. Can you guys pay attention to any scythe dogs nearby?

We could see some light emitting clouds in the distance. They appeared to be only invisible in the dark, even though they gave off light. How strange.

“Watch out!” Sieg's voice warned.

I could move the two behind me on time before I got hit by a [Dark blast] and got sent flying. My [Frozen Skin] protected me but I had only 1 layer, which was now gone.

I crashed in a tree and groaned.

“Are you alright?”

Don’t mind me, pay attention!

The two big guys defended against another mass of dark energy rushing at them while I was keeping an eye out on those scythe dogs.

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Sieg wrestled agaisnt the tendrils of darkness without any succes. “I can’t move!”

I took some Dawnlights out of my dimensional pocket and threw them at the shadow behemoth. They exploded and the light broke the 2 out of their [Shadow Bind]. I ran over to them and handed them a Dawnlight each.

Keep this on you, throw them only when necessary.

The ringing intensified.

I don’t need more bullshit! I put a [Frost Cloak] on everyone and scanned the area. The shadow behemoth and the scythe dogs were relatively invisible to my eyes.

Great so whatever will ambush us next is probably also invisible...

Guys, pay attention to those scythe dogs and whatever else is here, I am going to take care of that behemoth.

“But it’s an ancient beast! We stand no chance!”

I dashed toward the 5-meter-tall creature and used [Blindside]. I took out as much of spoilt Secret Weapon #2 as I could and I jumped at it as it was turning around to face me. I shoved my tail in its mouth and dumped all of my secret weapon inside its gullet. Its breath was so bad it almost made me pass out. This thing needs to brush its teeth!

I pulled my tail out before it could chomp down on it. My tail was dirty with behemoth spit but at least I’m alive.

It started groaning and thrashing after consuming the spoilt poison. I froze its face because it attempted to throw up.

Nono, you’re keeping that inside!

I took out wires, wrapped it around ithe shadow behemoth and used my tail to spin it around. It broke the ice on its face and I replaced it with frost.

It crumpled to the ground trying to grab its face.

“Did… did you beat it? How did you do that?”

“No time Sieg! Those scythe dog things are approaching!”

The ticking sound had stopped again and 2 scythe dogs teleported over to us with a bright flash of light.

Right, screw this!

I used the technique I had learnt from Esher and sent shadows to assault the scythe dog. All my physical and magical attacks phased through it, as did the various earth and fire attacks Krau and Sieg used. My shadows however were beating this thing up.

The buzzing and clicking sounds got louder but it also made whimpering dog sounds.

This looked so unfair, the scythe dog could do nothing against this technique. I admit it’s overpowered but I’m not even that good at it. Toxic Donkey could wipe these things out in a heartbeat. Scythe dogs in the distance appeared to ignore us or hadn't noticed us yet.

The 2 scythe dogs exploded in bright light as they died and I sent my shadows after the other scythe dogs in the distance.

I wish I could thank Esher for teaching me this…

“What… what is going on?! And what is that ringing sound?” Sieg said as he was trying to keep his composure. This must all be too much for him. It’s not every day one gets to fight an ancient best. I need him to keep calm though.

Go kick the ass of that shadow behemoth, it should be incapacitated, you should be able to kill it. I will take care of these scythe dogs and whatever else is lurking here.

The 2 big guys nodded and started to kill off the shadow behemoth.

The ringing was deafening. Nothing had appeared yet. Was this an illusion? I didn't sense any deception.

Whatever you are, get your ass over here before I blast the whole area!

No answer.

Right, have it your way. Nilah come out, it’s time for [Eternal Winter].

Nilah came out and we used [Eternal Winter]. Even though I couldn’t see anything our [Eternal Winters] were absorbing energy.

Nilah, fire some mana blasts at that behemoth so you don’t get over saturated.

I deactivated my Elgards eyes because they don’t work on frost magic. Something was here but it had no form to see, very interesting and very concerning. The only reason I knew it exists is because it was making noise and was getting its energy absorbed.

I focused on where the energy got absorbed the most and used [Kryokym]. A loud shriek hurt my ears and caused me to get dizzy and I started to see double.

Not now!

Ichor Pneuma got used to restore the spirit tethers that had just snapped. Was it a coincidence or did that shriek cause this? Nilah and I dispelled our [Eternal Winter].

I hit the same area with another [Kryokym].

Another shriek went out but no dizziness. I couldn’t pinpoint it but it could be damaged by frost magic.

I disconnected from the leyline currents so the ice dragons disappeared and sent a [Water ball] into the sky.

I kept an eye on the nearby scythe dogs. My shadows were still at it. It started to rain 10 minutes after and I then sent a [Frost Ball] into the clouds to make it snow. Not exactly snow but [Frost fall]. The snowflakes would create large frost crystals on anything it hit.

Nilah, go protect the 2 big guys!

Nilah turned big and covered the 2 D-rank adventurers with her tails. The snow fell and started freezing whatever it hit, including the creatures that were making the ringing sound. There seemed to be more than 1.

I walked over to Nilah who was acting as an umbrella.

Is it dead?

I pointed at the shadow behemoth which had stopped moving, it was oozing black liquid out of what I assume are wounds.

“We think so. What is this snow?”

I took a frog out of my dimensional pocket and threw it into the snow. A large frost crystal encased it the moment it got hit by a snowflake.

That happens to anything that gets hit by the snow. That’s why I have my pet fox shelter you.

“I have never seen a fox this enormous! Where did you get her?”

She is a magic skill, also, she will steal your mana if you pet her.

The usual astonishment. They couldn’t believe that she was a magic skill.

The shrieks and screeches had stopped a while ago. I stopped [Frost fall] and strolled through the forest which had turned into a winter wonderland in search of a bunch of frozen nothing. I found a large frost crystal which was the size of a house.

I couldn’t see what was inside because it looked empty but something must be inside, my [Frost fall] wouldn’t have been able to hit anything otherwise. I had my tail analyze what type of energy they were absorbing but they came up with nothing.

“The sounds have stopped and this is the first time I see snow!” The 2 big guys started to play around in the snow while I still tried to find out what was stuck in the frost.

Were these things trapped in the ancient buildings or was something else happening here? Shadow behemoths were known, but these other two things aren’t, could I be lucky and could these things be fairies?

I knew nothing about fairies. How am I supposed to gather fairy dust if I can’t see them. They were ringing like bells. Do fairies ring? Are they also ancient creatures? I realized that I knew nothing about them. Hourai's education didnt cover them. I knew a bit about basilisks but that might be inaccurate too. I would have to visit the library after this.

I snapped my fingers and everything trapped in the frost crystals shattered and turned into dust. I collected some in the off chance this counts as fairy dust. All the scythe dogs were defeated. The only that remained from our battle was the corpse of the shadow behemoth.

Oh, I have a good idea. How about you bring it to the AA. You guys have killed it so you get all the credit, might get you to C rank!

“But you incapacitated it!”

So? That’s the point of my whole role remember?

“But it feels cheap!” Krau said as Sieg was throwing snowballs at the corpse.

My role is cheap… it makes otherwise strong and pain in the ass opponents harmless. I’m not sure what you were expecting.

“Hmm. That is true. We will make sure to tell them that you incapacitated it! We have to look out after our fellow non-humans! Come Sieg and stop throwing snowballs at it! It’s already dead!”

You do realize that I’m doing quite fine already, right?

Sieg stopped messing around and helped Krau prepare the corpse to carry it to the coffin on wheels. “Can’t you just let us be nice? We don’t feel like we did much…”

Killing a shadow behemoth is more than enough, now you two are strong so if you felt you didn’t do enough, go carry that thing to your coffin on wheels, a very fitting name now.

“It’s a car!”

the walk wasn't far and I sat down in the back of the car while they were trying to get the corpse in this coffin on wheels. I washed my tail because it still had behemoth spit on it and it smelled terrible.

Ugh, why don’t I have soap! I can’t believe that I don’t have soap stored!

No matter what I did, water couldn’t get the stink out of my tail. it wasn't accurate that I didn't have any soap. I had some but it was from Witchaven. it was the soap of that Misha that cut corners on making soap so it didn't count as soap.

This nonsense again. If I encounter that Misha again I will prank her! I was being kind when I used garlic oil!

Nilah tried to help me but she gave up quite fast as she couldn’t bear the smell and turned into a sword. I had to mask the scent with the smell of liquid shadow vodka. It was suboptimal but would work for now. I would have to take a long bath and steal soap afterward.