They were running at their top speed for an hour now, but there has not been any track of Dreon and they were getting closer and closer to the danger zone. Leyn tried to contact their Spirit Forming guardian, however to no avail, it seemed like something was preventing long-distance spells. They had no choice but to keep on searching, alone.
Damn, I really hope he’s okay, Quin thought. He knew that he went overboard with Dreon before. He should have been accustomed to his dumb theories -- he was his friend --, but what he felt from the wall of flames had been completely unnerving him back then. He had felt like he could have exploded any time, and after Dreon’s remarks he just snapped. There was no way he would apologize, but he was still worried about him.
“Wait!” Leyn said. “We’ve just entered the danger zone, slow down a bit and keep your eyes open.” The others nodded, and they continued even more vigilant.
It did not take long until they encountered the first wild beast in the area, a Three-headed Scarlet Frog. It had a body three times the size of an adult human and his mucous, scarlet colored skin was quite resilient against attacks. Just as its name suggested, it had three heads, but oddly they were not next to each other like you would think, but lined up along its spine: the second head was on the middle of its back while the last one nearly at the end of its spine. The first head was used to bite at its target, or to shoot its poisonous tongue out, while the other two increased its field of vision as well as shot out its toxic spit, in an arc.
This kind of composition may sound impractical but in reality even though the creature had no ability to use qi or spells, even a peak Qi Culmination expert would not have an easy time against it.
Its main head could move swiftly and was highly flexible, to enhance its dangerous tongue thrusts, consequently if the two heads were next to the main one, then it would have reduced the creature’s head’s maneuverability significantly.
When in fights, the frog usually did not move much, as thanks to its armored skin it was well-protected, and mainly attacked with its tongue. Although the poisonous balls spat from its two heads at its back flew in an arc and were not that fast, they constantly covered the battlefield which made it a difficult task to evade them, especially while you had to look out for its tongue.
What the heck is that? he wondered but after seeing all three of its head he realized. Oh, it should be a Three-headed Scarlet Frog, I have to warn the others!
“Guys, it’s a Three-headed Scarlet Frog, watch out for its tongue, and its poisonous spit from its two heads at the back!” he said and instantly merged with his element, his whole body covered in sparks and lightning, ready to fight.
The others only stopped for a moment, but it was enough time for the frog to attack. It shot out it tongue toward the group but it was met with Quin’s Lightning Pillar. He had been the first to react and as soon as he saw the frog’s attack, he used Flash to close the distance.
Despite that his Lightning Pillars were strong and he successfully diverted its tongue, he was sent a couple of meter backwards. Shit, it’s very strong and fast as well!
“Alinor, take the front! The side of its belly supposed to be its weak spot, so I’ll try to hit it from the right side!” Quin said. Usually he was not the one ordering the others around but he was the fastest to react and although the others were already in position for battle, they still looked somewhat shocked and confused.
Just as he charged his body for another Flash, he became petrified for a moment: he saw that the two frog heads at its back has already spat its toxic, toward the back of their group where Aline was. Fortunately Sao noticed it before him and casted a spell to counter it. Those globs of spit suddenly froze just halfway through their way, and then losing all of their motion fell to the ground with a loud thud.
Seeing that everything is alright, Quin calmed down and continued his plan. Before the monster could attack another time he was right at its left side, only about half a meter away from it and punched it with a Lightning Pillar. Huh? Weak spot my ass! It didn’t even faze it! As his hit connected he could hear a thump, and see as his lightning dispersed across the wild beast’s surface but other than this there was not even the slightest indication of the attack on its skin.
He quickly flashed back-and-forth a few times, and tried to hit the frog again and again, but the results were the same as before. Is his armor really that tough? he wondered.
Meanwhile the monster constantly spat its disgusting projectiles and strain was visible on Sao’s face; he had a hard time freezing all of the toxic balls. Alinor -- covered in his magma, which had a scarlet hue to it -- was right in front of it, trying to attract its attention. He shot a couple of magma balls, which stuck on the frog’s skin for a few moments, but did not do any significant damage. He also tried to wrestle with its tongue, grabbing it instead of simply just punching it back. It may have seemed like he was acting heedless, but in truth he knew his own limits, and either the poison had to be extremely potent, or he had to be under its effect for quite a long time for it to penetrate his magma armor.
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Aline looked angry and frustrated, for some reason her attacks were not working like she had envisioned before, in fact they were not working at all.
At the other side, Leyn was shooting streams of high pressured water onto the beast, which also appeared to have not much effect against the beast’s armor.
During the whole time Lin was standing at one side, her eyes closed and her face showing an expression of focus. She was casting her spell, but whatever it was, it clearly took her a longer period of time to finish it.
What can I use? Lightning Whirlpool? he pondered. No, that’s not gonna help much, it’s good for suppressing a bigger area, but if the Lightning Pillar isn’t enough then neither will that be. Bolts are out of question as well. I should then come up with something new... Maybe I can get through with a focused attack? Yeah, that’ll have to do! He charged up, gathering his Lightning Qi in his arms, and then started to condense it as hard as he could, mustering all his concentration. It was incredible difficult to keep his Lightning Qi under control and he was on the verge of failing, but he did not give up. Lightning Spear! After a moment he managed to finish his preparation and he shot out two, thin but long lightning projectiles from his palms, the second one following the tail of the first one.
Several sparks scattered along the frog’s skin this time as well, however the other part of the attack successfully went through, opening a wound on the side of its belly. The creature let out an earsplitting scream and was just about to go berserk, when Lin snapped her eyes open and shouted, “Everyone, get back at least two meters from it!”
Naturally they listened to her, and leapt backward right away. The earth under and around the frog roared and trembled, the vegetation covering it quickly withered and the plants turned black with only a hint of green remaining in them. Then the soil began to ripple and creepy, disfigured hands emerged, seizing the wild beast’s foremost head and its two left legs. With a firm grip, they pulled it to its left side and swallowed a third of the beast.
The whole thing happened in the span of a second or two, and the others -- including Quin -- was flabbergasted, their mouth agape, looking at Lin.
“What are you looking at? Attack it quickly, I can’t keep it up for more than ten seconds!” she yelled.
They woke up from their daze, and started their attack once again. The creature was still spitting its toxic projectiles, but it undeniably had troubles at targeting them. It also helped that Alinor was casting his sticky magma balls at the frog’s eyes. Though it did not cause much harm, it hindered its vision. Aline was still having troubles with her spells and Lin was using all of her concentration to sustain her’s.
Quin shot several Lightning Spears almost exactly at the same location and now the creature had a significant wound on its side. It was only due to his inhuman cultivation base that he could keep up, even after expending so much qi. Something’s not right, its skin is open, so my lightnings should’ve made more damage! he thought. I’ll ran out of energy before I can seriously injure it! What have I not noticed?
He focused on his Lightning Qi as it entered the creature and after a moment he realized. My lightnings should’ve passed so through its cells, but they’re just bouncing back and forth and then they exit through the hole they entered, scattering around its skin! Why is that? Hmm, wasn’t this beast the one which behaves like a cactus? When it’s raining, it absorbs all water it can to its body and then during droughts it uses that reserve. He looked around noting that the vegetation looked quite dry, even some of the trees. Maybe it has used up most of its water reserve already and its cells are completely dehydrated? Usually my lightnings lose some of their potence against dry targets, maybe with some additional water it’ll be better?
“Leyn, cover it with as much water as you can and try to make the frog absorb it!” he said.
The girl gathered her Water Qi and then while running to the beast, she summoned a ball of water in front of her. The ball got bigger and bigger and when its size was sufficient, she moved it to submerge the creature.