The hunt in Shimmering Fen was going as smoothly as they expected.
Their capabilities were shown to each other, especially with Almond's additional boons like various items.
Almond had looted Jacob's storage pouch, and recently, they got another storage pouch from an even richer young master.
In short, there was no lack of potions for them, so they didn't spare them as well. Swiftly using Mana or Healing potions and started progressing fast right from the start.
They only stopped after two hours, and that was when they were truly tired and also found a spot to rest on solid high ground.
So far, they had killed over fifty monsters total consisting of Moonlight Wisps, Bog Slithers, and six Shimmering Fen Serpents.
Almond had also begun his second creation in Spirit Kodoku, adding Moonlight Wisps, Bog Slithers, Shimmering Fen Serpents, Glassblaze Bears(all three of a kind), and Willowbee Wisps (Queens)--five different types of monsters. He saved Blade Mantis Spirit for another creation process as he didn't want to throw it in this round.
"This is going good," Almond leaned on his hands behind him, stretched. "We'll likely finish our first-class series quest in the White Polan's lair."
The next area was usually Briarwood Grove—Silver ranked level 5-7 area, but the secret area, White Polan's lair, was located before that area at this time.
They have been observing the places and hints, which consisted of a small white flying bird, tiny white feathers, and white powder.
These three were clues and hints to find the White Polan's lair since its location changed every three days.
They had spotted white powder and a white feather in the Shimmering Fen and also removed those hints so that others wouldn't find them.
Since those hints appeared in the Shimmering Fen, they just had to find the small white bird flying somewhere outside of the Shimmering Fen and follow it, which would lead them to the entrance of White Polan's lair.
*Hisss…*
Suddenly, Lily's ears twitched, and Almond also sensed the danger as both of them jumped.
From the ground, a blast occurred with sparkling crystal particles blasting out, throwing Natalia high up.
Alfred jumped and caught her before landing, while Lily and Almond immediately pounced on the Shimmering Fen Serpent.
Lily directly threw the daggers while she was in the air while Almond pushed his feet, his arms and legs Physically Enchanted, and his sword in his hand as he zoomed in towards the monster before cutting off its head.
But it wasn't over. This Serpent could grow heads and shoot off its semi-crystalized scales, which were poisonous and penetrative.
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Cutting off its head gave them time to prepare for the next move since that was its only weakness. Cutting its head would prevent it from shooting its attacks, though it wouldn't kill it.
Almond had literally studied all monsters on the First Floor and knew their weakness. He had added that data in his magic parchment as well.
As such, he jumped away after slicing its head and released two Spirit Explosions, one glued to it below and one above it, boxing the monster between the two explosions.
*BOOM!*
One of them turned special, releasing blue sparks that would show one hallucination.
[You have reached Silver-rank level 5. You have triggered the level-up boon.]
"Guess I'm done," Almond chuckled. "And it finally triggered, on the last level."
"You leveled up? Great, guess I'll also trigger it at level 5," Lily grinned. "So, what did you get?"
"No skill option, unfortunately," Almond glanced at the options and put them away, not choosing the reward right away.
"These snakes are damn annoying," Natalia puffed as she walked to the side. "Always coming out of the ground like that."
"After all, their daddy is that Maddening Beaver," Lily smilingly said before she looked at Almond, "On that note, that Beaver might come after us. We are deepest in this area right now, and you're the only silver rank level 5 Adventurer here for now."
"Yeah, I hope it comes to us," Almond was looking at his sword while raising it, his eyes squinted as he looked at the surface of its blade that was sparkling due to some sunrays passing through the fog and hitting it.
"What are you looking at?" Natalia sat down and asked upon seeing Almond looking at the sword's blade like that.
"I feel something familiar," Almond sat down beside Lily and put away the sword. "But it's a bit annoying. I feel like there's something within my reach but infinitely away."
"Regarding sword?" Lily curiously asked.
"Yeah. I'm getting that feeling sometimes when I swing my sword, and it just appeared again, but…" Almond shook his head. "Forget it. It's annoying. It's like a wall is blocking me while showing and calling me for something attractive."
The group rested for fifteen minutes and fully recovered their stamina and spirits before finally moving again.
Soon, Lily also reached Silver rank level 5.
Alfred reached Silver rank level 4, the same as Natalia.
An hour later, they were nearly at the edge of the Shimmering Fen area. They kept themselves at least half refilled in Mana all the time in case of the sudden raid from Maddening Beaver.
And just as they finished off three Bog Slithers and a Shimmering Fen Serpent, the ground trembled.
"It's coming," Natalia exclaimed.
Almond immediately chugged Mana potion before saying, "Lily, can I kill it alone? I have an idea to increase the rare item drop chances."
He infused 50 Mana in the sword to get a scanning of his surroundings.
"Three o'clock, three Wisps, and two Bog Slithers."
"A Fen Serpent and a group of four Wisps at eight o'clock. Alfred, go there with the wolves."
"There are two more groups at eleven o'clock and twelve o'clock, which is straight ahead facing the snowy peak we can see from here. Finish them off. I'll deal with the Beaver."
And that gave all the directions they needed. Natalia and Lily jumped into action along with Alfred, leaving Almond alone with the Maddening Beaver that jumped out of the ground right after he finished speaking, its eyes locked on Almond.
It also glanced at Lily since she was also level 5, but seeing Almond's gaze on itself, the monster also focused on Almond.
It was six meters tall, fat, and with a thick brown metallic shining scaly exterior, not to mention those sharp claws that could instantly dig through the ground. The potholes it dug had many adventurers dying since those potholes usually had monsters and its surface would get swiftly covered with magical moss and greenery growing in the Shimmering Fen to make it look like just any other surface of the area.
Judging from the marks on its body, it was clear that it had fought other adventurers, but managed to escape, either after killing them or after getting injured and feeling danger since this Field Boss was a master in escape, and had high vitality and defense.
[Maddening Beaver]
-Rank: Silver.
-Level: 5
-[Vitality: 100%]
-[Mana: 600/600]
-Stats: