Chapter 61 – Realization (Start)
Chapter 61 – Realization (Start)
Spring time. The revival of all living things. Sunshine was spraying down, the whole Briar Forest was underneath the light. The area was a place of lush bush thickets. The surrounding areas of the bush thickets were quite tranquil.
Because of a bout of light rain had just fallen, the ground was damp. The air was even suffused with the type of scent; a mixture of earth and decaying plants. A few small bugs were flying everywhere with their wings wide open, amongst the gra.s.s and trees. Suddenly, a single insect had curiously settled on the stump of a plant.
The plant suddenly moved and at once it frightened the small bug to flight, fleeing to the distance. What happened was that amidst the thickets of bushes, two people were surprisingly hidden. Not only was it here, in locations not too far from the bushes and in nearly every single area that could conceal a body, people were all being concealed.
“Rumont, I’m sick of lying here. Until what time do we have to keep lying here ah.” within the thickets, Fafnir was propped on top of a collection of gra.s.s, his face in suffering as he asked quietly.
By his side, Rumont hid his body amidst some tall gra.s.s, half the height of a person. He was tranquilly lying in a p.r.o.ne position. Seeing that he was whining, he couldn’t help but glance on over.
Fafnir was originally of an active personality, staying at this place for an ambush and lying down, he was a bit bored, thus he had just issued out his discontent; his physical strength was not at his limits. Seeing Rumont gazing over with his eyes, he immediately shrugged his shoulders about and proceeded on with lying on the ground.
And it was at this time, a burst of stench had abruptly floated over. The two simultaneously kept their breathing in check. A group of violent rhinoceros beasts had suddenly ambled on over from the distance. Afterwards, under the situation of everyone carefully hiding themselves away, those wild animals did not at all discover that there was currently a group of people.
Right until it was definite that they had left, did Rumont then lightly breath out a mouthful. At this very moment, Fafnir who was by his side, had even displayed an expression of celebrating success.
“Great, they’re already left. Everyone can come out now.” away from their concealing bodies, in a not too far distant treetop, a person suddenly jumped down; with a great mustache, a robust stature and a heheh smiling face.
It was precisely the squadron’s Commander Howard. While he retrieved his bow and arrows, he also called out to everyone.
“Commander, how did you know those things would appear at this time?” as Rumont saw him come over, he asked inquisitively.
Originally, at this moment, their squad had already advanced towards the forest abyss for nearly a month’s worth of time. The road in the forest was getting more difficult each day and the dangers were rising and increasingly more frequent. However, relying on the rich experience of the Commander Howard, a lot of the times they were all able to avoid disaster. Like this time for example. They were all travelling along, when the team captain then suddenly told them to conceal their bodies on the ground. Originally, they were even curious about the actions of their leader. But once the group of violent rhinoceros beasts pa.s.sed, they couldn’t help but sigh in admiration. As a Commander, Howard was well qualified.
Especially making Rumont sweat was that he was a Druid, yet he still didn’t sense anything!
Violent rhinoceros beasts. This kind of animal was quite similar in appearance to the rhinoceros back on Earth, coa.r.s.e skin with thick flesh and with an endless amount of strength. Ordinary weapons would have difficulties in dealing a life threatening injury. In addition, the temper of this animal type was utterly irritable as well. Hence, they would often immediately enter battle the moment they laid eyes on a hostile. As for the herd of violent rhinoceros beasts, if they really fought with them, they feared it would only end in a disaster of casualties.
What’s more, their mission this time was to find a single Silver Fox. It was not an animal to kill, but instead was to become a Mage’s familiar; as a way for the Mage to increase the efficacy of their distinct magic spells. Thus it was quite precious.
The completion time for the mission was only 3 months. And last time, because Commander Howard had accidently been injured, they had thus already wasted half a month’s worth of time. For this reason, the operation in the forest this time could only succeed, they weren’t allowed to fail. Otherwise, not only would they lose money, the reputation of the squad would also be damaged.
“This is actually really simple. Because the vicious rhinoceros beast is a type of animal that is strongly conscious of its territory. When they settle on a territory, they would not leave it easily, other magical beasts are more or less the same. Thus, so long as you’ve pa.s.sed by it once, knowing roughly what regions would have what kind of animals, then next time when you go pa.s.s it, you would have naturally prepared well in advance. An easy one to deal with would be dealing with them straightforwardly; difficult ones to handle, we would certainly need to avoid them. Rumont, you’re really good. On this road, anything you don’t understand, you come and ask and would go observe anything that appears, this kind of habit is really good. Continue on to keep at it. In the future you would perhaps become an amazing Adventurer, even I don’t know, haha.” Howard haha laughed, patting Rumont’s shoulder, seeming to treat him seriously with utter admiration.
Rumont was embarra.s.sed, laughing: “honestly, I only asked these questions for the sake of drafting an even better map. As for my fighting skills, it’s enough if I can preserve my life. Why do I also need to become some great Adventurer?”
“Oh, you’re too modest. Even though you’re only a Druid, but relying on your hard work and seriousness, so long as you really want to perfect it, your fighting skills will definitely be able to rise higher.” Commander Howard said seriously. Afterwards, he again suddenly thought of another question: “right, how’s the drafting of your map going?”
“I still haven’t started drafting, however, I’ve already recorded down the route and circ.u.mstances on this path. I intend to shortly, integrate it all together and begin drafting it.” Rumont replied.
“Mm, that’s also right. That’s good, wait until we pa.s.s through the violent rhinoceros beast territory, then you can go and have a good rest. After all, you’re not like us, accustomed to the livelihood of travelling through the forest. It’s still your first time in entering the forest abyss right.” Commander Howard thought aloud as he looked far into the distance. “In another two days, we should arrive in front of the region where the Silver Fox haunt is.”
Afterwards, the squadron fell in order and continued on the road. Even though they had temporarily hidden from the violent rhinoceros beasts, for each moment they didn’t leave their territorial boundary, it was another moment they couldn’t really be considered safe.
And after Howard’s squad had entered the monster forrest for a month, Rumont finally got to see the often referred-to Silver Fox. Originally, in accordance with Commander Howard’s memories, they should have already reached the territory of the Silver Fox half a month ago. However, because the natural disposition of a Silver Fox was quite sceptical, thus, they had dully searched this piece of land, circling around close to half a month. It was just through an happenstance that they had sighted a Silver Fox.
The Silver Fox was not an animal that lived in packs. They were naturally unsociable and sly, and enjoying solitary movement. This time, they were able to luckily encounter this Silver Fox was all because Rumont had discovered it.
Because they completely couldn’t obtain anything, circling around during this half a month, the squad members were quite frustrated and more. As an accompanying person, Rumont did not feel any sort of burden, thus under the situation when everyone’s moods wasn’t great, he took it upon himself to take the responsibility of collecting firewood, while conveniently surveying the topography; undertaking the preparatory work of map drafting.
On one afternoon, just when he had left the campsite going to collect some firewood, all of a sudden, a chaotic mess of footprints had piqued his attention. It was two different types of prints, both weren’t big. It seemed to be left behind by two types of animals, after mutually biting each other; there were still faint bloodstains amidst it.
Seeing the appearance of small footprints, it was rather similar to the footprints of a Silver Fox that the Commander had mentioned. Although Rumont wasn’t too certain, but, he nevertheless returned and pa.s.sed on the information to everyone.
Once Commander Howard saw it, he joyously celebrated: “it’s a Silver Fox! It shouldn’t have gone far, chase after it quickly!”
Chasing after the footprints, they then happened to witness an act. A group of mountain wolves were battling with a Silver Fox. And as they saw the appearance of everyone, the group of mountain wolves unexpectedly turned around their heads, and launched an attack on the humans.
Mountain wolves, their characteristics with the types of wolves back on Earth were of a similar savage nature, a carnivore. However, their fighting strength were at least double that of the wolves from Earth. In addition, they mostly lived in packs and gathered together; causing headaches for people as well.
Regarding the information of mountain wolves, Rumont had once seen it from a book. He saw that one of them had unexpectedly threw itself over towards himself; he quickly drew out his sword to face it. Although he still wasn’t quite sufficient in terms of capabilities, however, at the critical moment, he had thought of the a.s.sa.s.sination techniques he had studied before. A slightly complicated step, a fierce attack. It was surprisingly neat. It had pierced through the heart of the mountain wolf.
“Excellent, good work!” seeing that Rumont was suddenly in a disadvantage, yet had even neatly gotten rid of a mountain wolf, the Commander Howard, who was constantly paying attention to him, had immediately showed a praising expression. However, quite quickly he had turned his attention onto the mountain wolf that was pouncing towards himself. As for Rumont, he was also fighting alongside with Fafnir in dealing with the next mountain wolf that was pouncing over.
No need to mention that the tempering of this past half a month had an enormous effect towards Rumont’s fighting skills. He had progressed quite rapidly. The things that he had learnt in the past and through constant daily use, had gradually begun to be substantiate and be harmonized. Fafnir was also the same, through the course of half a month of tempering, his capabilities were already nearly breaking through to the level of Rank 3.
Although in the opinions of others, that they were merely members in playing the role of logistics for most of the time, they were still clear that the current experiences had a large influence on them.
“Rumont, be careful!” at this time, a mountain wolf had suddenly pounced from Rumont’s back. Fafnir promptly went up to obstruct it, and it was at this time, a silver light had suddenly ran over to Rumont’s side. At it’s back and chasing closely were a few squadron members. Once the fighting had begun, everyone had split up the work. Half of the squadron went to deal with the mountain wolves, while the other half had gone to catch the Silver Fox.
Because they needed to catch it alive, thus, even if they had sent half the squadron, it was still at a long time that they did not manage to catch it. It even seized the opportunity to pa.s.s through amidst their encirclement.
“Don’t let it get away!” after killing a mountain wolf and discovering the situation, Commander Howard had immediately yelled out.
Rumont almost, out of a conditioned reflex, thrust out with his sword. Instead, he had greatly yelled out behind the people: “don’t hurt it!”
Amongst the startled, the Silver Fox had already run pa.s.sed his side. Seeing behind it was a large area of bushes, it had advanced into it. With the Silver Fox’s speed, wanting to again take hold of the Silver Fox was nearly an impossible mission. The squadron members all had a face of disappointment as they stood there. Looks like wanting to capture it, they would even need another trap.
However, with a distracted look, Rumont again chased after it.
“Commander……” a squad member wanted to order Rumont to stop, but was then pulled by Commander Howard, who shook his head. Everyone was all waiting. Half an hour pa.s.sed, when Rumont actually returned.
“Commander, I’m back!” Rumont was carrying a Silver Fox that was still trying to wring itself free. He laughed a heheh as he came out of the bushes. Through the course of his explanations and knowledge, a Druid originally had 2 abilities. The first was pursuing the essence of an animal, the second, was the harmonizing with Nature’s essence.
Once Rumont had entered the midst of the bushes, he had released a divine spells that tracked and eliminated his essence. Because the Silver Fox was still quite young, the difficulty of capturing it was only on its cunning and speed. Thus, the originally injured Silver Fox, after it had not discovered any dangers, had slowed its speed down. It was even under the circ.u.mstance of not being aware of Rumont’s essence and being captured by him.
At once, everyone cheered and successively complimented. Rumont was a bit annoyed, he had discovered that after this event, his own Nature essence had again had another subtle change; seeming to be again drifting apart a bit. This drifting was quite faint, but because of the event with the small calves last time and with Rumont being particularly attentive, he had still perceived it.
So it seems that these matters really couldn’t be performed. Currently, it still wasn’t serious. But after a few more times, he was afraid he would have to entirely rely on the Shennong Horn spatial region to supply him with Nature energy. Rumont couldn’t help but raise his vigilance up.