Chapter 38: The Swamp of Death Part 8

– Beep beep beep…

Along with the faint chirping, a great flame erupted from Theodore's chest, blazing in dazzling multicolor. Pavel was half-blinded by the light and he started to flail about.

"Kuh, kuuk!"

The multicolored flames that enveloped Theodore's entire body slowly began to change in shape. A huge bird with a shining body and a long, rainbow-colored tail and wings looked down at Pavel. In an instant, Pavel gasped for breath and he started feeling as if his heart was being consumed by fire.

"Kuhuk…!"

Pavel collapsed while dropping the vines and dagger he held in his hands. He then clutched his chest in pain as if his heart was burning….

And that was indeed the case.

Pavel's heart was literally burning away. His heart, which contained abnormally strong magical power thanks to the power of Black Opium and Black Worm, was burning up using that magical power as fuel. Each time Pavel opened his mouth to scream in agonizing pain, instead of a cry, a flash of light burst from deep within his throat.

The strange flame that began at his heart quickly spread, not only to Pavel's limbs but soon to his mouth and eye sockets. Pavel fell down without being able to utter even his final curse, and his body, consumed by the fire from within, turned to glowing ashes that scattered into the air as he collapsed.

The luminous bird watched over the entire scene from beginning to end. As Pavel turned to ash and disappeared, the bird let out one more mournful cry before it disintegrated. The towering multicolored flames slowly diminished and seeped back into Theodore's chest, leaving behind only a small bird in the place where the flames had been.

-Aoooooooooo…

Ayla let out a long cry, hoping that her master would wake up. But her cries were quickly drowned out by the sounds of fierce battle echoing from afar.

***

"Hooooo!"

I let out a bloody breath as I pushed myself up. As soon as I came to my senses, I quickly touched my side, and although there were traces of torn clothes and blood stains, there were no wounds.

It made no sense.

I had lost consciousness. Therefore, any skills I had been using should have been deactivated. Unlike potions, whose effects continue after consumption, skills stop working immediately once they are deactivated. Thus, a wound healing so completely as to leave no trace was impossible.

But that wasn't the only anomaly.

The assailant who had attacked me had somehow "vanished" into thin air.

To think they'd stab me and just disappear?

Looking around, I found the tough vines they had prepared and the dagger that had pierced my side still lying there.

There was even a visible dark red stain on the dagger that was clearly my blood.

"What the hell happened…"

As I tried to push myself off the ground, something sharp caught in my palm.

"This is…"

It was a shard of a sharp black gem.

I remembered seeing this before.

It was embedded in the bodies of the monsters that had ambushed us up until now.

As soon as I realized it, my heart started beating fast.

Sh*t, it seems I'm deeply entangled with something strange.

Although I was still dizzy, I placed my hand on an ash tree branch and used [Voice of the Forest] to understand the situation.

To put it simply, [Voice of the Forest] is a skill that allows communication with plants.

Using this skill, I hoped to glean even the smallest hint from the ash tree's memories.

I closed my eyes and focused my mind. The ash tree who saw me as the one who had planted it and thus was akin to a parent, readily opened up to me, allowing me to glimpse into its memories.

…. Is this it?

A sudden flash of light.

That was all there was in the ash tree's memory.

Could he have been struck by lightning?

Finding no further leads, I deactivated the skill. A flashing light—could it mean the assailant was struck down by some divine retribution? It sounded too far-fetched.

But trees don't know how to lie.

So, the scene shown by the ash tree couldn't be false.

This mystery would have to wait to be unraveled.

At least I had learned that the one who attacked me was deeply connected to this black gem.

I would have to look into the black gem as soon as this mission was over.

Returning to the western magic tower after the mission would be a good opportunity to inquire about it.

"Ayla!"

When I shouted toward the base of the tree, I could sense Ayla's joyful bark in response. The poor thing must have known something was amiss from above but felt helpless and quite anxious about it. She was frantically whining and barking now.

"Just wait a little longer."

After issuing the brief command, I grasped my bow once again. The battle was far from over. The distant cries of the Hydra, accompanied by the sound of explosions, continued to reach me.

-Phwwwweeeeeeet!!!

I let a long whistle once more.

"Theo-!!!"

I could see Jamil, mounted on the Hydra's back, swinging his axe.

It seemed Jamil had been quite effective; several more scales were stripped from the Hydra.

"Good."

Taking another deep breath, I notched a silver arrow and aimed at the largest wound on the Hydra's body.

Just below its neck, where a large scale had fallen, a pulsating mass of black flesh was clearly visible.

"Hoo…"

As the target came into view, the surroundings fell into a sudden silence.

At that moment, it felt as though only the target and I existed in the world.

The bowstring was taut and ready to strike the target.

The ash tree fairy perched on the arrowhead was smiling at me.

-Swiiiiiiiish!!!!

The arrow was released, accompanied by a sharp gust of wind. A glittering light trailed the arrow, which I watched without blinking once.

Thud!

-Shhhhhaaaaaaaaah!!!!!

The arrow hit its mark and black blood sprayed into the air, accompanied by a painful roar that echoed long and wide across the swamp of death.

Even though it was struck by the arrow, the Hydra sprayed venom in all directions. The venom was so potent that you could almost hear the sound of the ground melting. But that was all. The subsequent attacks from the wizards set it aflame, and its huge body, along with its last head, fell upon the swamp.

-Boooom!!!!

And then…

[Achievement Unlocked: The Ninth Vanquisher]

[Additional Effect: Hydra's Poison Fang Available]

Yes, I had expected a creature like the Hydra to be on the list of achievements.

So, the Poison Fang is available for use. In that case, I must acquire it first.

I lightly jumped down from the tree and climbed onto Ayla's back.

"Let's go, Ayla."

Ayla ran like the wind itself. The swamp had overflowed and the paths were in disarray due to the Hydra's fall, but she skillfully dodged the puddles and reached the center.

"Those with injuries that potions can't heal, come this way!"

As soon as I reached the center, I immediately gathered the injured. Since there was no one else capable of healing besides me in this mission, it was important that I who was the sole healer, attended to them swiftly. I took out mana potions from my space ring, stacked them up, and began the healing process. The number of wounded was so high that the amount of magical power I had to expend was no small feat; I had to keep a mana potion on my lips at all times.

Fortunately, the wizards responsible for ranged attacks didn't suffer much damage, but the situation was different for the mercenaries. Some had wounds so severe that their innards were exposed, and others had lost limbs entirely. Since I couldn't do anything for those who had lost limbs, all I could do was alleviate their pain as much as possible.

"Is that all?"

"Yes. I'll try to manage the rest with potions."

Despite bleeding profusely, Jamil laughed heartily. Wait, could those be symptoms of poisoning? I handed him a couple of antidote potions I had prepared earlier and clicked my tongue.

"Take these for now. And when you've regained some strength, I have a favor to ask."

"What is it?"

"Regarding the Hydra's corpse, just sever its head for me."

"Just the head?"

"You can have the torso. Once all the scales are peeled off, you might be able to craft something useful. The leather as well."

"Oho."

"Discard the flesh. Don't even think about eating it."

"What a shame."

"Eat it if you're looking to die."

As soon as the urgent treatments were concluded, I headed towards the wizards who were collecting the bones of the Black Dragon. The magical power expenditure was so immense that I felt I could collapse at any moment, but I needed to secure my share before those wizards took all the worthwhile parts. When I arrived at the place with shaky legs, there was an altar exposed after the swamp water had receded.

"Servant of the great Rasghal…"

As I unconsciously read the inscriptions on the shrine, Jacob looked at me in astonishment.

"Do you speak demon language?"

"…. I just mimic it."

Thanks to my [Polyglot] skill, I was capable of handling almost anything, but I had to tread carefully with my words. Speaking too openly could risk a lifetime of confinement in the western magic tower, so I skillfully navigated the conversation.

"It seems we are at an altar. Have the bones of the Black Dragon been recovered?"

"Yes, there were more than we expected. The Tower Master will be pleased."

"May I take a look as well?"

"By all means."

Jacob was already aware of the contract I had made with the Tower Master.

Theodore holds the rights to all resources except for the bones of the Black Dragon.

It was this clause that prevented the wizards from even touching the highly coveted carcass of the Hydra.

Nevertheless, I climbed atop the altar and inspected it closely. I was hoping to find a hint of something valuable, something beyond the praises sung for Rasghal.

Rasghal, Rasghal, Rasghal…

As I fumbled through the letters, I stumbled upon a peculiar phrase.

The purest soul.

The followers of Rasghal would have offered the bones of the Black Dragon, but why was there an inscription about the purest soul?

Come to think of it, there was no mention of the dragon anywhere.

If the bones of the Black Dragon were the offering, it would stand to reason that there should be something inscribed about that offering.

The purest soul.

According to the demonic script engraved on the altar, they had offered the purest soul to Rasghal.

I was deep in thought as I slowly traced over the letters.

-Click.

It was then.

Something caught under my fingertip, pressing down like a button.

It appeared to be some kind of locking mechanism, as the top of what seemed like just a stone smoothly opened.

-Swish.

Inside was a round egg that sparkled brightly like an opal.

I didn't fully understand what it was, but I was compelled to touch it.

"….…!"

At that moment, a flood of memories surged into me like a wave.

Although I could only decipher fragments of the memories, that was enough to understand what had taken place here.

Indeed, it was not the bones of the Black Dragon that the followers of Rasghal had offered as a sacrifice.

It was the egg of a dragon yet to be born.

In essence, the purest soul.

They intended to offer this as their tribute.