Chapter 7

—Don't you think it'd be better to practice a little more? —I insisted while staying attentive to my surroundings.

—I'd also like for you to practice more, but we've already been in the burrow long enough —he explained.

—I still can't believe I meditated for six hours —I said almost whispering.

—The truth is you did it quite fast. You saved time by not falling unconscious during the process.

—That doesn't change that I don't know how to use it.

—Stay calm. If you know how magic works you'll manage quite well. Just remember you don't have to make your energy flow.

—I have to generate it directly in the area I want —I completed.

—I know it sounds complicated, but in the end it becomes very instinctive —Although I lamented not having gotten any skills regarding ardenya, it comforted me a bit to see Usaki was a little more relaxed in his way of speaking.

—By the way, I've been wondering why that goblin shot an arrow at me. Could it be it wanted to take advantage and make me its food?

—I doubt it. I think the arrow was more to help the Inos —I wasn't able to understand how he came to that conclusion.

—Why do you say that with such certainty? It's more likely it arrived there because of the ruckus we were causing.

—It's that its gaze when attacking seemed hysterical. It's like it didn't like at all that we were attacking the Inos.

—But why would it get upset about that? —I said irritated.

—In fact it makes quite a bit of sense. I consider you one of my own; and it upset me seeing them attack you. It could be the same for them —At that something came to mind.

—What if when that wolf referred to "them" it wasn't only referring to other wolves, but also other monsters from the forest —I thought nervously.

—And what if that Inos had a real reason for attacking us —I thought alarmed.

—What's wrong with you, Aru? You seem very worried all of a sudden —I'm sure if I could be pale, I would be right now.

—It's possible that Inos didn't attack us without reason, but rather for some reason is also part of the pack of those wolves that attacked us when we moved away from the meadow —I said worriedly.

—I know I said the Inos and the goblin were companions, but do you seriously believe those two were with the wolves? —Usaki was quite skeptical, but how could he not be? If I was right we'd have many more things to worry about.

—It's just a possibility —I said calmer— but we can't ignore that option. If it were true we don't know how many monsters will come for us.

—Yes. I know perfectly well that possibility is quite big. That's why I'm terrified of moving forward —he said tense—. I taught you how to use Ardenya, which thanks to you I found out it's called that, but all this is very sudden to me.

—Although it was difficult, I had already gotten used to going unnoticed to survive and suddenly being the target of several monsters scares me —As he spoke he started hyperventilating—. We've been able to handle the monsters that have attacked us so far, but I'm sure that can change at any moment —At this point he was hyperventilating quite a bit and I didn't know what to do and was starting to despair. My mind was clouded, as if something was preventing me from thinking straight.

But among all my inner chaos a feeling that was slowly rising above the others. When it was high enough I paid attention to it, feeling like it wanted to warn me of something.

[You have acquired the passive skill Presence Detection lv1]

I didn't quite understand what it was referring to until I started having a strange sensation. Somehow I knew something was approaching. It was strange being able to know that.

—Damn it. Being distracted I didn't notice something was approaching —he said annoyed with himself.

Before I could say anything to him, a kind of fox appeared. It had its beautiful black fur stained with blood that seemed both its own and someone else's. It seemed its attention was on other things because it stopped abruptly quite surprised upon seeing us ready to attack.

—Why —I was surprised hearing a female voice come from the monster. What was strange was its breaking voice— can you stop following me? I just want to be at peace.

Usaki and I glanced at each other to put our attention on her.

—Calm down. We're not following you. We're just passing through —he said in the calmest way possible.

Her gaze went up and down, examining if we showed any sign of wanting to trick her. She was trying, not very successfully, to disguise her exhaustion. It was evident she was struggling to stay on her feet.

—Relax. We won't do anything to you —I said approaching her.

—W-what are you doing? Get away! —She growled at me fiercely. To my surprise two magical circles appeared on each side of her body, pointing at me.

—Aru, it'd be best if you listen to her. She doesn't seem very convinced by our words —Although I knew he was right I kept moving forward. Although from those magical circles bluish darkness in a sharp shape came out embedding themselves in my body, I didn't stop until I was in front of her.

—Seeing your wounds and how you reacted upon seeing us, I suppose you're also being chased —I deduced—. Since we're in the same situation we could help each other —She slowly relaxed. It seems I managed to calm her down.

—Are you being serious? —she said still somewhat insecure. I simply nodded calmly, trying to transmit that calmness. And since she fainted at that moment, I can assume I succeeded.

—She fainted —mentioned Usaki incredulously.

—Who knows what things the poor girl has gone through —Carefully I coiled her body and turned to Usaki—. We'll have to look for a place to take refuge or go to the other burrow.

—Before anything, can you tell me why you want to help her? —he said doubtful— I know we haven't known each other long, but I don't really see you doing this kind of thing much.

—But what are you saying? I did the same with you —His distrustful gaze didn't help make me fully sure of my words either. The most annoying was that I didn't know why. I was taken out of my thoughts by Usaki's sigh.

—Alright. Give me a moment —I looked at Usaki somewhat strangely as he approached a tree. Before I could ask what he was going to do he started digging at the tree's feet, disappearing from my sight in a moment. It took him quite a while to poke his head out.

—It's ready —he said shaking off the dirt— do you want me to help you bring her?

—You'd be doing me a favor —he said with a smile.

With Usaki's help I was able to place her in the burrow. Her appearance made us forget our desperation, although it'd be best not to talk about that topic.

—Since I'm here I'll check my status —I thought.

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Initial

Name: Arusai

Race: Lethal Defensive Lerion (Infant)

Size: 5M

State: Normal

R: H Lv: 1/25

Attack: 445

Defense: 410

Magic Attack: 145

Magic Defense: 220

Intelligence: 149

Agility: 210

Speed: 392

Active Skills

[Poison Fang lv5][Scale Reinforcement lv1]

Passive Skills

[Flexible Scales lv2][Fast Serpentine lv5][Headbutt lv2][Tail Whip lv4][Magic Presence lv2][Steel Scales lv1][Bite lv7][Strangling lv2][Stealth Attack lv1][Adaptable lv4][Regeneration lv1][Increased Resistance lv1][Resistance Regeneration lv2][Monster Language][Night Vision lv2]

Unique Skills

[Igneous Ardenya Source lv1]

Special Skills

[Acid Body lv1][Ardenya Control lv1][Appraisal]

Resistances

[Mild Poison Resistance lv8][Pain Resistance lv3][Acid Immunity][Spiritual Resistance lv4][Mild Fire Resistance lv1]

Titles

[Strangler][Poisonous Reptile]

Blessings

[Blessing of the God of War]

Curses

Descriptions

Scale Reinforcement lv1: Skill that upon activating hardens your scales, increasing their endurance and resistance.

Strangling lv2: Increases your strength when strangling.

Magic Presence lv1: Allows you to perceive the magic in your surroundings.

Steel Scales lv1: Increases the resistance of your scales.

Stealth Attack lv1: When wanting to attack an enemy by surprise, your presence and smell decreases.

Regeneration lv1: Increases the speed at which you regenerate your wounds. It's not able to regenerate lost limbs.

Increased Resistance lv1: The limit of your resistance increases.

Resistance Regeneration lv2: Increases the speed at which you restore your fatigue.

Monster Language: You're able to speak the language created by the monsters of Arqueon Island.

Night Vision lv2: You can see in places with little lighting.

Igneous Ardenya Source lv1: Elemental energy alternative to magic that allows you to control your inner fire. Each living being's flame is unique.

Acid Body lv1: Upon activating the skill your body secretes an acid capable of corroding anything that comes into contact with you.

Ardenya Control lv1: Allows you to control your core element.

Pain Resistance lv3: You withstand pain better.

Acid Immunity: You're immune to any type of acid, including those created through magic.

Spiritual Resistance lv4: Your soul better resists direct attacks and pressure.

Mild Fire Resistance lv1: You mildly resist high temperatures and physical as well as fire, lava and electricity magic attacks.

Strangler: Grants you 5% more strength when strangling.

Poisonous Reptile: Increases the lethality of your poison by 10% and by 20% if you're of a reptile branch species.

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—I've obtained useful abilities. Especially Fire Resistance, it gave me a bunch of resistances in one —I thought happy with what I was seeing.

—Arusai, come here. I need to talk to you —Usaki's serious tone brought me back down to earth. I was surprised not seeing him in the burrow. My new skill informed me he was outside, somewhat worried by his tone I go to the entrance. Once outside I find Usaki with an expression of annoyance and worry.

—Usaki, is there a problem? —I asked delicately.

—There is —he said glancing at me.

—And what exactly is the problem? —I said curiously.

Usaki looked at me again with an expression that made me feel somewhat uncomfortable.

—You see, there may be an issue with her. She could be the cursed variant —By the seriousness of his words I could tell it was something serious, but it seemed a bit ridiculous to me. From wherever I looked at her she didn't seem cursed.

—I don't know what this cursed variant is, but she doesn't seem cursed —Usaki's expression told me he didn't agree with my words—. I think you're worrying too much. How bad could it be to have her with us?

We stared at each other for a while until Usaki looked away and sighed.

—Alright, maybe I'm jumping to conclusions —he commented somewhat embarrassed—. We also don't know if she wants to come with us, so it'd be best to wait until she wakes up and ask her.

—Waiting seems best to me too —I said relieved the atmosphere relaxed.

When I was going to suggest going hunting, Usaki suddenly tensed up and I was just barely able to feel something approaching us. We turned in the direction of the presences getting closer, a gray wolf appearing with a kind of silver chimpanzee riding its back. What surprised me most was the stone spear that looked quite polished.

They noticed us but our presence didn't seem to matter because they were about to leave when the wolf abruptly stopped and started sniffing the air.

—What is it, Laio? Is there a problem? —said the chimpanzee strangely.

—Wait, it has a name. So the monsters of this forest can have one —I thought shocked.

—That Lerion has the cursed variant's scent —I couldn't hide my surprise hearing the wolf say my species— plus its scent and the rabbit's matches those who have eliminated several of ours —By its words I could confirm my suspicions, but I would've liked confirming these suspicions with other enemies.

I was taken from my thoughts when I saw them lunge at us, but they were too fast for me to dodge and before the chimpanzee could pierce me with its spear I felt my scales harden. At the moment of impact the spear barely pierced my scales but it sent me flying, heavily landing on the ground.

—It's good I instinctively activated my skill —I thought getting into position.

—This will be a tough battle —I thought while baring my teeth and sticking out my tongue.