Chapter 87: Gardaina, And The Living Land (1/2)
Even with the extra brain power that I could pour into worrying about Mex, I just couldn't find a reason for him to do all of this. I mean, besides the reason that he had actually given me, like him thinking highly of me and saying that I would do a better job of it.
That could just be Silvery Mex sugar tonguing me up with smooth words and reasonable promises to get me pinned into a trap. There was something big in the bush, but It was only watching me, and I was almost to the first clearing where I would meet with Grogvel.
It was some kind of cat, but very big, and black with red stripes. It almost reminded me of a tiger, but from hell, and a lot bigger, but I think because it knew I could see it hiding, it didn't want to attack.
I walked into the clearing and then stepped around where Grogvel tried to open up the ground under me. Then I had to hop six more times before the Earth Elemental burst from the earth, sputtering in anger.
”Hey! Stand still, or I can't help you!” Grogvel growled at me, and I nodded, starting to wonder what I was going to do about Kieta.
”Yeah, sorry, my head is all over the place right now. You can chew me up, and I will stand still, but how did you get here in the first place?” I asked but was then dropped into a hole that opened under me.
As my body was chewed up, I was now able to more easily identify what exactly was happening. This was like a deep tissue massage, but it was also stretching my muscles out and pulling them apart weirdly.
Everything slowed down even more during this time, and I started to think about how this Totem actually worked. It sped up my reaction time, and that allowed me to have more time to think about what I would do.
The problem is that it made me think about too much while it was happening, and then I would lose the extra time. I was still able to react to everything around me, but I needed to fully channel this focus to outside of me.
I felt a change; the grinding slowed, and I felt myself sink down a bit before I was spat out. I was ready for it and quickly caught myself and landed on my feet, trying to force my focus on Grovel.
”You are getting stronger and more reactive with that new Totem. Now, let's see just how well you understand it, BWAHAHAHAHA!” Grogvel said and then barked out a burst of seismic laughter that rippled through my body.
This time was different, and I planted my feet and focused on breathing and staying on my feet. I forced my body to do what it needed to do to function correctly and blocked out the body rippling tremorous soundwave.