Chapter 891 (2/2)

A dozen kilometers was a large enough span, but in the space of a whole world, it was cripplingly small. Which meant it was doubly important for them to move quickly and reach the last known location of Roy. Which would still be a day or two behind his actual movements, but it was the best they could do.

Finally, the frogperson was revealed through the vines. And the first thing it did was messily vomit up its lunch next to Randidly. Not wanting to squelch his toes in vomit, Randidly stepped to the side and surveyed his chosen guide.

Young. Even though the difference in species, Randidly was able to see that. Which meant that the kid would know less, but might be easier to work with in other ways. Not wanting to delay any longer, Randidly cleared his throat.

“What’s your name?” Randidly asked dryly, feeling strangely awkward. He was in a weird position that was a cross between a kidnapper and a managing supervisor for a new job and wasn’t sure what sort of tone to take. The young frogperson clutched his chest and dry heaved for several seconds, his overriding nausea keeping him from acknowledging Randidly.

Sighing, Randidly stretched and prepared to wait for the long haul. What was annoying was that his lack of Mana also meant that he couldn’t use any sort of healing Skill to expedite this process. And Randidly sure as hell wasn’t going to waste a healing potion on nausea.

“Kid. Your name,” Randidly said, his tone a little rougher after almost two minutes had passed and the frog had been content to simply breathe and drool regurgitated stomach acid onto the ground. What was most annoying about this was that Randidly could clearly see that this individual’s Level was Fifty-Three. There was no reason for this exaggerated reaction.

Well, even Randidly had to admit the departure was a bit… abrupt. But the feeling of flying through the air, breaking through the cloud barrier and seeing the breathtaking vista- ah, of course. He wouldn’t have been able to see. He was trapped inside of the vine cocoon. Hmm.

Perhaps the Frogperon’s journey had been rougher than Randidly had realized…

Finally, after almost five minutes, the frog person straightened and wiped its mouth. But then its eyes went as round as saucers as it pointed above Randidly. “Cloud Serpents! We are doomed!”

Randidly turned. Out of the hole that their descent had punched in the cloud layer, three strange flying reptiles were descending, hissing, and spitting. Altogether, they seemed extremely unpleasant. If Randidly had to describe them… they looked most like alligators, with large leathery wings instead of stubby little arms like most gators had.

The lizards seemed fixated on the two of them and began to glide down toward their position. They were, respectively, Level 69, Level 70, and Level 64.

Randidly released a low whistle. No Mana would make it difficult, but these would probably provide quite a bit of experience. Best start quickly, because they had already wasted enough time.

When Randidly turned around, the frogperson was still trembling. “Hey! Kid. Your name.”

“Ah…” The frogperson blinked. He took several steps back. “I’m… Shual. But we need to go! Those monsters-”

“Are my prey.” Randidly grinned. His Crown of Upheaval and Gloom began to shine even more brightly. “Wait here. I’ll show you what sort of man you have been chosen by.”

The Randidly looked upward toward the three descending lizards. Even if Randidly was strong enough to take them all head on, it would be difficult to ensure that Shual would be fine without relying on Mana. Therefore, it was best to take the fight to them.

Six Phantom Half-Steps burned through quite a bit of Randidly’s Stamina, but it also brought him rapidly closer to the weakest of the three Sky Serpents. They were all pretty similar in size, perhaps ten meters long and as thick as a tree trunk.

Unfortunately for the Sea Serpent Randidly had chosen, its momentum carried it forward to within arm’s reach of Randidly before it had even realized that he had materialized before it.

Raucous Phantom’s Finale.

His huge metal arm smashed into the monster's snout, shattering the cartilage of its nose. It roared in pain, which allowed Randidly to reach into its mouth with the same arm and grab its tongue. His hand quickly contracted, binding the appendage until it bulged as though it was about to burst. The monster quickly smashed its jaws shut like a steel trap, but even its Level 64 teeth struggled to find purchase on Randidly’s arm. Only a few shallow scratches were left.

You won’t find finer steel in all of Earth, Randidly thought wryly. He wondered if he could someone record a commercial demonstration of the product with something like this.

Grinning, Randidly flexed his other arm and Acri shot out to its straight form. The two other Sky Serpents were twisting around to assist their weaker companion, but Randidly was lightning fast as he slashed and severed the front two wings of his Sky Serpent.

Immediately it began to keen in pain and fall directly out of the sky. While it was stunned by the pain, Randidly twisted his body and brought his legs up around the main body. Then he used his leverage to shift his position to mounting the Sky Serpent, his arm screeching as the monster refused to let go of his arm.

Randidly grinned. You are going to regret that.

Randidly sat directly above its head, his arm twisted around and stuck without the mouth of the beast. Flooding the arm with Aether, Randidly began to pull. He could feel the Sky Serpent straining, but it managed to resist him. Barely.

Stalemate Breaker.

Two things happened in quick succession. A flood of strength filled his arm that allowed him to snap the mouth of the Sky Serpent open. A part of its jaw gave way from the abruptness of the motion. Like most creatures, the bottom jaw was on a hinge, but the top was not.

At the same time, they crashed into the ground. The Sky Serpent’s head broke the worst of Randidly’s fall.

From the cracked ground of their landing spot, Randidly stood. He flicked out Acri and thrust the point of the blade into the head of the agonized Sky Serpent, putting it out of its misery. Then Randidly raised his arms to the sky and laughed.

“Who’s next?”