Walking Disasters and Me-A Frigid Opponent, Awaited Comprehension – Ch 121
A silvery battle axe swings over my head, its metal gleaming in the sun overlooking the prairie while I force it down with whistling sound towards the skull of a wingless looking dragon creature. Just before it makes impact, the promise of victory in my eyes, I hear dreaded words getting ordered out from behind me. "Pike."
The liquid-y metal once more shifts form despite my mental groaning, the feeling of success fleeting its way past me as a long pole arm with a leafed spear point at the tip materializes in my hands. I
really
liked the battle axe too... The shift also gave this annoying monster a moment to reposition, using the brief time of its delayed sentencing to bodily turn and whip its tail towards me in an angry hiss that sounds like a thousand tea kettles going off.
The air literally quakes from the strength and speed of the creature's attack, the ground thumping and cratering with each powerful step from its scaly muscled, quadrupedal legs. I waste no time in vaulting over the swipe, my eyes looking briefly over to a tree I impacted into from failing to successfully avoid a similar attack from the beast earlier. The damage number that popped into my head at that time still sends a small shiver of wariness through my core. And knowing that its only going to get harder from here on out is not helping matters in the
slightest
.
15,984 damage taken! Luck activated! Damage reduced to 25!
Once again, I thank all the stars and floating rocks above for my ridiculous Luck stat~! The physics effect from hitting the tree was already more than enough of a heads up to just how nasty this little guy can be. Well, I say little. It is standing at about 30 feet tall from foot to shoulder and is equally as long. I use
[Inspect]
on it one more time to see how my efforts are stacking up, unfortunately not getting any more Luck rolls so far for damage.
[Blue Juvenile Male Quixotol (Mid Heaven Rank)]
Health: 41,867 / 92,525
Stamina: 32,689 / 200,000
STR: 25,000
DEX: 18,000
CON: 28,000
INT: 600
WIS: 15,000
CHA: 20
LCK: 0
Yeesh
. On the bright side, at least its getting tired? And its also a good reminder that the higher an opponent's CON stat is, the less damage they take while also getting the health increase. Which does make
some
amount of sense considering the stories of people fighting or doing something for literal
years
sometimes, especially once they get to the higher ranks.
I pull my attention back to the present, all of that thinking being done before the arc of my jump was even completed, crimson wavy hair flowing behind me like a bloodied river. I take the opportunity to try and slice the tip of the pike across the scaly tail affixed with barbs at the end, hoping to chip away some of its armor and get lucky with a damage multiplier.
1,687 damage dealt!
A click of my tongue is the only response to the pitiful but expected readout. The sparkly blue scales on this apparently not even fully grown lizard are tough as shit! I wonder if its just like, a permanent natural defensive buff that its using beast core Qi to keep up... My feet land on simulated grass once more, the snarl of the creature already sounding out as it completes the turning attack, whipping its head back in my direction with a gust of wind.
I take that moment to jump and thrust the polearm forward, right towards its large yellow reptilian eye in the hopes of - again - getting lucky. Or at least blinding it, or
something!
We've been doing this tango for like,
twenty minutes
by this point with barely anything to show for it! It can't really hurt me so long as I pay attention, and I am struggling to hurt it, especially with how annoying Sam is being about changing weapons mid strike. Speaking of...
"Double headed hammer."
Of course
. That's the
fifth
time she's made me switch to a weapon that's just wildly inopportune for the intended strike I was locked into. I will the weapon to the newly demanded shape with an audible groan, trying my best to alter my momentum so that the leap turns into a tumble. I succeed, partially, as the young dragon monster is able to use its slightly elevated Intelligence to realize what I'm doing.
Already tucking past its snapping maw, the frosty air radiating from its teeth beginning to build up as we pass each other, it does its own little hop and jumps to the side. I roll on the ground a couple times just from residual momentum, the illusory dirt and grass sticking to the bits of me that aren't covered by the battle kimono, as a weighty
*Thud!*
dully sounds out from my side.
I hop to my feet mid final roll, locking eyes with the massively inhaling creature before my eyes widen and my feet go darting off toward the tree line to try and get cover since I know what's coming next. Just as I round the brown bark of my impromptu shield, frigid arctic air whistles past me, its subzero temperatures snap freezing any plant matter in its path. My bones rattle inside my body as my muscles spasm and seize, but the poor tree fulfills its duty and takes the brunt of the breath attack for me, this small section of plains turning to a winter wonderland in an instant.
As soon as the freezing breath abates, I jump up into the canopy of the tree, and then
[Parkour!]
up and off the topmost branch while trying to repeat the attack I was going to use with the battle axe earlier. A rebellious yell escapes from my lips as I fly down toward the surprised creature still recovering from its own ultimate attack with wide eyes at the sound. I raise the heavy hammer behind me with both hands, my lungs burning from the still chilly air and pure force of my frustrated scream, as Luck finally triggers.
The head of the hammer arcs downward perfectly, impacting the crown of the dragonoid head square on with the sound of shattering scales. Its eyes bulge slightly before exploding in a gory mist, blood pooling in its mouth from its razor-sharp rows of teeth digging into its gums before its entire body evaporates in a purple mist~!
2,789 damage dealt! Luck activated! Damage dealt increased to 1,743,125!
Both the hammer as well as my own momentum carry me in an awkward tumble to the ground, the slain monster no longer providing resistance due to its new particulate nature. I super completely gracefully do
not
face plant into the dirt from one of the minivan sized craters in the earth created by the defeated beast, and I
obviously
don't sit up and spit out a chunk of brown clay and green plant matter like I'm in a cartoon. Anyone who says differently is lying. And mean. And smells.
I hear clapping from the edge of the crater - that I totally meant to land in! - and hop to my feet, the weapon reforming to my wrist as I dust off my... well,
everything
. "
Very
well done, little pup~. A Quixotol of that strength would have required the effort of several high Realmed 4th Ranks, and you did not even use your techniques like I requested. And you followed my instructions
exemplary
, even if a bit begrudgingly towards the end~."
I give a bit of a huff and regard Samantha as she walks her sexy butt down to me in the dirt, her words holding sincere praise and only slightly tinted by teasing. She gives me a little hug as she gets closer, my reply coming out in a only moderately annoyed tone, "Thanks... What was with that by the way? I get trying to get me used to switching things up on the fly, but you seriously kept picking like, the
worst
ever changes for the situations I was in."
"Hmm." She says thoughtfully as she ruffles my hair a couple times, a few bits of leaf matter form my foray through the canopy shaking loose under her touch. "I
could
tell you, if you so wish. But it would be a valuable learning experience for you to try and discover my rationale. Especially considering your stated desire to start 'doing things on your own', so to speak."
I cross my arms in the faintest of pouts, slightly annoyed that she used my words against me like that! Well, not really used them
against
me so much as... holding me to them, I guess. The clarity does push away some of the peevishness, and I shake my head a couple times to try and also get my childishness under control. Maybe I'm just tired? I have been fighting basically all day and spent like 2 days in the soul space.
A yawn waxes out that confirmation, my hand lazily flying to cover my mouth out of respect as Sam chuckles. "I suppose it
has
been a long day, and your fatigue is warranted at least from my perspective. You performed
excellently
Amelia, I am very impressed~. Let us end today's session here for now so that you can take a shower and relax for a time before dinner is ready."
"Are you sure?" I say back a bit sleepily, "I can probably do another one before I'm really pooped."
The curly blonde hair of the nomad knight waves in the negative along with her head as she answers back gently, "There is no need. You are reaching creatures that will require your full, undivided attention to strive against and slay. Something the weary state of your mind and body cannot produce right now, for valid reasons. And while I am an advocate for pushing one's limits, doing so in dangerous circumstances is not the purpose of our training. For now."
I give her a bit of a deadpan look back as I flatly respond, "Was the 'For now.' really needed? I thought you wanted me to relax, not get all worried about what sadistic thing you're going to do to me in the future!"
She throws her head back in a laugh that I can't help but reciprocate after a few moments, her warm smiling face coming back down to meet mine as she takes my hand and guides us up and out of the pit. "Oh, but I thought you would
like
some of those 'sadistic things'~." She says over her shoulder in a flirty tone, shooting a wink my way that makes my face burn as she continues, "Cute~. Rest assured, little pup. Unless things drastically change, you will not be in a situation that will levy serious harm against you. Eventually, however, you will be expected to go and hunt dangerous beasts and the like to advance your battle prowess and cultivation, as well as to gather materials."
I simply nod back, trying to get the little tornado of butterflies in my stomach to calm down some. How can she so easily flip from being outright upset at me this morning to this cute and flirty temptress all in the same day?! I mean, I'm not too much better but at least I know I'm a mess! I wonder if its just a cultivator thing or if they all are just that sure of themselves to not only trust their emotions, but also allow them to shift and change to a reasonable degree without over analyzing them. Shit,
that
must be nice...
Sam stops the walk briefly to open the door to the room, leading us out and back through the halls of the estate with hands still interlocked together. We pass by the laundry room which makes me remember that I'm getting low on clean underwear again. And that I should probably wash this kimono too after all that. Still, I'm in no rush as it seems like the sun is still far from cresting over the flat plane horizon, and I'm enjoying the companionable silence that Sam and I share as we stroll through the corridors~.
All too soon we arrive at my door, Sam leaning over to give me a dotting kiss on the lips which I return in gratitude, a pleased hum slipping from both our throats as our hands stay intertwined. She breaks it off with a little smile, planting one last peck to my forehead before she waves and says, "I shall go begin preparing the kitchen for Gerra. See to your restoral, one of us will come fetch you if you have not already rejoined us in the kitchens by mealtime."
"Okay~!" I say back cheerily, returning the small wave with one of my own as I slip inside the room. Another yawn racks me as I stretch as far as possible, shaking my limbs out a few times before disrobing down to my birthday suit and waltzing over to the shower. I do a little sniff test as the water reaches boiling, relief filling me as I realize that I don't
actually
stink or anything even after all of that hard work. Cultivating rocks~! It'd be
so
embarrassing to be all sweaty and gross while making out with someone as hot as Sam, or any of the girls.
Well, sweaty and gross for not fun reasons, I guess. Since Akiko, Jun Li, and Ios seem positively pleased with themselves after turning me into a shuddering mess and all that entails.
"Guilty~! Hehe~." Ios' voice sounds out behind me, making me startle a little into the air. I turn back and give her a glare to which she just smiles and sticks her tongue out towards me before saying, "Hey, its not my fault your so easy to spook~. It also helps that its fun to watch too~. So, what'cha want to do while we wait for dinner?"
I step under the steaming liquid, sighing in bliss at its always wonderful feeling before answering back, "Yeah, yeah. I'm jumpy, I
get
it. This is why I only watched scary movies with Sandra, and even then only when she begged me to join...
*Sigh*
Well, I guess I'll try to get back to learning the new body techniques. If I can't comprehend it before dinner time, I may have to move on and see if the others are also as hard to pick up, even if the moon scroll might be a bit annoyed at that."
I pause as I let the water rinse through my hair, mulling over the options in my head. "Still," I say as I begin washing myself, "I need to know. If its going to take me days in the soul space, that's cutting into time that I can be using to study the Empress' memory or putting the final touches on the flow model for the tribulation. I still think I can make the channels wider, and there are spots in my body that I can probably touch up after getting the process a bit more streamlined. Although that's going to hurt like a
bitch
. There's also the apology to Gerra and Jun Li to ponder over, but I think just coming clean and fessing up is the best way to approach those two."
"Yeah, they're much less...
intense
than old Sammy girl, but I'm glad you're being so proactive about it!" Ios chirps back, her eyes having a sultry look as they rake over my exposed body.
I notice and give her a look, a bit of pink flushing my face as I turn and wash off the sudsy bubbles from said body, "What? It's not like you haven't seen me already be a mewling mess in your arms by now. Plus, you can perv on the soul avatar all you want."
"Oh~? Well, I
guess
if I have your permission then I may just do that~." I feel her arms chastely come around my back, her chest smushing against my spine as she says out a bit more tamely despite the intimate act, "Besides, I'll never get tired of the view even if thousands of years pass~. You're very sexy, physically, emotionally, and mentally. At least to me."
A scoff rings out in both the shower and soul space as I awkwardly angle my head back to her projection that's latched on to me, "I'm not sure about those last two just
quite
yet, but I'll give you the first one. My body is pretty hot, even if that still feels kind of weirdly narcissistic to say."
Ios hums a little negative reply before resting her cheek against my shoulder and applying words to the sentiment, "I wouldn't say that. You didn't hold yourself in the best of light back on Earth, but its perfectly fine to admit that you're attractive. To be happy with how you look. So long as it doesn't go to your head, of course~."
I chuckle and lean the soul avatar's head against hers, both of us just existing for a couple minutes before she steps back and lets me finish up with the shower. With mostly dry hair, clean teeth, and the smell of soap and steam wafting into the room, I plop myself down on the bed and get comfortable. Not
full
self-bondage this time, but at least to the point that my mind can still itself.
Without any delay, I'm looking back towards the three manuals, their eagerness to see me again just as apparent as it was earlier today which is kind of cute~. "Alright... Ladies?" I pause and ask, all of them bobbing up and down a couple times at the assignment. "Right, hard to tell gender from paper~. We should have a solid day or so again with all the time fuckery, so let's see if I can't knock this out this time, yeah?"
And so, I draw open the moon attributed scroll once more and dive deep into studying and comprehending the images and glyphs etched onto its silvery paper. By the time Ios mentally rings for me, my eyes flutter open as a wide smile begins to crest on my face.
"Oh? Did you get the new moves down??" Ios asks animatedly next to my bedside, her eyes shining with eager pride and relief.
I nod and wrap her soul avatar in a hug that mirrors my physical body doing the same to her projection before answering back, "I did indeed, hehe~! Sam is going to be surprised too, they seem
really
powerful!"
"Awesome~! I'm so happy for you love! I can read them if you want, but why don't you do the honors and tell me what they're called?" Ios delights as we happily hold each other, her emerald eyes sparkling into my teal counterparts.
"Sure~! The first one is called
[Meteoric Lunar Impact]
and the second is
[Cratering Palm of the Shining Moon]
. Bit of a mouthful for that second one, but it has a whole series of steps and movements I need to do in order to activate it so I guess its warranted. The first one is
amazing
though! I can just rocket down like a missile any time I'm in the air! I can't wait to test it out in a couple days!" I explain back to her as I rub our faces together, my worlds becoming mushed a couple times between the giggles and cuddles.
We give enough space between us to lock in for a lingering kiss, the snaps of pink sparks dancing around and mixing with the yellows of happiness and satisfaction before she says, "That's incredible sweetheart~. I'm proud of you. The girls got back maybe twenty minutes ago, so you should probably get dressed and head on down. Try not to let the excitement boil over into the apology though, mixed signals and all that."
"Right." I say back softly, Ios sending me a small smile as she stands up and sends her drone to hover near the door. I put on one of the spare robes with a pep in my step and smile on my face, joining Ios at the door before we exit and head towards the kitchen.
.
!
A Frigid Opponent, Awaited Comprehension – Ch 121
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