Chapter 294: 294: Blood in the Water

Ding!

[Quest - Go mining with your nestlings. Complete!]

[Quest Reward 50XP has been issued!]

It was just the sound I wanted to hear after blasting through ingots for a long time.

Andromeda watched curiously as all the glimmering stones disappeared into [Dimensional Box].

[You have to teach us how to do that!] She grinned.

I could do one better and give them their own [Dimensional Box] if they proved useful, but that'll have to wait.

[There's more down there, we should collect them too!] Cassio poked his head out from another tunnel to call out.

After taking another foray in gold dust he looked even more bedazzled than myself and Andromeda.

However, I shook my head. |[No need to be in such a rush. There's plenty of time for that later.]| 

Besides, we had all but stripped the cavern bare, yet they still wanted more – I was beginning to fear their greediness when it came to trading with others.

[This should be more than enough!] Andromeda said in approval.

[So what's next?] Cassio asked.

I had only taken two nestlings with me no matter how much the others pleaded, because our next stop was a little unusual and I was worried they would refuse.

|[You'll see.]| I said vaguely.

Why ruin the surprise.

We left the worm tunnel in haste, speeding up to the plateau where the steep cliff wall loomed down below us. The sweltering water forest underneath was perfectly visible with its tall stems and lengthy exposed roots. Alongside this was the cliffside filled with holes where numerous giant centipedes skittered about.

It didn't take much to see how quickly it would be for them to reach the water.

[Don't tell me.] Cassio and Andromeda went pale. [You want to go down?] 

|[Yeah! It'll be fun!]| I replied.

All I wanted was to feel some cool water in the sweltering heat!

However, the two behind me were full of apprehension.

[It's too high!] Andromeda trembled like a leaf.

[We're going to get eaten for sure!] Cassio curled tightly around a rock, afraid to move.

|[Where's your sense of adventure?]| I encouraged them. |[Just use [Stealth] and stick close to me. Nothing will eat you as long as you're with me!]|

It wasn't just a false assurance. When I looked down at the centipedes with [Mind's Eye], the closest one was a LV54.

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LV54 Kraigamor

Specie: Ailith Scohlendra

HP: 602/602  Defence: 517

MP: 466/466  Intellect: 115

SP: 500/500  Magic: 255

Attack: 841    Agility: 778

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There was no way I wanted to deal with that, not to talk of tangling with multiple creatures that were about my size!

Also, there were more inside their burrows than I could count! I was better off passing them quickly to enter the water before they became aware.

I was confident we would not be detected if we didn't make any noise. So I instructed my nestlings to move quietly as we began scaling down the cliff. We snuck past the first centipede burrow in silence, taking note of the other centipede burrows within range. 

We continued on cautiously and finally crossed the very last burrow with a centipede nestled deep inside. All that was left was to jump into the water, however, as we passed, the system intervened.

Ding! 

[Quest - Lure 15 Kraigamor's into the water. Reward 250XP]]

[Progress [0/15]] 

Was this system kidding me?

The whole point of sneaking down was to avoid detection!

Still, luring them down seemed doable as the centipedes inside the cliff were numerous, we just had to be further away than them.

However, I soon spotted the shadow of something large lurking under the water. It was some kind of aquatic creature, with a body far larger than the centipedes above. Its impossibly long fins spread out like cobwebs across the water's surface, thin and wide like a giant leaf, and there was no way to enter without getting detected by it.

What an annoying fish.

Its large body was submerged below as if it knew breaking the waves in any way would bring it unwanted attention.

But if we happened to touch it, the creature would surely give chase and it was either we got eaten or fight it, which would cause a ruckus and lure the centipedes above.

I grimaced at the sticky situation, causing my nestlings to exchange looks of concern.

[Get on my back.] I ordered, and they did so immediately.

That fish really thought it was going to monopolize the pool and deny me a good swim?

No way! 

So, rather than get into the water, I began climbing even higher up until we were across from a centipede's burrow.

My nestlings were nervous to be this close, but I instructed them to hang on tight and stick close to my body – because I had a dastardly plan.

Once they were comfortably secure, I proceeded to stab my tail into the rocks, securing myself with its prongs. This set off a rather loud bang and rocks began cascading down the cliffside into the water.

Almost immediately, a centipede scampered out of the hole, its pincers snapping with a screech, as it sped towards us.

My nestlings screamed in fright at the sight of its numerous legs, but at that moment, I released my tail, and dove down towards the water at tremendous speed.

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I slammed into the aquatic creature with a horrendous crunch as my body weight broke its back. Its huge body dipped further underwater, as tumultuous waves struck the cliffside in the aftermath, causing several more centipedes to skitter out of their burrows.

As for the creature - it lay limp and was sinking slowly, but the small portion of skin on its back was retracted, revealing a dull, yellow eyeball with a furious glint. 

I slipped away just as its webbed fins rose out from the water to attack me. Their sharp, thin barbs sliced  through the water as the creature panicked in an effort to stay afloat.

However it only created an even greater turmoil, and I glimpsed several more centipedes scampering down rapidly. Their armoured bodies covered most of the cliffside and they were definitely far more than fifteen!

I knew I had to escape right then, so I unhesitatingly sliced through the creature's fins with dark blades and called out to the two on my back.

[Hold your breath!]

With the path clear, I plunged into the water, trying to get as far away as possible. The creature was already doomed, and I didn't want to get caught up in the ensuing battle with the centipedes.

〚Skill『Swim LV1』has been acquired〛

Nice!

After I was at a safe distance away, I carefully stuck my head above and saw the centipedes had overrun the creature. Streams of its own blood and fat floated above the water as it was pulled apart from both ends, its defences utterly useless. And soon, its flesh was devoured, leaving only a bony carcass that quickly sank.

What absolute killing machines!

I swam away even further to prevent detection - but just looking at them made me want one for myself.

Perhaps if I learnt to use [Abyss Magic] properly, I could turn them into something similar to my loyal Abyssal monsters.

Ding!

[Quest - Go swimming in the Middle Stratum. Complete!]

[Quest Reward 500XP has been issued!]

Oh yes!

Ding!

[Quest - Lure 15 Kraigamor's into the water.]]

[Progress [15/15]. Complete!] 

[Quest Reward 250XP has been issued!]

[Bonus Quest Reward 300XP has been issued!]

Even nicer!

That was surprisingly easy to complete.

I was really beginning to like this new system without Sensei!

[That was amazing!] Andromeda exclaimed, her head bobbing above the water as she wriggled. [We should do that again!]

She was barely staying afloat, but she was just excited as on land.

Cassio, on the other hand, was still attached to me like a sloth that refused to be shaken off.

[No thanks. It's cold and wet. I'd rather stick to something warmer.]

Hah! I bet.

The only thing I'd seem them do was con the other nestlings into getting privileges they didn't work for.

Still, it was nice to see them lighten up instead of acting shady all the time.

|[Don't you like swimming?]| I chuckled at him, but Cassio shivered even more in disgust, causing Andromeda to giggle. 

Strangely, even with the centipedes having their blood frenzy not far away, our mood was quite refreshing. It would be a while until they cleared away, so in order not to risk catching their attention, I chose to swim in the other direction. 

But I was also curious to see what else was below the water.

Sinking underneath, we swam until the clouded water became clear and eventually we began to make out other forms of life in the dark depths.

Some were water monsters, serpentine in shape with small round eyes that could only see a few feet ahead of them, while others were large with tough hides that were difficult to penetrate. They also swam slowly and were hopelessly blind.

The large majority were spritely and fast with dexterous bodies that lashed out at everything they touched. There were also some like the creature that was killed on the surface, with multiple sensory appendages that actively stretched out to seek out smaller prey.

The dark water was also filled with all sorts of strange corals and plant life that attacked or swallowed any creature that strayed too close. 

But the creatures all had one thing in common - they were all ferocious hunters with bodies well suited to their marine environment, a quality my nestlings and I sorely lacked. 

We were cloaked in [Shadow Shroud] but we had to be careful not to touch anything, or get too close to  any creature or we would be detected quickly. But the lower we sank, the harder it became to swim without expending more air. 

Eventually we had to come up, and we swam towards the light shining through the tree roots closer to the surface. Emerging outwards, we found ourselves in a shaded small pool surrounded by tree roots that dripped a sizzling green ooze.

Ding!

[Novice Level Quest - Eat deadly Ricennia Sap to increase [Acid Resistance]. Reward [100XP]]

Huh? Eat what?

And before I could process it, I heard another ding.

[Adept Level Quest - Defeat a Water Behemoth. Reward [550XP]]

I just finished two quests and there were two more again!

Wasn't this getting a bit much?

They weren't difficult, but just too silly and I was beginning to feel exhausted. 

Beside me, Cassio and Andromeda were taking deep breaths as they practiced their swimming. They were enjoying themselves but I couldn't help feeling frustrated. 

Then, as if to spite me, the system dinged yet again with another quest.

[Novice Level Quest – Eat a D-grade coral. Reward [50XP]]

What exactly would this solve?

And I hissed in frustration. Most of these seemed like things Sensei would have filtered out to give me more useful tasks.

Was it too late to ask for him to come back? A week seemed way too long.

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