NOVEL NEXT Survival of the fittest
The reason why I chose this spot to camp at is that it is near water, but this also has its troubles. Namely, a Dragon's Descendant.
What are Dragon's Descendants? They are basically Lesser Dragons that live close to a Dragon with an appearance close to that particular Dragon.
This area is Cpactli's body, so it should look like a crocodile, but there is another Dragon that exists here, Amaru the Storm Bringer.
I took a puff from my cigarette, breathing out a cloud of smoke.
"Mugen.", I glanced at Mitsuki, who just smiled, "Nevermind, you stay here and protect the students."
"Aye, captain!", she saluted.
I placed Ouroboros Omniscia down, making the students wonder what I was going to do.
"You all know I possessed three God Slayers, right?", I held my palm out, "Let me show you what I can do without them."
I cracked my knuckles. This will be fun.
"I Dream of a Hollow Voyage..."
Electricity sparked around me as my eyes turned silver in a flash.
"Embrace Infinity, Dive into the Endless Abyss."
I took a step forward— and I vanished, finding myself high up in the air.
"On the Path of Pain and Despair all tread upon, for my Dream and Aspiration."
A pair of wings made of white lightning formed on my back, crackling with energy - ready to bloom like a flower as I descend.
"The Wish to Bring the Future in Ardent Flame."
And I punched the river, temporarily cutting it off as my energy burst, electrifying the entire stream. Then came the roar of a monster, rising out of the water was a gigantic serpent bearing iridescent blue scales, writhing in pain.
"The Yearning to Sink the Past in Blazing Glory."
Yacumama, the serpent that haunts the Amazon Rainforest, who can swallow a hundred people in one bite. And it is fast, appearing in front of me in a fraction of a second.
But...
"That is my Ambition."
I found myself right above its head, to which I performed a kickflip on its head, sending it crashing to the ground.
I held my hand up, "Transmute."
I turned the splashed droplets in the air black, then white, and they finally became red. With the command of my will alone, they turned into tungsten spears.
And I waved my hand down as an ultimatum. The spears impaled the head of the serpent, making it hissed in pain.
But that is not all. I landed on the snake's head with a dropkick, driving one of the spears deeper inside its head.
For the cherry on top, I concentrate my electricity into my fist—
BOOM!!
And blew up the snake's head in one strike.
That isn't all, I performed a backflip for style point, kicking the snake in the side and bringing it onto land. The body landed right in front of the crowd, just as I had calculated.
"That was simple enough.", I appeared in front of them, "Mugen, cut the hundred-meter-long serpent into a portable size. And bleed them out."
"Alright!", Mitsuki hopped over and unwrapped her spear.
Her eyes turned hollow, entering the Void state where she was at her best. And she began to slice it up flawlessly, cutting into the scale as if it was butter.
"How is she so good with it?", Armillys asked, staring in wonder.
"She was born with the talent for the spear, as long as it is a polearm she can use it to its full potential. How much talent? Enough that it broke her mind.", I shrugged, "You won't be able to be like her even if you try your hardest."
"Why?", she frowned, hand gripping her glaive tightly.
"When you stare into the void, it stares back at you.", in a flash of electricity, I ignited a cigarette, "But the void blinked first for her."
She was the host of the Records of Cosmos after all. A completely different breed to be exact.
"So is she a Hunter?", Armillys asked again, "Are all Hunters like you?"
"Mugen isn't a Hunter, more of a mercenary.", I stated, looking back at Mitsuki, "And no, not all Hunters are like me, I am built different, but they usually have something to give them an edge over the monsters they hunt."
I dispelled this form, walking back to get Ouroboros Omniscia.
"The ability to be hidden in plain sight, overwhelming strength, being a Gem Holder. Each and every one is unique in their own way.", I glanced at Armillys, "So, do you want to be a Hunter?"
"...", she went quiet, "I... have to think about it—"
Then the Queen herself jumped in, "Absolutely not! You are not going anywhere, young lady!!"
She just got back from scouting the area.
"You made a promise to your father, don't let your conviction waver because of someone like her!!", Francis pointed at me.
I just smiled and shrugged. What can I say? I have the ability to move hearts.
Armillys didn't say anything and just went away.
"Hah... what am I going to do with that girl...", Francis rubbed her forehead in worry.
And at the same time.
"I'm done!!", Mitsuki announced.
Looks like she's done slicing up the snake.
"Good work.", I pat her on the head, making her blush, "Now, everyone who can cook get the stove on, spend enough to cook for the whole expedition, and make the rest into jerky."
"And Mitsuki, help them out."
"Aye, captain!!", and she went away.
They got off the work, albeit being very tired. Hmm, I should've descaled it for ease of work.
But there is something on my mind right now.
"Francis.", I called her out, "Follow me."
"What do you want now?", she rolled her eyes.
I stayed silent as we got to a quiet spot in the forest. I stare into her green eyes, ones that are unshakable in her way of life, and in her unlife. And holds the most secret here.
"Tell me, what exactly is Armillys.", I spoke with no emotion.
That spooked her out a bit, hearing this side of me, "I can't tell you that..."
I just rolled my eyes, "Utopia."
"[I had collected the information you requested.]", he spoke from my phone, "[Would you like to read it, Your Highness?]"
"Sure.", I agreed.
"Wait—", I pinned her to the tree with my right foot on her stomach.
Utopia sent it over to me, which contains a subject entry of... Project Peach Garden. This is a project with the purpose of reincarnating the heroes of China's Three Kingdom period. And Armillys is the literal reincarnation of Guan Yu, but without any of his memories, so she was deemed a failure.
Armyllis was rescued from being scrapped by a U.S. raid team when infiltrating China. A lot of political mumbo jumbo that honestly bored me. But the main point is that she is an Artificial Human...
But is she human?
I summon the Book of Akasha, searching for Armyllis... ah, yup, she is human. As long as they remain in my book, they are counted as human.
"There isn't anything that can hide from me, Francis.", I turned to her from my book, "Now, she can only stay wherever the U.S. government tells her to be, which I don't like."
"That is for her own good, you moron.", she grumbled.
"You don't get to choose what is best for her.", I smiled, "She is a human, not some pet you can control."
I put my foot down, "Let's not speak of this again."
=0=0=
I went to help the students light the campfire and went on to check the tents, making sure they were placed in the right place for good ventilation.
Still, we have to look out for rain since this is the wet season.
Normally for these travels, I would just use Delusion to travel back to the ship to avoid inconveniences.
Well, if nothing else I would disperse the storm with my lance. Although... having them experience the rain would be fun to watch.
I took a chunk of serpent meat and infected it with Reverie Sludge, removing some of the muscle and tough meat to make it more tender. Then I roast the meat on a spear over the fire, spinning it to roast evenly.
The students took me as an example and did the same.
It took fifteen minutes to fully cook the meat, and I went away to eat alone. I am not a social person, after all.
Yet someone still decided to follow me, Mitsuki.
"Are you eating alone again?", she asked me, holding a plate of her own.
"Of course, and be quiet when I am eating.", I sighed, summoning Ouroboros Omniscia behind me, leaning my back on it.
The coffin opened up, shooting out a ceramic plate plus a pair of fork and knife. I used Justice Mist to grab them, bringing them to my lap. With the fork, I slid the slab of roasted meat onto the plate before throwing the spear up, perfectly back into the coffin.
Together, we enjoy the snake meat. It isn't as flavorful as Wyvern meat, but I enjoy the mild taste it gives, a hint of salt and herbs from the things Yacumama ate, pretty delicious in my opinion. Since I tenderized it with Reverie, the meat is soft and just melted in my mouth, easy to chew on and enjoy. While Mitsuki is having a hard time tearing through the tough meat since a Dragon's Descendant's meat has to be cooked in a pot before doing anything else.
It didn't take me long to finish my meal.
"Making these into jerky is going to be a problem.", I stated.
"The meat is so tough... and there isn't any seasoning.", she sighed, "Oh, the students constructed a stone oven!"
"There is still quite a bit to go through.", I stare back at the camp, the giant snake is still being hauled in bit by bit.
With their powers, processing the meat is easier than normal. Oh, and I don't think they need my help. As one student can spawn in a fake sun to dry the meat, with a wind user blowing the moisture away.
"FEEL THE POWER OF THE SUN!!", she yelled while T-posing, floating in the sky.
"Angel, stop being on a power trip.", the wind user grunted.
"NOOOO!!!!", and Angel rejected.
I intended to use Utopia to make jerky for the trip. But this is way more fun.
"Now, with food secured. I guess I'll have the leaders report to me before calling it a day.", I stood up, "We are heading back."
"Aye, captain!!", she happily joined me.
"You've gotten used to calling me captain.", I commented with a smile.
"Of course! I would call you whatever you want to be!!", she raised her arms up with a bright smile.
"Then would you call me princess?", I turned around to face her... she was blushing.
"Um... err... yes!! Of course, Your Highness!!", she stuttered on her words.
"Very well, my loyal retainer.", I turned around again, heading back to the camp.
A relaxing trip like this is always fun.
And I love fun.