The choice was an easy one. So things were more important than revenge.
Carpy was about to return to master Kon when he noticed the scythe resting beside the dead man.
Carpy looked around to make sure no one was there, before using a tendril of water to take the scythe with him.
When Creators died, sotis their lingering obsession left behind Magical Items. This scythe was one of them.
Carpy was unsure if he should bring sothing like this back. What if that lingering obsession was to kill master Kon?
No, if that were the case, the target would be Carpy.
Another thing that he noticed was how light the scythe was. It felt like it almost weighed nothing. Was this the weapons special ability?
Whatever, it wasn't his job to think about these things. Carpy put the scythe in its own water bubble, and then he flew off.
***
I kept drifting in and out of consciousness, but I couldnt help but think about the last battle.
The scythe moved so fast that I couldn't dodge it. The attack was so fast because it had no weight behind it. Otherwise, I would have been able to block an attack like that.
At the sa ti, the lack of weight stopped the attack from cutting deeper and killing .
The scythe guy's special ability was turning coins into scythes, but the weapons still weighed as much as a coin.
I could have activated Perfect . During my training, I experinted extensively with my ability and learned that an injury could be forcefully shut and healed.
But I couldn't afford that. There was sothing I needed to do, and I couldnt activate the ability for any other reason. Sothing that I would need Perfect for.
The sound of sothing flying through the air woke from my slumbering thoughts.
I opened one eye, and what greeted was sothing straight out of a nightmare, an eel-like creature inside a water bubble the size of a house.
Bets and Gem were staring at it as if it was a dream.
The eel was as tall as an electricity pole and looked like an anaconda.
But I would recognize that fishy face anywhere!
It was Carpy!
Even with the crazy energy he was releasing, he wasn't quite a high rank. But that was when I rembered sothing.
Evolution was supposed to take weeks, months, and in so cases, even years to fully complete. So why was Carpy all of a sudden a long eel?
Was it so kind of forceful evolution?
That wasnt sothing I knew was possible. It could either be a good or bad thing. In those xianxia stories, a breakthrough like this would cut soones future potential. But this wasnt a world like that, and Ord wasnt like Qi.
Did the Ord inside Carpys body react to his emotions? Technically that was my Ord, and I was also hoping for Carpy to evolve; that was all I thought about when creating the contract to give Ord to Carpy. Maybe that caused so kind of reaction?
A water bubble floated down to lay a scythe twice my height onto the ground next to .
Oh! Shit! Thats a magical item! Gem exclaid and went to touch the scythe before a water tendril slapped his hand away.
This is for master Kon, Carpy said in a gurgling voice. He only opened his mouth when he spoke and didnt move his lips, so it looked a bit weird. Havent you heard that you should be respectful to your seniors and your betters?
Wow, I never thought a talking Carpy would be such an asshole. And here I thought you were a nice fish. Dont you rember how I used to spoil you all the ti? Gem pouted.
He was just making bullshit up; he never even gave Carpy a treat.
Seniors? But Kon is the sa age as us. Bets said.
The fish tilted his head in confusion. Hm?
Cant you tell? Were all the sa age! Gem pointed at each of their faces. Except for baldy here, Kon and I look like normal teenagers.
Carpy stared at the three of us. I dunno. You guys kind of look all the sa to .
How can you not tell the difference?! One of us is bald!
Can you tell the difference between two fish by looking at them? The water around Carpys bubble moved, making it look like he was shrugging. Master just feels like an old soul. Even the one with the dwindling lifespan doesn't feel old.
Old soul? Either that was an expression, or Carpy had so scary sensory abilities.
Bets checked on . You feeling okay?
Never better, I chuckled. Lying down on the grass next to a river wasnt too bad. If it werent for the piercing pain in my chest, this wouldve been a perfect place to relax. We should rest a bit and then find a hiding place. With like this, I would only be a hindrance in battle.
Also, I wanted to see if I could force my body to heal the injury. I rembered how Perfect did the healing. I just had to try and replicate that feeling.
Carpy released his bubble, letting the water crash onto the ground and flow back into the river. He then slithered around and rubbed his cheek against mine.
I knew he was just showing his care, but he slled fishy. However, I was surprised how Carpy could now move out of the water. Could he now breathe oxygen?
Master! You didnt lose against them! As a Beast Master, Im part of your power, so you took them out! So you defeated them all! Carpy said out of nowhere.
That was so ntal gymnastics he was doing there. He was like a little kid trying to convince himself he didnt take the candy.
I smiled and patted his head. Of course, were one, after all. My victories are yours, and your victories are mine.
Since he used to be a regular fish who was slowly rising to the top of the food chain, I always assud he would have beco more arrogant.
After I rested for a few minutes, Carpy hoisted onto a waterbed. Sohow he had made the water dense enough so I didnt fall in, and he flew around.
We followed the river upstream until we ended up in front of a waterfall.
Calling it just a waterfall was an understatent. It was big, wide, and gushed down a mountain so high I barely saw the top of it from down here.
It reminded of when those monks trained under a waterfall; if soone did that here, they would be crushed to death by the water.
Carpy controlled the water and opened a path in the middle of the waterfall, revealing a cave hidden behind the harsh waters.
At first, I hoped that it was the classic cave clich where the main character would find a treasure hidden in a cavern behind a waterfall. But no, it was just an ordinary cave and not that deep.
Soday, I hoped sothing like that would happen to .
Maybe I should stay around Agon more.
As soon as that thought ca to mind, a chill went down my spine as I recalled the battle against the high class demon throwing lightning balls around. Yeah, Agon may have been a good friend, but he was definitely a trouble magnet.
Master, I will be at the bottom of the waterfall to keep guard! Carpy said and jumped down while at the sa ti closing the water curtain.
It felt weird hearing Carpy talk in that gurgly voice. But I was glad that we could now at least communicate.
Is it just , or does he act softer when youre awake? Gem asked.
No, its not just you. Carpys voice had scary pressure when he went to chase after the other team, Bets added.
Carpy being scary? Sure, he had eyes that were like an endless cataclysm of darkness. But deep down he was a nice guy.
Well, Im going to search around the river for so herbs and food, said Bets, and the waterfall opened up like a curtain.
Could Carpy hear us up here?
Bets shrugged and jumped down, landing at the bottom of the waterfall, and Carpy escorted him out of the river in a water bubble.
Only Gem and I were left up here. I closed my eyes and was about to get so rest when he said. I think Im useless in this team.
Huh? Where the hell did that co from?
I have barely grown any stronger since I got this ability.
He was worrying about this now? Just when I was about to sleep?
I should nip this bud before it grows into needless insecurity. Youre our main attacker. Bets and I arent any good in that category.
With Carpy around, that seems like a moot point, Gem looked down, clenching his fist.
From what I had seen so far, I couldnt refute that. Since Carpy was middle class now, he had a vast amount of inner energy to work with. Also, unlike Gem, he had no weakness toward the light or anything like that.
I wasnt going to tell Gem that, but I wouldnt lie to him either. He wasnt dumb enough not to notice when I was giving bogus complints.
In the end, only one solution ca to mind.
Co closer, I said. Due to my injury, I couldnt get up and walk up to Gem.
He looked confused, but he still followed my words, and once he was within arms length, I mustered all the strength I could and punched him in the face.
His head swung to the side, and he rubbed his bruised cheek. Huh? Why did you hit ?!
As expected, I was too weak for the punching strategy to be effective. Co closer.
Are you gonna hit again?
...Possibly.
Then Im not coming closer.
My back is hurting. I winced and moved around uncomfortably. I think Im lying on a piece of stone or sothing. Just get close to flip over.
He narrowed his eyes, and his face looked like he had swallowed a lemon.
Do you think I would lie to you about this? I asked him as a friend and a comrade who had been in dangerous situations together. We had shed blood and risked life for each other.
Ultimately, his gaze softened, and he got closer to help .
It was heartwarming how he trusted so much.
Of course, I betrayed that trust imdiately by punching him in the face again. This ti I used Ord, and he smashed against the cave wall. You fucking arrogant, narcissistic, stupid idiot! Do you think were going to win every battle? Dont go whining on after one minor loss.
He rubbed his cheek and looked at like I was crazy. What the fuck is wrong with you!?
No, what the fuck is wrong with you? I couldnt get up, or it would aggravate my wounds. But punching him again would have been better to make sure he got the lesson through his thick skull. Listen here, Gem. No one is perfect! In life, youre gonna lose! The most important part is to get up and fight again, not whine like a little bitch!
Afterward, Gem looked at his hands, clenched his fists, and got up. His gaze had sharpened like a razor. I understand what you an.
Really? Because I dont understand what I an!
I know what I must do, he stared at his fist and nodded. Carpy! Open the gates!
The waterfall opened again, and Gem jumped down.
I stared at my fist. I knew shounen problems required shounen solutions.
But hadnt this punching strategy been a little too successful? I only used it when I had no idea how to console soone. But this was the third ti in a row it had worked.
I shook my head before turning my attention to my injury.
Now that I was alone, I could try and heal myself with Ord. I had done it a couple of tis while using Perfect .
Gathering the Ord in my body, I guided it toward the wound.
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