179. Mountain Island
I soared above the ocean, its pure surface reflecting the sky back up to . Or was the sky reflecting the ocean? I wasnt actually sure. All I knew was that it was blue just as the sky was blue. And it looked pretty.
It glittered and sparkled like there were thousands of crystals and gems sewn onto the layers of the rippling waves. I flew close to the water as my skin shifted. My body changed. And I was no longer a Human. No longer a mortal.
I was Salvos, a Demon, flying with my wings like bones.
I could do whatever I want! I was free to do whatever I wanted! Even as I cut a hand through the water surface, leaving a trail of splashing water behind in the sea.
Apparently, that was a bad idea.
I saw a shadow erge from the deep sea. A figure of black, almost rotund from where I was. [Passive - A Hunters Sense] warned of what was to co, and I imdiately zipped out of the way.
A large fish shot out of the water. It reminded of the ones I saw back in Wimborne. Except bigger. Much bigger. It was probably three tis the size of a house!
It had four fins, two on each side of its body, and a jagged blade-like shape protruding from its back, gleaming black.
[Hollow Whaleshark - Lvl 43]
Are you serious?
I bared my teeth, accepting the challenge as I watched the monster sink back into the sea. It circled around as the black blade on its back shone.
Do you really think you can
I paused right in the middle of creating a Nebular Bow. Im not supposed to use my Subspecies Right, I forgot about that.
A beam of dark energy shot up, and I flew out of the way.
Huh. How am I supposed to deal with you?
It was large. Very large for a Level 43 monster. I had only a few Skills for my Class. [Banish] and [Spatial Sight] were of no use. But I knew so space magic. Like how to carry things with invisible hands. Or how to crush them. Or how to teleport.
But I couldnt carry a monster this large. Nor could I crush it. Unless
I narrowed my eyes as I watched the Hollow Whaleshark prepare to shoot up into the air. An idea crossed my mind.
Youre gonna wanna try to level up more before you try and eat , jerk!
I dove down as it exploded from the water. It tried to clamp its jaws around but I teleported past its dozens of layers of teeth, straight down its throat. Acid poured out of its insides. It began to rise as I went deeper down its gullet, before tearing through the side. I heard a screech as the entire creature shook. But I was too preoccupied searching for its heart to care.
Probably not going to gain as much experience from doing this!
I found the beating, deford shape, held up by veins and arteries. I raised a hand from a distance, making a squeezing motion. And magic gripped the heart. It began to compress, crushed by space itself. I could feel it in my hands, even if I wasnt actually touching it. It was very, very hard. Solid, like a rock.
Still, even as the entire monsters being shook, I continued to tighten my grip around it. I grunted as I felt mana being inefficiently poured into the spell, tiring . But I wasnt here to refine my magic or use Skills.
I was here to kill monsters, level, and find a good Class advancent.
Die you stupid thing!
Blood seeped out of pores forming on the surface of the heart. Before it finally exploded.
It burst open from the top and bottom as its side was squished into a pulp. A sound resounded in my head as the monster stopped shaking, suddenly rapidly descending.
Defeated [Hollow Whaleshark - Level 43]!
Experience is awarded for defeating an enemy!
I tore my way out of the giant fish, wondering why I didnt gain any additional experience. Its because I didnt just use my Class, isnt it?
Oh well. There was plenty of ti to go. And the best part was? I didnt need to sleep!
I continued to fly over the ocean as the sun set and night fell over the world. Dark clouds gathered over the sky, bringing with it a storm. And soon, I found out, monsters of the deep too.
--
Defeated [Hollow Whaleshark - Level 41]!
Experience is awarded for defeating an enemy!
...
Defeated [The Deeps Tendrils - Level 46]!
Experience is awarded for defeating an enemy!
...
Defeated [Aquatic Tigereel - Lvl 35]!
Experience is awarded for defeating an enemy!
Class [Adept of the Fae] Level Up!
[Adept of the Fae - Lvl. 32] -> [Adept of the Fae - Lvl. 33]
Gained 2 Secondary Skill Points!
I thought sea monsters were supposed to remain in the water!
I wasnt averse to fighting. I wouldnt just attack anything without any reason; if there was due cause, Id definitely fight a Human even if they didnt confront . But there was a spectrum from mindless to creatures which could actually think.
And these underwater creatures seed to fall into the more mindless side of thinking. Maybe it only seed that way because they were the ones attacking , and the ones which were actually smart didnt. Regardless, I held no apprehension about killing them.
They were just really annoying. And they didnt give an amazing amount of experience either!
But eventually, the storm subsided. Light returned to the sky, and I could continue my search.
So, the sun is rising from there, and that ans Im supposed to be going there. I see.
I could see snowy lands to the east. I was certain that those were the Elven lands Humans kept talking about. As long as I was high enough up and could see it, I had to be traveling in the right direction, right?
An archipelago and a volcano. Im searching for an archipelago and a volcano.
I continued on until the sun was at its zenith. That was when I spotted the first set of islands littering the ocean surface. It ford a semi circle, with the islands growing larger towards the center. I flew over it, narrowing my eyes.
It definitely seems like it was the right distance from the Elven lands. There even were signs of a shipwreck at the very edge of one of the small islands. But sothing was off.
It doesnt have a volcano!
Instead of a mountainous peak at the center island, there was a massive depression. A hole. Like a crater. And around this basin was a rocky floor that seed to almost leak into the ocean. I snapped my fingers.
This cant be it! Ti to continue!
I proceeded with my flight, grabbing a handful of snacks quickly as I passed over the island, nicking the bugs that sward over its canopy of trees. Another day passed, although it was filled with less fighting as no storm ca at night.
A few monsters attacked . But these were lower-leveled than the previous ones. So, I disposed of them with ease and no levels gained, crushing them out of the air. I passed by more islands more archipelagos and found nothing. A thought crossed my mind that I mightve been lost. I an, I was going further and further east, wasnt I?
Not until the dawn of the next day. I saw a string of islands, like a line, with hills and valleys on each of them, progressively growing taller until peaking at the center island, before reducing in height as it continued.
There it is!
I perked up and began to descend. But I paused.
Is that a mountain or a volcano?
I was pretty sure that it was a mountain, not a volcano. Although, werent mountains just volcanos? That was what Daniel told once. The only difference was volcanos threatened to shoot lava out from ti to ti, but not always.
And this perfectly fits the description that [Fisher] gave . Gukzar the Cyclops had to be here, right? In fact was that his ship over at the center island?
I headed straight down as I saw specks moving on the pearly white beach. Figures with swords and bows fended off creatures skittering rapidly out of the trees. The undulating shapes moved fast, even on the sand. And they dug into it too, leaping out like spring traps all around the beach.
I recognized the monsters imdiately.
Centinels.
Their segnted bodies were covered by a thick shell that was always so annoyingly hard to break. They stread out by the dozens, snapping their dangerous mandibles at the small figures protecting the ship.
I didnt recognize these people. They didnt look like Humans, which was the only reason why I dared approach them without transforming into a mortal. Well Kobolds hated Demons too. But Cyclopes did not, right?
They werent that high-leveled. They were struggling to fight off the [Junior Centinels], so I highly doubted they could do anything against even if they tried. So, I swooped down anyway, grabbing one of the Centinels as it leapt at a female figure.
She was short about four foot tall, with incredibly pale skin, rosey cheeks, and bright orange hair. Her scream was high-pitched. Shrill. But she stopped when she realized the Centinel was just floating in the air, wriggling. She blinked.
What in
I hurled the Centinel high up into the air, back into the forest, as I landed before her. I placed my hands on my hips, letting my wings return into my body, fixing her with a look.
Hi, Im Salvos!
Erm, h-hi? Im Visanya?
Im here to save you and your leader!
Her small eyes widened as I heard a skittering rapidly approaching .
Behind
I spun around, digging my claws deep into the [Junior Centinel]s underbelly. Blood oozed around my claws as it struggled, before its entire body snapped in half, and I tossed it aside.
Defeated [Junior Centinel Lvl. 52]!
Little-to-no experience is awarded for defeating an enemy at least 50 levels below you!
They were too tough for to deal with using my Class. Or at least, too annoying to kill.
Visanya stared at with her jaw dropped as I let the Centinel for. Another voice deeper in cadence, but just as high-pitched called out to her.
What are you doing, Vis? Pick up your bow! Theyre swarming us!
The man raised a gray staff, aiming it at an incoming Centinel. Visanya struggled to her feet, but I shook my head.
Its fine. Ill deal with them.
Before she could say another word, I spun around and opened my mouth.
Burn.
The Centinels froze before they were incinerated. All the dozens of them filling the beach were turned to ash, just like that. The sand, touched by my flas, turned to glass. A blue aura overca the beach for monts, making it seem like it was the ocean or the sky. But it was over soon after it began.
I took a step back, dusting my hands off. When I spun back around, I saw a dozen little figures gaping at . The man who spoke to Visanya had his eyes bulging out of its sockets. Then he dropped to his knees.
H-how?
Then he hurriedly bowed.
Oh mighty Demon, immortal of the Netherworld, why have you co here?
The rest followed suit. Visanya too. Her head dropped to the sand as her pointed ears aid at the sky.
Im here to speak with Gukzar!
I announced. And I sauntered up to him casually, proffering my hand. He hesitated, cracking an eye open as he looked up at . I tried to smile reassuringly.
And theres no need to be scared. Just call Salvos, alright?
I-I see, mighty no, Salvos.
He straightened, letting out a soft cough, but he didnt et my gaze.
I do apologize, but we know not who this Gukzar is.
Hes a Cyclops, I think. Hes supposed to be this tall, one eye? You dont know him?
Unfortunately, our crew hasnt made contact with any Cyclopes any ti in this decade.
Aw, that sucks.
I glowered. So, this was the wrong place, after all! Id have to go searching again, didnt I? I was about to go when I paused, glancing around at these people, barely more than half my height.
What are you, anyway? Ive never seen people like you before.
Us?
He didnt seem too keen to speak, but he did so anyway, overcoming whatever apprehension he felt from being around .
We are worker Elves, serving under the High Ruler Safylosnusa. We were supposed to deliver a shipnt of eldergreen wood to the Dwarven states when a storm wrecked our ship a re two nights ago.
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