(AS) B2 - Lesson 61: "...But Don't Celebrate Too Early."

The group’s forward scouts easily dealt with those few spirit beasts that hadn’t fled the drake’s path toward the trap. Yet, the trip back through the forest toward the dungeon entrance was slow and trudging. The sheer size of the box containing the Mud Drake meant transporting it through the gaps in the trees took coordination.

More than once they had to stop and let their Geomancers and Earth Cultivators rest. They made steady progress, however, and by the end of the day, they were nearing their destination. As they drew closer to the dungeon, a palpable air of excitement swept over the group.

A few goblins broke into low song, like hunters returning from a grand hunt. Which Alpha assumed they were, in a way.

Even Boarslayer found herself swept up in the celebratory mood, softly humming along. Soft footsteps fell into step beside her, and she turned to see Dr. Maria looking up at her.

“You look happy,” the doctor said with a grin. “Not too much farther now.”

Boarslayer’s slight smile shifted back into her typical frown, and she looked away. However, Dr. Maria didn’t miss the faint blush on the younger woman’s cheeks.

“A warrior doesn’t count their victory until the gates are closed,” Boarslayer said, her back straight and eyes forward.

Dr. Maria chuckled. “Wise words,” she said, nodding her head. “That said, there’s nothing wrong with enjoying the march home,” the doctor grinned. Then, in a lower voice said, “While our goals might differ from the Adventurers, that doesn’t make what we’ve accomplished here any less significant. The drake was a problem we would always have to solve, eventually. I understand why you might be… disappointed things turned out this way, but trust an old woman when she says it’s better this way. Two birds with one stone, and all that.”

Boarslayer stiffened slightly, then sagged with a sigh. Had she been that obvious? Maybe not; Boarslayer had learned over the past few months that the doctor was far more observant of others than she let on.

Boarslayer couldn’t deny that she had often daydreamed about a moment like this. A triumphant march back to the village after slaying the cavern’s greatest treat. Those daydreams had only grown after the events of the bandit attack.

The more she considered it, the more Boarslayer found the doctor was right. She was disappointed things had turned out this way. That she wouldn’t be the one to deal the final blow, or even had much to do with the planning, had her grinding her teeth.

Not like there’s anyone to blame, either, she thought to herself. Well… there were Icefinger’s men. The thought of the approaching bandits had Boarslayer grinning ear to ear.

“Ya… maybe you’re right,” the goblin woman said to the doctor. “No point complaining about someone else’s prey… there’s always another bird in the forest.”

Dr. Maria stared at the woman with a raised brow, though a sly smile crept over her lips. “That there is, dear. That there is,” she said, patting Boarslayer’s arm.

Before either woman could say another word, Alpha spoke over their comms.

“Well… that’s not good. Get to the transport team. Now.”

Boarslayer paused and furrowed her brow. “What’s wrong?” she asked.

The next instant, both women were nearly pressed to their knees as a massive wave of Spirit Energy pulsed like a beating heart.

“That,” came Alpha’s response.

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Several moments earlier

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“That’s it! Keep her steady! A little to the left… ya right there, good job.” Garrelt called as he directed the transport team through another gap between the massive trees. A dozen Geomancers and Earth Cultivators worked together to move the massive stone container holding the sleeping Mud Drake through the forest.

Maggy watched from the sides, her eyes sparkling. “I can’t believe I got to be part of a drake hunt! My teacher’s going to go crazy!” Earth magic wasn’t the girl’s forte, but she knew enough that she could help if something went wrong, so she had kept close by in case she was needed.

Antchaser stood beside her, his eyes equally glued to the massive stone container.

I can’t believe I did this, he thought to himself. Well, in part, at least. It wasn’t like he’d come up with the concept. But he and Garrelt had worked together to do much of the heavy lifting with tweaking the arrays and ensuring the trap would work as intended. Alpha’s lessons on arrays over the last few months had greatly boosted the goblin’s understanding of the art.

To think he would one way not only take part in a real drake hunt, but play an important role. Antchaser’s chest puffed out at the thought, and he grinned.

“Maggy!” Robert called, “Switch with Mr. Runehill, please!” He gestured to a panting mage toward the back of the transport team. Maggy waved at Antchaser and jogged toward the Mage in question.

“Tha —” the man huffed, “Thanks. Guess I’m getting a little too old for this.”

Maggy smiled brightly and slipped into the man’s spot, placing her hands against the stone container. “No problem!” the young woman responded.

The tired Adventurer smiled back. “Care, the drake might be sleeping, but he’s a bucker.”

Maggy nodded. “I’ll keep that in mind, thanks!”

The stone box holding the drake rattled as if in response, and the arrays bulged slightly.

“Woah!” Maggy said, her eyes widening as she stabilized them. “I see what you mean. Thanks for the heads up.”

The man nodded and wandered farther back to rest.

Again, the container shook, and Maggy’s heart lurched.

“Garrelt! Tell me the replacement will be ready soon! If the thing keeps struggling like this, I won’t be able to help for long!” Maggy said. Her particular brand of magic focused on precision and dexterity rather than raw power.

Next to Garrelt, Robert turned to the young woman. “What do you mean? You told me you could handle this, Ms. Greenwood,” he said with a frown.

The arrays twisted oddly, and Maggy started to sweat. “Well, you didn’t tell me it would struggle so much!” she complained.

“Struggle?” Garrelt asked next. “The arrays are powerful enough to knock out a peak [Elemental Dominance] Cultivator.” The scout leader walked back, touched the stone crate, and connected to the arrays.

A moment later, Garrelt’s eyes bulged, and several dozen spinning magic circles appeared on the surface of the stone crate. As they spun, the magic circles produced massive gusts of wind that slammed into every Mage and Earth Cultivator surrounding the crate, throwing them back a dozen meters.

Maggy screamed as she tumbled back, head over heel, and the drake’s crate slammed into the ground with a rumble.

“Garrelt!” Robert yelled, drawing his sword. “What is the meaning of this?!”

“Get away!” Garrelt yelled back, his hand still locked onto the stone crate. Visible streams of Spirit Energy could be seen flowing out of the crate and into Garrelt’s arm, turning his veins deep black.

Robert took a step forward, swinging his sword in a threatening arch. “I will not! Explain yourself!”

“NOW!” Garrelt responded.

Robert clenched his teeth, his eyes blazing. The expedition took another step forward, his blade raised. A much larger magic circle appeared underfoot and circled the crate.

A static barrier rose from the circle’s edge, blocking Robert’s advance. The man roared and slashed at the barrier. Behind the barrier, the energy flow from the cube to Garrelt increased, and the black veins spread up the man’s neck. Robert again hacked at the barrier, and it cracked slightly.

Maggy rushed forward and grabbed Robert’s wrist. “Wait, Robert! Stop!”

The expedition leader whirled and snarled at the young Mage. “Why should I?! He’s going to ruin the plan!”

Maggy shook her head, “That’s not —”

A massive pulse of Spirit Energy from the stone crate cut her off. Garrelt screamed and was blasted backward, hitting the ground with a heavy thump and rolling to the edge of the barrier, which flickered and vanished.

The rest of the transport team was driven to the ground as the ambient Spirit Energy in the area suddenly skyrocketed. The energy continued to rise until a swirling vortex of pale light became visible, centered on the drake’s crate, formed.

As the vortex intensified, the array-reinforced stone cracked. Bright light spilled out, and a thick, black mud oozed down the side.

Robert stumbled to his feet and stared at the crate, his brow furrowed.

That same moment, Boarslayer, Dr. Maria, and several of the patrolling Adventurers — including Bert — broke from the treeline.

“What’s going on?!” Bert asked.

Another spiritual pulse exploded from the crate, and a glowing star appeared at its center. One so bright that the light could be seen through the thick stone.

Bert’s jaw dropped. “Oh no…” was all he managed before the energy vortex suddenly vanished.

Then the drake’s crate exploded.

The spirit pressure redoubled and slammed the group, physically pushing the surrounding Adventurers away. A thick cloud of dust hung in the air. Bert tried to stand on shaking legs as the tremendous pressure beat down on him. Something made even more difficult as the ground beneath his feet slowly liquified, shifting from firm rocky forest turf to a thick quagmire over several seconds.

A figure slowly emerged from the center of the dust cloud.

Not the stout, fishlike form of the Mud Drake.

But a fifteen-meter long, serpentine form as thick as Bert was wide. Black mud dripping from between stone scales. A pair of short, branching horns topped an eellike head, surrounded by thousands of hair-thin, wiggling tendrils, writhing in a mane of thick black mud continuously dripping to the ground below. Pairs of short, viciously clawed limbs lined the length of its body, flexing and stretching as the creature learned to control the new limbs. Finally, the body ended in another tuff of thin, writhing tendrils, like a loin’s tail.

The newborn Kigendoro slowly rose… then opened a maw far too wide for its slender body and roared, instantly dispersing what remained of the dust concealing it.