"Keep walking. We are about to arrive," the lady informed the group in her charming voice as she led the way.
Blatt walked alongside her, wearing an apprehensive expression. Davion and Acelo followed closely behind, maintaining a cautious distance from the lady, their apprehension about her strength still evident.
As they ventured deeper, the density of powerful beasts increased. These creatures possessed enhanced senses that allowed them to detect the presence of human intruders from a distance.
Even Davion would not have dared to venture this far on his own. Fortunately, the cloaked lady kept her aura released, keeping the beasts vigilant but cautious to approach.
Moving smoothly in a similar fashion, they soon arrived near a cliff.
Looking down, one could see a valley hidden behind the dense greenery. An unsuspecting person would have stumbled into it had they been walking that way, unaware of what lay within.
"It's just ahead," the lady said, turning her head towards Blatt. "So, are you ready?"
Blatt gazed at the seemingly serene valley, unable to shake off a sense of danger as he involuntarily swallowed.
"Miss, are you certain about provoking the one that rules over this valley?" he asked after calming himself with a deep breath. "I don't mean to be disrespectful, but I don't think even you can handle the beast that lords over this territory."
The lady giggled before replying, "Of course I know that. Why else do you think I wasted my time searching for you?"
Blatt took a step back from her words.
"Don't tell me you want me to communicate with it like last time? There's no way I'm going to do that!"
"Uh..." The lady scratched her head beneath her hood before sighing helplessly. "Is that why you were trying to hide from me?"
She shrugged. "Well, I suppose it was indeed my fault to have you do that last time, but I was genuinely curious about your talent. I didn't think you would be attacked right away. Though I did save you, didn't I? So there's no need to worry." Observing Blatt's lingering wariness, she added, "Besides, you won't have to go to the front this time." Waving her hand, something suddenly appeared in her palm as she handed it to Blatt. "I just need you to find where it is hiding without alerting it to our presence. I'll take care of the rest."
"This herb..." Blatt examined the items handed to him and exclaimed, "You want me to use this to drug the creature to sleep?"
Davion and Acelo also took a look at the herb Blatt was holding. Being from a family that specialized in herbs and similar knowledge, even those not directly descended from the family would have some basic understanding of the subject. They immediately recognized the herb as a potent tranquilizer, rare even in the capital due to its high demand. The fact that this lady possessed such an herb piqued their curiosity about her origins.
"That's correct," the lady confirmed, affirming Blatt's assumption. "The Giant Hammer-Tailed Lizard residing within this valley guards a companion herb that is vital to its growth. According to the season, the herb should be ripe for consumption by now. However, pinpointing its precise location is challenging, even for me. That's where your skills come in. I expect you to find the hiding place without alerting the creature. You must be careful." She issued a warning. "If you fail to avoid detection, I won't be able to save you, even if I manage to escape for my own life. Do you understand?"
"A Giant Hammer-Tailed Lizard?" Acelo couldn't help but exclaim. "That's a Rank-3 beast. Are you certain about... uh..." His words trailed off as he remembered they were currently under the lady's control. Despite her amiable demeanor, it was not wise to provoke her in any way.
"Do not worry," the lady reassured them, redirecting her gaze towards the valley. "I have no intention of taking all of you with me. This boy and I will be sufficient." With that declaration, no one dared to offer any objections. Or perhaps they did, but fear kept their words locked away.
"Let's go." Having concluded their conversation, the lady turned to Blatt and, without waiting for his response, firmly grasped him by the nape and leaped off the cliff. They landed gracefully and disappeared deeper into the valley, soon disappearing from the sight of Davion and Acelo.
...
"We're far enough; you can relax now," Anom said, his gaze taking in the scenic view of the valley.
"You don't have to worry about that," replied the lady, her tone devoid of the charm she had previously displayed, replaced by a chilling coldness that seemed more befitting of her voice.
Lowering her cloak, she finally revealed her face. "What a bothersome task I've bound myself to."
"Now, now, Miss Tiana." Anom smiled. "Weren't you the one claiming to be willing to take any path to help your Big Sis Loreana? What happened to that?"
Tiana gave him a cold look in response.
"I agreed to help her, not you! And here you are, shamelessly using that fact to further your own agenda," she fumed.
Ignoring her comment, Anom continued, "That being said, I didn't anticipate you would put on such an incredible performance. It almost felt like you were imitating someone."
Tiana was momentarily stunned before her face hardened, and she snorted. "Would you stop wasting time already? Let's get this done. After you leave, I need to make arrangements for Big Sis and the two girls to leave with me."
"Alright," Anom shrugged before taking the lead and venturing deeper into the valley. His pace had changed, and he utilized all his skills to stealthily approach their target.
The valley extended for quite a distance, and according to the information he had received from the leader of Crimson Lestrias, the boss of this valley resided somewhere near its midpoint. It guarded a plant intrinsically linked to this clan of lizards. As they usually inhabited areas near the plant, their presence served as an indicator of the herb's existence.
The plant they guarded bore a fruit similar to the one Anom had consumed shortly after arriving on this planet. It had the primary function of increasing the user's energy. But unlike many other herbs with violent effects, this one was known for its gentle properties and easy digestibility, even for those who had yet to awaken their spirits. Anom's aim was to obtain this plant precisely for those reasons.
"Hm?" Anom suddenly halted, his gaze fixed on something ahead in the valley. Closing his eyes, he focused his spirit, scanning his surroundings.
While he was not yet capable of detecting individuals at Rank-3, it was different for beasts. They generally had lower intelligence compared to humans, who often concealed their auras.
"Found it!" As expected, Anom detected a unique presence emanating a dense and potent pulse of power, distinct from the serene ambiance of the valley. Lizard-type beasts were known for their exceptional hiding abilities, and this one was no exception. However, as it guarded the plant, traces of its dangerous aura leaked out as it remained on high alert. Only the most perceptive creatures would be able to sense this sign.
As they drew closer, the energy in their surroundings seemed to flow with a distinct rhythm. Tiana easily sensed it, while Anom relied on his spiritual connection to better understand the safe distance to maintain.
Finally, Anom found an optimal spot to prepare for their hunt.
Taking out the herb that Tiana had given him earlier, Anom retrieved several other herbs he had prepared in advance and began to rub them together in his hands. After mashing them for a while, a paste-like mixture formed, which he then wrapped in a piece of cloth, creating a fist-sized round ball.
In reality, the tranquilizing herb was obtained with the assistance of the lestrias as well. These types of herbs were highly sought after by adventurers and hunters because they allowed lower-level teams to tackle higher-level beasts. Of course, the team had to possess sufficient strength to enter the beast's habitat in the first place.
However, due to their usefulness, whenever such an herb became known, it would be swiftly acquired without fail, and competitors were not limited to humans alone. According to some books, even high-level beasts used these herbs to induce a sense of euphoria, similar to how humans would get intoxicated using alcohol and similar drugs. Thus, finding a natural strain was no easy task, and artificially cultivated ones were often not potent enough. Hence, Davion and Acelo were surprised to see such an herb in Tiana's possession.
"Get ready. We'll have less than a minute to collect the fruits and leave," Anom warned Tiana as he played with the cloth ball that was emanating an intense floral scent.
Tiana prepared herself, her expression becoming solemn. After all, they were dealing with a beast one rank higher than herself. Any half-hearted actions could lead to their demise.
She poised herself to move as soon as Anom initiated their plan, but after a minute had passed, he still remained motionless.
"What?" Tiana whispered in exasperation, turning to Anom.
Anom scratched his head. "Do you have a lighter or something? I forgot to bring one."
Tiana stared at him speechlessly.
You prepared for a Rank-3 beast, and this is what you forgot?
Sighing helplessly, she waved her hand, bringing the cloth ball toward herself. She then snapped her fingers, but instead of a sound, intense heat emanated, igniting the cloth ball.
Anom caught the ball carefully and extinguished the fire. The scent of the medicine became even more potent, exuding outside along with some smoke.
"Get ready. Here I go!" Anom launched the cloth ball high into the air. The ball glided forward before it landed in an area covered with tall grass.
Plomp! The ball landed silently, but its impact was enough to capture the attention of anyone attentive enough.
Rustle~
The tall grass patch began to sway, moving in an unnatural rhythm. Soon, a massive head emerged from within, two big eyes trained on the smoky ball.
Grrrrr...