"Xiao Huo has evolved?!"
I honestly didn't expect that to happen, and for a second I thought it was my imagination. But even a notification window from the system appeared to confirm what had happened in reality.
-Xiao Huo has evolved from a Fire Fox to a Three-Tailed Fox. –
Oh, what creative naming sense. A fire fox with three tails was officially known as a Three-Tailed Fox. Brilliant.
Not that it mattered. I didn't care what species Xiao Huo was, other than she was stronger than before. And she was at least beginner Yellow Rank right now.
Inwardly, I wondered what had triggered the evolution. It certainly wasn't because Xiao Huo earned enough experience points or that she had leveled up like in games or certain web novels. Was it because of her emotional state? But that was far too inconvenient of an explanation. If that was the case, then spirit beasts would evolve whenever they felt threatened or angry or determined.
Perhaps it was a combination of several factors, such as having to both earn enough combat experience and emotional intensity during a crisis.
An explosion in front forced my attention back to the present. The fireballs that Xiao Huo cast were much stronger, actually scorching the Naga's green scales black and causing it to wail in agony. For the first time, the Naga retreated and took cover in an adjoining corridor, unable to bear the intense heat of the newly augmented fireballs.
That's right. Now wasn't the time to wonder how Xiao Huo evolved. I had to deal with the enemy in front of me first.
"Careful, Xiao Huo!" I warned when my newly evolved Three-Tailed Fox bounded forward to pursue the Naga. A second later, I was vindicated when a powerful tail whip smashed the corner and sent debris spraying, forcing Xiao Huo back.
Even though Xiao Huo had evolved to a beginner Yellow ranked spirit beast, she was still a far cry from the Peak Yellow ranked Naga's strength. That was fine, though. While she couldn't hurt the damned Naga when she was an ordinary Fire Fox, her fireballs were dealing visible damage now. And every little contribution counted.
Furthermore, while the both of us were weaker than the Naga, as long as we worked together, we should be able to defeat it.
The Naga didn't seem to think so. Hissing ferociously, it darted back out, slashing at the fireballs and rushing straight at us. Xiao Huo and I flanked it, with the former launching fireballs from the left. I ducked under the powerful tail and swept my sword up toward the Naga's right flank, piercing a few scales and drawing blood.
Whirling around, the Naga snapped its jaws at me, and I had to withdraw to avoid getting bitten by those toxic fangs. Slashing at its face, I evaded its eviscerating claws and waited for Xiao Huo's triple fireballs to detonate against its back before seizing the chance to launch an attack while it was flailing in pain.
The Naga caught my blade with its claws, its ultramarine scales withstanding the watery currents that swirled around my sword. Nonetheless, I kicked it from below, causing it to teeter off balance for a moment so that Xiao Huo could incinerate a good portion of the aquatic spirit beast's back. Unfortunately, the Naga retaliated with its tail, almost swatting Xiao Huo to the side.
Defiant, Xiao Huo latched onto its tail with her claws and bit down deeply, eliciting another shriek from the serpentine spirit beast. The Naga turned to swipe at Xiao Huo, but I took advantage of the opening and stabbed it in the back. My foe delivered a backhanded swipe that almost ripped my throat open, but I bent my back and ducked under it by mere centimeters.
"Phew…"
Cartwheeling, I kicked the Naga's chin and sent it reeling. That allowed Xiao Huo to release her grip and retreat to safety while the Naga staggered, dazed from the blow. Aware that I was closer, it turned toward me vengefully, but more explosions rocked its body when Xiao Huo pummeled it with her hail of fire.
While I skidded back, I received a notification window from the system. Suppressing my impatience because I knew it might be important, I was rewarded with a crucial piece of information.
-The Naga's weakness is in its right hand, where the Ancient Aquatic Artifact is fused to. Sever it, and it will be incredibly weakened. –
"Thanks for the hint!"
I eyed the Naga's right hand briefly, but didn't see anything different. At least not in terms of vision. However, now that I was aware of it, I could detect an enormous source of qi emanating from the claws. Ultramarine qi raged around the claws like a tempest, invisible to the naked eye but a significant presence to those who cared to activate their qi sense.
However, I turned my attention away quickly. I couldn't allow the Naga to realize that I had noticed something was amiss with its right hand. Instead, I gestured to my summoned spirit beast.
"Xiao Huo, again!"
My Three-Tailed Fox acknowledged my command with a cry, materializing another trio of fireballs to launch at the Naga. It snarled and spun toward her, slithering vengefully. While its attention was diverted, I struck from behind.
Once again, the Naga's tail lashed out, trying to catch me by the temple, but I spun around in midair and avoided the whip-like appendage by a hair's breadth. Landing on the ground, I propelled myself forward once more and thrust with my sword.
The Naga snarled and twisted its body to the side, countering with a slash. Whirling about, I allowed the claws to brush past before I plunged my sword into its right arm and hacked it off in a single stroke.
My foe didn't expect my first strike to be a feint, and I caught it completely off guard with my real attack.
Shrieking, the Naga stumbled back while clutching its bleeding stump. Already, I could sense the once potent qi that shrouded its body dissipate rapidly, much of its strength leaving its body along with the relic. The Ancient Aquatic Artifact spilled out of the disembodied arm and rolled away in the slick puddle of blood that leaked profusely.
This time, I was able to get a good look at it. A blue sphere with drifting mists within its clear, crystalline depths. Lightning crackled and flashed amidst the clouds, promising power to whoever wielded the arcane artifact.
I tore my eyes away and focused on the opponent before me. Already, Xiao Huo was bombarding it with her fireballs, burning away large parts of its body. Slumping to the ground, the Naga wailed and flailed weakly, trying one last attempt to resist.
Stepping forward, I mercilessly beheaded it. The Naga's head bounced off the walls and crashed onto the ground before rolling to a stop. Xiao Huo sniffed and turned her head away, as if disgusted by the dead enemy. I didn't blame her.
"Great job," I praised her with a wear smile and almost fell over. putting my sword away, I placed a hand against the wrecked wall and leaned against it, using it as support as I limped toward the Ancient Aquatic Artifact. Picking it up, I studied it curiously. Even though I could feel the incredible power brimming within it, I had no idea how to wield it.
Perhaps it was a better idea not to use it at all. I had seen what it was capable of, transforming a single ordinary spirit beast into a peak Yellow ranked one. I shuddered to think what would have happened if more than one merfolk had survived to use it. Even with Xiao Huo's assistance, I would probably get slaughtered.
The system buzzed and a notification window appeared.
-Quest completed. The Ancient Aquatic Artifact has been secured. User has successfully protected the Ancient Aquatic Artifact from the clutches of the undersea tribe and eliminated the merfolk attempting to obtain it. –
-Rewards: Cultivation boost. –
"Huh? Cultivation boost?"
My question was answered by a blinding flash of light. Ultramarine qi glowed from the Ancient Aquatic Artifact and poured incessantly into me. I gasped and staggered, but was unable to drop the relic. The currents rushed into my body like a tidal wave, flooding my meridians and filling me to the brim. It was almost too much, to the point where I felt like my body was going to burst from the sheer amount of power.
"Ugh!"
Dropping to my knees, I gritted my teeth and did my best to withstand the tremendous pressure that threatened to tear me apart from the inside. I shuddered and convulsed even as ultramarine light leaked out from my every pore, turning me into a human light bulb. Freezing energies enveloped me, and frost expanded around my skin in thick layers, almost entombing me.
Xiao Huo cried out and tried to approach me, but she was kept at bay by the powerful qi that was emitting from both me and the artifact. I groaned from the deep, biting cold, but I suppressed the esoteric energies that were drowning me and clamped down on the aggressive forces that seemed to want to dominate my body.
As if I would let them…!
Then…just like that, it was over.
"Huff…"
I was still on all fours, panting and heaving. My perspiration dripped off my skin, only to freeze into ice. The violent currents of qi continued to rage inside my body, as if a storm had taken up residence in my core. I closed my eyes and fought to bring the elemental qi all under control, and it was only after great effort that I managed to stabilize my rampaging qi.
"What…the hell was that?!"
Sitting back on my haunches, I exhaled in exhaustion. Holding up my hand, I saw that the azure qi that wrapped around my body as an aura had intensified. It was almost a solid layer now.
This had to be…about advanced Yellow Rank. I had jumped a level, bypassing Intermediate and going straight into advanced. Not bad. I couldn't complain at all.
"This artifact…can I use it on Xiao Huo?"
-No. The Ancient Aquatic Artifact can only be used on spirit beasts and cultivators who have an affinity with the water element. It has no effect on spirit beasts and cultivators who have an affinity with other elements. –
"A pity. Sorry, Xiao Huo, but we'll figure something out for you." I stroked her fur for a second before dismissing her back to my summoning space. Swaying unsteadily, I got to my feet and hurriedly made a call through my smartphone. "Mom, I have the Ancient Aquatic Artifact. I'll bring it up to you right now."
"Yeah, great job! We monitored your progress through the security cameras. You were amazing!" Mom was gushing. "Your father and his soldiers have just finished off the merfolk up here. I don't think there will be any other dangers, so return to the core lab with the artifact. But be careful. There might still be stray merfolk lurking around the lab. Your father and his soldiers will be sweeping and clearing the facility, but that will take some time."
"Roger that." I hung up and shoved my smartphone back into my pocket. Stretching myself, I proceeded back toward the elevator that would bring me back up to the level where the core laboratory was.
Before I could take more than a couple of steps, however, an ominous crack resounded across the vaults. I instinctively spun around, dread filling my heart. That didn't sound good.
"You've got to be kidding me…"
My eyes widened when I saw cracks expanding and spreading throughout the walls, floor and ceiling. With a metallic groan, the superstructure snapped and water began rushing into the interior, flooding the entire area within seconds. I wasn't even given time to react before I was washed away by the freezing currents.
But that wasn't the worst part.
An enormous maw tore the entire bottommost level off in a single bite, the gargantuan sea monster yanking the lowest section of the offshore marine facility free and dragging it down to the depths of the ocean.
…and I was swallowed along with most of the vaults.