The next day, the group gathered again after a night filled with silence.
Among the five, two of them walked in with their heads hanging low, clearly having had a less-than-satisfactory experience the night before.
"Hey, Kanchal, Gyor, what's wrong with you two?" Stunk asked, noticing the downtrodden expressions on their faces.
Had they not enjoyed themselves last night?
"Don't even mention it. Last night was torture for me. That woman wouldn't listen to a word I said and just clung to me, leaving me completely immobilized. At one point, I thought I was going to scream when her movements tugged at my skin too hard," Kanchal lamented, lifting his shirt to reveal a series of small circular marks, resembling the aftermath of mini cupping.
Stunk and Zel burst into laughter at the sight; it was quite a misfortune.
However, their gaze soon shifted to the orc Gyor. Given his robust physique, he likely had a different experience.
"I can't stand the constant secretion of slime. It left me sticky and damp all over. Even my fur was matted together; it was unbearable," Gyor sighed, his expression somber. As a beastfolk, his preferences differed significantly from the others.
Stunk and Zel shook their heads, somewhat exasperated. This was one of the reasons they didn't often invite those two along; there were many places they simply couldn't tolerate.
Kanchal was a bit different; while he was shorter, his tastes were still aligned with the rest of the group.
But Gyor was an entirely different case. He preferred beastfolk women covered in fur over the aquatic beauties, so establishments like that were not suited for him.
"Are you two planning to go again tonight?" August inquired, considering how expensive mermaids were and the nature of their aquatic lineage.
"I might as well go. We're here once; I don't want to leave with regrets," Kanchal replied, his eyes sparkling at the thought of mermaids.
"As for me, I'll pass. I'm not really into sea folk," Gyor declined, his previous experience making him slightly averse to the idea of sea creatures.
"Well then, I'll wait at the tavern in the port. Once you finish your hunt, come find me so I can assess your catch," August suggested.
"Sure thing! It'll be a piece of cake," Stunk agreed eagerly.
Zel rolled his eyes at Stunk's enthusiasm. He agreed too readily, but if they failed to meet their goal, there would be tears to shed.
Hunting magical beasts along the coast was notoriously challenging. If they were serious about hunting, they might as well consider sea creatures, given that most of them were larger and more abundant.
However, venturing into the ocean was much more dangerous than hunting on land.
The four set off, and although Gyor wasn't interested in visiting mermaids that night, it didn't mean he wasn't eager to earn some gold.
August looked out at the vast ocean. While they went off to hunt, he also wanted to explore the surroundings; otherwise, spending an entire day wandering aimlessly would be quite dull.
In the blink of an eye, August soared into the air, propelling himself swiftly toward the ocean.
At the same time, he activated his Observation Haki, scanning the surroundings for any large sea beasts.
Since they were here, it was time to make the most of it, especially since countless sea creatures were rumored to lurk beneath the waves.
Within minutes, August spotted a target—a colossal creature gliding through the depths.
Splash!
Without hesitation, August plunged into the water, maintaining his incredible speed even underwater.
Deep beneath the surface, a massive sea beast moved slowly, its sheer size astonishing August. This creature was at least twenty to thirty meters long, weighing a staggering hundred tons.
It resembled a whale-like magical beast, characterized by its gigantic form and powerful tail.
Roar!
Just then, the creature detected August. Despite its enormous size, it was still a sea beast capable of sensing the magical energy radiating from him.
It did not underestimate August due to his comparatively smaller stature; in this world, the strength of one's magical power often dictated their true power.
Indeed, lacking magical energy didn't necessarily mean weakness, but those with substantial magical energy were rarely weak.
Boom!
The creature opened its maw, unleashing a massive water column aimed directly at August. Such an attack would have obliterated Stunk and the others in an instant. In the realm of magical beasts and sea creatures, size often equated to strength.
August flickered out of the way, easily dodging the attack. While it left no injuries, no one willingly took hits for no reason.
In the next moment, a shadowy dragon silhouette emerged from behind August, conjuring an enormous shadow blade that spanned several meters.
Slash!
With the power to rend everything in its path, the shadow blade cleaved through the whale-like sea beast, striking it down in one swift motion.
While massive creatures typically had great power, they were also easy targets.
One couldn't expect a gigantic sea beast, measuring dozens of meters, to be particularly agile.
August's gaze glimmered; a creature of such immense size and weight would surely be a feast for the sapling of the World Tree.
He swam closer and drew the severed whale-like beast into his small world.
With a resounding thud, the sea beast fell into his realm, startling everyone within, especially the recovering Sandra and Lacnella.
Having lived in secluded valleys, they had never encountered such a massive sea creature.
But what shocked them even more was the sight that followed—the ground erupted with thick roots, piercing through the beast and gradually consuming it, leaving not a single bone behind.
This scene was nothing short of horrific, leaving both women utterly dumbfounded.
"Don't worry; the young master is merely feeding," a demon maid explained to the two.
"Feeding?" they echoed in confusion.
"Indeed. The young master is a mysterious plant sprout, yet possesses extraordinary powers," the maid clarified.
"A plant sprout?"
They exchanged bewildered glances, unable to grasp the concept.
Meanwhile, after devouring the entire sea beast, the sapling of the World Tree gained an immense surge of life force, while the magical energy was merely a bonus.
At that same moment, August felt a powerful response from the ocean.
A tremendous wave of vitality surged into his body, enhancing his strength and making him feel more formidable than ever.
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