Archer Frog (Reptile)
Mutation: Grade-1 (Primitive)
Soulslot Consumption: 2 Units
Potential: Grade-3 (Primitive)
Affinity: Water
Danger Rating: 1.12
Origin: Non-Endemic
The attributes weren't half-bad. The 1.12 Danger Rating signified 12 points of destructive potential in one dimension, affiliated with water. The soulslot consumption was also rather low for a creature that could reach the lethal category on the SDS scale, albeit barely.
Mir read out the descriptions of the frog and its mutation to Murray. "The Archer Frog is the signature creature of the Philosophy Corridor. Forensic experts and astrophysicists have theorized that this alien species comes from Planet Erinome, the closest planet to us in the solar system. The Philosophy Corridor was thus one of the most important sacred grounds in terms of research value when it was first discovered.
"Archer frogs are slightly larger than their mirror-species found on our planet. The difference in size is indirectly caused by their mutation, because the frogs have evolved to utilize their mutant ability– shooting venomous icicles from two water sacks under their throat. These sacks can store water for a long time, and the passageway through which the water is shot out is built with a natural compressor that transforms the water into ice.
"Icicles created from grade-1 mutations tend to be 4-7 centimetres in length and 1-2 millimeters thick. The shooting momentum is barely enough to penetrate human skin in close range. Grade-2 and Grade-3 Archer Frogs are quite rare, and the small number of samples collected so far suggests that the increase in mutation grade enhances not only the size of the icicles, but also the venomous properties."
"Wait," Murray said, "how venomous can these frogs be? Are we talking about Capsule Ant tier venomous or Rattlesnake tier venomous?"
The information wasn't provided in the database. Mir gave up after searching for a while. The only clue he had found on that topic was a conversation between two mutants in an online thread, discussing how lucky they had been to have an antidote ready in hand after coming across a particularly ferocious grade-2 Archer Frog. Since antidotes were involved, the venom was likely to be dangerous.
"If you're not confident, how about we sell the entry license?" Mir suggested. "Since the Church of Sunbreaker itself is the issuer of my license, I can sell it with no problem. Just gotta convince Father Vincent to agree to the sale. That way, we don't have to worry about facing these mutant creatures. The money from the sale would be enough for both of us to buy more mutant meat and undergo one mutation each if we use the diary properly."
Murray, however, shook his head despite being so concerned about facing the Archer Frogs. "There's a reason why I made you win that license from the college quiz. Single-use licenses to any sacred ground or a taboo zone cost around four to five thousand units. But at the same price, you can get enough grade-1 mutant meat to gain 12% to 14% of virus infection. Anyone who's too fearful of facing dangers can simply sell their licenses to make a minimal profit, since there's no guarantee that you can come out of a sacred ground with a mutant creature's corpse. But this is a fatal mistake that only rookies make."
Murray raised two fingers, surprising Mir even further. "First mistake– not enquiring into the nature of the single-use license just because it says you can only enter into the sacred ground once. It actually doesn't mention that you have to leave immediately after hunting a mutant creature.
In fact, for most single-use licenses out there, the policy is to force the user out of the sacred ground only if they overstay for an unreasonably long period. From what I know, you can stay in any of Sunbreaker's sacred ground for three to five hours, depending on how precious the mutant creatures inside are.
Three to five hours are more than enough to hunt multiple weak mutant creatures, so long as you enter with enough knowledge and preparation."
"...Whoa!" Mir slapped himself in the forehead for not having thought of the idea earlier. This whole time, he had been visualizing how to hunt just one Archer Frog. The license never said the quota was limited to one creature! But as he thought about staying for so long inside the sacred zone, another issue popped up.
"Murray, the Philosophy Corridor is filled with active viruses and hallucinogens. Spending three hours would not– ohhh!!!"
Both brothers simultaneously looked at the backpack where the diary was hidden. Murray began to chuckle like a villain whose plans were on the verge of success. Mir had to take several deep breaths to restrain his excitement. Other Transcenders couldn't casually stay so long under that unnatural environment of a sacred ground, but for them, even three to five days might not be a problem!
"What's the second mistake?" he asked Murray, who was still holding up one finger.
"It is to ignore the possibility of stumbling upon a Soulbeast," Murray said quietly. "Didn't you say you want to take the path of Soulbeast Commandeering? Do you know how much a soulbeast costs? You can't easily buy a soulbeast with grade-1 mutation even if you sell your license at the highest possible pricing. But inside the sacred zone, you could very well end up finding one! Now, making it submit to you, on the other hand, is another matter entirely. Most rookies can't do it, so they put the idea out of their minds."
Mir patted their backpack confidently. "We don't have to limit ourselves like that. In that case, It's definitely a better choice for us to use the license to enter the sacred ground."
"Yeah, but you haven't told me yet how you plan to acquire a soulbeast without undergoing a mutation. You have to be able to fight against it and make it submit if you want to earn its loyalty. Even I can't honestly say that I could do that, let alone you." Murray prodded him curiously.
"It's just a theory. Let's not rely on it so early on," Mir said, his eyes flickering at the backpack again. "There's little chance of us encountering a soulbeast. So just focus on how to kill the ordinary ones first."