After encountering the fish, she soon came upon a new target, and surprisingly, it was another {Swamp Pikeake}.
Realising it was the first time since the insects she would be up against the same opponent twice; she found this one was identical in cultivation and size to the previous.
Upon seeing her, the fish-red eyes fixed upon her dangerously as it began to charge towards her in the same way as its predecessor.
Realising the opportunity to practice her utilisation of {Metal Manipulation}.
She began to form those metal spikes as the fish again descended to swim below her to attack her on its ascent.
Unlike the last time she took the initiative, instead of waiting for the fish to appear in range like the first time, she focused entirely on her Qi, which rapidly solidified as it exited through the pathways in her body to form metal-like spears condensed from her Metal Qi.
Focusing intently on the trait, she willed with all her strength to fling these metal spears like a harpoon towards the rapidly approaching fish, who seemed startled by the unexpected objects.
Despite being taken by surprise, the fish was swift and an experienced hunter; it knew danger when it saw it and could escape from being thoroughly skewered like the last, having time to evade one of the flung spears. However, it still was unable to entirely avoid the other as the remaining spear seemed to pierce through its flesh like a harpoon, not killing but gravely crippling it.
Though it survived, the fish barely lived. After the attack, it was now a sitting duck. Tara decided to end its misery, as the thing could barely move.
After finishing the fish, Tara received a notification similar to her first one.
[You have defeated {Swamp Pikeake}, gaining 20 EXP. You are now 47/1000 into progressing to Level 4.]
She hoped the experience required to level up would not continue to increase in multiples of ten as she progressed.
Though she assumed each stage required even more energy, Tara knew she received an even bigger boost than the last each time she progressed, even if it was just a single stage, making her realise the advantages a higher cultivation level brings.
Deciding to continue practising {Metal Manipulation}, she ate some fish as she recovered her Qi.
She did not even have long to wait as another Pikeake appeared, seemingly attracted by the blood making her realise she might have stumbled upon their hunting grounds.
Tara had not fully recovered her Qi and found herself in a brief moment of panic as the fish charged at the first sight of her again, as if in a frenzy due to the fresh blood.
'These things are a nightmare.' Tara mumbled as she could not muster a defence to the swift fish this time, which used the same tactics, yet unlike the other time, she had nothing to impede it. She found the thing's powerful jaws biting into her body as the thing began shaking her around like a doll.
She swiped at the fish with her claws, leaving deep scratch wounds along its soft flesh, but the thing's red eyes did not waver as it continued to hold onto her body with all its might, shaking her around erratically.
Tara, who began to grow arrogant at how quickly she was finishing off the Pikeakes, began to realise the sheer danger of them if you allowed them to close in. It was then she had to once again rely on the trait that had been saving her since its first mutation as the poison began to secret from her skin; though not as strong with the low Qi reserves, it was still more than enough to slow down the rampant fish who had yet to realise it was rapidly losing strength.
Eventually, the fish wore out, and with her increased resilience due to her new trait, she survived until it weakened enough for her to begin her offensive. Sharper and deadlier, her teeth and claws could damage the fish, which seemed unused to its prey surviving its absurd bite.
Finally, she was able to reach its vital organs as she put a swift end to the creature, not before once again being on the brink of death.
Finding the notification, as always, indicating the moment it drew its last breath.
[You have defeated {Swamp Pikeake}, gaining 20 EXP. You are now 67/1000 into progressing to Level 4.]
'Right when I was getting used to not being a meat shield.' Tara thought, despondent at once again relying on the Iron Salamander cockroach-like survival ability.
She did not enjoy the constant mauling she received; it was painful and angered her to no end to be tossed about by her opponent yet again!
Though now learning from her mistakes, she hurriedly bit a few chunks from the fish to assist her healing and descended to the bottom of the floor, finding an area to recover.
The bottom of the floor was devoid of threatening predators; she gave it a thorough look, wary after experiencing firsthand the superb camouflage from the Earthray, which blended in perfectly with the murky bottom of the swamp but found nothing out of the ordinary, realising the Pikakes must have claimed this area as their hunting ground, intimidating any would-be predators away.
Finding a neat location among the plants and algae, she sat among the small fish and insects that skittered around, feeding on the small chunks of fish that had found their way to the bottom.
She found her caution rewarded as another of the Pikakes soon appeared, and another after that; she became nervous at the thought of the duo attacking her, yet they seemed reluctant to approach her, with her realising they did not want to expose themselves leaving them at risk from a potential ambush from below.
Instead, they seemed content to circle her, waiting for her to ascend eventually.
If she were a normal Iron Salamander, this would be the perfect strategy, as there was a lack of prey to feed from at the depths, and her potential food sources were too small. Yet she was not a typical Iron Salamander, and instead, she found a plan forming to deal with the Pikakes who remained circling from above.
'This could seriously work', Tara thought, as the equivalent of a sly grin somehow filled her salamander-like features.
As her Qi recovered, the thought of downing more stupid Pikakes fueled her.
The things hounded her as a hatchling and continued to do so even now. She wouldn't be satisfied until she killed every last one of them.
She would do it to honour her fallen Iron Salamanders. Not because of something ridiculous such as her pride being repeatedly trodded on over and over by the damn things.
'No way I'm that petty.' Tara thought, but even she didn't sound that convincing to herself.