Fiss is sleeping soundly on the wooden shield.
Sleeping on the rocks for a night would probably hurt her body, so I modified the wooden shield to be soft and wide enough for her to lie down on.
It’s an impromptu thing, so it’s not as soft as a cotton bed, but I’d like to think it’s passable for something made in a mine.
There’s no futon, but it’s still unlikely to catch a cold, which is a benefit of this Scorching Zone.
“(…)”
With nothing else to do, I look up at the sky.
It’s completely different from what I saw on Earth, with a sky full of stars stretching to every corner, and streaks of white smoke painting over it.
While I’m captivated by the somewhat fantastical sight, I don’t let my guard down.
Since becoming a 〖Feral Beast〗, I’ve been fine with not sleeping for days, so I volunteered for the night watch.
In this mine, bat-like Demon Beasts are active at night.
There aren’t many who would approach me after seeing my giant form, but there’s always a chance.
“(Well, it would be a good way to pass the time if that happened.)”
Nights spent awake are surprisingly long.
I need something to kill time… but no, no.
I’m supposed to be a guard, so that’s inappropriate. Peace is the best.
…But still, I’m bored. Maybe I should train some 〖Skill〗.
If I use a 〖Skill〗 that uses 〖Mana〗, I might wake her up, and loud noises are out of the question. If I’m going to do it, it has to be something else.
Among the 〖Skills〗 that meet the conditions and would be useful in combat… a sensation of electricity running through my body.
“──OooOOooOOOOH!!”
“(What!?)”
A roar that shook the heavens echoed through the mine.
The sound vibrated not only the air but also the hearts of living things. I had that feeling.
Probably, creatures with low 〖Resist〗 would suffer some kind of 〖Status Ailment〗 just from that.
It was fortunate that Fiss remained asleep.
“(It came from the east… wait, could it be!?)”
I focus on the direction of the sound and notice a dazzling red light flickering in the gaps of the volcanoes.
It was lava floating in the sky, and although it was difficult to measure accurately due to the distance, it seemed to be heading in our direction at a considerable speed.
And again, it’s hard to see because of the distance, but a single Demon Beast is riding on the lava.
A giant form that can be seen even from here. It’s about the same size as me, a 〖Feral Beast〗.
If the conditions are this aligned, it’s almost certain.
That has to be the 〖Feral Beast〗 of the Scorching Zone that Fiss told me about, the “Flame Sea.”
‘Wake up, Fiss!’
“What’s, wrong…”
‘Something that looks like the “Flame Sea” is coming!’
“Huh!?”
The girl jumps up like a spring-loaded doll.
She frantically shakes her head from side to side and finds the red mass soaring in the eastern sky.
“Wh-Why…!?”
‘I don’t know! But if we stay here, we’re in trouble! Let’s run!’
As I say this, I store the wooden bed shield and head towards the entrance of the ant nest.
Of course, I don’t take my eyes off the “Flame Sea” during that time.
‘Huh…?’
That’s why I noticed it on the way.
The red, shining scales of the reptile-type Demon Beast flying through the air were partially peeled off, and it was bleeding.
‘Could it be… is it running away?’
Its figure, rushing forward without looking aside, was like a prey fleeing from a predator.
No, but, is that even possible?
An opponent that would make a 〖Feral Beast〗 run away…
“(Was it attacked by another 〖Feral Beast〗…?”
I immediately rejected that possibility.
In this mine, the “Flame Sea” seems to be the strongest, and the Scorching Zone and the habitats of other 〖Feral Beasts〗 are quite far apart.
In addition, I don’t see the shadow of a 〖Feral Beast〗 chasing the “Flame Sea.”
If it were a 〖Feral Beast〗-sized giant, I shouldn’t miss it.
I don’t know the reason. But if it’s weakened, it’s a chance.
‘Sorry, change of plans.’
“What do you mean…?”
‘Hide inside the ant nest, I’ll intercept it! 〖Replicant Form〗!’
I mimicked eight Forest Shackles and leaped out.
I urged the hesitant Fiss to hide again and used all my strength to 〖Leap〗. I jumped over a medium-sized valley and landed on the volcanic cliff.
As I skillfully maneuver the Forest Shackles and cross the rocky mountains one after another, the enemy’s figure becomes clearer.
Its appearance is closest to a lizard among Earth’s creatures.
The overall form was like a lizard and a giant salamander divided in half, but a third eye was open vertically on its forehead.
There was a lump-like organ on its neck, and thorns grew from the joints of its four legs.
The fiery scales showed no signs of scorching even when touching the lava, and rather, they seemed to absorb the heat and shine even brighter.
“(First, a long-range attack.)”
I draw my bow after climbing to the same altitude as the Red Lizard flying near the summit.
The Hydra’s Poison Bow is loaded with an explosive arrow I made after coming to the Ferocious Beast Zone.
I chose it because I thought it should be able to inflict damage with the blast, if not the heat.
“(Eat this!)”
At the moment of impact, a flash of light explodes.
Perhaps due to the effect of 〖Stealth〗, the Red Lizard didn’t notice the attack until the moment it hit.
“KyuoOOooOOO!?”
A high-pitched scream rises. After the smoke clears, the Red Lizard is seen with a chunk of flesh torn from one of its legs.
I was aiming for the head, but it seems it instinctively blocked it with its front leg.
“(〖Challenge〗, 〖Bewitching Glimmer〗)”
“KiiiiIIIIII!”
The Red Lizard, letting out a cry, changes direction. It’s heading towards me.
It seems I was able to lure it into a fight. Its three eyes were lit with hostility.
Ignoring the gaze that seemed to have a 〖Status Ailment Skill〗 on it, I also begin preparations for battle.
“(It feels a bit underhanded to target a wounded foe, but I don’t want anyone else to take it. Don’t take it personally, ‘Convergence’ release!)”
The restricted 〖Zone Control〗 expands and clashes with the “Flame Sea’s” 〖Zone Control〗.
The shockwave that resulted from that clash was the opening of the battle.