Master Of None

”So giant monster snakes that could probably eat everyone in our camp will definitely be hunting us. That sounds soooo amazing.”

”All that sarcasm makes me think you might go out looking for it Remey.”

”Says the one looking for an arrow to hunt it right now.”

The bickering between Gil and Remey had been continuous since everyone hadn’t yet found a good location for a camp just yet. Meaning that the flying ships were holding stead near the beach.

It was good though.There was time for everyone to focus on the fact that monsters moved beneath them along the beach regardless of the flying ships being around. It was a chance to gather more information about what monsters lived here and how they moved. It also showed some interesting ways a few of them gathered food.

Specifically how the crumbling mountain crabs moved larger rocks and boulders to see what hid underneath, often leading them to snag a few eel species of monster to eat. That wasn’t the focus once a few of the scouts and researchers present spotted them though. Even a few of the tamers began to theorize who might use them as tamed monsters.

The crumbling mountain crabs used to be a pure earth monster. That had been gleaned from the appraisals on it. Their lives were lived in the mountains moving boulders and climbing in to caverns. They even carved out some caverns to make nests for themselves.

However, they gained a water affinity once the seawater had risen and some had been trapped on island. For them, they had been forced deeper inland or they had been forced to adapt. Making them a unique species of monster that took two different growth paths over many years.

These on the beach possessed the water affinity and could utilize it along their hardened earth claws to easily move and cut through stone. Hence the term crumbling. Their counterpart that fled inland had a pure earth affinity but the appraisals didn’t give their names. Unfortunately, these crabs were both good and bad.

They could be hunted for their shells which were tough, but they also were aggressive if they were challenged. If they were left alone they might just wander away without a care that someone or something was nearby. But this was also why the camps were not going to be put here. It would be a constant fight against them making everything unsafe.

”Could we use earth magic to make a camp?” While Alice’s question and suggestion was worthwhile, it wouldn’t be useful since the marshlands were also full of monsters.

”We will need to go more inland, where the ground becomes drier. I know there should be some plains past the marshlands. We might want to just call them salt swamps though, there seems to be more comparison to the swamps with the monsters and plants there.” As much as Su wanted to go with what Alice said, she had the foresight to guess what led up to the salty swamps.

”I can spot a few trees past there. But that’s in the distance. I can’t tell you what kind or any details.” now thai surprised everyone.

Yes, Gil had amazing eyesight, he was now one of the high elves and an arcane archer with many titles to boot. Yet, that shouldn’t make his eyesight so great that it could see even beyond Walkers. Walker had the advantage of using his mana to also expand his sight.

”Don’t look at me all surprised. Just accept that I enhanced my far sight skill in to arcane far sight.” As much as Walker wanted more details about the skill being increased through some form of training related to the arcane marksman class, Gil would surely let his ego go too far if Walker did ask.

Plus, having the ships move again was better. The order was also easily given and there was nothing anchoring them before the wind began to build and move them ahead.

This gave everyone a moment of sunlight to contemplate the sheer immensity that came with the runes being used all over the flying ships.

Not only were some using the newly created gravity rune formations to lighten the weight, there were also reinforcement rune formations that worked with wind rune formations causing the flying ships to move without drawing too much mana. Then on top of it the side sets of rotors to channel wind magic to enhance speed even more was altogether spectacular for travel.

A few harpies and angel scouts returned as they began to leave all carrying small mapping orbs and some notes. The information that they gathered would be compiled elsewhere. For not though, Walker focused on where Gil had just told him to look.

And trees, were right. While it was a large plain ahead, it had some sporadic trees in clusters of ten or fifteen. All seemingly intertwined and leaning on one another to resist the weather of whatever wind storms might sweep through the area.

”They aren’t trees in the sense that we would call them a single tree, they are like trees and vines got smashed together in to the same plant.” This seemed to be the best way that could describe the trees Gil was seeing more clearly as they neared them. Once Walker got close enough he used his own all around appraisal a few times to get some good information.

”Tangle vine tree

This tree used to grow over the entire plains of beasts. Unfortunately, time was not friendly to them after multiple battles of ancient monsters and change in temperature, they have fallen and become fewer and smaller.

This does not change the thin branches growing and intertwining with one another to become pillars that protect from vicious storms and even their roots bound together to resist brutal earthquakes. Their entanglement also allows for them to share nutrients when in tougher times.

Untangling them is near impossible which is why no race ever attempted to do so. Instead, they could be grown in specific ways using arcane farming to create natural walls and natural defenses for magic towers. Otherwise, they were avoided due to the acid ants that often make nests within their tangled branches. These groups of acid ants often leave their tangled nests to fight one another for sustenance and territory.

The tangle vine tree is also known for the fact that its leaves grow in curled shapes which allow for them to be blown far away during harsh wind storms. This is why they are also able to grow far from the tree of their origin since seeds are trapped within the leaves and break down to grow anew…’

”So we will have to watch out for territorial ants that live inside those tangle vine trees. But if we can make a solid encampment, they should avoid us since we would be too dangerous of an opponent to fight.” It sounded like a good theory and plan. The plains here were flatter along with the monsters more easily avoided using intimidation. Plus, the acid ants seem to care more about fighting one another than bothering larger monsters or us in this case.

The agreement shifted between the entire party and as Su, Alice, and Gil passed the information to the guard captains waiting nearby, the message to land in the most open space was made. The flying ships anchored first and let ropes down for the guards, however, no monster appeared to be around since the wind the ships created scared off most things around.

A few small holes in the ground proved other monsters lived here but they were rodents that seemed much too afraid of them to even come near. It did mean that provisions needed to be kept on the flying ships to make sure nothing snuck in and ate them though.

”I don’t see much in the distance for ruins or towers, but I have a feeling Walker has some ideas.’

”Of course he does.. He is probably thinking about using his mana sense to go off tracking this and that. But he should stay here for a while since I have a feeling we can follow those ants to some good herbs to gather.”

”No, we should find food!”

Walker returned from speaking to a few guard captains only to find Remey, Midnight, and Gil arguing about what to do next. He also noticed that Su and Alice were laughing at the three while Onyx seemed to just be basking in the sunlight.

”I think we should all remember that we have a lot to explore and we might want to grab small mapping orbs before we try and find anything.” The long sigh at the end of this came as Walker realized he was thinking about doing all of that and more of him could help it. Not that he didn’t notice a few of the guard captains nearly shaking in excitement too.

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