Master Of None

Walker was first surprised that Scylla lacked the resistance to approach this magma vent turtle. If the water was boiling so hot that she could not come near, it was going to be a challenge. However, he felt that he would have no issue approaching it as long as everything was going as planned with his buffs and how he had trained.

Then again, he wondered if it was something related to one of the magma vent turtle’s skills. If that was the case, then it would make it much harder for someone like Scylla. The skill could be debuffing anyone that came within a certain area making her more susceptible to the heat and pressure.

That wasn’t forgetting that there was also some toxic water around a magma vent that would have been bleeding out and making it harder to breathe or even go near the area.

However, if the magma vent turtle couldn’t move anywhere else, then it would be an area to avoid forever which was why Walker had to move and check this out. It could be worse if the turtle was not there too.

What would the ecosystem be like if the magma vents were open and free to bleed heat and toxic water out? Would it make a larger area of danger? Or would it be more natural since a monster wouldn’t be there?

It was harder to guess which would be worse, that was why Walker felt he had to look hismelf.

And look he did as he noticed the changes in the area.

The corals that grew toward the warmer, almost uncomfortable waters were white or very pale. Most were dead along with various shells that had come from monsters living in the area or accidentally swept too close to this area.

”The water is a little toxic.” Walker could feel the more poisonous water. It could do with better purification. Something that some of the seaweeds around were doing naturally but appeared as if they had been eaten when they grew causing a clear ring of seaweed to be made.

From the way it looked, they had been eaten by the magma vent turtle as they sprouted. Most likely something that it had to do to purify the toxins within its body since it lived on top of the magma vents spewing toxins all around it all day in and out.

Walker spotted the rocks ahead and slowly halted in the water. The heat has been going up more and more and the scene of boiling water and plumes of steam moving upwards was easy to pick out. However, they were all around the larger rocks that he thought had been black stone cooled from magma at some point.

That was the turtle, though.

’Magma vent turtle

A descendant of an ancient monster that used to have fire and earth affinity. They are extremely stubborn just as their ancestors and will not move from their homes even if there is a natural disaster or great change in environment. It is why they have a habit of adapting to new surroundings through the generations compared to other species that move more often than others.

It has a powerful shell able to resist a great amount of heat, force, and water pressure. It is also extremely resistant to earth related or fire related toxins. Because of this, it can store a lot of those toxins within its body needing to consume certain plants that help purify its bones and blood.

While it will often leave its nest once or twice a month to look for larger amounts of food, it will sit for up to seven years waiting for its eggs to hatch on top of the magma vents that it calls home. Due to this, it is often mistaken for rocks. Some monsters capable of living near it will even make their nests around the crags on its shell.

It has a very dangerous naturally applicable skill. Toxic plume is a skill passed down from its ancestors that would make the air around it full of poisons it collected from the magma and volcanoes it lived around. Due to changes in its body over generations, this skill now releases those toxins in to the water causing those not able to resist them well enough to become very susceptible to heat and poisons…’

Walker saw all that he needed to see. ”It’s guarding its nest. There are eggs underneath it and it can have the same nest for up to seven years until the eggs hatch. So this area will be under its effects for potentially years more. I would say we avoid it.” Walker also noticed the open and deep black eyes watching them carefully.

He knew that if this larger monster moved its jagged shell would act as a weapon against them. It would also easily cut in to all of the corals living around here. A bad thing for sure. However, Walker also understood it couldn’t easily leave its nest making it more dangerous for those that neared it.

This magma vent turtle would be hungry more often than not. ”If we bring these seaweeds to it that help purify the toxins in its body it might be more friendly towards everyone. It could help since it will most likely be living in the area for years to come.” His idea was simple and he was sure that the tamer’s guild members around would be happy to hear that he was looking toward the possibility of living alongside this monster.

”I have to agree. As long as it won’t cause damage as it sits here we can work with its goals.” Scylla considered the lasting benefits it might have. This turtle might leave and find a new nest somewhere in this area. If that happened and it looked at them fondly, then anyone exploring or traveling who found the nest could bring it seaweed to eat and also be safe if accidentally wandering in to its territory.

It was a good way to work with nature. ”I will pass the information on to every scout for now. We have some guards who need tasks right now.” Walker saw this as a way to also keep people busy. Many needed to have more practical experience in these areas, this was a good chance for personal growth.

”What about the area we passed through on the way here? There are fewer dangerous corals between this nest and the anchored ships. It’s further from the island but enough that those who travel back and forth would need to hire minimal guards.” Walker saw the benefits here.

The underwater guards and adventurers could use a consistent job to be able to escort those going back and forth from the island to the merfolk village. There would always be some jobs to do. Along with that, it would give more space to develop, especially in the direction of the island where some of the more dangerous corals were growing that would need to be researched. Once armors and potions were made to resist them, there would be better solutions.

”This should work then. It will take time to clear the coral, but a few farmers able to work with the growth of the coral have appeared lately. They are more advanced than the farmers who used to harvest seaweed and monitor coral before. These farmers have the skills to basically tame plants like coral that could be better called weaker monsters.” Scylla laughed since it was odd to consider this the case, but it worked.

”I’m glad I could examine the situation and we could skip over the added stress. But the water isn’t that-” Walker felt a wave of hat approach as the turtle moved and changed position. Scylla recoiled slightly and even Walker felt more discomfort than usual.

”That’s why I wanted you to come. When it moves the gathered heat makes the water well away from it change temperature. Those vents are under pressure because of it, so that heat has to go somewhere at some point.” Now he grasped the issue. Scylla couldn’t resist the bursts of heat when the turtle moved because she was not well adapted to fire mana of that strength. The water even acted as her enemy at that point even if her affinity was for it.

”I see, then we have to make sure everyone knows. But I think you made the right call keeping everyone away from here. Now we have a plan of action and can look in to a few other things.” Walker’s mind was on the fact that there were ruins discovered underwater too. He wanted to read the reports about them.

There might be some evidence of what else the ancient mages worked on, or he could just understand what this continent looked like before the break down of the bridges to the elemental planes.

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