The Regressed SSS-Rank Water Mage Wants To Live a Calm Life-Chapter 24: Pathway Blockage?
Vin gazed at Maxwell, hand on his chin. And he hummed.
"Hmm. I was thinking of a different task, though. You know, something that doesn’t require me to leave Ludia at all. The last time we went to the forest, I couldn’t shake the thought that my wife would never get to see my corpse if I were killed by the wyvern."
Maxwell gazed at Vin.
"But you weren’t." Max nodded. "What task do you have in mind?" 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦
Vin nodded, then grinned. He looked up at the taskboard, and he pointed a finger.
"That one."
Maxwell traced the man’s pointed finger...
...And his eyes widened.
"Oh," the young mage exclaimed. "How come I didn’t see that?"
Vin shrugged, and Frilo followed.
"It has a fairly high reward, too."
[Task: Slimander Elimination.]
[Description: In the red valley of the Eastern, deserted region of Ludia, where countless beasts roam, the A-rank beasts, Slimanders, have dominated. Having almost evolved to the monster tier, they’ve gained considerable intelligence and are finding ways to break Earth Archmage Linoel’s barrier, which entraps all the red valley beasts. These beasts lord over all other beasts in the red valley.]
[Threat rank: A+rank.]
[Task rank: A-rank.]
[Reward: 100 gold coins! (Can be converted to silver or bronze)]
Maxwell gulped.
Vin tapped Maxwell’s shoulder.
"I’m not even concerned about the reward," Vin began. "It’s the potential. Mature, almost evolved Slimanders are all A-rank beasts. Honestly, this sounds like something that should be an S-rank task. Well, them being that mature means their crimson core is–"
"Large." Maxwell completed, grinning. "An Alchemical auction can be hosted again, increasing the reward. And it’s not just one Slimander, too. Multiple."
Vin chuckled, nodding.
"Exactly," Vin uttered. "But... they’re almost at the tier of monsters. And we both know what that means. I’m unsure if I can–"
"Let’s head to the valley now."
Vin blinked, dumbfounded.
"What?"
"I said, let’s head to the red valley. I’ll clear your doubts. Best believe that not a single hair on your body will be touched. In fact, you’ll do the killing."
Maxwell smirked.
Vin stood, frozen, watching the water mage as though the man was planning to send him to his death.
Monsters. Terrifying creatures they were. Even a 5th-circle mage would have a problem defeating a newly hatched monster. Not to talk of the monsters that’d evolved from beasts. Those creatures were even more ferocious, having gained considerable experience.
The funny thing was that beasts themselves were once normal creatures that either absorbed and accumulated mana with time or learned how to draw in mana from the atmosphere. Once they drew in pure mana, they somehow filtered it, transforming it into a crimson energy called corrupted mana. And once enough corrupted mana was gathered, they’d condense it and form a core.
At this point, they’d become beasts. No longer ordinary creatures. The first step of a ’non-human’ creature’s evolution.
Once their core was large enough and the corrupted mana in it filled up, the core transformed, mutating and evolving the beast into what they called monsters.
Some steps further, one that neither Vin nor Maxwell could recall, evolved them into demi-humans. Creatures that resembled humans. And then their crimson cores would split, revolving around their hearts, resembling core-bearing weapon users.
This was the stage that most beings in Elyrus, the ancient equator, were in. Although most of the inhabitants of that ancient forest were born that way. Never evolved. And a few anomalies, like the Elves, possessed cores that weren’t crimson and intelligence that rivaled humans.
In essence, Maxwell was leading Vin toward the den of beings that could potentially rival Archmages... at some point in their lives.
"Ah, whatever." Vin shrugged, following behind Maxwell.
The trio left the guild, heading toward their direction, which was East.
The red valley.
Maxwell and Vin were in no haste.
They moved like they had time. But honestly, Maxwell just had that effect on Vin. Because within Vin’s heart, he was trembling.
Sure, Maxwell was a 7th-circle water mage. He could protect Vin if the need arose.
But that also meant that Vin was baggage, an extra weight limiting Max’s movement.
And what if Maxwell, occupied by the fighting monsters, failed to protect Vin from an attack?
If only he could absorb mana.
Maxwell chuckled brilliantly. The young water mage’s face was bright as they strolled through the streets.
He turned to face Vin, and he asked:
"Have you ever heard of pathway blockage?"
Vin blinked, gazing at the smiling Maxwell, and he shook his head.
"No, I’ve never heard of it."
Maxwell nodded.
"I thought as much."
Maxwell closed his eyes immediately. And his heightened senses, although heavily limited, washed through Vin’s body.
"Max?"
It felt as though Maxwell’s mind was swimming through every single vein, artery and pathway in Vin’s body.
’Ah,’ Maxwell thought as he found what he was looking for. ’As expected.’
Finally, Maxwell opened his eyes.
"Frilo," the water mage called out with a calm voice.
Vin looked utterly bewildered, staring at Maxwell with a perplexed expression.
"Frilo? What’s that? No– wait. What was that about pathway blockage? Does it have something to do–"
A bright, blinding blue light shone in the air. The light was so intense that Vin halted in place, raising an arm to shield his eyes from the intensity.
Maxwell stood calmly, a hand on his waist and a warm smile on his lips.
Suddenly, a buzzing sound echoed through the air. It was loud and ringing, causing Vin to cover his ears.
In the next moment, while Vin tried to regain his shaken composure, the brilliant blue light seemed to reduce, shrinking until Vin saw a small, blue-glowing dot floating through the air, generating a buzzing sound.
As the dot, almost like a firefly, flew, traces of warm, azure energy trailed behind it in the air.
Vin had an absolutely awestruck expression.
A squeal rang out. Faint and cute, like an overexcited child. It caused Vin to blink.
