Chapter 286 - Day CMLXXX

After my usual routine brought Ki'rei some food, and we had a brief discussion about what we are going to do next. I wanted to go to the harpies, to drop an anchor there, so I could perform my attempt to cover two hunting grounds at once. To reduce the time of travel I actually prefer to travel alone, as I could just go at my top speed without any worries. This was impossible while traveling with her in the form of a wolf, but she quickly assured me she can match my speed in a different form.

This led to the agreement to travel separately, and meet at the point where the canyon was splitting with one part leading to the orc camp, and the other to the harpy territory. I shadow walked to the alley with her in the form of a chicken, and as soon as she left, I began my run. At first rather slowly, as I was full, but with time I accelerated to sprint.

I was fast enough to just ignore goblins, as I made it past them. For other hunters, it could be a bit annoying, as I pulled a few groups after myself.

With few small breaks, to drop an anchor, go back to the city for some food, return and pick it up, I eventually reached the canyon. I jumped down, massacred the orcs, and kept going forward. At that time it became pretty obvious I won't reach the agreed place by night, but I decided to keep pressing forward, and just utilize 'Eyes of the Void' to travel without a good source of light.

I finally reached it a few hours later. Ki'rai was already waiting for me there. She was hiding in a form of a wolf, but since my skill was activated, I recognized her immediately. I dropped the anchor, and we both returned to my room, to have some food, and call it a day.

The next morning, after my usual routine and her quick breakfast, we returned. I picked up the anchor, and the travel continued, although at a much slower pace. We talked a lot during that time. I was telling her about life back on earth. I told her about the different countries, cultures, and the small bits about the history of humanity I remembered.

She wasn't really interested but politely listened. Then I switched to different topics, starting with music. She couldn't really appreciate it, since her only examples were stuff she could listen to in Velvet Lotus, so I decided to talk about something else. She seemed interested in games, so I mentioned sports, which picked her interest.

The more I said bout the rivalry, rules, and fans, the more engaged she seemed.

That's how we passed the time, eventually reaching the harpy territory. She was the first one to notice a bunch of them, sitting up, on the canyon walls.

It was a strange view, as all of those places were under strong sunlight, but it didn't seem to bother the monsters at all. They were like flies. We observed them for a moment with the background of the blue sky, with only a few clouds.

Then I dropped the anchor, and we retreated a bit. There was no reason not to hunt, except for the lack of a cart to store the score, but I could deal with this problem easily. I jumped to the city, to get us a bit of food, and the mentioned vehicle. Then, after returning, we quickly ate, and I, alone, went to pick a fight with the creatures.

They jumped into the air as soon as I came close enough and created this living vortex above me, circling to eventually drop down with incredible speed, just to their own demise. There were several dozens of them, but I was more than enough to deal with such a number. After finishing them off, I summoned my shadows, to bring the cart with Ki'rai, and pick up the stones.

We kept going. The path was splitting, creating this unknown to me labyrinth with countless harpies waiting up there, like vultures. It soon became obvious that this place doesn't have any safe spots to set up a camp for the night. This was a curious observation, as Uhm's with Ole leading them, made it through.

After a couple of hours, I found an explanation. The canyon was curving to the left, and continuing with even more monsters waiting on the walls, but there was also a passage out of this landscape. A relatively wide road climbing its way up, leading out of that place. Probably to the area ruled by giants, as my friends mentioned to me long ago, after their return from the journey to Uhm's settlement.

For a moment I wondered if maybe I should go up there, and check how tough of opponents they would prove to be, but eventually, I resigned. Right then I was in need of class points, not crystals. I still climbed there, to leave the anchor, and then returned to continue on my path.

A few hours later it became obvious I won't make it to the boss before the dark, so I decided to call it a day. I didn't even leave the mark, to return, and just shadow walked back to my room with Ki'rai. Then again to the alley, to go and sell my score for 462 000 points. The single harpy crystal was worth 2 000.

I got some food, parked the cart, and returned to share the meal with the little lizard. After she almost immediately fell asleep. For me, it was not that easy without the comfort of my bed, but the floor wasn't as bad as bare ground.

I spend some time thinking about how to introduce her to Will and others. I was sure they are going to love her, and she will love them, but I still needed to keep her out of the public eye. As I was considering contacting Hatta and Aisha first, I drifted away...

The day came to an end with 23 902 790 points remaining on my account.