After going in the same direction back in Arc, I got used to seeing the wastelands. Rocky emptiness full of dust. In Petrograd, it was different because behind the gate awaited fro ma a freaking jungle filled with old remains of clearly some kind of civilization. You could see pillars made out of yellow stone covered in green creepers, and just next to it trees stretching just enough to block the view of the sky.
Further, among more trees, you would spot a piece of wall, now mostly crumbled, but just its size was enough for you to think that there used to be a massive building in that place many years ago.
Obviously, it was all fake, created by the device. There was never a civilization in that place.
We crossed the gate entering the jungle with only me looking around because the view was too out of place for me. The rest didn't really pay attention. It was just the four of us since Tihana decided to stay. She was simply too tired and preferred a nap over an exploration of the new territories.
The kids were lured by the vision of their first class points, while Celestine was just curious about how it all looked there, in the mysterious dungeons where bosses were awaiting us.
Since the place was already mostly cleared, except for the lair of the crock, there was no reason for us to roam around pointlessly. Using our legs to get there would also consume too much time, and the time was already quite late. In an hour or two it would begin getting gray outside. This led me to make a decision of doing something I've never actually done before.
I took off flying, but only a few meters up, because then I picked my family members up using 'Telekinesis'. The whole thing surprised them a lot, but since I was gentle, there was no freaking out.
- I have you, so don't worry - I assured them.
The kids loved it, but Celestine was full of worry. I added a few calming words, and then took us all deeper into the hunting ground. Slowly at first, but then I accelerated when they got used to the whole thing.
Soon later we arrived at a structure made of the same yellow stone. For me it was looking like an ancient temple of sorts, but not the one structured as a pyramid, with stairs leading to the top. It was structured as a rectangle, and the passageway was actually leading below, to a labyrinth of sorts.
At first, it was annoying to travel through it. I remembered clearly as I got pissed, and began shadow walking through walls to find the correct path. Sometimes it's easier to brute force your way than try to figure out which way to go...
After a few visits, though, I had the correct way memorized.
We didn't have to wait too long for our first encounter with the creatures living there. As I already said, they were similar to Xuzards in many ways. Taller, and slightly slimmer, with skin colors being a variation of dark greens.
You would probably expect more crocodile-like faces, but theirs were kinda oval, and more human-like, with flat noses, basically being two small holes. They had big eyes, and those calluses on their forehead, going all the way over their bald heads, reaching the neck, and going further to their backs and tails. Yes, they did have tails. Short ones.
Their teeth were like a bunch of needles. Sticking out in many directions, which made them look kinda scary and gross at the same time.
I slapped a few, clearing our path, and made my shadows pick the stones, as we explored the corridors. With my clear speed, we were basically just walking there, not stopping at all. Eventually, we ended up in front of a massive door, three floors deeper.
It was nice and shiny and had the image of the world tree engraved in it. The massive ball, covered with creepers, on a short trunk, which looked more like a pedestal. Before I couldn't link it, but now the imagery was obvious when I saw the real thing with my own eyes.
I pushed it open revealing a cavern basking in the light coming straight from the ceiling. Inside was an island surrounded by a ring of shallow water, where the boss, curled up into a ball, was awaiting to be woken up.
- Stay here for now - I instructed my family. - I'll tell you what to do next, so just wait, ok?
As I spoke those words, I looked at Leonel, and the boy was observing me closely. He nodded in response. I already had a plan in my mind, which almost got ruined, because nobody was carrying any weapon with them, since I was going to protect them anyway, but fortunately, I was able to remember that I still had my own pudao in my vault, ready to be used.
I flew forward the shore, over the wing of water, mostly to not get wet, and landed next to the boss who picked himself up, noticing my presence. He tried to jump at me but my 'Telekinesis' was able to easily hold him in place. I forced his body to stretch and slowly approached on foot, to punch him in the gut.
Not too hard, but enough to soften him up. Then I repeated the motion a few times, just to make sure.
- Ok, Leonel! Now, come here! - I shouted.
My son rushed to me, completely ignoring the water. It was barely deep enough to reach his ankles as he was running to me, splashing the crystal liquid around and making a lot of fuss.
He clearly was eager to get his first class point. I mean in a proper way because he already got one before.
- Have this, and strike with all your might - I instructed him, pulling the pudao of my vault, and handling it o the boy.
He grabbed it, then narrowed his eyes and swung, letting out a battle cry. Even after beating the shit out of that crocodile, that strike was not enough to pierce the skin.
- Fuck - escaped my mouth, but I quickly found a solution to the problem.
I used the blessings on the boy, to boost his strength. His eyes went wide as he experienced the sudden surge of powers. He then looked at me with his mouth wide open in shock.
- Just a little bit, so you can do what you need to do - I explained to him. - Now strike again.
He followed my instruction, gutting the creature with ease.