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Once we were done eating our meals and fully recovered our stamina, we moved onwards. The second section of these caves were quite wide, full of even stronger monsters, but nothing that surpassed A+++ Rank. Although even between A+++ Rank monsters, their stats varied greatly based on what type of monster they were.
The environment, however, slowly started to change, becoming a rather beautiful scenery.
"Ooh, this is so pretty!" Erika looked into the ceiling and the walls. "So many shiny crystals, Blake!"
"This must be a road full of Mana Crystals and Spirit Crystals." I said, looking around. "It is very rich in elemental energy. Perhaps a side effect of the White Dragon setting down here."
"Wait, what do you mean because of the White Dragon?" Asked Chris.
"It is because the White Dragon exudes a powerful magical essence, right Blake?" Eric asked.
"That's right. Pretty much that and well, its ridiculously high quantities of Mana and Divine Energy it exudes, that attracts the attention of Spirits. The Spirits gather around it and then, over the years, crystalize into spirit crystals, and also change the environment." I said. "Just like this."
We stepped out of the tunnel to land on a much larger cave. However, what made it so different than the rest is that for hundreds of meters, it was completely covered by an underground lake. Large blue and silver colored spirit crystals growing out of the lake. It was perhaps a few dozen meters deep too, and the only way forward was to either fly over it, or swim.
"W-What the...?! How do we even get through this!" Chris complained. "Can your familiars swim, Blake?"
"They should be able to swim well if I imbue them with the water element, yeah." I nodded. "The rest of us will fly using the Wyvern Buff Card wings, I hope Chris can also keep everyone afloat if something happens. We're counting on your wind magic."
"A-Ah, yes! Of course!" He nodded. "Wind's an element I only got recently but leave it to me Blake!"
"Good, a reliable friend is worth more than a thousand unreliable soldiers." I smiled. "I'll be leaving that job to you then. And as of the lake. I am sure we'll face aquatic monsters now."
"For sure, that's without doubt..." Sighed Elizabeth. "Hey, Elfriedden, do you think you can freeze the whole lake?"
"Huh?! Do you think I have infinite mana, Elizabeth? I might be strong, yes, but to spend all my mana doing something so wasteful, and it'll probably only cover but a minuscule amount as well. It is not realistic." He sighed.
"I suppose he's right." I said. "We'll have to just do this the hard way. Celestine, I am counting on you as well, you're good in water areas."
"Oooh! But of course, my dear lord! I shall be of great use!" She nodded, quickly transforming into a gigantic and monstrous alien-like kraken, and immediately reaching the cold underground lake.
[Intelligence]: [8.000] (+2.800)
[Dexterity]: [8.000] (+2.200)
[Buff]: [Mana +500] [Agility +500] [Intelligence +500] [Ice Attribute Magic Power +1%] [Ice Attribute Damage Taken -1%]
[Skill]: [Spiritual Ice Magic+++] [Mighty Blizzard+++] [Spiritual Ice Rapier Techniques+++] [Spiritual Ice Armor+++] [Spiritual Ice Spears+++] [Frost Fairy Squadron Attack+++] [Holy Spirit of Ice Divine Protection+++] [Divine Ice Spirit Domain+++] [Divine Frost Spirit Spear Summon+++]
[Awakening Skill]: [Raging Frost Wolf King's Jaws+++]
[Title]: [Frost Spirit Knights]
[Growth]: [MAX]
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"We are at your service, master. By the decree of our queen, we shall serve you even after death." Said the Frost Fairies at the same time.
"Good, let's move. Circle our group and make sure that no monster sneaks into our ranks." I told them.
"Very well." They nodded in unison.
"W-Wait a second!" Elfriedden protested. "Since when can you summon such beautiful ice fairies?! Did you absorb some of those people with your wicked grimoire?"
"Calm down, friend. That is not the case. It is a long story. Let me explain it to you as we move forwards." I smiled. "I assure you; this was actually a gift from your benefactor and protector."
"What?" Elfriedden only felt more confused as I talked.
Without any more time to waste, we moved onwards. Through both the water and the sky. It didn't even take ten minutes for us to be ambushed by almost a hundred aquatic monsters. All of them ranging from A to A++ Rank, they were the same species, but had different shapes based on their life stages.
"ROOAARR!"
Water Serpents!
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