Chương 142: Chapter 147: Painful

I removed my overcoat and coat, then rolled up the sleeves of the shirt. After that I took off the two rings on my left hand. Preparations done, I plunged my hands into the pool, reaching for the center of the crystal growth formation, I quickly found it, my Accelerated Processing was firing on all cylinders, time was slowed down on par with my capability of moving, but not more, I didn't need to make myself experience more pain than necessary.

As I gripped the only round surface I felt down there, I pulled, with no success, then I took hold of a crystal which was much slimmer at the base, easy to hold, I removed my left hand from the pool and created a will-infused small lance, more of a big spike really, but packed with energy, and pierced down into the pool. The construct of mana struck the base of the crystal growth formation, where the smooth center met the rock.

A resounding crack echoed from the impact, and the construct in my hand slid a couple of extra inches forward, lodging inside the rock. Then the acid started to eat at it, I thought it would explode after it got destabilized, but the damn liquid dissolved the energy and ate it like it did anything else. But my objective was complete.

I retrieved a big chunk of crystals, all starting from a single smooth darker green ball, as big as an orange, it was the core of the beast, it was way larger than the one I gained by killing the serpent, but I wasn't going to complain about that. No, what I would complain about was the immense pain that was hitting my hands in waves, I threw the damn clump of rock to the ground and looked at my hands, my skin falling off, melting like wax as I looked at my muscles and tendons about to suffer the same treatment.

I couldn't have that, I bent down and touched the ring I placed on top of my coat with my elbow, then pulled from it, and a stream of life-force exited it, it wanted to move about my body, but I forced it to divide in two and reach my hands, a soothing sensation filled me for a moment, before an incredible itch made me want to tear away my skin again, it was nearly worse than the pain itself.

It took less than a minute, but I looked back at my hands, they were pristine, no lasting damage, no difference from before, except for the lack of hair. But I was drenched in sweat and heaving, that was the most painful thing I went through in my life, and I broke three ribs once when I was a kid. But this, despite how quick the pain passed, was a level of agony that was absolutely something I didn't want to experience again.

"I really hope you were worth it," I said to nobody in particular. Then I picked up the crystals with the core, and after shaking off any liquid still on it I put it in my satchel, I tried to put the eggs in too, but something strange happened, the bag refused to work. What was this about now? I knew there was still space available inside, so why? If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

I tried a couple more times, then turned around, what could I use to bring them with me? My overcoat maybe? I could fashion it into a bag and place the eggs inside, wearing it like a backpack, wait. I wore my clothes and rings again and gave myself another cleanse to remove the sweat, then took the two eggs, I still had my tent and everything inside my satchel, so I pulled it out and placed the future omelets into my backpack, putting away anything else into the satchel again.

I wore it and then strode off toward the surface. This time I went fast, I secured the eggs so that they wouldn't break accidentally, even if I was of the opinion that it would take a rocket to damage these things, but better to be cautious, outside I found exactly what I left, a lot of bodies.

I went closer to a warrior who still had a sword strapped to his waist, the awkward angle he fell at made it so that his face was planted on the ground, together with his sword, standing upright it was perfectly placed to be retrieved. I took the blade, it slid out of the scabbard with no ring whatsoever, it was a well-used blade, scratches and nicks marred it, but it still felt solid in my hand, I gave it a couple of swings, then I conjured an Entropic Lance with a sharp edge and made them clash.

The sword lost a huge chunk of blade, sending metal fragments around. Yeah no, I wasn't going to bring this junk back to town, it wasn't worth the effort, it would be better if instead of spending my time picking up these weapons, I just hunted. So I departed, there were probably more treasures around, after all I defeated two Counts already, they should have something interesting, but maybe another time, if ever.

I was going to be late, instead of taking a couple of hours it would take me that much more by going on foot. So I started my trip back. ──────────── Adrian p. o. v.

"Guys remember," I told them again with my brightest smile, "stay back and don't do anything until it's dead! It will take just a moment. But the next one is yours, I swear." My party all assented, they knew the plan, I explained what was going to happen, many still didn't really believe me, but they will. They always do in the end, it's hard to argue with facts after all, even if someone tried that too.

Everything was going according to plan, the core members of my party were already past level 50, and got quite the achievements under their belt, that alone was enough to make them crazy about the knowledge that I possessed, but only the loyal ones got special information, the others, well, they would serve their purpose, I had nothing against them, but they were just side characters, except Andrea, fuck that bitch.

Talking about side characters, Marlene, Joshua, Elias, Toshiro and Bob should be on their way to their end by now, monsters over level 100 were no joke, and that was a couple of loops ago, by now they should be hard opponents even for me to face, maybe some would survive, but I warned them in the letters anyway, so they should all blame their weakness if they failed, or died, not my fault, no no. At worst I'd deal with them later. Anyhow…

I kicked the reinforced wooden doors and they exploded outward, wooden chips and twisted metal fell like rain inside the throne room.

"Who dares to disturb me, impudent!"

"Who dares to disturb me, impudent!" I said at the same time in a mocking tone.

"You really are predictable, Viscount Lachart, it's that phrase every. Single. Time..."

"How dare you, plebeian! I am Stefan Lachart! King of the-" Overrule, Flash Step, Sky Piercer. Done. I slowly extracted my sword with a squelch from the face of the late King Lachart, taking his crown as the body fell to the ground. Well, that was easy, I'm really curious though, what kind of reward is there for felling the first King as a level 10? I hope it's something juicy…