Travelling in an unglamorous fashion, Rino finally saw the edges of the swamp that the wind sylph reported. It wasn't too big to be a threat, but there was a strange atmosphere surrounding it. The air was thick with mana but not similar to the magic tree he found in the forest that he cut a branch to create the World Tree.
This magic tree and marshland had a rather sinister vibe. Rino did not understand this as he was also a creature born from darkness. Why did this darkness smell of festering flesh?
It was morbid, and Rino did not like it. Sending his slaves for a hunting game in this area might not be the best idea with such a threat lingering in this swamp. However, Rino was still curious to know the true potential of his undead army.
If they were mortals, Rino might reconsider sending them on a suicide mission. However, they were undead. The candidates that he wanted to test could regenerate infinitely on Rino's mana. Hence, they could make very good area scouts.
The swamp wasn't too far from Rino's village if they flew or teleported. However, it was several days on foot for mortals who also needed to take breaks and rest at regular intervals. This terrain would be difficult for mounts, and Rino did not know if marsh lizardmen lived here. They dominated the murky marshes in his previous world, and nobody could win against them in their territory.
It would be nice to know if lizardmen also existed in this world. Rino would love to befriend them for benefits. If he had lizardmen as allies, there would be a very strong defence on this side of his kingdom. Those swamp dwellers were masters at shaman arts that were a branch away from regular magic.
They were also expert healers with a knowledge greater than magicians about poisons and cures. They were translators of nature's will, and Rino had the opportunity to be taught a few divination spells by the lizardmen when he visited them as an emissary for the kingdom in his past life.
Thump!
Rino paused in the air and hovered above the dense forestation. He heard something even though the swamp was still rather far from his current position. Whatever that was, Rino knew it was huge. The shaking of several trees in the distance was a dead giveaway.
He waited to observe the situation a little more. For whatever reason, the creature was approaching him, and Rino prepared to flee if they attacked. With so many leaves in the way, Rino could not tell what was going on. He only knew that he was here to observe King Toads and bring one back to start the hunting game tonight.
RIBBIT!
Rino quickly wrapped himself in shadows and disappeared into the shadow realm. There was a good show to follow, and he did not want to get front row seats, risking collateral damage in the crossfire between monsters.
With two huge bulging eyes, a body full of blue and bumpy skin that reminded the lich of warts, the yellow-striped giant toad stuck its purple tongue out and slapped its pursuer. It crawled and mowed down trees like a rampaging rhinosaur chimaera, but even its sturdily built body could not help it escape the inevitable fate to be someone else's lunch.
From the shadow realm, Rino observed everything in slow motion. For such a huge toad, he did not think there were other creatures capable of eating it. Toads have poisonous skin, and that tongue was coated in a deadly type of paralysis poison. However, when he saw who was chasing the king toad, Rino thought it looked very unroyal.
In a desperate attempt to put more distance between them, the king toad launched itself into the air, bursting through the trees and towards the sky. The huge snake monster dodged that tongue-whip and coiled itself to launch into the air after its hunt. Despite having such a huge body that could only wriggle on its belly, the huge serpent managed to reach a decent height with only the tip of its tail connected to the ground.
The shadow overcasting the king toad was the final warning it had before the snake launched itself at the toad with fangs bared and jaws wide open.
RIBBIT!
That last cry of alarm echoed as they crashed back down into the forest. Rino quickly moved to catch up with the action. Leaves and dust covering most of his vision cleared a little, and the lich saw only the two hind legs kicking weakly as the huge serpent tried to swallow more of that king toad.
Well, it was not Rino's position to interfere with how mother nature wanted to work. If he saved this toad, it would only become toad kebab when he returned to the village. A prolonged existence made no difference for those predestined to die. This king toad was lucky. If it were up to Rino, he would take his time experimenting on the effects of that paralysis poison.
Strangely, the serpent was not affected by it. Instead, it flicked its tongue as if licking its lips after the toad was swallowed whole. With a large bulge in its belly, the serpent slithered lazily away, uncaring for the trail of destruction they caused in this part of the forest.
Rino rejoiced. At least these king toads were not found only in the marsh. The giant serpent might be terrifying, but Rino had faith his hunting squad leader candidates were more than capable of hunting these ugly king toads and avoiding the giant serpent.
There might be many more other monsters in this area, but Rino would not know. For now, he was happy that his subordinates did not need to challenge the final boss on their first hunting expedition. It would be counter-effective to terrorise them before the games began.
For now, Rino looked around the area in the shadow realm. Surely, there would be more than one king toad around. That could not have been the only king toad in the area, right?
Rino would be severely disappointed if the serpent ate the only king toad in this forest. He did not like getting down and messy, but he would gut that snake if it meant digging the carcass of that king toad if he did not find any.
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