Chapter 192: The Pregnant Firebird (2)

Chapter 192: 192: The Pregnant Firebird (2)

Cedric, however, was not happy. He stood and pointed toward the battlefield.

"Look at those two monsters!"

Lucard looked.

"What about them?"

"They are both Seventh Rank!"

"I can see that."

"And we are Fourth Circle mages!"

"Yes."

"That is three ranks of difference! Three! Do you understand how large that difference is?"

Lucard gave him an annoyed look. "I know how to count."

Cedric nearly shouted.

"Then count properly! Even if we combine everything we have, we cannot withstand one serious attack from either beast. And Elowen is only First Circle. What exactly are you expecting us to do?"

Lucard did not answer immediately.

Cedric continued, "We barely survived Alan, and he is only peak Sixth Circle. Now you want to interfere in a battle between two Seventh Rank monsters? Have you forgotten what happened to us?"

"No."

"Then why?"

"Because there is something valuable to gain."

Cedric stared at him.

"What could possibly be worth dying for?"

Lucard looked toward the Nightfall Behemoth.

"It’s blood."

Cedric followed his gaze.

Then he looked back at Lucard.

His expression slowly became tired.

"Of course."

Lucard said nothing.

Cedric rubbed his forehead. "Of course it is blood. I should have known. You are not trying to save the bird. You are trying to get yourself a walking mountain of blood."

Lucard did not deny it.

Cedric looked toward Elowen. "Tell him this is a terrible idea."

Elowen looked at Cedric.

Then at the distant Crimson Sunwing.

Another loud cry came from the bird as it avoided a stone attack. Several burning feathers fell from its damaged wing.

Elowen’s expression became sad.

"But the bird really needs help," she said.

Cedric closed his eyes.

"No."

"Cedric..."

"No."

"It is going to lay an egg."

"That is wonderful. I wish it and its future child a very happy life."

"But it might die before reaching the place where it wants to lay the egg."

Cedric looked at her helplessly.

"That is not our responsibility."

Elowen lowered her head.

She did not argue further.

But her eyes became wet.

Lucard watched the exchange with a calm expression.

Then he turned toward Cedric.

"Look behind you."

Cedric frowned. "What?"

"Behind you."

Cedric turned.

Elowen stood a few steps away with her hands clasped together. She was looking toward the injured bird, and tears had already gathered in her eyes.

When she noticed Cedric looking at her, she tried to smile.

"It is fine," she said softly. "You are right. We should not risk our lives."

Cedric stared at her.

She looked away again.

One tear slowly moved down her cheek.

Cedric’s face changed.

He turned back toward Lucard.

Lucard raised one eyebrow.

Neither spoke.

Cedric glanced at Elowen again.

She was wiping her eyes with her sleeve.

Cedric looked toward the sky as though asking the heavens why they had placed him between these two people.

Then he sighed.

A long, defeated sigh.

"Fine."

Lucard looked at him. "Fine?"

Cedric pointed one finger at Lucard.

"If I die because of your stupid plan, I will haunt you."

"You would need to become a ghost first."

"I will find a way."

Lucard almost smiled.

Cedric lowered his hand and looked toward the two enormous beasts.

He was still afraid.

He still knew they had almost no chance against either monster.

But Elowen was watching him with hopeful eyes, and Lucard was already studying the battlefield as if he had found another puzzle worth solving.

Cedric shook his head.

"Let’s do it," Cedric said.

Lucard looked at him for a moment before turning toward the battlefield.

"Then listen carefully. I will explain the plan once."

Cedric immediately raised his hand. "I have a question."

Lucard slowly turned his head. "I have not even started."

"I know. I am preparing my questions in advance."

Elowen covered her mouth to hide a smile.

Lucard stared at Cedric for several breaths before deciding that killing him would waste a useful Fourth Circle mage.

"First, understand one thing. We are not going to fight the Nightfall Behemoth directly. If either of you tries to attack it like a normal enemy, you will die before your spell reaches its body."

Cedric nodded. "Good. At least your plan begins with common sense."

"Our job is to help the Crimson Sunwing create an opening. The bird is strong enough to hurt the Behemoth. We are not. That means we must use its strength instead of our own."

Elowen looked toward the two monsters. "But how can we help it when we cannot even get close?"

"We do not need to get close to its body. We need to interfere with the Behemoth’s movements at the correct moment."

Cedric frowned. "That sounds easier than it is. The Behemoth controls earth magic, and we are standing on the ground. It can feel movement through the soil. How do you intend to surprise something like that?"

Lucard pointed toward the damaged mountain slope.

"Look at its front left shoulder."

Cedric followed his finger.

The Nightfall Behemoth stood near a field of broken rocks. Several black scales on its left shoulder had cracked during the earlier exchanges, and a small amount of dark blood could be seen between them.

"I see the damaged scales," Cedric said.

"That is where the bird needs to strike again."

Elowen leaned forward. "Because the armor is already broken?"

"Yes. Most of its body is covered in thick scales. Even Seventh Rank fire cannot easily burn through them. But the damaged area has already lost some protection. If the Crimson Sunwing attacks that place with enough power, the wound may become much worse."

Cedric nodded slowly. "That makes sense. But the bird has eyes. Surely it has noticed the wound already."

"Noticing a wound and reaching it are different things," Lucard answered. "The Behemoth keeps turning its body whenever the bird dives. It also protects the damaged side with stone barriers. We need to make that protection fail for a moment."

Cedric considered the idea.

Then he looked toward the mountain again.

"Fine. How?"

Lucard crouched and picked up a small stone. He placed it on a flat rock, then added three smaller stones around it.

"The large stone is the Behemoth. The smaller ones are us."

Elowen crouched beside him.

Cedric stared at the stones.

"Are we really planning to fight Seventh Rank beasts using children’s toys?"

Lucard ignored him.

He moved the large stone toward the edge of the rock.

"The Behemoth has been attacking the bird’s nest whenever it gets an opportunity. It knows the bird will turn to protect it. That makes its next movements easier to predict."

Elowen nodded. "Whenever it attacks the nest, the Crimson Sunwing stops attacking and goes back to protect it."

"Correct. We will wait until the Behemoth prepares another large earth spell. During that time, its attention will be divided between the bird and the mountain."

Cedric crossed his arms. "And then?"

"You will use your crystal magic to redirect Elowen’s light toward its eyes."

Cedric blinked.

Then he looked at Elowen.

Then back at Lucard.

"You want me to use a First Circle light spell against a Seventh Rank beast?"

"Yes."

Cedric pressed two fingers against his forehead. "Lucard, please tell me you have another part to that plan."

"I do. Stop interrupting."

"Then explain it faster before I become old enough to join Alan’s generation."

Lucard raised his fist slightly.

Cedric immediately lowered his hands. "Please continue."

Elowen laughed softly, but her smile soon disappeared when she thought about what Lucard wanted her to do.

"Will my light magic even affect something that powerful?" she asked.

"Not by itself. But we are not trying to burn its eyes or damage its body. We only need to disturb its sight for a short moment."

Lucard picked up another small stone and placed it behind the first.

"Cedric will create several crystal surfaces around the rocky slope. They will not be used as shields. Their purpose is to redirect the light from different angles. Your light will enter the crystals and come out toward the Behemoth’s face."

Cedric’s expression slowly changed.

"Refraction."

Lucard nodded.

Cedric looked more interested now. "If I shape the crystals correctly, I can direct the light into several beams. The bird’s flames are already making the area bright. Your sudden light might still surprise the Behemoth if it comes from the side."

Elowen raised her hand.

Both men looked at her.

"Will the Behemoth know I am the one using the light?"

"Possibly," Lucard answered.

"Will it attack me?"

"Possibly."

Elowen lowered her hand.

Cedric stared at Lucard. "Could you stop answering every dangerous question with ’possibly’?"

"Would you prefer a lie?"

"No, but you could at least make the truth sound less terrible."

Lucard sighed.

He pointed toward a narrow shelf of stone above the forest. Several large rocks stood along its edge, and thick roots grew between the cracks.

"Elowen will stay behind that shelf. Cedric will place his crystals from the lower rocks, where the slope gives him cover. Neither of you will stand in the open. After using the light, you will move immediately."

Elowen studied the location. "The shelf is quite high. How will I climb there?"

"There is a narrow path behind those stones."

"How do you know?"

Lucard pointed toward the faint opening between two trees.

"Because I looked."