Chapter 193: The Pregnant Firebird (3)

Chapter 193: 193: The Pregnant Firebird (3)

Cedric glanced at Elowen. "Apparently that is another one of his talents. Looking."

Lucard ignored him and continued.

"The light attack is only the first part. The second part is mine."

Cedric looked at him carefully. "Blood Claw?"

"Yes."

"Against the Behemoth?"

"No. Against the ground supporting the rocks above its left side."

Cedric’s eyebrows rose.

Lucard pointed toward a section of the mountain where several large broken rocks rested against old roots. The earlier battle had already damaged the slope, leaving cracks between the stones.

"Those rocks are barely holding together. I will use Blood Claw to cut through the roots and the weakened stone beneath them."

Elowen followed his finger. "You want to make the rocks fall on the Behemoth?"

"Not exactly. Those rocks will not kill it. A Seventh Rank earth-type beast can easily destroy ordinary falling stones."

Cedric nodded. "Then what is the purpose?"

"To make it use its earth magic to defend against something it did not prepare for. At the same time, your light will interfere with its sight. It will have to divide its attention between the falling rocks, the light, and the Crimson Sunwing."

Lucard moved the small stones around the larger one.

"The bird will see the opening. If it is intelligent enough, it will attack the damaged shoulder before the Behemoth can protect it again."

Cedric remained silent for several breaths.

Then he spoke.

"That is actually a reasonable plan."

Lucard looked at him. "You sound disappointed."

"I was expecting something much worse."

"There is still time for that."

"Please do not say that."

Elowen looked toward the Crimson Sunwing.

The enormous bird was circling above the mountain again. Flames covered part of its damaged wing, and its flight had become slower than before.

"What if the bird does not understand what we are doing?"

Lucard answered, "Then our plan fails."

Elowen frowned. "Just like that?"

"Yes. We cannot command it. It is a Seventh Rank beast, not Cedric’s rabbit."

Puff poked its head out from Cedric’s coat.

Cedric immediately covered its ears with one hand.

"Do not listen to him. He is jealous because he does not have a rabbit."

Lucard stared at him.

Elowen laughed again.

Lucard decided to continue before Cedric found another reason to speak.

"The Crimson Sunwing has already shown that it understands the Behemoth’s attacks. It recognizes when the ground is dangerous and when its enemy is exposed. If we create an opening large enough, there is a good chance it will take advantage of it."

Cedric looked toward the rocky slope.

Then he asked another question.

"What if the Behemoth uses its earth magic to destroy my crystals before Elowen attacks?"

"Then you will lose your crystals."

"That is obvious."

"Then make them small enough to hide in the cracks."

Cedric considered that. "I can do that. Small crystals require less mana, and I can arrange them before the attack begins."

"Good."

"But what if the Behemoth senses your Blood Claw before you cut the roots?"

Lucard looked toward the mountain. "I will wait until the Crimson Sunwing uses a strong fire attack. The fire mana and earth mana will disturb the surrounding energy. I will hide my blood power during that moment."

Cedric nodded, but he still looked doubtful.

"And what if it notices the collapsing rocks?"

"Then it will destroy them."

"And if it attacks us afterward?"

"We run."

Cedric stared at him.

"That is your entire escape plan?"

"No. That is the beginning of it."

Lucard drew three lines in the damp soil.

"After the attack, we will retreat along different paths. Elowen will use the upper path behind the stone shelf. You will use the lower passage near the broken roots. I will remain between the two paths long enough to cover your retreat."

Elowen immediately shook her head.

"No. You should not stay behind alone."

Lucard looked at her. "Why?"

"Because you are the one who wants to help the bird. We agreed to help you, not leave you behind."

Lucard’s expression remained cold.

"I am not asking you to leave me behind. I am telling you where to run if the Behemoth turns toward us. If you stay beside me, one attack could kill all three of us."

Elowen lowered her head slightly.

Cedric rubbed his chin. "There is another problem."

Lucard closed his eyes for one short moment.

How many questions can one mortal ask?

"What now?"

"What happens if the Crimson Sunwing wins?"

Lucard opened his eyes again.

Cedric continued, "Suppose our plan works. The bird attacks the damaged shoulder and kills the Behemoth. What stops the bird from attacking us afterward?"

Elowen looked surprised.

She had not considered that.

Lucard looked toward the Crimson Sunwing.

"Nothing."

Cedric’s face became tired again. "Wonderful."

"But it has no reason to chase us if we do not threaten its nest. We will remain hidden and let it finish the battle. Afterward, we will wait until it returns to the mountain before approaching the Behemoth’s body."

Cedric narrowed his eyes.

"So that is when you plan to collect the blood."

"Yes."

"How much do you want?"

"As much as I can take."

Cedric stared at him.

"Lucard, that thing is enormous."

"I have eyes."

"You might spend an entire day absorbing its blood."

"Then I will spend an entire day."

Cedric looked toward Elowen, hoping she would say something sensible.

Instead, Elowen asked, "Can the Crimson Sunwing survive after killing the Behemoth?"

Both men turned toward her.

She looked embarrassed by their attention but continued.

"It is already injured, and it is carrying an egg. Even if it wins, it might be too weak to reach the place where it wants to lay the egg."

Cedric sighed. "Elowen, we are trying to survive one battle. Please do not start planning the bird’s entire future."

"But we are helping it."

"Yes, and I would like to remain alive long enough to tell someone about it."

Lucard watched Elowen for a moment.

She was genuinely worried about the bird.

Not its blood.

Not its feathers.

Not the value of its egg.

Only whether it would survive.

He found that difficult to understand.

In his previous life, he had seen gods sacrifice entire worlds for treasures. The importance of them was very low. Far less than what a seven rank beast blood meant for Lucard right now.

Yet this girl was willing to take a risk simply because the bird was pregnant.

"Foolish."

That was the easiest explanation.

But he had already called her foolish many times, and somehow she kept surprising him.

Lucard turned back toward the battlefield.

"If the bird can’t survive, that is its problem. Our job is to create an opening, not become its servants."

Elowen did not argue, though she still looked worried.

Cedric lifted his wand and examined the tip.

"How many crystal surfaces do you need?"

"Six should be enough."

"Six?" Cedric frowned. "I can make more."

"More crystals mean more mana. More mana means a stronger signature for the Behemoth to notice. Six small surfaces placed correctly are better than twenty obvious ones."

Cedric nodded slowly.

"Fine. Six crystals. How should I arrange them?"

Lucard picked up six small stones and placed them along the edge of the flat rock.

"Three near the upper slope, two below the large roots, and one behind Elowen’s position. The final crystal will gather her light and send it through the others."

Cedric studied the arrangement carefully.

After a while, he moved one stone slightly.

"This one should be higher. Otherwise, the light will strike the damaged rocks before reaching the Behemoth."

Lucard looked at the changed position.

Then he nodded.

"Better."

Cedric blinked.

"Did you just agree with me?"

"Yes."

"Without insulting me?"

Lucard raised his head. "Would you like me to?"

"No. I am enjoying this rare moment."

Elowen smiled at both of them. Then she looked down at the arrangement of stones.

"When should I release the light?"

Lucard pointed toward the large stone representing the Behemoth.

"Wait until it raises its head and prepares another attack toward the belly. Cedric will give you a signal through his crystal. When the crystal beside your hand flashes blue, release your light into it."

"What if I miss the timing?"

"Then do not attack. Wait for another opportunity."

Elowen looked relieved. She had expected Lucard to tell her that failure meant death.

Instead, he was giving her permission to wait.

Cedric looked toward the sky and asked, "What about the Crimson Sunwing? What if it attacks before we are ready?"

"We adapt," Lucard answered.

Cedric stared at him.

"Could you explain what that means?"

"It means we do not force the plan when the situation changes."

"That sounds suspiciously like making things up while fighting."

"That is what most battles become."

Cedric opened his mouth to argue, then closed it again. He could not deny that.

Lucard stood and looked toward the mountain.

The Nightfall Behemoth was moving closer to the damaged slope. Its left shoulder was still exposed, but the black scales around the wound had begun hardening with earth mana.