Chapter 186 - 185: A Gambler’s Self-Cultivation

Chapter 186: Chapter 185: A Gambler’s Self-Cultivation

The cave was deeper than expected, and the orb of light on Hayley’s warhammer clearly illuminated the scene within.

Seven Frogmen sat huddled around a stinking pile of fish bones and entrails, grabbing handfuls to stuff into their mouths.

They were so absorbed in their meal that they didn’t notice the intruders at first.

It wasn’t until the light from the orb flickered around the bend at the cave’s entrance, following Hayley’s steps.

A sturdy, yellow-spotted Frogman directly facing the entrance finally looked up from its food and let out a questioning, "Croak?"

Without a moment’s hesitation, Hayley charged forward.

As she swung her warhammer, it was once again enveloped in an orange glow of Holy Light.

The Frogman nearest to her had its back to the entrance. It had just turned around at the sound of its companion’s croak when the blinding orb of light instantly filled its vision.

SQUELCH—

The warhammer landed squarely on its massive skull, crushing it like a ripe watermelon.

This sudden turn of events left the six remaining Frogmen stunned.

Still chewing on raw fish, their amber eyes stared blankly as their companion’s headless body slowly collapsed. For a moment, they completely forgot to react.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

Three blue orbs of light came whistling through the air, shattering the brief, deathly silence.

Hesia’s targets were the yellow-spotted Frogman in the middle that had first spotted them, along with the ones on its left and right.

Seeing the unidentified orbs of light flying toward them, the Frogmen’s deeply ingrained instincts instantly kicked in.

The two Frogmen on the sides reacted almost simultaneously. Their muscular hind legs powerfully kicked off the muddy ground, launching their bodies sideways like catapulted stones with an agility that belied their physique.

BAM! BAM!

But the pursuing Magic Missiles simply curved through the air.

The missiles struck them in the back the moment they landed, before they could even regain their footing. They were knocked to the ground, twitched a few times, and then fell still.

[Magic Missile Proficiency +1, Level 2 (18/20)]

The yellow-spotted Frogman, however, was clearly a cut above the rest.

Having noticed the intruders earlier, its calf muscles tensed more quickly. Power transferred to its massive glutes, and then its entire body erupted with force, executing a stunning frog leap.

This single, hasty leap sent its burly body flying toward a bend five meters deeper into the cave.

The whistling Magic Missile chased its afterimage, ultimately hitting the muddy cave wall with a dull THUD.

Hesia didn’t give chase. Instead, he turned his attention to the three remaining Frogmen.

They were so terrified by the gruesome sight of their companions being killed instantly that they let out a single "Croak!" and collapsed to the ground.

Just as one of them started to scramble up on all fours...

"WOOF!"

Bruce could no longer hold back. He opened his mouth and a crimson ray shot out.

The flames instantly engulfed its panicked face, scorching it and making it let out a series of shrill, panicked croaks as it rolled on the ground.

Meanwhile, Grek saw his chance, preparing to finish off another unlucky creature that was scrambling up and trying to retrieve its weapon.

However, a blue orb of light beat him to it, striking the Frogman squarely in the chest.

He had no choice but to turn his blade on the last, smaller one.

WHOOSH!

Grek’s broadsword was only halfway through its swing when he caught a glimpse of that familiar blue light out of the corner of his eye. He froze, abruptly halting his forward motion.

’Based on his observations over the past few days, this powerful and mysterious Mage seemed to have a peculiar obsession with personally finishing off demons.’

After confirming the Frogman before him was well and truly dead, Grek sheathed his sword, looked toward Hesia, and squeezed out a smile. "That’s some fast Magic, much faster than my clumsy sword."

With that, not caring how clumsy his acting was, he turned and chased after the yellow-spotted Frogman that had fled deeper into the cave.

There was only one small bend left in the deeper part of the cave.

Grek had the Frogman cornered in a dead end. It was utterly terrified. It dropped the fish bone in its hand, its webbed feet went soft, and with a gurgling "GURK-CROAK," it collapsed to the ground and raised its forelimbs high—if you could even call them hands.

"Surrendering won’t earn you any Silver Scales, you idiot," Grek muttered, but then he swung his broadsword down violently, hacking into the muddy ground behind the Frogman’s feet.

The deadly wind from the blade forced the Frogman to act on its survival instincts once more, and it leaped forward.

Seeing that the Frogman was as cooperative as he was, Grek immediately shouted toward the main cavern, "Brother Galen! This thing jumps too well! I’m too slow to catch it, and it’s getting away again! Quick, hit it with your Magic!"

Although Hesia knew Grek was doing this on purpose, he didn’t dwell on it.

He gave his Magic Wand a light flick.

The Frogman had just landed and was preparing to spring again when a Magic Missile appeared before its very eyes.

BAM!

[Magic Missile Proficiency +1, Level 2 (19/20)]

From the moment Hayley attacked to the end of the battle, only a few short moments had passed.

Hom stood at the mouth of the cave, watching with his jaw agape.

He instinctively rubbed his eyes. It took a long moment before he could finally force the words from his throat:

"They’re... all cleared out already?"

He recalled the gloating expressions on Huck and his friends’ faces at the Gasp River Puffer Tavern when they discussed outside Adventurers.

’When I get back, I’ll have to brag to them about this. Show them what real skill looks like!’

Muttering this, he walked forward, preparing to help the Adventurers collect the Frogmen’s webbed feet.

’An excellent guide has to demonstrate his value in every way possible.’

Hesia was also about to go over and cut off the webbed feet.

But then he saw Grek, who had just claimed he was "too slow," moving with astonishing speed.

He deftly sliced off the last Frogman’s webbed feet in a few swift motions, then pushed off with his legs, actually using [Charge] to dash to another corpse.

Grabbing the Frogman’s webbed feet, he waved a hand at Hesia without looking up.

"Brother Galen, can’t let you do all the work! This damn weather is pretty cold. It’s a good chance for me to get moving and warm myself up!"

Hesia hadn’t been keen on getting his hands sticky anyway, so seeing Grek’s "leave it all to me" posture, he simply went with the flow and nodded. "I’ll leave it to you, then. Thanks."

"No trouble, no trouble at all!" Grek replied without looking up, his hands moving with incredible speed. "In a team, everyone has to play to their strengths."

He pointed toward the deeper bend in the cave he had chased the Frogman into. "It looks like these Frogmen stashed all their loot in that corner. Could you do me a favor and go check it out?"

"Alright."

Watching Hesia’s back as he walked away, Grek was secretly pleased, thinking he was a genius.

’As a gambler, no one understood the thrill of searching for loot better than him. It was a rush, just like gambling.’

’This was even more exciting than flipping over cards at the poker table.’