Chapter 428: The Beauty of Numbers, Part 2

Chapter 428 -349: The Beauty of Numbers, Part 2

Redia’s eyes were bright, and she didn’t loosen her embrace in the slightest. “Don’t worry, I’ll be sure to stay right by your side.”

“I’m really fine…” Zelir was still struggling, a subtle power struggle playing out between them.

‘Not bad at all.’

Redia praised him silently.

‘To think Zelir looks so handsome and delicate, yet he’s so strong.’

Valles watched this scene silently from the back, feeling as if Zelir had just run into a female version of Gray.

The battlefield had finally fallen silent.

Compared to when the squad first arrived, the open area in front of the cave was now utterly transformed.

The entire clearing had been plowed over by the Rock Dragon Snake’s eruption of earth and rock, leaving fine gravel everywhere.

Pits and trenches of all sizes crisscrossed the area.

The bodies of the nine Dragon Snakes extended out from the depths of the three caves, lying quietly on the ground.

Compared to their earth-shattering appearance from moments ago, they were much quieter now.

“It’s finally… over.” Kilian let out a sigh of relief.

Using Shield Domain to block the rockfall had consumed a great deal of his Physical Strength.

Kilian glanced back at Zelir, who was being doted on by Redia.

In addition to admiration, he felt a strange sense of envy.

Sigh…

He couldn’t help but sigh.

‘If only I were a Mage.’

‘Taking out a Demon with a single powerful Magic spell… I want to know what that feels like, too.’

“Mage Zelir, are you holding up alright?” Kilian walked over and asked.

“I’m fine…” Zelir finally managed to break free from Redia’s embrace and waved his hand.

“I knew it, Zelir.”

Gray, who had been watching from the rear, trotted over.

His face lit up with excitement as he clapped Zelir on the shoulder. “I knew you could do it!”

The clap splattered blood across half of Zelir’s face.

Gray’s wound, located in the web between his thumb and forefinger, had split open again. Blood gushed out, and he squatted on the ground, his face contorted in pain as he grimaced.

Adrian shook his head with a wry smile.

“Suddenly, I’m realizing the gap between Mages can be pretty huge…”

Rolin, however, didn’t say anything.

But her eyes flickered as she watched Zelir wipe the blood from his face with the sleeve of his Magic Robe, a profound look in her gaze.

“Everyone! That was… that was a spectacular battle! The best I’ve ever seen in my life!”

The Recorder, Zanxi, waved the Recording Crystal Stone in her hand, equally excited.

As a Recorder, she had witnessed plenty of breathtaking battles, but this one had truly broadened her horizons.

Zanxi also trotted over from the edge of the Forest Area.

“The combat footage has been recorded in detail! Thank you! You’ve provided the Adventurer’s Association with more intelligence on the Nine-headed Dragon Snake. Thank you so much!”

“An additional bounty of eight hundred Gold Coins can be collected directly from the Association’s front desk!”

“Alright.” Kilian gave a slight nod.

“And you, Mage Zelir!”

Zanxi turned to Zelir, her eyes filled with adoration.

“I guarantee it, your spectacular performance in this battle will absolutely win you a resonant title!”

“A title?” Zelir’s interest was piqued.

“Yes! A title!”

Zanxi nodded vigorously, her face full of awe.

“From now on, your fame will spread among the Adventurers until everyone knows your name!”

…

Now that the Nine-headed Dragon Snake was defeated.

Next came the task of collecting the precious Demon materials.

Fourteen people were waiting to get their share of the money.

The parts of the Nine-headed Dragon Snake’s bodies lying on the ground, just what was extending out of the caves, were several dozen meters long, not to mention the parts still hidden inside.

After the Nine-headed Dragon Snake’s Life Energy faded, its flesh and most of its scales began to decay rapidly, withering, cracking, and turning to ash that scattered in the air.

Only a small portion remained.

However, this “small portion” was only small relative to the complete body of the Nine-headed Dragon Snake.

What now lay before them were nine massive sections of the Dragon Snake’s remains, waiting to be processed.

The remaining scales and other valuable materials on them were all waiting to be collected.

But…

The squad had just endured a grueling battle.

Needless to say, the four Mages wouldn’t be cleaning up the battlefield.

The three Vanguards had also expended a huge amount of Physical Strength while defending against the rockfall, and now their bodies ached and their legs felt weak.

The remaining members were also mostly injured, to varying degrees, and utterly exhausted.

Processing these nine segments of the Dragon Snake, each several dozen meters long, would be a massive undertaking.

After a moment of thought, Kilian beckoned over Ranger Joel and Swordsman Fletcher from his team.

“Joel, Fletcher, could you two do me a favor and run back to camp? Gather five or six Adventurers.”

Kilian instructed, “Tell them it’s to help clean up the battlefield and process the Dragon Snake remains. I’ll pay them for their time.”

“Alright.” The two of them nodded and headed back to camp.

…

With a WHOOSH, flames erupted from the kindling, igniting the bonfire.

This time, Adrian was the one responsible for starting the fire with a snap of his fingers.

A pot was set over the bonfire, and Rolin used Magic to fill it with fresh water.

On a piece of canvas nearby lay several cuts of Minotaur Leg Meat that Zelir had taken out of his Storage Pouch.

Valles was squatting nearby, methodically slicing them into strips with a Curved Saber before sprinkling on some seasoning.

After the battle with the Nine-headed Dragon Snake, everyone was not only tired, but also hungry.

Their stomachs were all rumbling.

Since they had to wait for people to come clean the battlefield anyway, they might as well make some food now.

Zelir and Shaman were resting with their eyes closed.

Zelir had consumed the most Magic Power, even overdrawing some of it.

But Shaman’s burden had been heavy as well.

The frequent casting of various Healing Skills and gain effects had forced him to pull out a Source Energy Crystal Stone for a Magic Refill, and he had come dangerously close to completely running out of Magic Power.

Hill stood guard nearby while the others rested by the bonfire.

Listening to the CRACKLE and POP of the sparks, everyone’s nerves started to relax.

It was a rare moment of comfort after such a huge battle.

Thinking about the money they would soon get their hands on, smiles appeared on everyone’s faces.

“Hiss…”

Gray’s hands were re-wrapped in gauze.

He could grit his teeth and endure it during the fight, but once he relaxed, he couldn’t stop the waves of pain from the tear in the web of his hand.

Although the Praise of Life had healed Gray before…

…while supporting Marcus, Gray had overexerted himself, and the healed wound had torn open again.

And then there was the matter of clapping Zelir on the shoulder…

Now, neither Zelir nor Shaman had any spare Magic Power to heal him.

“Gray, I seem to recall you still have a Healing Potion you haven’t drunk, right?” said Marcus.

“That thing… one gulp and seven Gold Coins are gone. I’d rather just endure the pain,” Gray muttered with a pout.

“Would the great young master of the Mans Family really make himself suffer to save a mere seven Gold Coins?” Marcus chuckled softly.

“Who’s from the Nobility? Gray?” Kilian, who was sitting nearby, couldn’t help but ask curiously when he overheard this.

“Used to be. I’ve long since cut ties,” Gray shrugged.

“Oh…”

Kilian nodded slightly.

He recalled.

The Mans Clan…

‘He seemed to recall hearing some rumors in social circles… something about the youngest son of the Mans Clan running away from home.’

‘Didn’t the Patriarch get sick with anger over it?’

“Just bear with it.”

Zelir opened his eyes and glanced at the wound on the web of Gray’s hand. “Wait until I’ve had some sleep. I’ll have the Magic Power to heal you tomorrow.”

Gray looked down at the wounds on his shoulder and thigh.

Those spots were already mostly healed.

“I’ve heard that some High Tier Magic or Magic Potions can supposedly regenerate limbs.”

“Even if you lose a hand or a foot, it can grow back.”

“What if you lose your head?” Marcus asked.

“Probably… that can grow back too? But you’d probably need the really amazing kind, right?” Gray guessed.