Ch 55: Digging with Lightning magic
Day 5: I didn't wake up to an energy wave. Should I be concerned? I got out of my small house. Everyone got their own house in this village made out of earth magic. Except for the couples of course they shared a house. The echoes were, as usual, still going at it. People were still sleeping or inside. The digging match will be at 12:00 ish while we normally destroy the root between 15:00 and 16:00. There isn't much to do today besides beating Molerock and destroying the shakes. I put my tails on duty to create frost marbles and re-run simulations of how to make that stupid dimensional anchor. I also decided to put simulations on those illusionary shards Raishin came up with. We can’t throw flashy magic around the next timeline as this timeline had demonstrated to us. What else? What could get worse in the next timeline? Let's run simulations on that too. Ugh, there is so much to remember. Good thing Gregory is on top of most of those things.
I sit on top of my roof and look at the echoes shining down on the town and potato village. I’m 100% sure that if we were just normal boys we would've died a million times over, our specific traits and skills brought us this far. Without Raishin’s weird lost magic or ability, I don't know which, we would have probably succumbed to curses, only I would have remembered what was going on all the time which would be catastrophic because I forget a lot. Also, he plays a big role in effortlessly vaporizing roots. Without Gregory’s ability, as I've said we would have succumbed to curses also we would have probably died quite fast in the original timeline because his defensive skills helped us a lot. Without Ted, our moral compass, kind off, we might have blasted the town earlier and had to deal longer with this echo problem. Also, some guardians would have been tougher. Without me well, I guess their memories would get wiped and the root wouldn't stay defeated. So, they would be stuck forever. Oh, wait they also would have no way to damage the spirit sisters. Oof that would have been the worst-case scenario.
The more I think about it the less likely it feels that we ended up here by coincidence. Who or what is putting this in motion? Is it a foe or an enemy? Does it want Azu freed? Or is there a possibility that it wanted to trap us? Or is there another explanation? Was the ability of this prison needed to make sure something couldn't find us? Is that something our mothers? Or the people responsible for attacking Hourai? So many possibilities, so many questions, and no answers. I still had a lot of mana ready to be used after I generated a lot of lightning with my [tail dynamo] yesterday. I could make it easy and dig a hole by blasting one with red lightning or I can try to form it into something else with the skill I got from Azu. I still haven't tried anything with them because honestly, I can't tell how strong these are. Especially now with these echoes that is something I have to pay attention to. What did she say again? Tsunami to set up the next 3 skills. That makes sense, get 3 free skills after it. This is stupidly strong. A 0 setup [Foxfire: winter’s end]? Yeah, that is brutal, it will only give me 1 instead of 8 but that is a good tradeoff, I think. I don't think frost magic is something I should use too much; I already knew this but recent events have painfully reminded me why. I have put this off a lot but I should also try to move away from using mana or at least lessen the mana consumption. The day before yesterday sucked hard. Mana rejection, eh? It all happened in that underwater cave in Hourai, it seems we all got it there. Is this leyline energy the cause for it? I turn the filter on for leyline energy. It seems thin but gets thicker the closer it is to where the pink tree is supposed to be. It does interact poorly with magic. It is like mixing oil and water. Is this the cause? I head over to Paul and Paula’s house and knock on the door.
“Yes?” I stepped inside. I have a question…
I stepped outside after talking to Paula and Paul. Well, that was a fruitful conversation. Paula seemed to be interested in the contents of my question. I also learned some useful information. It was almost 11 am. We’ve been talking for almost 3 hours. I also decided to just blast a hole with red lightning. I also need to remember to change my voice. I decided to do it now else I will forget. I cleared my throat. And success. Raishin was talking to Troll and uhm I think it was Leer. I didn't see Ted or Gregory but I saw magical waves in the distance so maybe they are culling the shades.
“Hey, Agnis! Let's chat!” Raishin and the 2 chicks approached me. About what? Your voice! Teach me that!
What are you going to use it for? Uhh…
Yeah, that is a no. Meh.
“So, what kind of cool things can you do?” I can fly! Create monkeys out of thin air and drive people crazy. He is trolling.
“Who are you calling a troll!” I showed an illusion that showed off the exact things I ‘lied’ about.
“Whoa!” Hey! Using illusions is cheating! Is it though? I can technically do those things with illusions.
Ugh, you are the only one I know that can get away with lying.
“Can you make a unicorn with your illusion?” Sure. I created an illusion, the girls seemed excited but then it disappeared.
“What is this!” A unicorn?
“It's a rhino!” it has 1 horn; I don't see the problem. Hahahaha!
“I mean it's like a horse with a horn!” Horse with 1 horn coming up! I made a horse that had a horn on its ass.
“Noo! The horn is on its head!” So, demanding! I created a horse with a rhino head.
“I hate you!” Leah stormed away. Hahahaha nice one! This is actually funny imagine wanting to see a unicorn, a mythical creature when there were 2 right in front of her!
“Hmm, I haven't thought about that.” Don't you need to follow Lana?
“Her name is Leah, my name is Kanna by the way, and she will cool down in a bit. So, is this how you 2 really look like or do you have a real form or something?” Hmm, I could tell you, but then I'll have to kill you! Well, it's not exactly a secret but just for further reference Troll if you ever see a mythical creature in its true form, run.
“Huh, why?” So, my mother is a phoenix, if she shifts into her true form, it becomes daytime, it doesn't matter if its midnight, it becomes daytime and it becomes quite hot. The true forms affect the environment. When this guy goes into his true form it will continuously rain lightning, imagine a heavy rainstorm but instead of water, its lightning bolts. And those lightning bolts scales with how strong he is so it will rain red lightning if this guy goes in his true form. Well as for me, space and time will start acting weird kind of what is going on here, although more controlled.
“How about Gregory?” The shadows will come to life!
“That sounds scary… So, is that why you’re not in your true form?” Haha! We don't care about that! It's more to blend in better and so that we don't get hunted down! Hmm yeah, let's use Raishin as an example, as you know he likes the opposite sex, now can he do what he wants when wherever he goes lightning is pouring out of the sky? Goes for most of the mythical creatures, also it seems we have been hunted down in the past true form or not, something about the intrigue of catching and killing one.
Didn't ninetails got hunted down for the fur on their tails? And because people thought they were bringers of doom? I grabbed my tails. Yes…
“I'm sorry to hear that, but they look so fluffy! Can I touch?” Ugh, why does everyone suddenly wants to touch my tails! It is kind of part of my butt you know! I don't ask you to touch your butt!
“So, I can’t?” Noo! Just do it, secretly he doesn't mind.
Raishin I’m going to kick your ass!
“This is even better than my pillow! Hey, wanna date?” Nooo!
“Ooh, Raishin your tails feel good too!” What are you guys doing? I break away from Troll and hide behind Gregory who just arrived.
“Hey, Raishin wanna date?” Yes! Oh, you managed to get rid of her, good job Agnis! It was a hard-fought battle but I finally emerged victorious! Are we ready to go? Ted also arrived.
Let's go! The female voice again Agnis?
I have to be consistent. Consistently annoying.
Ohh so who do you think was responsible for your win, certainly not you! Wha! What do you mean? There was no way that you influenced the outcome! Oh, are you sure about that? Molerock seemed to be dancing on the palm of my hands. I copied Azu a bit and brought out a seductive tone.
“Agnis is scarily good at this…” His race specializes in deception, knowing that is one thing but witnessing it… I would have been fooled too if I was blind. Please don't make this awkward Agnis, Let's go. Raishin teleport, please!
“Wait! Let me get Leah!” What does it matter? The match will be over in a blink of an eye anyway.
“I have snacks!” Let's wait! Let's wait!
“Too easy!” Troll fetches her friend and hands us snacks. All right let's go! Raishin says with his mouth full and teleports us to the mole’s bathroom.
“Hey what gives man? Can’t a mole take a bath in his own house?” Wow, talking about things I never hoped to see.
“Aaah! A naked mole!” So, this is what a naked mole rat looks like. Let's get out of here!
“I’m not a mole rat!” We fled to the living room. “I can't believe I let some humans see me like this!” Molerock entered the room. “Follow me!” We followed him to a room covered in rocks and dirt. “There is a room at the bottom with a bell, the first one to ring the bell wins the digging contest. Just a warning it is 200 meters. You can give up now if want." 200 meters? Easy!
“I’m facing off against you missy? Are you sure? Even if it's you I won't hold back!” Aww, I don't get a handicap? That is fine, do your best Molerock! Otherwise I will crush you!
“HahaI, I don't hate tough girls!” I saw everyone holding their hands at their foreheads. Only Raishin seemed excited. “Right, someone do a countdown!”
3!... I get out 2 tails. 2!... I locate the bell with my eyes. 1! I blast a hole in the ground with a red [Lightning pillar] and jump down the hole.
“Wait that's it? I thought we’d dig on ‘Go!’” Molerock starts digging but I rang the bell. “What?! That fast? Are you the world champion digger Maria Mole?” I'm sorry, I can't tell you that, I’ll be taking those shakes!
“Ugh I don't think that 1-second mistake would make a big difference in the results, I lost…” I got out of the hole.
“That was it?” That was it.
“I rushed for this?” I told you it would be over in a blink of an eye
“My shakes… but a loss is a loss, I’ll lead you to them." About that, can we come and pick them up later Molerock?
“Uhh, that's fine by me, when’re yall coming back?" At 15:00, make sure you won't be bathing!
“Yessir!” Hey, Molerock, you know, it can't be helped if out of frustration of your loss, you drink some protein shakes, it is not like we mind or will notice some missing. Cya!
“Thank you, missy!” We headed toward the surface. Is it a good idea to encourage him to drink those things? He has been at it for 5 years and we’re taking his whole stash away, cut him so slack, moreover, he is helping us destroy the root although slowly.
You can change your voice back now. Oh sorry. I cleared my throat and returned my voice back to normal. Raishin teleported us back to the small village. This whole adventure took us only 32 minutes.
Well, this guardian was a pushover. Was he really a guardian? Is a guardian supposed to drink whatever he is tasked with protecting? That is a good point! Well, we still kind of have the root in our possession, right? We just have to go there and destroy his supply.
“Do you think he will give it to us?”
“Yeah, it is as Kanna said, why would he give it to us?” I’d like to think he is a mole of his word. Right, I need to prepare something. Ok! Let's go shade hunting Greg! Sure!
“Can we come too?” Of course! You are in charge of the teleport Raishin! What are you going to do Ted? Practicing new skills for my [Bear avatar] Good luck!
Don't overdo it! Those are my lines! We split up. And I sneaked off to a quiet place and hopped into my dimensional pocket. In front of me in this alternate space were the shakes I swiped. I got an idea. It got right on time before we would destroy the root. I would never get the chance to do this if I don't do this now. I took a shake and dipped my tail in it. I let my tail run an analysis on its components more specifically the parts that belong to the root. The more information we have the better decisions we can make. I smell the shake and shudder. I close it and put it back on the pile. I then move myself and the pile out of the dimensional pocket. I’m at the edge of what is still inside the barrier. I put an illusion on them to hide them and mark the whole pile with dimensional magic. This is a skill I've never used before. I set the timer to go off at 15:15. I activated [Time bomb] and returned to the village. I killed some time and Raishin and Gregory returned. We had a small discussion and decided that I would freeze all the shakes and shatter them into dust.
“Hey, will we remember this after you guys do this reset? Or do we continue living in this situation?” Uh, we don't know but judging by the past timelines you won't remember anything of all this and even if you continue living here the barrier should disappear when we break all the seals. Right Agnis? I honestly don't know the answer to that question but I nod in agreement. We head over to Molerocks place. He seemed sad that his supply would get nuked. I froze the illusionary supply and timed the destruction of the shakes with the timebomb going off. Our heads started to ring.
Don't forget that after we return to Raishin’s hut we have to deal with the shades that invaded it! Ok! We were back in Raishin’s hut. We swiftly took care of the shades. They seemed a bit tougher but we easily took care of them. After we cleaned up the mess in Raishin’s hut we sat down. We need to make some rules.