Disciplining the Naughty Toad! 2
Kuuiik-! The ferocious cry of the massive toad tickled her ears. From that voice alone, she could tell—this guy was really pissed off at the sudden uninvited guest.
Kuik! Kuuiiik-!!!
But no matter what, Lin didn't care. She just kept blasting out even hotter flames.
Puhwahahaak-!Kwa...!
'Definitely...! Up close, I can confirm it. This guy's at least Qi Condensation Late!'
Qi Condensation Late—that was at least four stages above Lin's current realm. Cultivation realms were typically divided into 10 stars, so Qi Condensation Late meant at least 7 stars or higher... In other words, an opponent Lin could never have dreamed of facing before.
However.
As the gallery said, the toad didn't seem to be in a normal state for some reason—and to top it off, Lin's main technique was a pure fire-attribute art that perfectly countered the toad's ice nature. This was the perfect moment to take it down.
Creeeak- Creeeak-!Kugugugugung-!!!Kwaat!
'Yes! The ice is melting!'
The relentless barrage of flames swept through the pond and marshlands, crumbling the frost and ice sheets that covered them. Compared to when she first arrived, she'd melted more than half. The biting cold had faded substantially as a result, letting Lin's flames burn even stronger and fiercer than before.
At that moment.
Kuuiiik-!!
'Here it comes...!'
Finally unable to endure it any longer, the pond's owner—and the root of all this trouble—Bingdamwa burst through the ice, revealing its body. It was so massive it barely looked like a toad anymore, huge ice crystals jutting from its back making it appear even larger and more menacing.
Kuuiiiik-!!
The moment it appeared, it let out a furious roar straight at Lin, as if screaming, I know you're the one who wrecked everything!
Its attack came right away. No sooner had the roar ended than a thick tongue shot toward Lin like an arrow.
Thwack-!Kwa, kwwang...!
'Eek...!'
Kwaaang-!
Luckily, Lin had been watching its movements closely. She twisted her body just in time, dodging the tongue. And she didn't stop there—she fired off prepped Extreme Yang Heavenly Flame fireballs for a counterattack of her own.
Taking the hit seemed to make it realize she wasn't pushover fodder. It halted its aggressive tongue lash and started glaring at her instead.
Thus, after a brief probing exchange to gauge each other's strength...
"....."
"....."
A tense standoff settled awkwardly between them.
Kuruk-!
"L-Lizard! Y-You! Why attack my h-home?!"
Kwa?
'What, this guy can speak human language?'
But Lin still couldn't speak it in this form, so she transmitted her intent telepathically.
Kwa!
"B-Because you bit people from Lower Village Stream! You can't do that!"
Kuik!
"N-No! Humans are t-tasty! Weak, easy to h-hunt!"
Kwang!
"Bad people are okay to eat, but the ones you ate were good people! They didn't do anything wrong to you!"
Kuuiik!
"Y-You lizard! Weird! Demons eat humans! Humans tasty!"
'Ugh...! I figured it'd be like this, but it won't even listen!'
She'd hoped for a peaceful resolution, but that was stupid of her. These demons were even dumber than she'd thought!
Watching the gallery's takes, Lin thought: No choice now. She had to drive this idiot toad away by force—or eat it. It sure didn't look like it'd back off willingly.
Kuruk-!
"You! Weird lizard! Smell tasty! Plus good energy in body!"
Kwang!
"What?! You shit-for-brains toad!"
Kuruk!
"You! Eat! Then I smarter! Stronger!"
"Hmph! In your dreams!"
"Eat you! Heal hurt body! Smart again! Recover realm!"
Kuruk!Whoooong-!!
The giant ice toad ended the truce with a leap straight at Lin. Figuring it couldn't win a spell battle, it was betting on its size instead.
But.
Kwang!
"No way!"
Pure physicals? Lin wouldn't back down. This wasn't just any spirit beast—it was dragon bloodline. Not just any dragon, but transcendent dragon descendant! Dragons had always boasted bodies so tough even fire couldn't scratch them.
No matter how many ice spikes or tongue shots the toad threw, it wouldn't wound her!
And its disadvantages didn't end there.
Shuk! Shushuk!Kururuk-!
"Kuruk! Tiny lizard! Too small! Fast, hard catch!"
Kwa!
"Hah! With that heavy lump, you could jump forever and never catch me?"
Unlike the sluggish giant toad, Lin's small, nimble body let her dodge effortlessly. What good was raw power if it couldn't land?
Dodging every which way only made the toad madder with each missed tongue whip.
Kururuk-!!
"Kuwaaak! Tiny lizard! Mad! Can't take it!"
Finally exploding, the toad went all-in. Suddenly, freezing mist spewed wildly from the huge ice chunks on its body.
Kwa!
'Its trump card! Normally I'd retreat here, but...!'
That would just drag things out or let it flee. Lin wanted to end it now.
Kwang!
"Where you running?!"
Hwaaak-!
The icy mist enveloped Lin like a chill wind. The toad's signature ice poison stung her skin badly, but she endured, biding her time. It hurt, but she could tank it. Dragon skin was the toughest stuff around— no way this lame toad's attack would pierce it.
And...
Kwa!
'...Now!'
While holding out, Lin had been channeling qi into the Clear Silver Bell Flower from the forum market. When it felt full...
Kwang!
"Take this!"
Ting~ Boom boom boom-!!
She unleashed the flower’s piercing sound wave straight at the toad.
Kururuk! Kururuk!!
"Kuek! Hurts! Lizard attack hurts!"
And... as always, the gallery hadn't let her down.