Jim pressed down the accelerator even further.
The buggy surged across the desert under the moonlight, leaving a long trail behind it.
’’What do we do in case, you know, that thing appears?" Jim asked, glancing behind.
Theo didn’t hesitate.
’’We’ll need to check out the situation,’’ he answered simply. ’’If it’s too strong, we jump on Feng. If it’s weak, we decide what to do from there.’’
Jim only stared at him for a few seconds.
’’We decide what to do from there, eh,’’ he repeated to himself before shaking his head. ’’Absolutely insane.’’
No one spoke up after that.
The buggy continued racing across the desert, rumbling steadily as it did.
Every single one of them kept scanning the surroundings even though Feng was floating right beside them.
As they took care of another group of weaker creatures, the tension in their chests kept rising.
Minutes ticked by silently.
Just then, Feng’s expression suddenly changed.
The emerald cloud came to a full stop beneath him as he stared off into the distance.
’’One mile in front,’’ he said immediately. ’’B-rank presence surrounded by five C-ranks and a few D-ranks.’’
Jim’s eyes widened.
Without a second thought, he jerked the steering wheel to the side.
The buggy immediately veered away, cutting across several dunes.
’’What’s its strength like?’’ Theo asked, his brows furrowing.
Feng remained silent for a moment.
His emerald eyes stayed fixed on the distant horizon.
’’It’s far weaker than the worm,’’ he finally said. ’’And...’’
He paused for a moment. ’’It appears to be injured already.’’
Theo’s eyes lit up slightly.
’’Injured?’’ he repeated.
That was some nice information to keep in mind, just in case.
Jim let out a small breath in the front.
’’Then maybe we can avoid it after all,’’ he said. ’’Most beasts would rather focus on recovery.’’
Theo stared ahead for a few seconds before nodding.
’’Keep going around it,’’ he said as he organized the facts in his mind.
Not only was the beast weaker and injured.
The officer had long told him what its main elements were.
’It has the poison and earth elements,’ he thought. ’Only its third element remains unknown.’
That alone gave him a significant advantage, as his body was immune to any poison that wasn’t acid-based.
’If things really go south...’ he thought, clenching his fist. ’It might just be better to fight and kill it.’
That way, it wouldn’t continue chasing them or call the beast tide to do it instead.
They continued driving while veering further and further to the side.
’’Come on...’’ Jim muttered under his breath.
Iris held on tightly too, her full attention on their right side.
Even Lyra’s gaze kept darting between Owen and the side, her face having paled.
Second after second ticked by.
Subconsciously, everyone but Theo had started holding their breath.
’’Prepare,’’ Feng’s voice suddenly rang out. ’’It’s sent its pack forward.’’
Not even a second later, he continued.
’’The King Cobra itself is moving towards the front to cut us off.’’
Jim’s face immediately darkened.
’’Fuck!’’ he cursed, slamming his fist on the steering wheel.
Iris turned towards Theo right away.
’’What are we going to do?’’ she asked seriously. ’’I’m ready for anything.’’
Theo nodded once.
His gaze flickered towards Lyra before landing on Owen’s unconscious body.
’’Lyra, take Owen and go as high into the sky as possible,’’ he said before turning back to Iris and Jim. ’’We’ll prepare to fight.’’
Jim’s mouth fell wide open as he glanced back.
Iris nodded immediately, a makeshift metal spear forming in her hands.
’’I’ll take care of the minions,’’ she said, already hanging halfway out of the buggy.
’’You’re just going to agree with this?!’’ Jim practically shouted. ’’We almost died last time!’’
But she’d already jumped out of the buggy.
’’Relax,’’ Theo said with a smile. ’’This one isn’t nearly as strong as the last one.’’
With that said, a blue umbrella appeared inside his hand.
Only a split second later, he too jumped out of the buggy.
’They’re crazy!’ Jim thought, slowing to a halt. ’All of them. Complete nutjobs!’
Even though he was complaining, he’d already stepped out of the buggy, his gaze locked on the distance.
’If I survive this,’ he thought, swallowing hard. ’I better find myself a girlfriend.’
As he walked to the top of a dune, he gradually came to a halt beside Theo and Iris.
He could already see the two dozen cobras slithering through the sand in the distance.
And completely to the left slithered a lone snake at least four times their size, its head a strange yellow-gold color.
’’What’s the plan?’’ he asked, glancing at Theo.
Theo glanced over with a smile.
’’You and Iris take care of the minions as fast as you can,’’ he said. ’’Then stay far enough away and bombard the B-rank with spells.’’
’’But,’’ he continued, raising a finger. ’’Stay as far away from its poison as possible.’’
Iris and Jim both nodded.
Their expressions gradually became serious as their previous doubts and fears were forced away.
Theo glanced at the King Cobra in the distance and let out a deep breath.
’Alright, Feng,’ he communicated internally. ’Are you ready for this?’
The unicorn only stared at him for a moment.
Many thoughts raced through its tiny skull.
’’Contractor... while this creature may be weakened,’’ he started slowly. ’’Its poison is still enough to kill you nearly instantly.’’
’Mhm,’ Theo chuckled internally. ’I never told you... but I’m immune to poison unless it’s acidic.’
The unicorn stared at him with strange eyes.
’’Are you sure?’’ it asked.
Theo nodded with a smile.
’Ninety-nine percent,’ he replied.
Theo’s answer left Feng completely silent.
It genuinely didn’t know what to say.
’Just support me as best you can,’ Theo said, his eyes narrowing slightly. ’And if things do go south, pick up the others and leave.’
After a moment, Feng nodded once.
’’Understood.’’
Theo nodded back at him before turning back towards the approaching snakes.
The closer they came, the louder their hissing became.
Finally, his gaze shifted to the massive King Cobra on the left.
Letting out a deep breath, Theo flicked his umbrella open.