Damn it, Daisy. I'm in no mood to be roasted right now, and by my very own daughter. Take some pity on your father who is facing a powerful opponent, will you?
"I'm not roasting you! I'm just really concerned as to why you're moving… so slowly. I'm not insulting you, Dad. Just— concerned," she said.
"Mind elaborating on that, young lady?" asked Kirin gently.
"Huh? I'm— not sure what's there to elaborate, really. Dad could have just avoided the incoming attack coming in from the right but he decided to block instead," she shrugged.
What? What the hell are you—
As though she had predicted the movements of the jellyfish, she came in and attacked from my right, and I had to block it, which sent me flying once more, but thankfully I managed to roll myself to safety.
"And he could have countered her uppercut," spoke Daisy nonchalantly.
And as though on cue, the jellyfish aimed for my chin with her tentacles, and I barely managed to dodge it if it was not for Daisy telling me earlier. What in blazes? How can Daisy predict what she'd do?
I leapt backwards to ensure some there's some distance between me and the jellyfish. Staying close to her doesn't benefit me one bit. While I'm uncertain as to how Daisy is able to predict her movements, what she's telling me is invaluable intel, and I plan to make full use of it.
Daisy, starting from now, you need to tell me what she'll do but make it as brief as possible. I don't know how you do it nor do I care right now. All I know is that I'll need your help. You might just be the edge I need in fighting her in this phase.
"Uhh— o… kay? On your left, then right," she spoke while sounding unsure.
I just followed her advice and moved before the jellyfish even twitched. She glared at me with a confused expression but I ignored her and continued to follow Daisy's advice. It was perhaps one of the funniest scenes since I'm the only one moving while the jellyfish was literally just staring at me. I thought she would be bursting out laughing as she watched me "dance", but somehow— I was wrong.
"How— how do you even know? It's… impossible. You should not be able to see it!" shouted the jellyfish.
Daisy stopped giving me any instructions, hence I finally had time to stop and glance at the jellyfish. What did she mean by that? How do I know what she'll be doing? I have Daisy to thank for that. But why did she mean by— "see it"?
"Calm yourself, Zen. Stay focused and perhaps you'll be able to figure out what she's talking about," spoke Kirin as he sounded annoyed.
Is there something that Daisy could see that I couldn't? Is that the reason why she can predict her movements since she can see "it"? What is it that both of them could see that I could not? I frowned and focused myself, forcing myself to enter a state of meditation that focuses on nothing except for visual. There is nothing to think, there is nothing to plan, there is absolutely— nothing.
H— huh? What… the hell was that? I had to rub my eyes in disbelief as I couldn't believe what I just saw. It shouldn't be possible for human eyes to be able to see— that. Those faint zigzag lines.
"Damn you! That power belongs to me! You shouldn't be able to use it!" the jellyfish gritted her teeth as she stomped her feet.
It was not until Daisy pointed out that my eyes had the same effect as the jellyfish that I realised it. Lightning had coated my eyes, but according to her, mine was white, unlike the jellyfish which was green. Is that the reason as to why I can finally see it? Bloody hell, I finally figured out how she's moving so fast. She was using stepped leader to establish a charge between me and her all this time and riding on the return stroke. What a clever way to move faster.
"Yes, that is how she's moving so quickly. How interesting that she's able to use something natural to boost her speed. I'm ashamed that I've never though of using this. Was I mistaken in her ability to "immobilise" her surroundings?" explained Kirin.
Nay, her lightning that strikes from above certainly slowed down for me. I'm fairly certain I'm emitting that passive around me. Pretty sure she's capable of using both. She must have been aiming for the ground I was standing on or anything metallic on me. So many positive charges everywhere for her to take advantage of. Is that how you're able to predict her movements, Daisy? You're able to see where the stepped leader was going?
"I've got no idea what you both are talking about. What in the world is a stepped leader or return stroke anyway? What I can see are just— images of what she'll do to you. That's the best way I can explain it," she shrugged.
Are you— actually capable of seeing the future, Daisy? That's an awesome power to have, my dear daughter! Overpowered sure, but since you're on my side, that's completely fine. Heh heh.
"Do you still need me to inform you since you can see the step ladder or whatever now?" she shrugged.
Being able to see and being able to react fast enough are two different things, my dear daughter, and it's called stepped leader. So yes, I still need your help should I wish to stand a chance against her. Otherwise, I can't react fast enough if I just depend on looking at the stepped leader. Do help your father out, please?
"I'll try. But it's going to be morning soon and Mum might wake me up. Don't be surprised if I ended up disappearing all of a sudden," she said.
A quick check of my watch revealed the time to be about 5.30. Sunrise will be upon us soon and I have no idea when her minions will be reaching here, but I'm not about to wait to find out. Let's end this battle, now.
The fingers on my left hand burst with purple flames as I used Rend to tear the fabric of reality and summoned my trusty translucent purple cloak. Upon using Rend, I wasted no time and raised my left arm and called forth a lightning to coat Inazuma after a snap of my right fingers to resummon it. Upon drinking my all-stats, adrenaline, and strength potions, I readied myself. Wished I brought along more agility potions rather than one.
The jellyfish was somehow kind enough to allow me to ready myself, but that all changed when she started yelling. Green lightning began striking the surrounding randomly as she approached closer. I held Inazuma two-handed tightly and awaited the direction of where the stepped leader would connect. Keeping a close eye on my feet, upon seeing where the flash connected and with the help of Daisy informing me earlier, I finally managed to block her incoming attack properly with my feet planted firmly. Being ready for an attack rather than at the last moment helps.
Her eyes widened and she gritted her teeth when I managed to block her attack. Who would have thought that you could use a return stroke to increase your speed? Never did I ever thought that it would even be possible to harness the ability of Mother Nature and imbue yourself with it. Well, she can practically coat herself with lightning, I don't see why she doesn't take advantage of it when she's able to. I wonder if I can actually harness the full power of Kirin's lightning one day.
I kicked her backwards and smirked. Now that I can predict her movements, I can finally fight against her. No more running away now, time to bag another Vessel under my belt.
***
Gosh darn it, Kuchisabishii-sama certainly wanted a feast. My hands were sore from the amount of meat roasting that I cooked for him. Good thing he's all hammered now and I could finally sneak away from him. Although— where the hell is everyone?! Why is everything so quiet? I almost reached the location of the Cosmic Tree now but I don't hear or even see anyone.
I made my way out of the dense forest, only to be revealed with a horrifying scene where dead elves were littered everywhere. Only a few of them were carrying their bodies and leaning them against a tree. May Hela have mercy on their poor souls if they ended up in Helheim.
So many dead elves… I should have been here helping out. Damn it, Kuchisabishii-sama, we could have helped these elves instead of feasting.
One of the elves who was handling the bodies called out to me for help. I asked him where Zen and the Elementalist went as I helped him on what he wanted. He informed me that he had no idea where they went after the strange girl sent Zen flying from this place. The Elementalist followed after him, not before creating a light source for them to use in the middle of the field. A rather large, intense purple flame that doesn't seems to die out was illuminating the whole area, which was rather helpful since I currently don't have any flints with me. Hang on, what is fuelling the fire? I don't see any wood below the fire. What a strange flame.
Guess I should just help out since I've got no information on where they went. I sighed and helped the elves in collecting the bodies of the fallen. I stacked a couple of them over my shoulders and brought them closer to a tree to put them to rest.
"L— Lord? What do you think you're doing? You can't just stack them up together like that. How are they going to breathe?" asked one of the elves as he stuttered while staring at me with disbelief.
"B— breathe? Why would the dead need to breathe?" I blinked at them.
"Lord! They're not dead! Put them down quickly!" shouted the elf.
"I think all of you need to explain what's going on," I told him as I placed the stack of bodies gently.
And so they did. They told me that a young girl had burst out of the giant insect's abdomen, but not before incapacitating all the elves with some powerful lightning attack. Only the scouts who were lucky enough to remain hidden above the trees were spared from the attack. And Zen, who miraculously tanked the attack and was the only one at ground level who could move. It was not long before the Elementalist pulled himself up and started using powers that they had not seen before. Much later, Zen got electrocuted out of nowhere, which they thought he was dead since his body was literally charred and smoking.
Surprisingly, he was brought back to life after more electrical shocks that seemed to had powered him up, making him capable of fighting toe to toe with the girl in question. However, he was sent flying by the female, and the Elementalist followed after him. That's the gist of what had happened thus far.
I have known Zen for many years, but what I just heard certainly hurts my brain. He's known for doing stupid shits out of this world, but that certainly takes the cake. Shocked to death but resurrected with electrocution? How in the world does that even work?!
As I rubbed my aching forehead, an extremely loud boom erupted from somewhere. I managed to catch the glimpse of a rather large green lightning striking the ground. That must be where Zen is currently fighting and I'm sure the Elementalist had caught on that too. Time for me to do my job rather than cooking.
"Seems like the fight is getting rather intense over there," spoke a familiar voice.
"GAHHHH!!! You need to stop doing that!" I shouted at him as I held where my heart was. It was Kuchisabishii-sama who had appeared out of nowhere. I thought he was asleep from the food coma.
"Let us go. I'm curious to see how much that young one has grown from this fight," he spoke, seemingly ignoring my sudden outburst earlier.
"You don't have to tell me twice, I had already decided to head over to help him. Are you— going to give me a ride there?" I chuckled, and he replied with an unamused expression. Guess he won't be giving me a ride with a full belly.
I began running towards the direction of where the lightning struck earlier. Hang on, Zen, we're coming to help. Stay alive, buddy.