*Yulia's POV.*
We resumed our journey through the vast forest after we obtained the honey. As we continued our journey, we occasionally saw stone statue of monsters. Noir approached a statue and touched it and I used my gift to appraise it.
Name: Butcher wolf.
Status: petrified
(Noir these Monsters are petrified.)
(I see, there might be something that did it to them.)
(Mhm, that's for sure.)
We searched for traces of who might have done this but I suddenly remembered something. Many monsters have this ability in the game but at this stage, I only know of one, Cockatrice. The cockatrice is a mythical two-legged dragon with a rooster's head. Famous for its ability to turn victims into stone with a single glance.
*CROCKROOO!*
We heard a loud noise, like a roar of a dragon fused with a roosters crowing. We headed where the noise came from.
(Noir close your eyes and use your powers to sense. You will be petrified if you look into its eyes.)
I didn't even dare to use my appraisal on it because if I accidentally looked into it's eyes then I'm finished. I used my handkerchief as a blindfold and used {sound appraisal detection} to precisely locate the Cockatrice.
I rushed towards the Cockatrice and slash at it. It jumped backwards using the impact of the swing of its wings. I chased at it and it shot a powerful sound shockwave.
*CROCKROOO!*
"{Ice shield.}"
I tried to block it with ice shield but it didn't take a long time to be crushed by the shockwave.
*CRACK! CRACK!*
*CRASH!*
I dodged the debris from the ice shield. Tsk! It's harder to fight in blindfold than I thought. I focused all of my attention on my hearing and chased the monster again. I thrust my sword and it was blocked by its scaly wings.
*CLANG!*
That's so hard, I swung my sword again and again.
*Clang! Clang! Clang!*
I heard a sound of viscous substance that's coming from its mouth.
Shit! Poison saliva! It's an ability that came from the game but---
"{Freeze}"
I Used my power to freeze its mouth before it could spit on me. Fortunately I'm fighting it in close range, It's time to lock in.
(Noir support me with infinite stamina.)
(You meant to transfer the fatigue to the monster right? Sure!)
"*inhale!*"
"*exhale!*
I took a deep breath and chanted
"{ICE CALIBUR: FORWARD THRUST}"
I stepped forward to support my balance to not blow my self away because of the recoil. I thrust my sword and it shot a powerful freezing wave in a shape of a sword to the Cockatrice. I can now control my maximum use of my strongest technique and became more flexible in battle.
*SHHIIIIIIIING!*
*CRACKLE! *CRACKLE!*
My shot was followed by the sound of the wave and crackling sound of the things that being frozen. The Cockatrice moved away from the freezing wave and managed to escape but its wings was probably frozen because it touched the frozen wave before it could escape and it's movement became slower. I smiled, This thing is so dead.
I sprinted towards to the Cockatrice and slashed at it.
"{ICE CALIBUR: Multiple slashes}"
*SWOOOSH! SWOOOSH! SWOOOSH!*
I used Ice CALIBUR to amplify the sharpness of the sword and cut it's neck and limbs carefuly because I want to eat it.
Since it looked like a chicken and we got honey earlier, I decided to make a Honey Chicken or Cockatrice.
I took off my blindfold and picked the Cockatrice up. I smiled then walked back to Noir.
"Good work Yulia."
"Mhm"
I rested for a while and ate some honey candy (honey that is molded into round shape before freezing it) before processing the Cockatrice and prepared to cook.
I Cut the Cockatrice into bite-size pieces then I marinated the Cockatrice to add seasoning into the pieces and also to tenderise so each piece is ultra tender inside. Cornflour/cornstarch coating provides an extra layer to seal in the juiciness of the chicken so it doesn't soften the crispy coating.
COLD batter is the key step for ensuring ultra crispy is COLD batter because the shock of the cold batter hitting hot oil is equal to the crispier Cockatrice. The batter is made cold by making it just prior to frying, and using fridge cold soda water / club soda. drop in a handful of chicken pieces, then coat in batter. Ready to fry!
I fried it for 3 minutes at 180C until it became light golden. It will be unusually pale because of the cornflour in the batter (which doesn't brown) but a touch is all it takes to know it's SUPER crispy!!
I cooled it before I fry it again for 1 and a half minutes. Then I drained it on the rack. I put it in the plates and served it.
*Crunch!*
"It's so delicious, I don't think I will be satisfied by eating ordinary food again."
"Mhm! So true."
We ate together in bliss.
...…
Arnold: (*Growl!*) does these kids still respect their elders?
Davis: I know what you mean, they are having the time of their lives. I'm quite envious of them now.
George:….
Yasmin: Hehe! as long as they are fine.
Elena: Hmph! I'm going to pester my sister to give me some when she comes back.
.....
Yulia's POV.
We stored the leftovers in Noir's void ring. I honestly don't know our goal was to find the boss of this stage or to find delicious ingredients. We can't find the boss because first of all I wasn't sure how many years had passed since I played the first part of the "Eldrich tales." Second as far as I remember the map is slightly different every players so it's useless to memorize it. Third, How Could I know that I will reincarnate in a world related to the game so I didn't bother to memorize the details.
So instead of forcing myself to remember the things in game, I would rather treat it as Gourmet journey.
"""*ROOOOAAAAAAAAR!*"""
We heard simultaneous roar on our way to the deeper part of the forest.
*Crunch! Crunch!*
A three headed bear is eating a big black boar.
Creature: Trikaranos Bear
Strength: City block level
Agility: speed of sound
Endurance: City level
Intelligence: intelligent beast
Magic:, Earth magic
Proficiency: Natural Disaster.
Weakness: slow
Weakness is slow and it moves at the speed of sound? Are you kidding me? But then again the stats classification is based on my strength so since it's slower than me then it's the weakness of the monster.
I didn't need to as Noir to take it down and I rushed forward immediately. It's our nonverbal agreement to let me take down the monsters that I can take on and he will fight those I can't fight. I want to be stronger and I don't want to be just a flower base and a damsel in distress.
*ROOOOOOOAAAAR!*
I swung my sword with all my might but---
*Clang!*
My sword was blocked by its hide. Tsk! Do I really need to spam my special attack to defeat a mob? I'm weak, still too weak.
*ROOOOOOOAAAAR!*
*Tremble!*
The bear roared and the earth trembles. I jumped backwards and the ground changed its shaped. I was chased but the earth Spikes from the ground. I used my agility and my senses to dodged all of it. I freeze the ground and slide on the ice to increase my momentum. I dashed to the bear's side and attack it.
"{ICE CALIBUR: Multiple slashes}"
*SHING!* *SHING!* *SHING!*
*ROOOOOOOAAAAR!
I barely managed to scratched it as expected from a city level defense.
*Tremble!*
*CRACK!* *CRACK!*
The earth trembles again and the ice on the ground was broken. I have enough speed but the problem is my attacks are weak. We battle into stalemate, I can't brake its defense and it can't hit me just like what happened to Noir and the Orc Lord but this bear is weaker than the Orc Lord.
I gained an advantage hand thanks to Noir's continuous supply of energy. I manage to cut off one of its head.
*Thud!*
*ROOOOOOOAAAAR!*
It roared in pain and it became more aggressive. The ground itself is against me but I'm also getting stronger.
I gripped my sword and poured my powers on it.
"{Ice CALIBUR: Dragons Roar.}"
*ROOOOOOOAAAAR!*
A beautiful azure eastern dragon emerged from my sword and roared. I swung my sword downwards and the Azure Dragon flew towards to the bear and bit it.
*BOOM*
*CRACKLE! *CRACKLE!*
The bear was frozen and became an ice statue with dragon scales engraved in the ice.
Name: Yulia Rouge
Gift: Appraisal System
Age: 16
Strength: Super Human
Agility: Mach 2
Endurance: Super Human
Intelligence: Prodigy
Luck: lucky
Psychic: red level cryokinesis, Telepathy
Proficiency: Disaster
Proficiency2: super powers
Named Item: Shuāng Xīng Jiàn(frost star sword)
Evaluation: you're still so weak. A stronger ant.
So that's how it is, psychic powers is not just a normal releasing and training super powers but it is something that is rooted to the Espers beliefs, confidence and mindset. I always admire and believe that dragons are the strongest creature. I desire strength so I subconsciously thought of a dragons in fiction and legends so I was able to create this technique.
I suddenly remembered the things that Noir said to me during the practice match against uncle Davis.
( Daydream is the power of delusions. You just need to believe that you can do it but it's not a reality breaking ability. You just need to believe in the most possible things that you can do. If you think that you could dodge him my powers will help you to dodge Instinctively.)
The power of beliefs and delusions is not something unique in him but rather it is something that every Espers posses but it depends on psychic level and proficiency. Noir's psychic level is Void black the same as the color of his pupils, which is definitely higher than the purple level of psychic powers. It is a level that has never appeared in the history as far as I know.
Tsk! Yet another reason to envy him but with this level of protagonist template is what you can expect from the man I fell in love with.
[Appraisal Note: My daughter has grown up and my advice is worth it (Wiping tears JPG.!)]
This thing is so annoying.
We also encountered a Big Black Boar, the same thing as the boar that was eaten by the Trikaranos Bear earlier.
Creature: Schwarz Boar
Strength: City block level
Agility: speed of sound
Endurance: City block level
Intelligence: intelligent beast
Aura: Aura charge
Proficiency: Disaster.
Weakness: It's juicy meat has became a target for predators.
That thing can also be counted as weakness? But to be honest, it's quite a reasonable provocation to hunt it down. However Aura? That is another power system in the game. It was used by warrior classes. I want to eat it so I'll let Noir handle it.
(Noir, 亲爱的 (Qīn'ài de) can you hunt down that Boar as cleanly as possible?)
I asked coquettishly.
(Okay! but what does tsinaide means? And what's up with that unusual tone? It's not because I don't like it or anything.)
Are you a Tsundere?
(Secret! To the both questions.)
(Well, whatever.)
Moving Black strings emerged from his fingers and whispered.
"{Black plasma strings}"
The other strings restraint the movement of the Boar, while the other strings was Wrapped on the Boar's neck and continuously rotating tighter and tighter until the head was cut off.
*SQUEEEEE!*
*THUD!*
The head of the boar fell to the ground just like that. What heck is wrong with that efficiency? It's so wrong! I worked hard to kill that bear before but this guy just kill a boar like killing a chicken? I'm not convinced!
Name: Noir Egas
Age: 17
Strength: CITY LEVEL
Agility: IMMEASURABLE
Endurance: IMMEASURABLE
Intelligence: Above Average
Luck: IMMEASURABLE
Psychic: Void black level Dream Escape, Daydream
Proficiency: IMMEASURABLE
Proficiency2: Locked(can't be used in dreams)
Magic: Black Lightning
Proficiency: Calamity
Named Item: void space ring
Weakness: Weaker in Real world than in Dream.
Yeah no wonder the boar is no match for him. This guy is the real monster here.
Tsk! I will forget about that and I will turn this pig into "Wild Boar Char Siu" to make me feel good.