After almost fifteen minutes they arrived at a large dome that stood in the center of the bubble chains Whereas the other bubbles were semi translucent allowing some vision of what was within this dome was completely opaque Algae grew thickly along the surface granting a strange fuzziness to the extremely large building
Just as soon as Randidly paused to study the dome in front of them the guards moved With a sudden burst of speed they surged downward to a tunnel that led beneath the dome They hadnÆt even gestured or indicated that Randidly was to wait here They had simply bolted
RandidlyÆs eyes narrowed I knew they were moving slowly to show off
But if they also didnÆt tell him to stay he could casually ignore their attempt to ditch him and have plausible deniability about it later Grinning Randidly swept up handfuls of the thick algae covering the dome and used it to torpedo himself downward after the guards into the tunnel
Within they were in almost complete darkness The two guards continued to accelerate and Randidly chuckled to himself His little micro organisms redoubled their efforts and soon he was effortlessly keeping pace with the frogs However they seemed completely oblivious as they swam through the darkness Likely they didnÆt possess anything like his auxiliary Perception abilities
Eventually the tunnel turned upward And they emerged into the air Randidly came up slowly and suspiciously not daring to take in a breath until he could ascertain the area was safe Not that poison was really that much of a concern but still Traveled from air to water was when he felt the most vulnerable
Certainly the interior of the dome was at least well lit There was even a strange apparatus installed on the ceiling that provided a light source that felt an awful lot like sunlight But the area was still annoyingly swampy to RandidlyÆs eye
At least itÆs out of the rain Randidly thought dourly
Apparently his ascent to the surface of the water was so well controlled that the two guards still hadnÆt noticed his presence as they leapt out of the water Immediately they saluted toward a large weeping willow esque tree that dominated the nearby area and said Sire The Demon waits outside for your pleasure
Fools
The word was spoken with such vehemence that the ground trembled A large well toad hopped out from under the willow tree and surveyed the guards Then its gaze shifted to Randidly If he is awaiting my pleasure outside who is behind you
In typical lackey fashion the two guards spun around and gaped at Randidly Their shock was so visceral that Randidly had a hard time believing it was genuine With narrowed eyes he slowly stepped up the staired tunnel and onto dry land The ground squished pleasantly beneath his bare feet Was this song and dance done for his benefit Or
The Toad Lord which looked like a grey toad the size of a bear waved one of its forelimbs Before RandidlyÆs eyes the two guards withered to nothing within a second and two small glittering spheres were ripped out of their desiccated corpses to fly toward the Toad Lord Without batting an eye the Toad Lord opened its mouth and its tongue shot out and snagged the orbs
Not a song and dance then Randidly thought as he distastefully regarded the corpses Just foolish guards
Randidly looked up to find that the Toad Lord was studying him waiting to see how Randidly responded to the casual show of power To see whether Randidly would balk at violence Randidly responded by not commenting at all simply walking past the bodies and inclining his head You must be the Toad Lord of this city I am the Demon Prince
If it was confused by RandidlyÆs lack of reaction the Toad Lord didnÆt show it Its mouth opened into a wide expression that was likely the frog version of a grin Ah of course I am Nirfik Welcome welcome Come through to sit with me in the mud and talk
Curiouser and curiouser Randidly thought as the Toad Lord turned around and lumbered back beneath the shade of the tree Before he moved he spared a glance for the dried and consumed corpses Because what had just happened had been interesting and likely informed him slightly as to the nature of Feed
He pulled the Aether right out of them Randidly thought as he walked forward to the tree I could feel multiple claims to that Aether and his was strongest But how did he leave such a powerful mark on the Aether And that Willpower he used
Also wasnÆt the Toad LordÆs response to Randidly too amicable He had come peacefully but he hadnÆt expected to walk in so easily After all Neveah had opened this game with the Frog People by killing two of their ruling class Or was this a game of chicken to see which of them would flinch first
Shrugging Randidly followed after the toad to the tree He was surprised as he walked into the screened area because he instantly stepped into knee deep mud Very warm bubbling mud that appeared to be connected to some sort of hot springs As he moved the ground beneath his feel sagged and slid guiding him deeper
Without any real sense of urgency the Toad Lord hopped deeper while spraying large chunks of mud until it sank almost completely into the mud Then it turned around and grinned at Randidly with only its eyes and mouth above the mud
Please follow me to the deeper portion of the mud It is extremely beneficial for the skin At my age there is no such thing as being too careful
Vanity Definitely posturing then Randidly thought He grinned right back and waded after the Toad Lord His metal arm flexed Even if the Toad Lord planned on using this mud as an opportunity to attack Randidly he would be sorely disappointed Woven all throughout the mud were small bits of algae and plant matter Even now those gathered to form a protective halo around Randidly
Randidly was in his natural element
As Randidly sank down up to his waist the Toad Lord Nirfik continued to speak Tell me about your journey Has traveling through our world been comfortable
I appreciate your welcoming attitude Randidly cut across the Toad LordÆs speech before he could build up a head of steam Wasting time here wasnÆt an activity he needed to engage in But I am in a hurry What did you wish to speak with me about Nirfik
NirfikÆs yellow eyes regarded Randidly completely inscrutable Hooh Did you not come here to speak to me I simply thought to display my generosity by guiding you to my humble abode
Randidly pressed his lips together Fine then LetÆs try the direct method I came to fetch someone who is spreading rumors to your Toad Lords I believe you have spoken to this individual I would appreciate your cooperation
Someone that IÆve spoken to Well it is possible But it seems in bad faith to sell out a business partner What will the other Toad Lords say of me
Randidly remained silent just looking at the Toad Lord known as Nirfik
Perhaps sensing the shift in RandidlyÆs mood Nirfik said If I refuse
The Toad LordÆs grin grew even as it continued to sink into the mud Randidly could feel its legs spreading beneath the surface finding a comfortable position to consider Randidly Deeper and deeper it sank its body slowly devoured by the grey black mud Very quickly all Randidly could see were those eyes and that leering mouth
Then everyone in this Deep City will die Randidly spoke in a monotone voice as the Crown above his head grew increasingly heavy To wear the Crown is to choose the Path And to be bound to follow the Path you have chosen
Thea cracked her neck as she looked across the plains to the plumes of smoke rising up on the horizon Donnyton certainly was as peaceful as ever
Her eyes scanned sideways regarding the four figures with her I suppose it’s about time we got started isnÆt it
No one answered They just smiled
Chapter 896
Han Yazhu was exchanging a few quiet words with Donny when Sam and Mrs Hamilton caught up to the group The expedition from Zone Seven had been able to fly beneath DonnytonÆs radar only because there were only five people including Han within the group Therefore none of the patrols they had passed made not of them