Beyond of the Scale

#20 - The invasion of the purges

〔Niro pov〕

In the guild we celebrated the slaughter of a groveryus from my subjugation team, it was a grotesque looking creature of mixtures of horse, scorpion and lion.

[Niro]: Today we celebrate our victory over a groveryus!

I raise my beer glass and everyone yells in unison.

[All]: Heeeee!!!

We all start drinking and eating, but I get a warning on my badge. The notice of a new target for a subjugation, I have others in the queue, so I put this one after them, but I'm curious enough to check it out.

——————
Dangerous

dragon A dragon has been sighted in Póris village, there are large traces of it preparing to attack and the people are terrified, a priority for this creature should be provided.

Reward:
100,000 Nédrahs/1 Gold Coin
——————

After seeing this message, I stand up and announce it to my team.

[Niro]: Attention, Ferkis team! We have a new emergency mission! We'll go through Varin, subdue the monster there and then go to Phoris!

[All on staff]: Yes sir!

〔Shīndora pov〕

The darkness once again opens up and two figures are in front of me.

[???1]: You're Shindora, aren't you?

[???2]: I can't believe I'm in front of a dragon!

I stand up as I speak.

[Shindora]: Who are you... Niangk!

[???1]: Don't move! You are still recovering!

With my right front paw on my chest, I lie down very slowly.

[Shindora]: I can't believe... that he keeps... doing this...

[???2]: Yeah...

[Shindora]: You... still haven't... replied...

[???2]: I'm Netty and this is Cane.

[Cane/Netty]: We're twin brothers and we love dragons!

[Shindora]: Only adventurers... may enter... here...

[Cane]: We are.

[Netty]: More specifically, we are the bosses of the Ferius group.

[Shīndora]: How... nice...

[Netty]: Rest, Shīndora. You'll need to be in good shape for our first mission.

[Shindora]: It's good... to know... that they like... dragons... Good night...

[Cane]: It doesn't make much sense to say this during the day, but good night.

The twins place their hands on my head and I fall asleep purring.

[Shindora]: Thank you...

• 10 hours later...

I get up, go towards a mirror and see a giant scar on the scales in the heart area.

[Shindora]: My scales really hate being pierced more than once.

I pass my paw and feel the fragility of my scales in the area, very fragmented like grains of sand. With each knife thrust they weakened, with that in mind, I sigh and leave through the open door of one of the infirmary rooms using ⟦presence awareness⟧ and ⟦analysis⟧ to specifically find Lilia and the other members of the group.

Lilia is in one of the rooms two doors from where I am and the others are apparently in the guild.

[Shīndora]: she IS a kludge that spends a lot of mana, but is efficient...

Standing at the door, I realize I'm not big enough to reach the handle, so I knock.

{Knock}
{Knock}
{Knock}

I hear footsteps, the door opens and Lilia appears looking around.

[Shindora]: Down here, Lilia.

She looks down worriedly.

[Lilia]: Shīndora, you should rest, your scales still haven't recovered!

[Shindora]: They won't stand still, I want to do my first mission even if it doesn't involve a battle.

[Lilia]: Shīndora...

[Shīndora]: Don't insist. I'm already rested, it's enough for me not to fight.

[Lilia]: Oh... okay... we're done for today mate.

Someone gets out of bed and leaves the room.

[Shindora]: Will he be okay?

[Lilia]: Yes. He wasn't hurt, I do one therapy session a week for him.

[Shindora]: Very well then. We will?

[Lilia]: Yes.

We left the infirmary and went to the guild, there we checked the H rank missions that are on a board.

——————
Ruined plantations

In the village of Varin, there is a farm witnessing the destruction of its cultivation, it is suspected to be a plague.

Reward:
215 Nédrahs/2 silver and 15 bronze coins
——————
Disabled

elderly woman In our village there is an elderly woman with paralyzed legs and her butler has traveled for a week.

Reward:
164 Nédrahs/1 silver and 64 bronze
——————
Empty Well

In our village there is an empty well and the person in charge of it is sick.

Reward:
34 Nédrahs/34 Bronze Coins
——————

I was disappointed with the amount.

[Shīndora]: I thought there was more...

[Lilia]: That's why it's so hard to get out of rank H.

[Shīndora]: The only one I was interested in was the farm one... can we go for that one?

[Lily]: Of course.

Soon the twins appear coming from one of the bar tables.

[Cane/Netty]: Have you picked one yet?

[Shindora]: Yes.

Lilia shows the mission paper and the twins look on.

[Cane]: It's an interesting quest... but are you sure you're already recovered?

[Shindora]: Just don't get into a fight.

[Netty]: It's a passive mission, it doesn't have combat.

[Shindora]: Then let's get it.

We took the paper to the clerk and Lilia continued with the dialogue.

[Lilia]: We want this mission.

[Receptionist]: ...

With her gaze fixed on me, I can see her fear and terror, her desire to run away.

[Shindora]: I noticed you didn't tell me your name...

[Receptionist]: ...

[Lilia]: There's nothing to be afraid of, tell him.

[Receptionist]: B...B...B...Belle.

[Shindora]: Nice to meet you, Belle.

With that simple answer, I see her fear melt away and she goes back to work a little hesitantly.

[Belle]: Did you... choose this one?

[Shindora]: Yes. I still haven't recovered for a fight and I'm going to love helping the farmer.

Her fear slowly fading, she continues and asks everyone who will participate to place their insignia above the magic circle.

[Belle]: Right. This quest is now solely yours until you complete or cancel it.

[Shindora]: Thank you very much, Belle. Are you ready to go? I am very anxious to help the farmer! The sooner the better!

[All in the group]: Let's go!

After leaving the guild we went to Varin on foot, horseback riding was expensive, it took two days of travel to get there.

[Cane/Netty]: Welcome to Varin!

A well-fed village with well-positioned trees, cut grass, organized traffic and houses with a standard distance that can be used for future expansions.

[Shindora]: It's a pity we won't stay for long.

[Cane]: Varin is the only village with low living costs, good salary and pleasant environment near the southern border of the kingdom.

[Shindora]: The only one? What is the difference from Phoris?

[Cane]: To buy a house in Fóris costs 4,500 Nédrahs and here 1,300.

[Netty]: It is the village with the most population demand in the extreme south of Hewarus.

[Shindora]: Wow! Amazing! But where is the farm?

[Cane]: It is northeast of Varin.

[Shindora]: So let's go!

Walking through the village with many people on the streets, we head northeast from Varin and arrive at the farm. There was an anguished man looking at his plantation almost all mucha, I approached and was the first to talk to him.

[Shindora]: Hello. Very sad for you, isn't it?

[???]: Yes...

He looks around confused, because he doesn't see anyone.

[Shindora]: Down here, sir.

Then he looks down, once again I see those same feelings through his eyes and he collapses in terror.

[???]: Get away from me, you monster!

[Shindora]: Calm down, sir. I won't hurt you.

[???]: A dragon talking?! Relief!!!

With his hands he takes a hoe and tries to hit me, but I can't move so badly because of my condition. A light surrounds me and blocks the attack.

[???]: What?!

[Lilia]: Stay away from my familiar, sir! He's already too injured to put up with your hoe!

[???]: Your... familiar...?

[Cane]: Indeed. He is her familiar, and will not harm you.

[Shindora]: Thank you, Lilia.

I turn my attention back to the lord and continue.

[???]: But he's a dragon!

[Shindora]: Without a doubt, but he doesn't confuse me with others of my kind. I'm not one to bully and take like them, I'm one to please and conquer. Let me help your crops...

Without hesitation he stops me hitting the ground with the hoe in front of me.

[???]: Stay away from my plantation you demon!

I look at him shocked and hurt that he would call me something I am nowhere near.

[Lilia]: Don't talk like that...

[Shīndora]: It's okay, Lilia... I know when I'm not accepted...

Slightly of my own volition, I return to my vessel with quick, visible tears.

[Lilia]: Shindora!

She tries to push me away with concern, but I reject her request.

[Lilia]: You made him cry!

[Netty]: Calm down, Lilia...

[Lilia]: How can I calm down after seeing him hurt my friend so deeply like that?!

[???]: Are you going to save my crops or not?!

[Cane]: Yes. We will. Lilia?

She glares at the old man and heads to one of the plants to use ⟦plant magic⟧.

• 1 minute later...

[Lilia]: That's it...

She speaks tiredly

[???]: Very slow...!

Lilia looks angrily once more and hears something coming from the plant, when she turns to see, the plant is wilting.

[Lilia]: That doesn't make sense...

[???]: You just can't do it!

[Lilia]: I would be if Shīndora was here to help me!

[???]: I highly doubt it! He'll just want to screw up more than he already has with that fire spit of his!

[Lilia]: Even if you don't want to, I need his help or your crop won't be saved!

[???]: ...

The old man looks away with a thoughtful expression and then answers.

[???]: It's ok... but I don't trust it and it will be your responsibility!

[Lily]: Thank you.

[???]: Why don't you help?

[Netty]: We don't use ⟦plant magic⟧.

[Lilia]: Shīndora... I know he hurt you, but I want his help.

She touches my receptacle and I leave with tears still falling.

[Shindora]: I'll help if he really allows it...

Angrily he looks at me and replies.

[???]: It might help.

Unable to stop crying, I speak.

[Shindora]: Not quite what I was expecting, but thanks.

I turn around, approach the growing area and use ⟦presence detection⟧. There, more than 10 meters deep, I see a faint presence of some kind of creature.

[Shīndora]: There is a creature in the cultivation area at a depth of more than 10 meters, I believe it is the one absorbing the vitality of the plants.

[???]: A creature...? Just use poison.

He asks a question with a suspicious tone and then I explain further.

[Shīndora]: It's too deep for any liquid to get there... your only options are: harvest your current crop and move out or allow me to end the root problem by crushing it with the stash itself and losing the current crop, however will still have possession of a fertile land.

[???]: I knew! It was what you wanted all along! Get off my farm, demon!

Once again I am extremely hurt and more tears start to fall, but I start to leave as instructed.

[Shindora]: I'll go... Have a good trip, sir... I

keep walking with my tears like a waterfall and I hear the old man speak.

[???]: Alright... Taking the long view to destroy the root of the problem is the most logical thing...

[Shindora]: I can't... Demons don't help, I'll ruin everything...

[???]: You've come to fulfill the mission and I want to save my farm, not move, even if it means destroying my current crop...

[Shindora]: Are you sure?

[???]: Don't make me change my mind.

[Shindora]: All right.

≥⟦clay⟧

All earth sinks together with planting and all, but one thing came to mind.

[Shindora]: How long has it been like this?

[???]: Two months, give or take.

[Shindora]: Not that one... She was lucky...

[???]: "She"?...

From the crushed earth, many large creatures come out and start attacking.

[???]: Purges?!

[Shindora]: Purges?

≥⟦analysis⟧

——————
Species: Purge
Stage: Adult
Condition: Normal

LV: 17/20
HP: 1312/1312
MP: 1402/1402 STR
: 712
DEF: 810
SPD: 230
INT: 5
Rank: E

– ----- Definitive Skills

- ⟦Drill: Lv.5⟧
- ⟦Ecolocation: Lv.6⟧
Info: Allows you to track the location and presences in it through sound.
- ⟦Plant extraction: Lv.5⟧
Info: Allows you to feed yourself by extracting the vitality of a plant through its roots.


–----- Skills

- ⟦Bite: Lv.6⟧
- ⟦Claws: Lv.4⟧
- ⟦Thought Acceleration: Lv.3⟧
- ⟦Clay: Lv.8⟧
- ⟦Auto HP Recovery: Lv. 3⟧
- ⟦Auto MP recovery: Lv.4⟧
- ⟦Vibration perception: Lv.6⟧

–----- Magic Skills

• Earth magic
→ ⟦Stone thorn: Lv.7⟧
→ ⟦Stone wall : Lv.5⟧
→ ⟦Stone Fangs: Lv.6⟧
Info: An offshoot of earth magic, it makes it possible to gather fragments of earth to form a thorn that doesn't need to be in contact with the ground.

–----- Resistances

- ⟦Paralysis resistance: Lv.6⟧
- ⟦Stone magic resistance: Lv.5⟧
- ⟦Poison resistance: Lv.6⟧
- ⟦Wind magic resistance: Lv.4⟧
- ⟦Fire magic resistance: Lv.3⟧
- ⟦High temperature resistance: Lv.7⟧

–---- - Titles

- ⟦Onivore⟧
Effect: Can eat meat and vegetables.
- ⟦Excavator⟧
Effect: Makes digging more efficient, accurate and fast.
- ⟦Avenger⟧
Effect: Increases strength during revenge.
- ⟦Stone Ruler⟧
Effect: Increases earth magic damage.
——————

[Shindora]: That... is a problem...

As everyone left, they made a huge, high-pitched battle cry.

{!!!!KRRRRRYYYYYYYKKKKK!!!!}