Chapter 39 - Actually, I Have a Cheat Too

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Chapter 39: Demon Fish

 

 

"When the Dragon's Spit Fruit ripens, the Red-Armored Earth Dragon will appear. Hold it off for me while I snatch the fruit, then we'll retreat immediately," Captain Locke said, receiving no response.

 

The Red-Armored Earth Dragon—a creature nearly at the rank of a divine beast. Though currently only as powerful as a Sacred-rank beast, its might was akin to the divine beasts. Against such a formidable creature, they were little more than cannon fodder. Even if Locke managed to seize the fruit, the Black Wolf Mercenary Corps would likely be decimated before he could even return.

 

In the end, it was Marvin who broke the silence, trying to lift the morale, though it was hard to say what each person was truly thinking.

 

Just then, a sweet, enticing aroma wafted through the valley.

 

Everyone froze for a second, until someone shouted, "The Dragon's Spit Fruit has ripened?"

 

At that, shadows shot across the valley, darting toward the waterfall with astonishing speed. Among them were the leaders of the three mercenary groups, with Captain Locke at the forefront. He was spurred on by a sense of urgency—the Dragon's Spit Fruit was his lifeline, and he could not afford to hesitate.

 

As they drew closer to the source of the enticing scent, a powerful dragon's roar echoed from behind the waterfall. Though slightly muffled by the cascade, the sound reverberated through the valley, making it feel as though the dragon's cries filled the entire gorge.

 

Moments later, the Red-Armored Earth Dragon's head emerged from behind the waterfall, sending droplets flying like arrows in all directions. The dragon, having sensed the intruders, unleashed its furious aura, sweeping over Captain Locke and the others who led the advance, forcing them to retreat to avoid its direct wrath.

 

Screams erupted in the valley.

 

It seemed some had tried to take advantage of the chaos, attempting to swim across the lake while the dragon's attention was on Locke and the others. However, the lake harbored its own beasts; one man had barely submerged when a monstrous fish tore off his leg. Blood seeped into the water as a Demon Fish leaped out, its razor-sharp fangs gleaming in the light.

 

This Demon Fish was unlike the ones they had encountered earlier. Those had been fourth- or fifth-rank beasts, but this one was at least seventh-rank in power.

 

Before anyone could process the shock, several more Demon Fish broke the surface, each no weaker than the sixth or seventh rank.

 

No one dared risk the water route anymore. Even those trying to step across exposed rocks above the lake were attacked by swarms of Demon Fish below; the submerged ones were likely even more dangerous.

 

With this convenient shortcut rendered useless, they were left with only one option: the sky. But from above, the Red-Armored Earth Dragon now loomed, its enormous body stretched halfway out of the waterfall, appearing to cover nearly the entirety of the sky. If it extended its tail as well, none would dare venture any closer.

 

Without getting close, they could not harvest the Dragon's Spit Fruit. Yet if it wasn't picked quickly, the ripened fruit would drop into the lake below, where a swarm of Demon Fish awaited. Attempting to retrieve it from the lake would be nearly impossible.

 

The scent grew stronger, signaling that the Dragon's Spit Fruit would soon fall. Held back by the dragon, Captain Locke could only look to Marvin for help.

 

Marvin led his team to the lake's edge, still a hundred meters from the waterfall. Jagged rocks protruded from the lake's surface, and some tried to cross over them, only to be driven back by the Demon Fish, while others fell into the lake, disappearing beneath a bloom of blood that made everyone's skin crawl.

 

In earlier days, the team might have readily volunteered for the task. But after realizing Captain Locke didn't truly value their lives, they remained silent, an unspoken resistance brewing beneath the surface.

 

Marvin was clearly aware of this shift; his expression darkened slightly as his planned course of action faltered. If he lost the trust of his subordinates, he and the captain would soon find themselves isolated. This could not continue. As his mind raced, he caught sight of Rex and Ge Yan lingering at the back and suddenly devised a plan that would serve two purposes at once.

 

"Rex, Jimmy, come here for a moment," Marvin called.

 

Upon hearing Marvin call for them, Ge Yan felt a bad premonition. He saw Rex walking over, expressionless, and steeled himself to follow.

 

"What can we do for you, Captain Marvin?" Ge Yan asked.

 

Marvin replied with a kindly smile, "You two have been with the Black Wolf Mercenaries for some time now, but haven't had a chance to prove yourselves. This is the perfect moment to show your value; the Black Wolf doesn't support idle hands. I have a plan."

 

Ge Yan immediately guessed it involved using them as bait to lure the Demon Fish. He looked at Rex, who, calm as ever, directly inquired about the plan. If Ge Yan hadn't known Rex's true nature, he might have been fooled into thinking he was the perfect subordinate.

 

Unaware of Rex's true intentions, Marvin went on to explain his scheme.

 

As Ge Yan suspected, the idea was to have the two of them act as decoys. There were many jagged rocks above the lake, forming several possible paths. Three of these led directly to the Dragon's Spit Fruit. Marvin wanted Ge Yan and Rex to each take one routes, drawing the demon fish's attention, while he would take the third route and secure the fruit. His promise to rescue them after sounded reassuring, but in reality, it was a thinly veiled death sentence, revealing Marvin's calculating mind.

 

"The demon fish below are mid-level magic beasts, and there aren't many here who can contend with them. However, I do have a way to keep our people safe," Rex said smoothly, his tone calm and untroubled, leaving an impression of unshakable composure.

 

Marvin hadn't expected him to say this. He had intended to teach the two a lesson, but Rex's comment cast him in the role of a leader indifferent to his followers' lives. Marvin suppressed a sneer, doubting that Rex could devise anything useful, yet he asked, "If you've got such a great idea, why didn't you say so earlier? Let's hear it."

 

"The method is simple. Demon fish aren't intelligent creatures; they only attack anyone crossing the lake from above. We just need to catch a few magic beasts and throw them down to lure away the demon fish. We might even use them as stepping stones*…"

 

[T/N: In a figurative sense, "踏腳石" (stepping stones) represents anything that serves as a means to achieve a goal or as a support in a journey. But I suspect the ML literally just wants to use them as stepping stones.]

 

As Rex finished explaining, everyone, save Marvin, looked on in awe—the plan was undeniably safer and far superior to their captain's proposal.

 

"Not bad, Rex," Marvin said with feigned praise. "Alright, everyone, go catch a few beasts for this." His face held a smile that didn't reach his eyes, and a closer look revealed a shadow of resentment there.

 

The team hurried off to hunt down some magic beasts.

 

Meanwhile, members of the Raven and Alice Mercenary Groups noticed this and, thinking the Black Wolves were preparing to flee, mocked them. But their laughter quickly faded.

 

Before long, each member of the Black Wolves returned, carrying a captured magic beast, some dead, others barely alive. One by one, they heaved them into the lake, and soon a swarm of demon fish converged on the bait. Realizing the tactic worked, the team threw the rest of the beasts into the water, creating a loud splash as the lake's surface erupted with activity.

 

Seizing the opportunity, Marvin dashed across toward the waterfall, crossing the hundred meters in seconds, his figure disappearing behind the cascade.

 

What a clever move!

 

Cursing loudly, the other adventurers and mercenaries surged forward, especially the Raven and Alice groups, fearing Marvin would snatch the Dragon's Spit Fruit first. Soon, everyone was crowding the lake's edge.

 

By this time, the demon fish had finished devouring their meal and, emerging from the lake's depths, were ready for more prey. The adventurers and mercenaries, crammed together, were caught off guard, and once again, their blood-curdling screams filled the air.

 

The commotion was enough to catch the Red-Armored Earth Dragon's attention. Spotting Marvin just as he reached for the Dragon's Spit Fruit, the dragon let out a furious roar that shook even the skies above Thorn Valley.

 

"Watch out!" Captain Locke shouted.

 

A massive dragon tail shot out from the waterfall, crashing violently against the cliff where Marvin stood. The sound was deafening, and debris, along with torrents of water, exploded outward. In an instant, the waterfall appeared to shatter, leaving a long, wide crack in the once-smooth cliffside. But Marvin was nowhere to be seen.

 

"The Dragon's Spit Fruit—where is it?" Captain Locke's voice echoed, filled with frustration and disbelief.

 

Daniel and Heidi, hearing his outburst, recalled how close Marvin had been to the fruit. The dragon's tail had likely struck the very spot where the Dragon's Spit Fruit grew, smashing it to pieces. A quick sniff confirmed it—the fruit's fragrance had weakened, almost to nothing.

 

With the Dragon's Spit Fruit annihilated, there was nothing left worth fighting for.

 

Daniel and Heidi exchanged a swift glance and immediately ordered a retreat.

 

Black Crow initially hadn't considered this possibility, but seeing the others withdraw, he realized the situation. Only Captain Locke lingered, unwilling to abandon hope until he saw it for himself. Unfortunately, the Red-Armored Earth Dragon was not about to give him that chance. Seeing this audacious human repeatedly challenge its authority, the dragon was enraged.

 

Its massive body emerged fully from behind the waterfall, and upon witnessing this, the crowd fled even faster. The dragon's tail swung in fury, shaking the entire valley. Waves surged from the lake, flooding the flatlands, and rocks crashed down from the cliffs, crushing those too slow to escape. The valley echoed with cries of pain and terror.

 

Amid the chaos, a tall figure appeared before Marvin, who had been gravely wounded and swept into a corner by the lake's current.

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