A Story of Evil

Chapter 156: Jade and Alice III

"Are you ready?"

"Ask that to yourself."

Jade and Alice were able to locate their enemies easily. Although Alice couldn't see them due to the camouflage, Jade's body still reacted to the presence of the monster. With each tree they passed through and, every tall grass avoided, his body continued getting hotter and hotter. Until it finally came to a point where he was sure they were inside the range of the chameleons. This was supported by Alice whose [Danger Sense] finally kicked in. Telling them the exact radius where they could expect the chameleons.

The two then spread the dead rabbits on multiple spots. Hoping to find what location held the most chameleons. To their surprise, eyes opened up everywhere they placed the rabbits. With tongues coming out like a whip

This was a bad thing. There were monsters almost everywhere and, on a number that nearly reached thirty.

The two began their search for any chameleon containing a mana crystal in its body. But this task also proved to be difficult. Even with the sun still up, the trees were still blocking a significant amount of sunlight and, whatever light passes trough creates shadows on strange areas, adding to the challenge of their search.

This is when Jade came up with an idea. That if he uses just enough flames and, in moderation, then the would not only get a clearer view of the location. They'd also see the said crystal shinning if there is ever a chameleon which has it on its body. Hence leading to the current moment where the two were preparing for an attack.

"I'm so down for this, who's gonna go in first though?"

"Can you also enchant your pistols?"

"Uh yeah. So you want to go double long range?"

"No. I'll be taking the front. If I use enough living flames to cover my body, their spits won't be a problem anymore."

"Is that because you want to show a bit of chivalry? Cause it's not needed here."

"Of course not. I just want to practice swinging my halberd. Plus, I can illumine them better if I'm close and, your eyesight would probably be more beneficial in finding what we need from afar."

"Damn that's actually smart. Okay let's go then." Alice said, placing back the daggers to their sheaths and, pulling out her twin pistols. Jade watched as the enchantment filled the weapon. With red runes covering it in a visible way. Giving the weapon a more magical feel.

"As soon as I jump out and summon my weapon, feel free to fire to your heart's content."

"With pleasure." Alice said as, Jade did not waste any moment to jump out and fight.

The chameleons opened their eyes and sure enough, Alice began free firing. Pulling the trigger and hitting two chameleons right away. Meanwhile Jade dropped in the middle of their tongues which began whipping at him. The flame user wasn't able to respond quickly enough, causing the attack of the enemies to hit him. But it wasn't a cause for concern.

Their tongues got burned and, their spits evaporated. Although Jade sustained some damage he didn't let this show. He was used to pain after all and, what the monsters did was nothing compared to his experience with Prince Blaze.

Hence Jade began swinging his halberd. Its flames lighting up the whole area, exposing even the parts that were covered by the shadows. The monsters still attacked him but, Alice provided cover fire from the back. Preventing them from causing any significant damage. But since Alice's main focus was to search for the crystal, her attention was divided and so was the amount of damage she dealt.

Meanwhile Jade just focused on his fight.

Three chameleons went to the ground. Even though he couldn't see it, he could hear their actions as well as the swift running of the monsters toward him. Jade followed where the grass was waving and swung his halberd at that direction. Hitting on chameleon but, that was all he could do.

The weapon wasn't able to slice through. It was only able to pierce thorugh a thin layer of the flesh, with a small part of the chameleon being exposed. The other chameleons used this moment of lag to which their tails toward their enemy.

There was no way for Jade to dodge and so he was hit with the full blunt of the attack slamming to a nearby tree. The attack was too powerful for his liking. It was as heavy as a huge log and, whatever the tails of the monsters were made of, these seemed to be unaffected by his living flames.

"This is gonna be a bit tougher than I thought." He said as Alice provided support fire, preventing the attacking chameleons from closing in while more corrosive spits were fired by the chameleons which stood at the back.

Jade didn't waste this opportunity and went to grab his halberd. A weapon which was still stuck on the chameleon. A deja vu would've hit him at that point as the other two chameleons prepared to use their tail again. But Jade was prepared finally releasing a burst of flame through his weapon. Burning the chameleon whole.

"ARE YOU CRAZY!" Alice shouted, remembering the fact that Jade himself was the one who said that he could potentially burn the whole forest with his flames.

"TRUST ME!" Was all that Jade said as he proceeded to getting hit by another tail. He was fast enough to land his own attack; making his halberd get buried deep enough to make the monster shriek.

Jade griped on the handle of his weapon. He was still being flung away. But a second before his grip loosened, he released the same attack. Burning the monster as he slammed to another tree.

Alice was frightened at first. But that was before she finally realized what was happening. Making her jaw drop in shock because, Jade's flames died on their own. They only burned their target and disappeared entirely right after.

This is the effect of Jade's final skill [Hell's Fire]. It is an extension of Jade's living flames, allowing him to be specific in what gets burned. The same flames can be shaped in any form. However, flames which Jade already fired cannot have this same property.

It was the first time he ever used the skill. Even against Herald, Jade refrained from using the skill. But at that time there was no choice. Not with the environment they needed to fight in at least.

One by one Jade attacked the chameleons. Releasing a massive amount of flames which he whirled in the whole area. Alice didn't allow her partner to hog the spotlight. She also killed one chameleon after the other. Focusing on the ones that were running away and, on the ones which were outside the area of effect of Jade's flames.

The chameleons were trimmed down instantly and, those that remained got their skins sweating. The camouflage disabled because of this. Jade didn't know that he accidentally caused this but, it didn't matter nevertheless. The two continued the one sided massacre until all of the chameleons were dead and dealt with. Until the fight was finally over.

Jade's mana was completely drained while Alice didn't use much. Around them was a field of burnt corpses. The weird thing about it was that, the chameleons were the only ones burned. The trees, the grass, the branches, all of these remained unscorched by Jade's fire.

Jade proceeded to telling Alice about his skill. The girl was super hyped about it. Asking why he never used it before. But even this satisfaction didn't last for long.

At that point, neither one of them had a satisfied look on their faces. In fact they felt defeated because of one thing they didn't find a crystallized monster.

"So we couldn't find a single one huh."

"Yeah and judging by the time...we have just enough to track another nest. It's either that or we start walking back home."

"How about we just call it a day?" Jade suggested as there was no way for him to have mana for another fight.

"Yeah. Let's just hope the others had a better luck than us." Alice mentioned, helping his partner up as they finished with their mission.

"I just hope Hendrickson isn't the one who actually finds one." Jade commented, making Alice chuckle.

"True, that'd be super annoying."