A Sneaky Rat

'It's what it is. Seems we're getting on well after all. But I don't think I will summon it that much. I become increasingly frustrated with working alongside anyone. Not at all.'

***

On his way to the location of a high-threat beast, he passed by the edges of a clear but deserted field.

Black, dry trees stood apart, blending with the colour of the soil surface. The scent of decay concentrated there. Remnants of what people could once have called human filled the field.

He and Spark passed by a lot of places and structures as well. But only a few could Zmey still remember because of their distinctive features.

One was a tree carved into a shelter. The other was a monolith, like those in the Cultivation Highland.

Time passed on. Seconds ticked by, becoming minutes. And minutes ticked as well, turning into a few hours.

The sky stood the same, devoid of clouds, as though a focused predator was keeping watch over the lands.

Zmey knew that the architects with magical powers must have crafted this plane. But it did not interest him that much.

They were nothing more than constructors - only with a supernatural touch added. And being a builder was something he would never wish for. He preferred being an adventurer or a martial artist.

Not long afterwards, he and Spark arrived at the mouth of a particular place. With gentle steps, Zmey walked through the entrance with jagged rocksides forming doorframes.

Taking note of the ground surface, gre-clayed hills and subsequent corners in the downwards direction, he picked up one fact...

'Like the Valley of Spark Bugs.'

He sheathed his sword. Then he glanced over his shoulder. He ordered through thoughts,

'When I attack, give me silent support that syncs with my movement. Engage in combat with the enemy to come, but keep it on a minor level. Do you understand?'

Zmey saw the bug's legs bending a little. He knew he should take that as a bow.

'Of course. I will do as you said,' Spark responded.

Zmey turned his gaze forwards.

The ground trembled underfoot without warning.

Dust drifted down the slopes of the hills. A cloud of dust rose at a minimal level. Zmey straightened his sword by his side, knowing the beast in question was heading their way.

At that moment, a loud growl spread out from one corner. The air thickened.

Specks threatened to make Zmey's eyes twitch, but he prevented that by raising his arm over his face. He glanced forward immediately as the next second ticked by.

A creature strode out of the right-side corner with gentleness. Zmey sensed Spark shifting its weight behind him.

He gripped his sword tighter. His back remained straight, intense glare never leaving the mark.

Coming into view was a four-legged creature, moving with intelligence. It walked left in the distance, its glowing amber eyes never leaving Zmey.

Zmey knew this creature was a greater threat than other Elemental Spirit beasts for a reason.

'It's booming with intelligence. Not attacking right away, unlike the bugs. Well... it seems a strong opponent, indeed.'

From the map, he knew this was a lynx. Its sleek green fur emitted a faint glow under the pitch-black sky.

Something deadly seemed to spread beneath them. The tufted ears told Zmey it had a high sensitivity to sound. It's no wonder it came out as soon as they entered the valley.

Though its aura exudes danger, he was here after all. And... there was no going back.

Zmey thought: 'Not like I will run away either. Spark, be my shadow.'

'Sure,' Spark replied in a neutral tone.

Zmey dashed head-on towards the lynx. The Elemental jumped on its muscular legs. It ran towards Zmey, its elongated fangs getting loose.

Right as Zmey got up close, the lynx's retractable claws slashed the way at his face. His sword moved like a predator thirsty for a lynx's neck blood.

But, just inches from its goal, the lynx shifted its weight. The jagged spines on its whip-like tail retracted his sword. It would have fallen from his hand without his firm grip in the first place.

'Oh...'

Zmey, seeing he was now wide open, executed a somersault over the lynx without hesitation.

He landed on the end of his sword. In an interval of a microsecond, Spark closed in on the lynx. The lynx turned around in time to jump high up, its paws gleaming with hunger.

Electricity crackled across Spark's body in that moment. And a bit of it entangled with the lynx's paw tips, then ran all over its body.

The lynx seemed electrocuted mid-air, its body shaking with intensity. The attack sent it skidding backwards onto the ground. It flexed its fang at Spark, its claws hammering against the surface.

Now, it was standing between Zmey and Spark.

Zmey held his gaze at Spark for a few seconds, then a hint of a smile ran across his face. He gestured at the creature in the distance. He ordered, 'Let us attack immediately.'

At the same time, they closed in on the lynx. Like two walls aiming to sandwich a matter standing between them.

Zmey's sword scratched the ground. Its noise echoed in the silent wasteland.

As he inched near the lynx, he raised the sword in a screaming arc. At the same time, Spark's elongated, sharp-ended leg drove down towards the lynx.

The creature cornered glanced at both sides with a look of helplessness.

An excited grin curved around Zmey's lips.

The weapons reached the lynx by two-decimal millimetres.

Pound!

The air shifted.

Zmey's brows creased as his body dragged downwards. Spark remained on the tip of its other legs, its body turning towards the bare ground.

Zmey glanced upwards. Green specks floated in the air.

He held his breath for a split second.

'Sneaky rat...'