Chapter 10: Armoured Man
"Did you see what it looked like? The thing that took the Mushrooms. Was it a human or a Mana Beast? If it's a Mana Beast we may still track it down as it's territory would be around here somewhere." Village Cheif asked Celia.
They have been running straight for about five minutes. However, neither they found the thing that took the mushroom nor even its footprint.
As Ambrose travels from tree to tree it was very hard for them to track him down. Even the Razer Hounds were unable to smell him due to his stealth armour.
Celia looked at her father and bit her lips. "Father I saw it. It looked like a human however there was a strange metallic armour on his body. Due to it, I couldn't see his face. He picked up the Mushrooms and the Mosses and jumped in the leaves of the Elephant trees."
Those Mushrooms were very important for her. Without that Ice Mushroom, it will be very hard for her to resist the Fiery Aura of the Fire Arrow Bird. She needed that Fire Arrow Bird if she really wanted to enter the Golden Falcon Academy Of Martial Arts.
"Jumped in the Elephant Tree from the boulder?" Village Chief asked with a confused look on his face.
The adult men present there also had curious looks on their faces. "That is impossible no one in our village could jump so high and far. Maybe expect Village Chief. I don't think it's someone from our village." The man with the goatee said.
"Yes, no one in the village has enough cultivation to do so. Even I can make that jump barely. Which means someone, not from our village has entered the jungle and stole our mushrooms right in front of our eyes." The Village Chief said while balling his fist.
His face was completely red and his breathing turned erratic. He looked at Celia again. "Are you sure that you saw him jump that high?"
If it is true then they couldn't catch him now. He would have already run away very far and even changed his directions many times if it was a human.
"Yes, father I saw it with my eyes. He jumped from that large boulder to Elephant tree branches in just one jump. Its armour was red and silver-coloured which covered his whole face." She explained.
"Chief I think we should not waste our time on searching that man. He should have already run away very far. We should instead focus on searching another patch of Ice Herbs as we still have five hours left till the morning hits again." The Goatee man suggested.
"What do you mean. Those mushrooms belong to me. I am the only one that has the right to touch them. How can we let that guy run away like that? For all, we know he may still be hiding in the forest." Celia said with a frustrated look on her face.
She knew that it would almost be impossible to find another patch of Ice affinity mushrooms here. Even the moss would be very hard to find.
They have already come this far in the wilderness and they can't be going any deeper. Catching that armoured thief was their only chance.
The Goatee man just turned silent after listening to her. He looked at the Village Chief waiting for his orders. He knew that it is now impossible to find that armoured man again in this dense jungle.
And even if they find him there was no guarantee they will be able to take the Mushrooms back from him. From what Celia has seen that armoured man is at least as powerful as village chief. He could even be stronger than him.
And if the Guy turned out to be stronger than Village Chief. Then they would be sending themselves to their deaths.
"Dad what are you waiting for? He will run away if we just stand here. We should search for him as soon as possible." Celia urged as a panicked expression appeared in her face.
Village chief looked at her and then sighed. "We can't catch him now. He should have run away very far and even if we somehow catch him. There is no guarantee that he is equally powerful to me. He could even be at Martial Master Realm."
"I don't have another treasure like Fire Talisman to fend him off. If he really turned out to be a Martial Master. We will all be killed. We should instead focus on finding another patch of Ice Affinity herbs." The village chief said with a defeated expression.
He has wasted his Fire talisman to kill that Aligator. So that he can get his hands on those Mushroom. However, it was all for nought.
"Don't worry Celia we at least have that Beast Core. It is a water affinity one. That could definitely help you in tomorrow's test. It's just as powerful as that Ice Mushroom in terms of quality."
"So you don't have to worry about tomorrow's test. Even if we can't get our hands on the Ice herbs. You can still get that Fire Arrow Bird by the Water element Martial Beast Core." Village chief comforted Celia.
When she heard his words her heart calmed down a little. "Just as powerful as Ice Mushroom? Then we should hurry up and get it." She said with a little excitement.
If what her father said is true then she was set for tomorrow's exam. No one can come between her and the Golden Falcon Academy.
The rest of the people present there had a jealous expression on their faces. Martial Beast Core? It was enough for her to trade it with one Low-grade spirit coins if she wanted.
All of them sighed. They knew that Celia was set for tomorrow's test. Even if Village Chief can't find another Ice herb he will not care about tomorrow. As the water type, Beast Core was already in his hands.
"Congratulations, Miss Celia. Now you will be able to tame that Fire Arrow Bird. I hope you and the Village chief show some benevolence on us and help us find some Ice Herbs." The Goatee Man said with a smile on his face.
He was trying to flatter them so they don't give up on finding the herbs. And help them find some too.
"Yes. Sister Celia's future is bright now. She will be able to get admission in the Golden Falcon Academy easily. I hope she also helps us, poor people, a little." One of the girl. Who was also the daughter of Goatee Man said.
Celia just ignored the bunch. 'How dare these bumpkins to expect me to help them. They should be happy that I am even talking to them. From now on we are on the whole different realms.'
She looked at Village Chief and smiled. "Dad we should quickly go and get that Alligator's beast core." She said.
The Village Chief nodded and then looked at the rest of the people. "Don't worry. I have promised to help you. So I will do my best to get you all some Ice herbs. And you can even distribute the Alligator's heart among yourself. It's can also provide some water affinity properties." He said.
After all of these people have given him fifty silver coins each. And he was expecting to get fifty more after tomorrow's test. How can he let so much money get away from his hands?
When everybody heard him. A relived look appeared on their faces. "Thanks, village Chief. You are the kindest man in this Village." The Goatee man said.
The rest of the Men and youths also bowed towards him.
A proud expression appeared on both the Village Chief and Celia's face.
"No need to wait anymore. Let's go and fetch that Beast Core. So that we can find some herbs for you all." Chief said and then started moving towards the pond.
Everyone nodded and started moving behind him.
Soon enough they reached the pond again. However, when they saw the Alligator laying on the ground their eyes widened in shock. There was a clear big wound on the abdomen of the Alligator. From which huge amounts of blood was flowing out.
Village Chief's heart started to race fast when he looked at the Alligator's body on the ground. He clearly remembered that he had left its body in the pond. And there was no wound on its abdomen. So how can this dead Alligator appear on the ground suddenly?
His face became pale. As he quickly ran towards the dead body of the Alligator. And when he saw the wound on its abdomen his eyes turned completely red.
"Noooooo!" He let out a loud shriek as his face turned completely pale. He even coughed out some blood.
When Celia saw him coughing out blood a worried expression also appeared on her face. She quickly ran towards him and held him with her hands.
"What happened, father?" She asked with a worried look. She has already somewhat guessed what has happened however she wanted to hear it from her father's mouth.
The rest of the Villagers also had a worried expression on their faces. The Goatee Man looked at the wound and clenched his fist. His face also became completely pale.
"That Bastard has stole not only the Mushrooms but he didn't even leave the Beast Core and its heart!" The Goatee man said.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone