Wraithwood Botanist

Chapter 144 - The Case for Poisons

Fighting a fourth evolution soul was just as dangerous as it sounded. Obviously. Through Brindle's memories, I had seen these souls, and while he handled them with the ease I handled second-evolution beasts, I was not, in fact, Brindle. Obviously.

This was an important distinction. And for the record, I couldn't even replicate the things that Brindle did when fighting because I didn't have the mana or soul core necessary. I didn't have the muscle memory, either. I didn't have anything.

Even with all my advantages, it would be a very, very long time before I obtained even a fraction of his power.

He didn't live here for sixty thousand years for nothing.

Yet it was undeniable that my advantages—my Kyfer core and evolved cores were far stronger than his likely had been. I had god-level resources, an epic weapon, Brindle's memories, the Anima Numina elixirs—insights. So it wasn't unreasonable to think that I could at least kill a fourth evolution beast. Right?

I wasn't sure—but I was going to plan and prepare.

"Hey, Lithco," I said one night. "Can you add highlighting to show which poisons will kill fourth evolution beasts?"

"I won't alter the highlighting system just to help you kill yourself," Lithco said. There was no flash—just seriousness.

"It's a requirement," I said. "You saw Brindle's tribute, right?"

"I did," he said. "And I recall giving you solutions."

"Poor solutions," I said. "I talked to Yakana. Corrupting it with a soul could spread the corruption to the soul. Ripping it out of the ground at this point would be... impossible... and you can't convince a beast to stop eating meat by offering it a salad. Three solutions—all impossible. So if I'm going to fulfill Brindle's requirement and fulfill my soul pact and tribute, I have to."

Lithco scoffed. "Well? You're going to get yourself killed over a soul pact with a plant. I hope you're satisfied. Fucking idiot."

I glared at him, but his eyes narrowed, and I relented.

"I happen to like Yakana," I said. "And I resent being used to hurt him."

"And now you're going to kill yourself?" he asked. "'Cause that's what you're doing."

I took a deep breath. "Well, what's done is done. Are you helping me or not?"

He ran his fingers through his hair. "Done. Known poisons that can kill higher-level beings are highlighted in crimson. Lower level poisons that can stun or harm beasts are in bright red."@@@@

"Thanks," I said.

"You asking for my help this time?" he asked.

I thought about it. "Yeah. I'll be asking you for a map of flying beasts. I'm just going to follow the Diktyo past Harrowed Pass. With any luck, I'll find a ground beast I can snipe from the sky with poison hurricane arrows."

Lithco considered it. "Well, if any idiot can kill three evolutions above their station, it's probably the girl with a soul bow, limitless mana, and wings."

I nodded.

"Well, first, I'll recommend this skill," Lithco said. "It's 'free' with a reward."

I studied the screen in a state of perplexity.

-

Skill: Core Bleeding

Description: Drain mana cores to augment your attacks.

-

"Of course," I said. "So we'll just treat them like humans. And well..." I pondered it for a while and said, "Humans are super egotistical toward weaker prey, right? Maybe we can..."

I got a pretty terrible idea, and when I threw it past Lithco, he said, "It's not what I would've recommended, but... if you can pull it off... who knows."

I smirked and continued my annihilation ray practice. That was my backup plan.

If you ever need to announce to your guests that you'll need to step out to kill a colossus and to not expect you back that night or really ever... just don't.

It just sucks.

I sat around the dinner table, avoiding life, picking at my food and when the awkward conversation got too much, I blurted out the truth.

"I'm killing a fourth evolution beast this week. If I die, the lurvine will take care of you."

At least, that's what I think I should've done. Or, actually, not. There was simply no rational way to put things, so I pulled the classic "left for a pack of cigarettes and never returned" move and said: "I'll be going on a trip soon. I'll be gone for a few days."

Cassain put down her fork. "Where're you going?"

"I didn't find those snowblooms, so I'm going north to find something else," I said.

"North..." Felio said. "Aren't we... near the top?"

"Not really," I said. "The Diktyo goes up for probably twenty miles or so before it even reaches the Keliam River. And then there's still a bit through Harrowed Pass before it hits the Fifth Domain."

"You're rather comfortable with that information," Asail said casually.

"Last year, my tribute required me to enter the Fifth Domain," I said.

Half the guards dropped their forks.

I shrugged. "Look, guys. I have a god supplying me with extraordinary wealth and power, but that comes with a serious price. So yeah, you should expect this. Especially considering that I'm required to go there next year."

Felio bit her lip. "What about tomorrow?"

"Nowhere tomorrow," I said. "Before I go, I'll need your help. Well, if you got the guts for it. 'Cause the alchemy I'm doing is really, really dangerous."

The guards protested, but Felio's eyes were set ablaze.

"I don't care what it is," she said. "Let's do it."

One does not simply make poisons. The reason why is quite simple: if they're good enough to kill your enemies, they're good enough to kill you. And the stuff we were making was designed to poison beasts the size of blue whales that ate people.

To make these poisons, we obtained a lot of equipment—gas masks, filters, and portable domains. Felio also set up domain wards that kept fumes localized.

"This'll keep the fumes contained," she said. "But if you prick your finger, you're still in trouble."

"Well, then avoid it," I said. "'Cause Diktyo can't cure what we're working with."

"Excuse me, what?" she asked.

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"Plants are loosely ranked," I said. "For example, wisteris is ranked at third evolution, and Diktyo only clears poisons up to two. Beyond that, you need stronger antidotes. Anyway, I'm not ever planning to let either of us touch this stuff, but make sure you stay away from it."

Felio nodded. "Okay... so what are we making?"

"Dunno," I said. "Let's go search for the gnarliest poisons this ring has to offer. I just got an upgrade that shows me layers of toxicity—and it's the best thing ever."