After Jahi asked that question, we all turned towards the Marquess, who just got up and entered the swirling purple Gate, leaving us behind for a few moments before returning with a sack laden with dried meats, oats, and some other hard foodstuffs that wouldn't go bad quickly, making all of us sigh.
But, thankfully, we weren't about to stoop to such bland rations if I could help it, so I had Anput make me a pan and a pot, which I then placed over the fire and began to heat up, adding some water to the pot and preparing everything else for a stew... as best I could, anyways, with the ingredients we had available.
The meats were recooked and added to the boiling water alongside a large amount of berries and vegetables we found around the perimeter of the forest, while Nirinia got curious and waded out into the ocean, coming back with a heavy fish as well.
So, we could manage to eat something decent each night if we took time to prepare it, and everyone thanked me profusely for turning a terrible meal into a passable one, which we devoured before turning in for the night.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtThe Marquess and Nirinia returned to the Gate with Cali in tow, the three still debating various things - now more openly as they moved away from us - and left us on the beach, since the Marquess wanted us to remain on the island the entire time.
With us spreading out our cloaks and weighing them down with heavy stones that Anput made, we had a nice place to lay down and stare up at the stars, all of which were new.
Of course, Jahi couldn't help herself - and neither could I - so we took a few minutes to enjoy the ty of making love beneath a wondrous skyscape like this, trusting the wards that the Marquess said were placed around this section of the beach as we attended to our desires.
Obviously we had to hold back, but I only needed the reset of my [Nymphomaniac] skill, while Jahi just wanted it to end the day off like we normally did.
When dawn arose hours later, we were relatively well rested and ready to go out and execute our plan, discussing some more intricacies and sub plans over the plain taste of a fish that I caught from the ocean, which was washed down with the cool taste of water imbued with mana.
With a few separate ideas floating around in our heads, we set off into the forest and made our way back towards the battlefield, where we would have quite the day ahead of us as we hoped we could cut down at least half of the chaff enemies available, as well as some of the more elite enemies as well.
Like before, the plans were rather simple, and I was happy with what I was meant to do; from what I had seen with the skeletons, I could still earn a little experience by assisting the others in their kills, so my part to play in this upcoming battle was one that would net me quite the swathe of experience.
We had come up with a few different ways to try and balance out the damage dealt to the enemies, so that if we did fail or determined that this was too difficult to do in one take, the enemies that came back wouldn't be too overly prepared for us tomorrow; their evolutions wouldn't be as high in physical or magical defense.
That would earn me quite the bundle of experience, so when we pushed through the forest and emerged near the battlefield, I couldn't help but smirk as I wondered just how much experience I was going to get in total for this excursion of ours, since the sheer amount of assists would funnel a large amount of experience into me, while the kills would be rather juicy...
As such, I kept my rapier in my right hand and Shatter in my left, going for a more offensive load out instead of relying on Protective, but if something did get closer, I was going to be shrouded in a Water Cloak and hoping that Anput's forging skills are as high as she likes to brag about.
Which reminded me that I still hadn't gotten my actual gift from her, since she just lumped it in with the Estoc for Leone and the armor for all of us, making me frown as I glanced at the Jackalkin beside me.
Like yesterday, the monsters and undead were streaming together in front of the mountain, screeching and chittering at one another as they raised their weapons and tried to kill one another, blood and limbs flying as some landed blows against the others, only to get hit by something waiting to attack.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmIt was chaotic, but both Anput and Jahi were grinning madly as they looked over the intense battle happening in front of us, while Leone was frowning, her eyes scanning the field for the strongest monsters and making note of where they were.
Before the two could turn to me and nag me like the overgrown children they were, I took a deep breath and channeled my mana into my hands, tracing out rune after rune as I crafted an intricate Ritual Circle in front of us, causing some of the monsters and undead to turn and look at us, before streaming forwards to combat this new threat.
Pushing more mana into my fingers, I finished the runes right as they were about to collide with Anput and Jahi, who were hefting shields and preparing to defend against them so that I could get my spell off.
A gale of cold wind billowed out of my palms, and it swirled around their legs and began to coat them in frost, hindering their movements and surprising them, whilst more and more of the two armies began to turn and make their way towards us, their grudges against one another briefly set aside as they felt the harsh bite of frozen winds.
Slipping the shield onto her arm, Jahi wielded her great sword in a single hand as she lunged forwards, barreling into the group in front of us and reaping their lives easily, while Anput shifted the metal into a scimitar and danced behind her, cleaning up the monsters and undead unlucky enough to have survived the Demoness' initial barrage of attacks.
Maintaining the gale, I nodded at Leone as she began to charge her own spells, going for pinpoint accuracy on the larger targets and distracting them some more so that Jahi could make her way towards them unimpeded by 'strong' monsters.
Our opening attack swelled to it's crescendo quickly, and without hesitation Leone and I switched gears and joined the fray, slinging spells into the fray and joining the two others in cutting down these armies of monsters and undead.