125 THE PERFECT ELEPHANT AVATAR
Beautiful maids surrounded Agathae, attending to his every whim. One gently fed him succulent fruits, while another fanned him with a gilded fan.
A private chef remained on standby, meticulously preparing a spread of delicacies—freshly cut fruits and preserved meat sliced with surgical precision to meet his refined tastes.
Even in this perilous realm, fraught with dangers lurking in every shadow, Agathae traveled like a monarch. The swamp's stench and dangers were inconsequential, for no threat seemed capable of touching him.
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"Who's that over there?" Leo whispered, his eyes narrowing as he observed the figure lounging on the ornate pavilion in the middle of the swamp.
Their small, concealed boat rocked gently with the murky current as he studied the man. "Did he come here on vacation or something?"
"That's Agathae Deghad," Yun-Yun replied, her voice low. "His aura is potent—mid-tier Svad, maybe even stronger. And his escorts are no joke either. All beginner Svads."
Leo frowned, his gaze lingering. "Should we—"
"We leave," Yun-Yun interrupted. "No. I've heard about him. He's among the strongest young mage who came here on this expedition. He's not someone we should provoke."
Just as their boat began to drift quietly away, the swamp exploded into chaos.
From beneath the stagnant water, a massive form surged upward, sending waves crashing against Agathae's pavilion. The sudden force shook the structure violently, and yet Agathae remained seated, finishing the last bite of his fruit as though entirely unbothered.
A monstrous creature emerged—a grotesque skeletal amphibian with jagged, oversized jaws and thick, muscular hind legs. Its claws gleamed like blades, and its hollow eye sockets radiated an eerie green glow.
The creature roared, its sound a mix of grinding bone and a guttural snarl, then launched itself toward the pavilion. With a single swipe of its massive claw, it conjured a crescent-shaped blade of wind that sliced through the air with terrifying precision.
Agathae's eyes flickered with irritation. He rose slowly, brushing his hands together.
"Damn you, you filthy crocodile," he snarled. "Did you have to disturb my nap?"
The wind blade struck the pavilion, splintering the ornate structure in two. Agathae leapt clear, his movements smooth and deliberate, landing in the swamp with a loud splash. His luxurious robes were soaked and streaked with mud.
"Look at this!" he shouted, fuming as he glared at the creature. "You've ruined my fucking clothes!"
The skeletal alligator paid no heed, lunging once more. This time, twin blades of wind shot from its claws, tearing through the pavilion's remnants and decimating Agathae's escorts in a single, brutal instant.
Agathae cursed under his breath as a shimmering, translucent figure materialized in front of him—a massive elephant avatar, its form glowing with golden energy.
"What the hell is that?" Leo asked, unable to look away.
"Deghad family's body transformation Sutra," Yun-Yun said, her tone cautious.
Leo quickly summoned his control panel, his mind flying as he recorded Agathae's magic codes. His eyes widened as he analyzed the structure of the elephant avatar.
"This shit is flawless," he muttered. "No gaps in its conjuration. He's fully mastered the transformation."
"That's it," Yun-Yun said. "We avoid him. He's way out of our league at the moment."
Leo nodded reluctantly. With a faint ripple, their boat began to drift away, disappearing into the shadows of the swamp.
Behind them, the battle raged on, Agathae's elephant avatar clashing against the skeletal alligators with thunderous blows. But for Leo and Yun-Yun, there would be no spoils from this fight.
Not today.
-----
Leo and Yun-Yun emerged from the swamp, stepping onto solid ground as the murky waters receded behind them. The invisible boat they had used to cross was neatly stored away for later.
"Finally, dry land", Leo said.
Ahead lay dry land, dotted with makeshift camps and clusters of people—a temporary gathering point for expeditioners preparing to brave the ruins further ahead.
The campsite buzzed with activity.
Hundreds of mercenaries, adventurers, and treasure hunters had already gathered, their chatter a mix of excitement and unease. Weapons were sharpened, and strategies were discussed as they awaited the rest of the expeditioners to bolster their numbers for the dangers to come.
Leo and Yun-Yun paid no attention to the bustling crowd. Without breaking stride, they walked past the camp, heading directly toward the ruined city visible in the distance.
"Hey!" a gruff voice called out behind them. "We're supposed to wait for everyone before moving out!"
Leo didn't even glance back.
"I said, stop!" The man's voice grew louder, laced with irritation.
"Morons," Leo muttered under his breath, still walking.
"Let them go," someone else in the camp suggested. "If they want to get themselves killed, that's their problem."
"It's not just about them dying," the man countered.
The man was tall and broad-shouldered. He stepped forward, his gaze fixed on Leo. "It's about respect. Nobody disrespects me—Gantha of the Molokis family!"
He pointed an accusing finger at Leo, and the camp's attention shifted to the brewing confrontation. A crowd quickly formed, blocking Leo's path as Gantha marched toward him.
"Move," Leo said flatly, his tone devoid of patience.
Gantha smirked and planted himself firmly in Leo's way. "Now you kneel before me and suck my toes," he sneered, "or I'll make sure you regret ever crossing me."
The words had barely left his mouth when Leo moved. In an instant, he was in front of Gantha, his hand transformed into dragon-like claws that gripped Gantha's throat with terrifying strength.
"Release me!" Gantha screamed, thrashing in vain.
"Moron," Leo replied coldly.
With a sickening crunch, he crushed Gantha's throat, dropping his lifeless body to the ground.
Gasps of horror rippled through the crowd. No one had expected such brutality, especially in the open, among fellow expeditioners.
"Who are you? How dare you kill one of us?" someone shouted, his voice trembling.
Leo turned his gaze on the speaker—a sharp, piercing look that made the man stumble back in fear.
"We should arrest him!" another voice called out, emboldened by the murmurs of agreement around him. "The city guards will deal with him!"