Spirit Taming

Chapter 422: Unsettled Feelings

"Shhh, just let that one pass." Clark had already looked at the beast the group had crossed paths with. He could make it out through the trees on the path ahead. If he hadn't been paying attention to movements ahead of them, he would have missed the white figure that seemed to blend in to the icy tree branches around them.

'Icicle moose- rare

The icicle moose is a normally peaceful beast. They will often blend in with trees causing groups to accidentally come face to face with them. Since they are peaceful, those that cross paths with them can walk away or let the moose walk away. If there is a threat or attack though, the icicle moose will attack without hesitation.

The powerful body of the icicle moose allows it to break trees and charge through with its icicle crusted antlers. It can also use the icicles it forms on its antlers as barbs or projectiles. This makes it much more dangerous.

If someone manages to make friends with it or rescue it, the icicle moose may voluntarily become their beast or just a protector. This is not unheard of in farming villages or small camps of hunters that respect such a beast. Many of the more isolated northern tribes that choose to live in the northern forests have good relationships with multiple icicle moose beasts.'

While Clark didn't think that they would be attacked, he wanted to ensure that the powerful beast was walking away before they moved again. It was only a few minutes before the figure of the icicle moose moved away and they could keep moving. It also brightens up the conversation of tanky beasts that would be hard to deal any damage to.

"Ralph, can your molten boar beat that moose? Or would the moose be able to get hit more." Reese was a little taunting toward Ralph since Ralph had been leading the way the entire time and Reese wanted to get something interesting going while they ran constantly. It was getting fairly boring. Therefore, the usual that always happened with younger people happened.

"You really want me to melt down that partner of yours? The metal typing it has won't save it from being reforged." Ralph's response was quick and without even a look at Reese. But the heat of the molten boar flared up making it clear that the boar also felt it could easily handle Reese and his abyssal sword.

"Like you could let your head get that hot. Words shouldn't melt anything.' Reese was still pushing but Clark and the others weren't having it.

What caught everyone off guard was when Grace sent a cold breeze at Reese, "And you should stop trying to entertain yourself by putting others on edge. You should go handle whatever that thing ahead of us is. It's in the way." Grace's attitude was surprisingly annoyed, but apparently she was just as ready as everyone else to be done with running. Not that it would happen any any point soon.

"Oh, should we really deal with that?" Isa looked at the beast ahead and shook her head.

"Why not… oh." Clark saw the analysis and was unsure if they really should. But Reese was already smirking as he went ahead to prove to use the small beast as a good target to burn some mental energy.

"I really wouldn't slice that in half. We could just walk around it and let it think it intimidated us." Clark's last warning went right over Reese's head.

'Frost burst mushroom- uncommon

The frost burst mushroom isn't actually a mushroom. It is a small plant and ice type beast that allows ice type mushrooms to grow on its body. Normally it will grow wherever it can so that it can have space to grow the mushrooms as its source of nutrients.

Often, the plant body within the mushroom it is feeling off of will sense that an enemy is near and try to puff up the mushroom to intimidate them. If anything accidentally or intentionally touched the mushroom at this point, they are in for trouble.

While the plant body can recreate in to the ground and hide, the mushroom parts will burst in a frosty haze that causing cold temperatures and rapid growth of mushrooms on top of the being that touched the mushroom originally. This is sometimes done intentionally by merchants who wish to harvest certain mushrooms. It is very common.'

"The mushroom that frost burst mushroom plant is growing is called a glazed mushroom. It allows water from the trees to fall on it so it can grow itself bigger. They are good for soups, not much else. They also have to be washed before eating. I wouldn't sell them but we can eat it later after Reese…oof" Isa was casually explaining to the rest of the group what was happening.

Clark barely had to add a word.

On Reese's end, he was now covered in a cold haze of spores causing him to see little glazed mushrooms growing over his armor and robes. His face was filled with disgust and fear since he had no idea what was going on. It only proved that it was important to pay attention to the others and what they were saying rather than let boredom get to him.

"Reese, please pick the mushrooms for dinner later. We need to keep running. The sun is starting to set." Ella was unhappy with the progress but glad that they had a nutritious ingredient for them to be able to eat later. She was also worried that the nighttime part of their travel would be much harder.

But there was a small smile starting as she and the others watched Reese try and tear off the growing mushrooms. It was a very off but comical event for all of them since they had also been stressed by nothing much running. It was worse than when they were training with professor wright. at least they had been encouraged by her.

Isa took over the mushrooms when Reese was done but Reese hadn't been freed from any teasing from Ralph. But even more, Ralph's molten boar returned to the taming space as Isa called out the winter witch.

Just the winter witch appearing seemed to calm the forest down. The distant cries of ice type beasts become less and less just by having her there. This was the power she had as a species known for controlling ice in many ways. Whether or not she was powerful yet did not matter, her existence spoke for itself.

"We are going to move, right? I need everyone to keep us covered. If anything tries to hurt us, I can only attack once or twice before my partner needs rest. She isn't ready to battle." Isa gave a harsh warning to everyone. But that was fine. Brad was also willing to push himself and his partner.

That was why no one flinched when the blood possessed armaments appeared. The helm, sword, and shield was enough to make many people see that they were in for a hard battle.

"I can play bodyguard for now. I will be slower like this but my partner has been awake for some time. You all guarded me while I gathered my energy, it's only fair." Brad had not truly reached his best state but he was sure he could do a lot.

What the group had not realized was that they had stirred the forest by letting the winter witch out. Just the sense of a beast with a powerful bloodline like a winter witch had stirred the smaller breasts causing them to hide and rush away. That little bit of deterrence had pushed for larger beasts to wonder where their prey was.

And the even more powerful beasts that hunted them, wanted to see what delicacy had wandered in to their territory.

This feeling gave the group some peace of mind but it should have done the opposite. While Professor Wright watched, she noticed the change as dangerous. However, she didn't do a single thing. Instead, she let her assassin beetle remain with Calkr and the others just in case. Her eyes were sharp and she followed secretly for the simple reason that she wanted them to learn and grow on their own.

This was a lesson that many tamers learned in the wilderness. One that proved they were able to survive. How to react to the powerful and territorial beasts that might be bothered by other powerful bearings coming near them. That was just the start though. How to survive their hunting was also going to play a major role in the future.

The wilderness was always dangerous, but compared to dungeons, many tamers underestimated the wilderness. They had to learn the true dangers now while they were young.

Eventually, Clark started to feel the depths of his stomach churn. It was the same feeling he had when he had read the analysis of any super powerful beast. Or when a tamer showed strength well beyond his. It was his sign that he might have chosen the wrong strategy here.