Spirit Taming

Chapter 491: Creeping

Approaching the pools was not the easiest of tasks. They had to check the regular pools as they moved. If the group missed something, then they could have an enemy at their back. One that would easily beat them before they could even try to find a jade worm egg for Maria to raise.

'There are more crabs. They seem like they are eating any of the pale shrimp that try and come this way." Purple realized that the only reason the vibrant algae was able to be here was the fact that the crabs had managed to take root here. They did not eat algae or plants at all.

"I thought this would be the case. If we kill the crabs here we will ruin the pools that support the jade worms. They can't move fast enough to get to the vibrant green algae they need." Since Maria understood this, she didn't make a move to battle the crabs that could sense them as predators outside their pools.

"If there are so many crabs, then the tailless scorpions we saw must have been waiting to hunt them. I bet that they are just hiding in cracks and crevices waiting for us to leave." Clark could almost sense the fact that other beasts were in waiting. But that wasn't an issue, the tailless scorpions knew that more dangerous predators were in their hunting ground.

They would be forced to wait no matter what.

This was easy to figure out. However, the fact that the tailless scorpions were also higher in number meant that there would be predators specifically after them. They were the ones that the group would need to worry about. Mostly because they would be more powerful than all the beasts that they currently saw since they entered this cave.

Even though they had been more worried about the rocky mites due to their numbers, the threat of a larger predator was worse. One that would eat more than just one type of beast. If they had to battle such a predator while they found their goal, then it would be rough on them. It would not be a battle they could easily win with just one of them.

Meanwhile, as Clark thought about this, Maria had reached the slightly glowing green pools near the next wall of the cave. The water pool was still fairly clear, but the way that the vibrant green algae grew was very artistic.

The natural growth of the agora was in thin green strands that radiated water and earth energies. The spiritual energy that it gained from existing in groups was unique as well. This was a triple energy type plant, however, the movement that it would be removed from the water, it could lose the water affinity.

This was a unique trait of many herbs and even some beasts. They had to live in certain environments to retain their traits and abilities to grow. The algae was one such delicate species of herb in a way. It needed the water, it needed some earth energy, and it needed to grow with other vibrant green algae to gain spiritual energies. That Was why the jade worm would also be so unique.

"There they are, a tiny little jade worm." Maria was amazed. The jade worm that she spotted moving within a string of algae was tiny. Smaller than her littlest finger. But it was eating ravenously. As if it was striving to grow faster and faster. The only solution to what it wanted was to push itself to keep eating.

A unique natural event to watch since it didn't seem to care that three potential predators had spotted it.

"It is very tiny. I thought they would be larger as well." Purple had not expected much, he knew that the deeper they went the more dangerous it would be. Yet here they were, in the water pools that came with the deeper caves and there was some tiny beast living as if it were in a safe zone.

'Jade worm- rare

This is a newly born jade worm with only three days of life. When born, they have the massive need to consume large amounts of nutrition to grow faster. As they do, they are mainly after the energy that their bodies need to be able to form a small jade cocoon. This is the best way for them to be able to defend for long terms of growth and absorb unique kinds of energies.

It is far from being able to grow due to the fact that it needs a lot more consolidated energy. It would be impossible to tame while these instincts take over. Even if it wanted to join with a tamer, the instincts would force it to keep eating.

It is very delicate…'

Clark looked at the little jade worm with amazement. The instincts that it had superseded any desire or power to tame it. That meant it was impossible to tame this jade worm at all! Something that was not documented anywhere about the jade worm species that he knew of. This had been found in other beasts, but not the jade worm from his knowledge.

Just using this in a beast plan would be an amazing addition to knowledge. Ella would be ecstatic.

"Clark, where should we look for eggs? I see three little jade worms but nothing else." Maria was looking at Clark for guidance. She knew that he would be able to spot them easily.

"Since they are so small, I assume that the jade worm eggs are most likely the size of a fingernail at most. Try and look for a slightly lighter green round shape about that size." The three of them understood their target now and began to search. The glowing green pools seemed to be more than they had realized.

The walls that the pools went up against seemed to be real walls and not some water carved portion like they had found before. But that didn't mean that water didn't flow somewhere.

The vibrant green algae was clearly following some flow of water to other pools further in to the large open cavern of water pools. Following the way that the algae grew, Clark began to understand that even these caves which he considered deep were not at all deep. The earth held many secrets. The caves being one of the largest.

Many beasts lived deep within the earth and most likely never came high enough to even be in this sort of tunnel system. Yet, the water that flowed down carried them nutrients and food.

"What is that?" Clark mumbled to himself as he saw a slightly green figure moving in the water. As he looked closer, he used the system's analysis to figure it out.

'Creeping eel- uncommon

The creeping eel is known as the most patient killer in any underground water pool. It moves so slowly and waits for so long that many plants and algae can grow on its body to further camouflage it.

It is known for eating large amounts of smaller beasts at once. It can open its mouth four times the size it appears that it can. It has tougher skin due to the earth affinity that it has. Once scientists proved that this eel has cousins that live in the vast ocean. This was because the eels were trapped here and developed differently due to nutrition and other factors.

They have no growth potential other than growing larger due to the fact that they move so slowly and hunt so slowly. They are considered gluttonous and will often eat thousands of jade worm eggs every chance they get when it comes to breeding season for the jade moths…'

This was an enemy that Clark had to get ahead of. This slim eel covered in green algae was perfect to attract unsuspecting instinct driven jade worms. Clark didn't want to kill the eel though. If he did, then any other predator or jade worm would fleece or come rushing in turn. That would cause too much trouble.

"Don't attack the eels when you see them. They are called creeping eels and they are after jade worms and their eggs. Get ahead of them and go whatever way they are going. You will find something there." Clark knew that this was the best method to find what they were after.

The creeping eel he was watching had moved enough for him to spot it. Therefore, it was moving for a reason. The best reason would be that it had picked up a sign that food was nearby. Thus, Clark started moving toward the water pool he thought the creeping eels was going to.

When Clark looked over the edge of the pool, he was greeted by the slightly stronger glow of green. A mass of algae had built up around a rocky stalagmite that had somehow grown in the pool of water. But the odd shape was enough to tell Clark that he had to use his analysis. That was the only way for him to confirm that he had followed the proper steps to find what he needed