Spirit Taming

Chapter 736: Beasts Here And There

"How common are those boulder tortoises? They can be good for carving those rune patterns and a few other designs. I could use them as training without ruining metals." Ralph's thoughts were very focused on the small battle he had just managed with the boulder tortoise.

The large chunk of shell left behind that was useful made Ralph interested in the carving techniques he had already learned. He just didn't have the right materials to train them on. But the shell was ideal. It was an unforgiving and tough material. So, it would replicate the metals he might work with.

"They aren't that common. But you can fight them if you see them." Clark sighed. He didn't get the allure of this at all. But that was fine. There was a use to it all so he woasn't going to get angry at it. Training twas important.

"The plants around here seem really dry." Ella had been observing the area around them. She had begun to do so when she noticed that Jerold was trying to search for beast tracks so that they could keep adjusting their route.

"I would say it hasn't rained for at least five days. This area might not get rain for a few weeks on end judging from the base of the stems on these bushes." With Maria and Ella partnering together on this little investigation, allowed them to share the herb knowledge with Ella's larger bulk of knowledge.

"So you think we might have rain coming at some point?" This seemed to be an issue coming in Clark's mind. They would need to deal with a heavier rain in the area while they searched for the moving dwarven city.

"It will be good, right? We will have a chance to find their city. Can it even move when it's raining?" Brad remembered herding that the only thing that stopped the massive metal golem of a city from moving was that the rain could damage it. Therefore, it often stopped during the rain to ensure that the rain didn't make its way inside the core elements.

"We did hear that." looking up at the sky, Isa could only hope that the distant white clouds would become rain clouds soon.

"If it hasn't rained for a while, we are more likely to have a storm than a rain we can travel in. it's better that we keep looking for the mines that the dwarves might have excavated already. Then we can track the signs of their movement." a large golem that could literally carry a city would it leave small tracks. Any of the group members could track it with minimal effort.

That didn't mean Jerold wouldn't be leading the endeavor in that aspect though.

With this thought passing, Clark looked back at the very distant clouds again. There was not much to call wind in the air right now. If it stayed that way, they wouldn't need to worry. However, if the wind kicked up, then there would be rain or a storm for sure. He could tell just by looking at the state of the bushes too.

'Falling bush- uncommon

The falling bush is a small bush that grows in the sides of rocky terrain. They even grow on the sides of cliffs.

They will often absorb water to maintain their structure. This allowed their roots to be more solidly anchored within the stone. When they go through a longer period of time without rain, they will dry out. Eventually, they will fall from the spots that they grew and roll down hills, mountains, or fall down cliffs.

This will spread very light seeds that are easily blown up on to mountains by the wind when a storm begins. They are known to dry out and fall right before a storm begnins…'

Looking around, there was enough wiggle room between the roots and the rocks that this falling bush was growing in. He could probably pluck it out of the stones with minimal force. But it would not just fall from this place right away. They had time.

"Thought we would see more beasts now that the sun is rising. All that there are are the sun bathing lizards." Grace's desire to see more was mirrored by Ella who had expected. A lot more information to write down.

"You all just need to summon the worst for us? Don't you?" Reese pointed ahead of them where some small rocks and dust were getting kicked up.

'Granite fox- rare

The granite fox is an earth beast that will consume small pieces of granite to help their bodies break down the tough earth energy filled meat of the cracked stone rabbits. They will even dig through patched stone that the rabbits used to create their burrows.

Their fur is very deceptive. It may appear soft and fluffy, however, it is actually very stiff and hard due to the granite that is grown within it due to the fox's earth affinity and diet. They are often thought to be an ideal coat making material for those that want added defenses to warm coats.

This fox will rarely come out at night and prefers to hunt during the daytime when it is warmer…'

The fox was a speckled gray color. Clark wondered if it was even worth hunting since the fur is mostly for looks. He wouldn't wear the fur and he was sure that the group wouldn't need it either.

"I can use that for my earth prince. Its unique earth energy should help it enhance how it shapes harder stone or rough stone like granite." While Ella had thought something different, Clark had to accept that. It wasn't a bad idea.

The earth price was focussed on using earth energy to shape the ground. It had issues with more solid stone though. It needed to use more earth energy so that it could make stone move as it desired. The stone's structure would need to be adjusted by the earth prince, hence the added energy needed.

But if the earth prince could understand more variety of stone and earth, then it could manipulate it all much more easily.

There was also the bonus that the earth prince would be able to use the stones to make its body stronger. Not that it was needed. It could break apart its entire body and reform it with earth. It was still a wisp at its core, not a golem or something like that.

"An arrow won't pierce it." Grace tried to stop Maria from pulling an arrow back. But she was still in motion.

"You just need to watch us." feeling a slight breeze, they realized that Isa had started to channel the wind.

Maria let the arrow fly while Isa pushed it worth its very own boost of wind current. The results were very clear. The arrow pushed itself harder and faster through the head of the granite fox than it would have with just the basic bow force.

A beast that was rare to a degree had just been taken out with a single arrow. Not that the arrow was at all sueable. The metal arrow head had been torn to pieces against the solid body and fit of the fox. But the arrow shaft had also become cut up. Grooves from the fur ensured that it would be unable to even cut in to it at all.

"If I use my arrows against anything else here I will run out." Maria's distaste for the broken dn ruined arrow was not what was important. Grace had also realized that she wouldn't be able to work with her partner to make an ice arrow for Maria either. The toughness of these earth type beasts would leave the ice arrows as shattered ice crystals. Without even dealing a single bit of damage.

"Then how are we going to deal with the things throwing rocks at us now?" Brad slammed his shield forward. The clanging of stone on metal made everyone fall in to battle positions immediately. They hadn't even noticed the beasts waiting to ambush the granite fox.

'Rock goblin- common

The rock goblin is an earth variant of the goblin. They are nasty creatures that will ambush their prey. They often throw rocks and use sharpened rocks to attack prey. They will eat whatever they can get their hands on which leads to them often having a brutal odor.

Their actions are always negative since they desire to attack and kill most other beast species. Many of the beasts that run in to them will flee or kill them on sight. This is just because some species of giblins breed very fast. Two can before fifty in a matter of a month.

Their rocky skin stops them from taking damage as easily as other goblin species. This is how they sharpen weaker rocks to use as weapons. But they are slightly slower because of their added weight and earth affinity. It is best to defeat these beasts on sight due to the fact that they will ambush and harass anything that they see.'