Jackal Among Snakes

Argrave rode back on the ivory whale for the island where the rest of his companions resided. He was ferrying back and forth often enough it felt like a waste of time, somewhat… but then, this would be the last time they’d step on its back, he supposed.

“Argrave… I want you to know that whatever happens in this place, this damnable forest… I’ll always be your woman,” Nikoletta said as they neared the island.

Argrave narrowed his eyes and turned his head slowly. “I thought we had this talk.”

“No, not ‘your woman’ like…” she sighed and rubbed her face. “I want to be of use to you, to the crown. I live to serve.”

“Commendable,” Orion praised.

The whale set upon the shore, and once they crossed back to the island Argrave grabbed Nikoletta’s shoulder and walked to the door that led to the exit of this realm. “If that’s true…”

Nikoletta, led by Argrave, did not have time to be surprised as they passed through the door’s threshold. In a very smooth fashion, they were once again back at the underground altar, their feet sinking deep into messy blood.

“I can think of something for you to do very soon,” he finished telling her.

She looked greatly off balance by the sudden shift of scenery and the abrupt request, yet the words still made some eagerness light up on her face. Before she could voice a response, the others that had been waiting back on the mortal realm stirred in surprise.

“Nicky!” Mina said, rushing over to her.

Artur greeted, “You made it. Had a little doubt, I’ll admit. I guess I need to learn to squash that.”

“Hello, Artur. You’re missing a nice tropical vacation,” he greeted the Magister as the two girls reunited.

“Am I now?” he tilted his head, eyes gleaming. “So… did you succeed?”

In response, Argrave projected the hands of one of his blood echoes out, and Artur cocked his head back in surprise.

“It’s… filled to the brim with magic,” he said in wonder. “You seem… your movements are strange, almost floaty. And you seem… fuller.”

talk later. Things are still

finished casting a ward. “What do you need me to do?” she questioned while watching Mina who stared into the ward in suspicious annoyance like a cat might watch fish inside a

us to a certain place where he and his family gather. There, my tongue is going to be

and she blinked a few times in quiet ponderance. “That’s why you stepped outside. Aren’t we… I mean, you

the prospect is intimidating,” Argrave said slowly. “But I’m going to be attracting all of their attention, and this place lacks the omniscience that these gods have in their respective territories. I can

you wouldn’t do something

you sure? I mean, if you feel it’s unsafe, Orion

will do it,” she repeated. “What did

wish you’d stop

“How many times have

get back inside… and test things out,” Argrave held his hand up, willing one of the many blood echoes blooming inside his body move past his skin. “Remember not to breathe

#####

tandem, the blood echoes cast the same spell. Four spiral bolts of blood magic rocketed outwards, tearing through the trees on the small island. It

in

door of the elven god’s making. He supposed he couldn’t fault him for that. Besides, it made Argrave comfortable having someone on the

head. “Elsewise, it would have

bit for the next task. He projected out the blood echo over the roiling red ocean, where Chiteng’s figure still sat with eyes closed. He made the echo cast [Bloodfeud Bow] while he himself did not. These echoes were easier to use when they were mimicking something that he did—if he cast a spell, it was easier to make them cast a spell. To make them act independently, however, was

larger and larger, consuming the blood echo, Mina noted of Chiteng, “He’s just sitting

before turning back to watch Chiteng, immobile yet

them up. Not too long, but enough they needed to wait. Argrave was extremely glad to have the opportunity to generate blood echoes. He

half a minute. When it finally vanished into nothingness, the arrow of [Bloodfeud Bow] released. It soared up into the sky like a rocket, and Argrave smiled as

nearly as strong as the one I used at Margrave Ivan’s tower… and maybe a little weaker than the one I used on the Shadowlander. Still, that’s easily as powerful as an S-rank

to this realm would be a boon, but he severely underestimated just how important it was. If he hadn’t come here, practicing using these blood echoes would be impossible. They built up over time—very slowly, unless stimulated. If he’d gone into battle without proper practice, he’d have no idea how to make use of them efficiently. And now

greatly uneased by his displays of power. She had seen [Bloodfeud Bow] firsthand and knew well its power. Ganbaatar and Orion didn’t understand the magnitude, but they looked

way in hell he could defeat even one Shadowlander unless he ambushed it or got lucky. He simply didn’t have the skill or finesse necessary to combat something so fast, durable, and powerful. It’d toss a rock or something at the speed of sound, and his head would turn into a fine red mist before he could react. He was a glass cannon even

however, and once that was gone the spells failed to cast.

questioned if he had the mental capacity

sleeping on the rocks, an idea came to him. Using his blood echo, he conjured a C-rank weapon of blood magic, the common spell [Putrid Paramerion]. The curved blade manifested in the blood echo’s hand, and Argrave made it swing its