That thing is fast!
I cast the new lightning bolt aria, striking it right on the chest.
It flinches and steps back. It seems that I managed to hurt it, so it is reevaluating me.
I take advantage of the moment and run to the hill. Before I reach the elevation that would shield me from its view, it springs into motion again, chasing me.
I had already prepared a spell, an illusion of myself, as if I had paused to attack it again with the same spell.
It isn't very accurate, and I can't sustain it for long, but it makes the serpent or whatever hesitate for a second.
It's enough for me to escape its line of sight.
I take a look around to see if I can somehow use the terrain to my advantage. I'm in a region where the sandy soil gives way to actual sand, and there's a small dune right at the hill's foot.
That gives me an idea.
I hide behind the dune and wait for the thing to come. While I wait, I already start working on a new aria.
I can't manipulate earth directly, but I can use wind on sand to create a sandstorm.
I use the new lightning bolt as a base to create a wind version, then quickly add some parameters to increase the size and power of the gale.
I'll try to cast two spells in quick sequence, maintaining the first as I cast the second. It's a risky maneuver, and it's the first time I'm trying it.
As soon as the serpent thing appears in my line of sight again, it's a mere ten meters away.
And it's hit on the face with a violent sandstorm that also carries potent fire.
I'm sustaining both the fire burst aria and the gale aria, using the dune as a source of sand particles to both increase the damage of the gale and also add a layer of obfuscation.
It seems effective, as the serpent thing is cowering and whimpering.
I follow with another lightning bolt, this time adding more empowerment parameters, as the sandstorm bought me enough time to cast it.
What comes forth is something I've never imagined possible before. The biggest lightning I've ever seen, even counting the ones on TV news on Earth.
It's huge.
I think that the width of the bolt is bigger than my height. Not that I'm a tall person, being a child, but still.
There's no way it could have survived this.
I know that I wouldn't have survived this.
:::
The thing is a very imposing monster. It has the body of a serpent, with a pair of arms that end in birdlike claws, and a head that resembles chinese depictions of dragons, including the long mustache.
Now that I can look at it longer and from up close, it seems very noble and dignified.
And it's still breathing.
As soon as I notice the minute breathing vibrations on its nostrils, it opens its eyes and launches itself at me.
I jump backwards, narrowly evading the bite.
Fuck. I've been played.
The thing, I'll call it "landwyrm" for now, is seriously hurt and is emanating bloodlust against me.
I'm sorry, I was trying to escape. You are the one who attacked me in the first place.
Don't put the blame on me; I did nothing to deserve your attack.
But here, it's kill or be killed.
And I already know that you are vulnerable to THIS.
I cast another big lightning bolt.
The landwyrm let out a thunderous howl and fell limply on the ground.
I take some time analyzing it before I get close again. Its body is charred here and there, there are no signs of breathing, and the eyes are open. No sign of life.
After some moments I allow myself to get closer and use the sword to perforate its neck just in case.
[Level 3 reached. Register on the Adventurer's Guild to unlock the benefits].
[Level 4 reached. Register on the Adventurer's Guild to unlock the benefits].
[Level 5 reached. Register on the Adventurer's Guild to unlock the benefits].
WHAT???
As I try to process what is happening, the system voice keeps speaking on and on in my head. An unending flow of words.
[Level 27 reached. Register on the Adventurer's Guild to unlock the benefits].
And then it stopped.
Seriously? From level 2 to 27 in one kill? What was the challenge rating of this guy?
It didn't even have magical attacks. Both against the koa'ty earlier and then against me, it relied only on biting.
And I killed it.
Am I that OP already?
Okay, no time for that right now. Focus, Aurea!!
Time to get dinner ready.
:::
It's still mid-afternoon, so I decide to take my time and try a new thing.
I take several cuts of the serpent meat and also big chunks of its hide, to the limit I can safely carry myself, and walk away from the corpse before some other guys come in to get an easy meal.
First, I locate the burrow the rodents from earlier were living in, as it was a place that would be abandoned and free for sure.
First, I use some sturdier sticks to make some platforms to hang the pieces of meat, arrange the meat in there, and put it all inside the burrow.
Then, I take some dry sticks, bushes, and grass and start a fire with my fire magic, slightly inside the entrance of the burrow.
I then use the conjuring aria with the smoke element to fine-tune the quantity and type of smoke produced and the wind-conjuring aria to consistently spread heat and smoke inside the burrow.
After one hour, the meat is good enough, so I proceed to deal with the hide.
I use the knife to clean the inside of it, removing all impurities. It is very sturdy and beautiful, with the scales reflecting the light of the sun in several colors.
Then I put it to dry under the sun, hanging on some supports at the side of the campfire. Then I use a combination of fire and wind arias to accelerate the drying process.
I think I can make some clothing from them later. Or an extra bag.
When I'm satisfied, and the sun starts to get lower on the horizon, I pack everything and go back to walking north.
In five or six days I should get to the area of the oasis Mimby told me about, where her tribe would be. Hopefully.