I Can Devour Monsters' SSS Talents

”Dealing with the Mireclaws will not be easy.” Averian kept his gaze on the incomplete map and said with a quiet voice.

Seris looked at the map piece without the slightest change in her face.

The thin silver lines inside the strange fabric of the map were shining in the green light of the library.

Its cut edge was completely smooth and clearly showed that the map had been intentionally divided into several parts.

”It doesn’t matter.” Then she moved her hand forward and picked up the piece belonging to the Lacerians from the table.

Averian leaned his body forward for a moment, as if he wanted to stop her, but before he could show any other reaction, Seris only examined the edges of the map.

Her fingers moved over its resistant and cold fabric.

The mana strands inside the map showed a faint light with her touch, but no new part was revealed.

The map was really strange, even the paper used for it was special.

It was clear whoever was responsible for the mapping was a professional.

”When the other two parts are found, we will put all three pieces at Mr. Lian’s disposal for the necessary time.”

Seris put the map back on the table.

She had no interest in arguing over its ownership.

What mattered to her was the result.

”Which one first?”

”The Varkesh are closer.” Lian, who was standing next to the table, looked at the marked paths on the map.

Then he gave his gaze to Seris.

”That piece should be easy.”

”It is.” That girl also nodded.

Her answer was so confident that no one doubted she did not mean negotiation by easy.

She moved her gaze to Averian.

”The way to the Mireclaws?”

Averian was silent for a few moments.

Then he placed his hand on one of the old skin maps that was next to the table and opened it.

”The direct path passes through the south of the Varkesh territory.” He moved his finger over the map’s faint lines.

”After that, the ground starts to sink, the roots disappear into the swamp, and most of the path is covered with black water.”

”Poisonous gases come out of the ground, and some parts are not even ground; they are fungal layers that tear under body weight.”

Seris listened without any particular reaction.

”The path signs are not clear either. The Mireclaws deliberately mark the routes so that only they or those who have been there before can find them.”

”My daughter knows the Mireclaws’ path, she can help you.” And then he called one of the soldiers to go and tell his daughter to come here.

They waited until the tribe leader’s eldest daughter arrived, and fortunately, it took no more than a few minutes, and when she came, Averian directly stated his goal.

”You want me to go with her?” Sera answered at that same moment.

There was no attempt to hide the dissatisfaction in her voice, it was clear she did not want to go with that otherworldly girl.

Seris did not even turn her head toward her.

”You know that path better than anyone, you have gone to their territory twice with the exchange groups.” The tribe leader added.

Then his gaze became more serious.

”And if the Mireclaws are willing to talk, someone needs to explain from our side why we want the map.”

Sera fixed her gaze on the thin sword at Seris’s waist.

The same blade that had cut off her father’s two hands, then she moved her gaze to her cold and emotionless face.

”And if they are not willing to talk?”

”I’ll force them.” Seris answered briefly.

A short silence formed, Sera clenched her teeth, being with Seris was unpleasant for her from the start.

But that simple answer made her dissatisfaction greater, not because she doubted Seris’s power, but because she knew this girl would really do what she said.

”Aren’t you coming?” Seris gave her gaze to Lian.

”Well, I promised someone I would help him become stronger.” Her completely black eyes paused on him for a moment.

It was simple and acceptable logic, she said nothing more, it was not like she needed help doing such an easy task.

”Besides, I’m sure you can get those two pieces. My presence won’t change anything either.” Lian continued.

This sentence was not just a practical decision, it was direct trust in Seris’s power, and the girl’s eyes remained on Lian for a moment longer than usual.

She did not smile, but her gaze softened slightly.

”I’ll try to get them within three days.” She said and then looked at Sera.

”We’re moving.”

”Right now?” Sera asked in disbelief.

”Yes.”

”I haven’t even packed my things.”

Seris, without waiting, moved toward the library exit.

”Pack.”

Sera looked at her back with anger for a few moments.

Then she turned to her father, as if she expected Averian to say something, but the tribe leader only gave her a meaningful look.

His daughter let out her breath with pressure.

”Great.” Then she left the library with nervous steps.

Less than half an hour later, Seris and Sera left the tribe’s gate.

Sera had a light bag of food, water, and essential tools.

A knife was tied at her waist, and a short spear was on her back.

Seris only carried her sword.

No food, no water, and no extra items, as if she was not going on a multi-day trip, but only intended to walk to another part of the tribe.

Of course, naturally, she had everything she needed in her storage space, she did not need to hold them in her hands.

Lian came with them to near the gate.

Sera gave a brief look at her brother and sister.

Nemi waved at her, and Ravian also lowered his head.

Seris passed through the gate without any special farewell.

Sera was forced to take a few faster steps to not fall behind her.

When those two disappeared among the roots, Lian looked at Ravian.

”Let’s go, I want to fulfill my promise.”

”The training ground?” Ravian held his spear tighter, excitement was visible in his eyes.

”Yeah, let’s see if you can handle my training or not.” And a grin appeared on his face.

A few minutes later, the two were standing in the Lacerians’ training ground.

The ground was still not empty of the warriors’ training, a few people were striking on the stone pillars.

A group was working on the obstacle courses, but when Lian and Ravian entered, many turned their gaze toward them.

Ravian raised his spear, expectation and excitement could be seen in his eyes.

He probably imagined Lian would teach him a complex technique or a powerful move from the start, but Lian only moved his hand forward.

”Give me the spear.”

Ravian paused briefly, then gave him the weapon.

Lian weighed it, the spear was made of compressed wood and had a bone tip, it was not a bad weapon for a warrior at Ravian’s level.

”We start from the beginning, you have to learn everything from the basics.”

”I have been training with a spear for years, why should I train from the basics?” Ravian frowned at that same moment.

Lian took the spear in his hand.

”That’s your problem.” Before Ravian could answer, Lian stood in a fighting stance.

He spread his legs too wide, put a lot of pressure on his front shoulder, held the spear straight, and tensed his entire body before the attack.

This was exactly the same stance Ravian used during training.

Lian made a direct strike, then he himself showed with a simple movement how the enemy could deflect the spear’s tip.

He turned his body half a step, moved the spear’s shaft off the path, and showed the completely open space of the chest.

”Here.” He pointed at his own chest with two fingers.

”After the first strike, this part remains completely open.”

”My movement is not that bad.” Ravian felt a little humiliated upon seeing the exact imitation of his own movements.

Lian returned the spear to him.

”Against someone weaker than you, no.” Then he looked directly into his eyes.

”Against someone at your level or stronger, you die before the second strike.”

A few young warriors who were watching from a distance fell silent, they never thought anyone would dare to say such things to their tribe’s heir.

Ravian clenched his teeth, but did not object.

”What I’m going to teach you comes from two places.” He pointed with his first finger.

”My clan’s training.” He continued with his second finger.

”And my own real experience.”

”My clan never only taught raw power.”

”Before you control the weapon, you must control your own body.” Then he stood behind Ravian and reduced the distance between his steps with his foot.

”The first principle, Rooted Step.” Ravian looked at the position of his feet.

”The feet should not be fixed, but every step must maintain the center of gravity.”

He pressed Ravian’s shoulder with his hand, he immediately lost his balance a little, and then Lian said.

Your weight is too far forward.” Then he moved his back foot a few centimeters.

”When you attack, the weight transfers from back to front. But not so much that you have no way back.” He performed the movement himself, a short step, hip rotation, weight transfer, and the spear went forward with speed, but his body remained completely balanced even at the end of the strike.

Ravian watched carefully.

The second principle was Three-Point Alignment.