Master Of None

Chapter 2435: 2435. Chilling Water

While Midnight was enjoying the movement through the sky, she sensed the cold air coming from the river before she could see it. While she was sensitive to manas, she could feel the change in the wind currents. Nothing unnatural, but it was very clear.

The larger river had a decent amount of frosty fog coming off of it which was then carried in to the natural wind currents of the area. Some birds and a few other insect type monsters were using the warmer air currents to move about while avoiding the colder air currents.

”So itʼs definitely fitting in well with the environment. That makes me think there is a naturally forming water rune down below that water.” A small huff came from Midnight as she agreed with Walker. Her thoughts were that this would be a little more involved if it was naturally forming runes.

This was because she knew how determined Leon and the other merfolk were when it came to studying and exploring the water ways around Genesis. They had already become very up in arms when they heard a new river altogether had been found. This wasnʼt even with the waterways, ponds, and rivers they had been requested to explore for the Sigil continent.

The angels had made many requests which had piled up. The demi-human, merfolk, and underwater dwarven golems were too few to handle all of the request so only the most important were being taken in to account right now.

That was why having Walker and Midnight look in to the potential dangers of this new river would help immensely. Just removing any ideas of dangers or risks was enough to put that request further down the ladder of requests.

So far the most dangerous had proven to be a large pond with a dark mana drifting around in the water proven to be a monster called the venom jellyfish which lived in caves underneath it. The angels had gotten the information from the merfolk and managed to make the entire area known as dangerous.

Therefore, that protected the angels and those nearby who were working on their homes and villages. Beyond that, two small streams had been found to be connected to a river which had toxic plants growing within which was able to prevent people from getting sick while taking water from there.

All of this seemed to be small but as the Sigil continent also grew and the plans to make a second Genesis city was being put in to motion, it needed to be done. Safety for the growth of the people was the mandatory focus before anything else.

”Look at that.” Walker stopped in the air and Midnight flapped her wings to halt herself. The two watched a larger log floating down the river accumulate ice. It seemed to have fallen naturally from the river bank which happened over time, but the ice forming on it only started to happen after a certain point. Proving something was causing the change of the underground water from a warmer to an extremely cold temperature.

The two were looking at an almost clear cut line where the water seemed to start giving off the colder mist. It was also easier for them to sense the density in the water mana and also for Walker to realize this isnʼt cold caused by wind mana mixing in.

”I donʼt think this is the same kind of cold that comes from wind mana and water mana mixing to make snow or blizzards like we know. That might mean we have a more natural and dense mana for water.” He almost hoped this was the case.

He would be able to understand the changes in the world to a higher degree while also relating that new understanding to the ways of the elemental planes. He had not spent a lot of time in the water elements plane meaning that he had not been able to grasp some new understandings that would allow him a better method of travel through it.

After a few moments of analyzing the mist coming from the water, Walker was not at all surprised to see that the sides of the river banks had frosty ice crystals forming on it. It made it seem that the river itself was too cold for the environment and might cause some plants to die.

Yet, it also presented another new instance.

There could be herbs and species of monsters that could live here because of this. They might needed the colder temperature of the river bank and the herbs that could grow there to survive. Some monsters even specifically left volcanic or desert areas at certain times of the year to feast on herbs that would internally cool their fire mana affinity so that they could survive better,

With that in mind, Walker watched and saw a small squirrel that was moving around the edge of the river. In just a few moments, he saw it leap at a tiny white beetle.

”Frozen jade beetle

This small beetle lives in frosty grasses and eats the frozen dew from the morning. It will often be hunted by smaller monsters because it is cooler and possesses potent water mana. While not often a pest, it will cause some damage to fire elemental herbs and plants if it accidentally rests on them due to its colder body temperature.

It is an ideal ingredient for certain potions utilizing strong water mana affinity…ʼ

Just seeing the small white beetle was proof that some of the tiniest insect type monsters were already recovering or adapted to this and awakened a more ancient aspect of what they were. Besides that, other monsters were hunting it and would begin to change accordingly because that was part of a more ancient aspect of their diet.

The smallest changes were able to begin a larger and more progressive change for bigger monsters over years to come. All would be recorded and explain to intelligent races the mystery of the world they lived in. The time was all that was needed. Along with sharp eyes and an open mind.

”I buffed us to resist the water and cold and used the underwater breathing skill I have. We can make our way under the water now.” Walker wanted to avoid changing the flow of the river so using water mana and a bunch of buffs to be able to swim better was the best bet here. He also knew that being able to breathe under water would be the reason he spent a lot more mana over time.

Not that he and Midnight couldnʼt hold their breath for a longer time than most others. But that would wear on their mentality and also mean they couldnʼt take a sling to evaluate the underwater environment.

The good thing was, as soon as they plunged in to the chilling water, they both realized that there was a fairly clean and clear aspect to it. Less sediment floated about because the water came from under the ground rather than off of mountains or lakes. Helping them see more right away.

The rocks and a few of the plants on the river bottom were growing fairly well but had coatings of ice on them. The rocks were easily able to gather the ice with their rougher textures, but the plants were attracting the water mana and causing the ice to form better on them.

The small monsters crawling about were species of crabs that Walker wanted to gather information on until he saw a larger piece of ice moving underwater.

ʼFrozen hermit

This is a species of hermit crab monster that specifically crafts icy shells to protect itself. It also covers its claws in ice to be able to fight others for their icy shells which they can add to their own as they grow. Their violent nature is due to their greed for more defense on their shells. It also comes to the fact that they are always trying to absorb more water mana to collide with their surroundings.

They will only ever leave their homes within frozen waters during the coldest times of the year when they can travel around and find mates. This is also when they are hunted the most by certain monsters that are after the water mana and nutrients within their videos…ʼ

The large size of this monster was perfect for how large the river was. These monsters could easily live here. They also had the fact that they enjoyed the temperature of the water for the time being. But as Walker watched, he followed the fight between the two of them for what seemed to be rocks on the bottom. Not just rocks, but a place to make a resting nest around these rocks.

Midnight moved ahead to clear the way. She had the same thoughts as Walker to figure out why these monsters wanted this space on the river floor.

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