I should shift my attention to what occurred with my other comrades after our separation. My lord, Agrond, only recently shared his tale with me upon my request. He found the story to be irrelevant, claiming he was clearly the victor. I implored him that such details were crucial for us to build his legacy, as tales of his deeds would spread and further aid our goals. Eventually, he shared with me the tale of what happened to him after our separation.
After being hurled through the air and across acres of forest by Yashima, Agrond had landed in a lake north of our starting position. The verdant green waters had absorbed much of the impact and Agrond found that he managed to rise to his feet with only a few minor aches and pains. As he gazed at his surroundings thigh deep in water, he admitted that despite the circumstances at which he arrived, this view was a reminder to him of just how dearly he truly does care for this world and its beauty. Unfortunately, his momentary appreciation for his surroundings were stifled by a sharp pain that cut through his left ankle. He fell and collapsed down onto his knee from the pain as the once clear emerald water was slowly clouded by red blood.
The wound was too deep and excruciating to be done by a blade, something was wrong. He raised his foot out the water and was shocked to see that this was no mere cut. His angle was missing a rather large piece of flesh that had been carved away from the bone in an instant, from a distance, it would have appeared that his foot was barely hanging onto this leg. Agrond immediately deduced that something was lurking in the water and immediately took to the air. His wings spread outward and carried him into the air. But when he sailed no more that a few feet above the surface of the water, something exploded from beneath the water's surface and plowed into him from behind. The force would have shattered the spine of a weaker primaren, but he gladly settled for the blunt wet smack of the lakes water's once more. The pain grew in his ankle as he balanced himself instead of his left leg to take pressure off his wounded limb. Moving was clearly not the answer, whatever was prowling the depths wouldn't let him. If he couldn't move, he would have to focus on healing his wound as quickly as possible.
Moments felt like hours to him as he diligently tried to regenerate his flesh as well as focus his senses on his surroundings. The next attack could come at any moment. As his mind raced back an forth, desperate to find a solution, he suddenly came to a realization. He must have bared his teeth while smiling, as he so loves to do when he has gained insight into his opponents.
“You've had your fun. Why not come on out so that we can have a real fight... Toyotama.”
Agrond was not wrong in his assumption that Toyotama was behind the attack. Though we knew little of her, her reputation is one that is well known in many parts of Ferus Mundus as a vain and haughty creature who cannot resist a chance to bask in her own achievements. Almost as if on command, the mere mentioning of her name caused Toyotama to rise from beneath the surface of the lake, licking off her fingers one by one as if finishing a satisfying meal.
“Mmmm. Such a shame that eating the flesh of another primeran has such gruesome consequences, would you not agree? Yours is a taste that swells with vigor, my lord. Delicious! Absolutely divine! You wouldn't mind if I have just one more bite would you? After all, is it not a lord's duty to serve those beneath him?”
Toyotama was as much the talker as rumors made her out to be. Agrond knew that if he could manage to keep her prattling on, then he might be able to buy himself time to heal from his wound.
“I agree, you are all beneath me.”
How I wish I could have seen that crone's face when my lord told her that! As expected, Toyotama flew into an expletive rage as a result.
“How dare you speak of my master and us that way! Genkaku-sama is a primeran destined to carve out his own kingdom in this world! You are nothing more than the pitiful remains of a now dead and forgotten waste of flesh! Clearly, he doesn't fear you at all. Why else would he trust me to end your life?”
“Because you are a pawn. Something to throw away at his leisure. Or at the very least act as a reasonable distraction.”
“You insolent bastard! Look around you! Why are you here!? Because I have the advantage! You are easily the biggest threat to my master's plan, and he entrusted me with your demise.”
Agrond's plan was working perfectly, but something was not quite right. Despite how he continued to focus his essence to heal his wound, the healing was slow, much too slow. As much as Toyotama talked, she wouldn't continue to do so for very long. She was vain, not stupid. Agrond then began to laugh at Toyotama's words and replied in an effort to gain more time to solve this riddle.
“If you honestly believe that I am the greatest threat to Genkaku's plans, then surely you were not paying attention when we first met.”
“What are you babbling about?”
“I seem to recall the looks on your faces when the wolf decided to shut you ALL up with nothing but a glance. If you really want to see just how pointless your quest his, just try pushing that mutt around and you'll see.”
“See what, liar?”
“How you should have never thought you could take us... ONE ON ONE!”
Realizing that wasting his essence on healing his wound was not going to work, Agrond instead channeled his essence into his throat to produce a thin and deadly stream of flames towards Toyotama. The soul light spiraled around Aground a mere moment before the attack came, and despite its increased speed, it was enough time for Toyotama to use her massive tail to up heave a mound of water to absorb the flames as she dived beneath the water's surface. Agrond had made his gambit, and it seemingly failed. After wasting too much essence trying to heal his wounds, he gambled on putting a great deal into a single precision attack that he had hoped would wound Toyotama enough for him to at least make it to the shore. When the waters finally settled, Agrond could see a feint stream of blood that trailed off away from him.
His newfound confidence was short lived, however. Toyotama soon came back towards him at immense speed, tearing across the surface of the water, her massive tail propelling her ever closer to him. Then, from where she once stood, she vanished beneath the water. Then, there was but a single breath that escaped between Agrond's lips when Toyotama erupted from the depths sailing through the air towards him, her mouth opened wide, far wider than anticipated. It was if her jaw extended down her neck to the top of her shoulders. All of which was lined with razor like teeth and emitting a foul stench of death.
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