Chapter 43: There Goes My Heroine

                                    

                                          
While I rejoiced over my small gain, I suddenly heard a thump sound before me.
  “You're back so soon?” I asked, surprise to see the Scorpion Tail Chameleon once more. How many seconds had it been? Three? Five? Ten?
  Ignoring this, it began telling its find.
  “There's a girl about your age and height battling with a Scarlet Ape beast with a Meditation realm cultivation. She's wielding a glacial sword and seems very well-versed in the art of swordsmanship. However, she seems to only be in the Transcendent Mortal cultivation realm.”
  My mouth parted, gawking at the chameleon for a moment.
  “You're really efficient in what you do!”
  “Now, the end of your deal.”
  I smiled and gave it the leftover cupcake without a second hesitation, before diving out of my hiding place. There was nothing for me to be afraid of.
  I'd taken a step charged with energy, using it as a momentum for charging through the air, right after I sent a few telepathic words to the Scorpion Tail Chameleon which caused its eyes to glow in anticipation.

                          
* * *
  The Scarlet Ape was a savage beast known for its dominative power in extremely rural places. In the early days, people had identified this beast to be both an assault and agility-type savage beast. It had a high offensive and defensive power, such that left other animals avoiding its territory as much as they could.
  However, one thing that was more significant about it was that, it was an all rage no brains! It struck according to instincts, never taking the time to evaluate a blitzkrieg strategy.
  This particular beast was a large ape with extremely strong arms and sharp claws. Its fur carried a sharp scarlet colour, and its presence was overwhelming.
  Its opponent at the moment was wielding an extremely sharp sword covered in frost. At just one glance, I recognised this classmate of mine. She was called Lingxi. She always gave off a cold disposition, barely speaking. Her brows were furrowed as she clashed with the Scarlet Ape, sweat trickling down her face. She was always sent flying back after every clash.
  It was then that I finally landed in front of her. I was confident that I'd be able to take this beast down, with my overwhelming bloodline.
  “You might want to take a step back,” I told Lingxi, not bothering to turn around.
  I could feel the surprise she felt, through her silence. She took subconscious steps backwards, leaping away effortlessly and watching from a close distance to see what miracle I was about to perform.
  “Scarlet Ape, step back or die!” I spoke authoritatively, trying to put up a front. In truth, my bones were actually shaking, internally.
  Of course, as a fellow of Meditation realm, it could also feel my fear. It seemed to have flashed a smile, causing a quick chill to run down my spine.
  Monkeys could smile?
  “You realise we're in its territory?” I heard an unimpressed voice behind me.
  Inside my heart, I felt like slapping both my cheeks. How could I go to someone's home and ask it to “step back”. My opening “hero phrase” was so not cool. Not what I wanted in truth. I wish I could turn clock's hands back and say something cooler.
  While I ruminated over my stupid heroic phrase, the Scarlet Ape took the opening in my concentration to swat at me, the way one would do a pestering fly.
  “Ahhh!” I cried as I was tossed away, headfirst.
  Before my head buried in the ground, I heard a closing remark from Lingxi.
  “There goes my heroine!”
  I heard an old cackle which was unmistakably the Scorpion Tail Chameleon.
  My head was rooted to the ground, so I had to force pluck myself out leaving my face covered in soil and grass.
  Lingxi shook her head and returned to fending off the Scarlet Ape.
  “Jeez... so much about the ‘overwhelming bloodline’ prep,” I muttered to myself.
  “Can't you make yourself useful, chameleon?”
  It raised its head to look at me with a comical look.
  “The deal still stays?”
  I rolled my eyes before dropping a heavy “YES!”.
  “So same plan?” it asked me, not in the least sounding seriously.
  Without replying, I picked it up and aimed at the Scarlet Ape.
  “All you have to do is sting it!”
  The Scorpion Tail Chameleon drove through the air with the help of my throw.
  As it advanced towards the target, a smile could be caught on its face. 
  Advancing. Almost there. There. Plastered!
  I slapped my face as I watched in-between my fingers at the Scorpion Tail Chameleon which was plastered against the Scarlet Ape like a tattoo. I heard its tiny voice cry, “Defence impenetrable! What's Plan B?”
  Jeez... How else could one describe shame? I was sure the target didn't even notice something had touched its skin. Lingxi on the other hand wasn't faring too well. The ape had already slashed its mighty claw against her arm, leaving her bleeding on her right hand, and from her nose as she persevered on.
  As I looked at the Scorpion Tail Chameleon, I furrowed my brows in fury.
  ‘Nothing more than a stupid chameleon. I wonder if the scorpion's sting even contained the tiniest component of poison with it...’
  ‘Wait a sec... that's it! Why didn't I think of it before?!’

                          
* * *
  Lingxi spat curses in-between her teeth, as she contended with the Scarlet Ape's might. Back in class, I'd overheard her telling someone else that her ability was Healing. She was a support-type Gifted cultivator. However, cool as it sounded, this ability depleted one-third of her true essence reservoir.
  With the glacier blade in hands, she finally launched her final decisive attack. This attack is what would definitely define the fate of the battle. Despite the front the Scarlet Ape was keeping, in truth, it had also suffered some injuries itself. Plus, its impulsive attacks also drained lots of true essence from it, so both parties wanted to end the battle as soon as possible.
  A cold glint in her eyes, Lingxi ran with a war cry pushed herself off the ground with her sword stationed right in front of her. The Scarlet Ape was not fiddling with its thumb either. It jumped, pulling its massive body which stood five metres in height towards her, both hands raised and its ferocious fangs glaring from its roar.
  That's where I came in, in the nick of time.
  ‘Boom!’ The ground beneath my feet made a tremor, leaving a crater in place of where I'd stepped on.
  With unreasonable speed and strength, I flashed almost like a streak of light at the beast. Its instinct reactions were also fast and extremely sensitive, as expected of a Meditation realm Scarlet Ape beast. Since it couldn't maneuver itself as Lingxi and I were already closing on it, it launched a dual attack.
  It was as if time had paused in my eyes, as white streak of insight involuntarily flashed through my eyes. Eye of Insight! On my left hand side was a girl hanging mid-air with confidence burning in her eyes as she held on to a frosty sword with vapour ascending from it. Immediately opposite her was the furious Scarlet Ape slowly arcing an arm towards me, out of instincts, with its eyes not leaving — even for a moment — Lingxi's eyes.