Chapter 199: Intimidation

Jenny squeezed her eyes shut and waited for the pain, but the blow never came.

CLANG!

A sharp metallic ring echoed beside her. Opening her eyes, she saw Leo standing right in front of her, one of his twin blades braced against the mutant snake’s open jaws. The force of the impact drove him back a few steps.

The snake recoiled, landing heavily near the edge of the spring. It hissed, fixing its slitted eyes on Leo.

With a clear view of the beast, Leo realized it was far larger than the Mandrake Python he and Atlas had fought earlier. Smooth, shining blue scales covered its body, and two strange, fin-like ears protruded from the sides of its head.

Without warning, the snake lunged. Leo braced himself, but before the creature could reach him, sharp icicles burst into existence around its body.

WHOOSH!

They erupted outward in every direction.

"Everyone, dodge!"

Leo turned and pulled Jenny into his arms, shielding her with his body.

PFFT! PFFT!

Spikes of ice slammed into his back. Most of the force was absorbed by his Robe of Shroud and the tactical armor beneath it, but a dull ache still spread across his spine.

The remaining icicles flew toward the convoy members. A few managed to scramble out of the way, while others were struck. Fortunately, the survivors had already dragged the two wounded men farther from the water, though the strange fish-like creatures remained locked onto their hands.

Leo set Jenny down and stepped forward. The snake lowered its body, spreading its fin-like ears wide.

WHOOSH!

It lunged again.

Leo raised one blade to block its jaws while coating his second blade with Void Edge and Zen, driving a strike toward its neck. A layer of ice attempted to form around the snake’s throat, but the Void-charged steel shattered the frost on contact.

Yet as the edge struck—

CLANG!

The blade failed to bite into flesh. Instead, it skidded off a slick, translucent layer hidden beneath the scales.

Leo’s eyes narrowed.

"What..."

That strange layer had deflected his strike entirely. He kicked off the dirt and flung himself backward to create distance. The snake retreated several meters as well, watching him with newfound caution.

Leo tightened his grip on his hilts. Behind him, the groans of the injured convoy members filled the air.

Then, the snake let out a high-pitched cry.

"WEEEEEE!"

The surface of the spring erupted as swarms of mutant fish leaped from the water, aiming straight for the wounded survivors.

Leo’s gaze swept over the onslaught. There were too many to intercept one by one.

"Intimidation!"

An overwhelming pressure radiated from Leo’s body, sweeping across the spring. Mid-air, the leaping fish went limp and dropped helplessly onto the ground. The snake faltered as well; shaken by the aura, it turned and plunged back into the dark water, disappearing within seconds. On the bank, the remaining fish flapped aimlessly across the dirt.

Leo wasted no time.

"Everyone, help the injured and leave this place."

"Hurry!"

Jenny sprang into action alongside the uninjured survivors, helping haul the wounded men away from the spring. Once they put enough distance between themselves and the water, one survivor pointed back cautiously at the fish.

"Mr. Leo..."

"Should we take some of those fish with us?"

Leo shook his head.

"No."

"We don’t know what other tricks that snake or those fish have."

"It’s not worth risking your lives over some food."

The survivor nodded without hesitation.

"You’re right."

They pressed onward, putting the spring far behind them. Leo was about to ask Jenny what had happened when heavy footsteps thundered through the forest.

BOOM!

The sound grew louder. Branches snapped and leaves rustled until the thick tree line parted.

Atlas emerged. A colossal log rested across his shoulders, balancing two massive boar carcasses hanging from either end.

"Big Brother!"

He took in the scene.

"Is everything alright?"

Leo glanced at the wounded men.

"It’s fine now."

"Let’s get back to camp."

He pointed toward the injured survivors.

"These people need medical attention."

Atlas nodded.

Leo turned his attention back to Jenny.

"The forest is dangerous."

"I don’t think Valentine or Cyrus would let you people come here alone without at least one superhuman protecting you."

His eyes narrowed.

"So..."

"What happened?"

Jenny shifted uncomfortably under Leo’s gaze before answering.

"Yes, you’re right." She took a brief breath. "Originally, Rex and Grandpa Jiro were sent with us to locate a water source. When we found this spring, everything was calm."

She paused, crossing her arms.

"They said they were getting bored, so they decided to head into the forest and look for a beast to hunt. The rest you already know. After they left, we started testing the water for contamination. Then we were attacked. And that’s when you arrived."

It all made sense to Leo now; Rex had given in to his usual restless antics again. Before he could speak, heavy footsteps crackled through the underbrush.

Leo glanced toward the sound. "And here they come."

A moment later, Rex and Grandpa Jiro burst out from between the trees, winded as if they had sprinted back at the first sound of trouble. Rex locked eyes with Leo, but his gaze drifted to the wounded convoy members scattered on the ground.

"What happened?" Rex asked, looking around. "We heard some noises and hurried back."

Leo offered a dry reply, pointing toward the wounded survivors. "Nothing too serious. Some people were just about to meet their makers."

Rex went rigid. He turned toward Jenny. "He’s exaggerating, right?"

Jenny shook her head. "No. He’s right."

Rex grimaced, panic washing over his face. "Damn it. Valentine is going to chew me out." He whipped around and pointed an accusing finger at Grandpa Jiro. "It’s all because of you, old man! You were the one who suggested going hunting. If you hadn’t insisted, I wouldn’t have agreed, and none of this would’ve happened."

Grandpa Jiro folded his arms, completely unfazed. "Brat, don’t pin this on me. Everyone here is a witness. You were the one who wanted to sneak off and hunt."

Rex’s jaw tightened. "That’s not how I remember it."

Grandpa Jiro snorted. "Be prepared for what happens when we get back."