The crocodile seemingly exhausted(?) stopped rolling, his tentacles looked far too loose and were barely taking proper form, limp and weak.
“No shame! it happens to everyone!” Ludwig said he grabbed the final head’s upper jaw up, forcing the crocodile to open its jaw wide. This one was the jaw that had several circular rows of teeth.
“You look hungry!” Ludwig shouted, “Have this, see if it fills you up,” he said as he shoved his arm right into the rows of teeth, “Fire Ball!” he shouted releasing the rest of his mana into the mouth of the crocodile.
The flames surged outward and released themselves into the belly of the beast.
The crocodile’s stomach inflated as fumes and fire began rushing out of its mouth and opening on its body. It tried to screech out in pain, but couldn’t do more than whimper as its body began growing then suddenly an explosion burst out inside the creature.
The opening where tentacles used to come out from its rotten body flare our torrents of flame, along with its three mouths that also released infernal fury out.
Ludwig’s arm was burnt up form his own spell, receiving a lot of damage. But it was nothing compared to the current situation the crocodile was in.
Ludwig jumped off. His mana was almost fully drained bare one or two uses left of Fire Ball. His health pool was slightly above half, while the crocodile was rolling on the ground trying to snuff out fires that went off inside its belly. The creature couldn’t help but weakly whimper and struggle as its cooked innards began melting off from the flames that soon took over its body.
Not long after, the creature stood still. Looking pretty dead and burning.
Van Dijk didn’t say anything, and Ludwig only remained standing, seemingly waiting for something.
After about ten or so seconds, “What are you waiting for?” Van Dijk asked.
“This thing isn’t dead yet,” Ludwig said.
“How would you know that?” Van Dijk asked.
Ludwig couldn’t tell him that he didn’t receive the kill notification, so he replied. “You ever heard the term crocodile tears?” Ludwig said.
Van Dijk smiled.
“You’re right,” he said and snapped his fingers, “I’ve seen enough,” he said summoning a small droplet of what looked like blood. He flicked his finger, and the blood drop shot forward shaping itself like a needle, “Let it rest, for good now,” he finalized.
The needle pierced through the crocodile’s body, then suddenly the crocodile’s body shuddered, and an instant later, tens of thousands of small blood needles burst out of its body.
{You have slain the Corrupted Tibarian Crocodile}
{The heavy corruption on the crocodile had destroyed all available loot}
{You have obtained [Corrupted Soul]}
‘Another one?’ Ludwig muttered to himself. He was a bit sad about not getting anything of value but the soul, but that was enough.
Van Dijk jumped down from the tree branch and approached Ludwig.
He took a glance at his current attire. Burnt robes that he just got him this morning, corroded, and most importantly, he was covered in grime and mud.
He pointed at his disciple, “[Cleanse]” he said.
Ludwig’s attire immediately cleaned up from the mud and grime, but cleanse could do nothing about the tear and wear on his academy robes. “Hmm, I’ll need to get you a set of clothes that doesn’t easily tear. Regardless, time for your evaluation!” he said.
“Oh…” Ludwig understood then that all Van Dijk was doing was evaluating him.
“First things first, you get minus points for getting all dirtied up like that, I’m not a big fan of people who can’t fight elegantly or roll on the mud, but since it worked out for you, I won’t fail you for just that.” Van Dijk said.
“Thank you, I guess,” Ludwig said.
Van Dijk snickered, “You get bonus points for actually taking on an enemy that many would have either been too terrified to fight against or ask me for help, neither Evan nor Sebas were able to do that, no wonder they never got the opportunity to be my disciple,” Van Dijk added.
‘Well, that’s good to hear, I guess they were too scared. Can’t blame them, they’re human after all, evil vile, despicable humans, but humans never the less, I’m an undead and have no fear of death, I also have assurance…’
“You used your skills properly. They had even better skills and more advanced magic and still failed. All you used were Fire Ball and [Flame Bringer] things I have given you, which is also a bonus,” Van Dijk added.
“Though there were things you could have improved,” Van Dijk finalized.
“I’d like to know what,” Ludwig asked.
“Yes, you’re a mage, but have the brain of a warrior, why would you jump on the back of the crocodile? You had it under control once you dried up the lake,” Van Dijk said.
Ludwig couldn’t answer.
“You also realized that your new weapon was pretty useful, but instead of relying on it, you almost sacrificed an arm to blast the crocodile’s innards. I don’t like that, why take the riskier route? You had a viable option but you disregarded it for something more… flashy? Remember Ludwig, magic is all about efficiency, if you casting spells from afar was doing you good, you had no reason to jump physically into the fray, minus points.”
Ludwig lowered his head, Van Dijk was right, but he couldn’t tell him that he was in an adrenaline rush, not that he would understand…. Hold on, he has no heart, how did he get an adrenaline rush?
That question was soon removed from Ludwig’s head when Van Dijk said, “You still showed prudence for not taking your win too eagerly. I like that, being careful is far better than being dead. Plus, points. I can see value in you Ludwig, I can see that you use your head properly, in most cases, so don’t go on dying on me one day because you just felt like jumping on the back of your enemy was a good idea. If that crocodile wasn’t panicking and used its tentacles to wrap around you when you were above its body, you’d be bone broth by now.” Van Dijk advised.
Ludwig nodded, feeling both proud for having received some praise, but also admonished for having done some unnecessary things.
“Right, seeing your proficiency with magic, I can see that you’re lacking some control, you should be able to use a higher level of fire ball from what I could see but you’re lacking in control. I don’t currently have an Emerald Mana stone, once we’re back at the academy, I’ll carve it on your forehead instead of the sapphire one. I think you should be ready for it soon,” Van Dijk said.
Ludwig pulled a green emerald from his ring, “Something like this?” he said.
“Oh, color me surprised, where did you get this?” Van Dijk said as he picked up the emerald from Ludwig’s hand.
“The Sheikh used it as a pin for his turban.”
“Hmm, keep it on you, once we’re back I’ll help you use it, that should upgrade the magic you can use form first circle to second and probably third circle… good, good. Now follow me, we still have a long way to go,” Van Dijk said as he led the way.