We must have spent several days there just snacking on the jerky and continuing our training. We also absorbed whatever it was that was spouting off the wind energy. The other Little Jumpers and I (liked Frogfolk better) had become more humanoid with our more adaptable fingers and our more defined facial features.

Even Hu Lao was looking more human. However, it was too much of a change. She looked like a pretty androgynous teenager with feathers hanging off of her arms. Yeah she had strange feet and a beak instead of lips, but she looked like a human dressing up as a bird. Her feathers on the rest of her body looked more like fur or hair.

We could also start learning how to communicate like all these old guys so I took my time to teach them that as well. It was pretty tedious but worth it. Now I didn’t have to hope that the right thing got through to the other party.

That bubble magic wasn’t really for attacking or defense, but it did allow me to temporary float in midair. But somehow, the others couldn’t quite get the hang of it. Little Brother had instead spent his time focusing on manipulating the water into different shapes to attack with. After being inspired, I formed a sword and shield. The shield was easy, just a flattened cone that spun at high speeds.

The sword however, was more difficult. I just figured it required more stretching. But then I realized, it was a strangely shaped shield. But instead of spinning around, it would spin along the edge like a chainsaw! The finished product was a really curved blade that rounded back out on the back side. Even if it was rounded out, the edge was still as sharp as can be.

Big Brother learned how to shoot a geyser of high pressure water out of his mouth. The concept was later applied to the spheres, making the attack even more destructive than before and allowed for a ranged attack! I also tinkered with it using wind energy and got a special wind blade that I could launch at the enemy.

Explosive water spheres, sharp wind blades, creating swords and shields, what else could be awesome?! How about a gun?

Oh yeah. Using the reed, one of my Little Sisters spat the little water geyser, but shortened the size to be more like a laser. We studied the effect and managed to enhance the reed to fit around our finger. Focusing the water energy there would allow for precise aiming. It was like a finger bullet. But laser like. Whatever, it was cool. The girls focused on long range attacks and support while my brothers and I worked on fighting up close and personal.

And by support I mean healing and buffing. They could apply Strengthening to others! They focused on the natural cleaning abilities of water to clean wounds and quicken regeneration. By combining the effort with energy, the process did indeed speed up.

However, that was just my sisters. Our little followers or groupies or whatever managed to follow my training and could use both wind and water effectively. They weren’t really good at creating their own techniques, but they were good at following orders.

Unlike little miss Hu Lao! She can’t create an original technique to save her life! And to top it off, she won’t leave my side! How am I supposed to concentrate with you here?!

No, no. It’s fine. I can’t stay mad at a pretty face, after all. But I am used to it. I knew my fair share of pretty ladies during high school. Although they weren’t as pure as their daddies would have you believe. That was part of the reason I never took the chance to ask her out. I was afraid I would be just another guy to her.

I wanted to be THE guy. I was too self-conscious and too scared to do anything. Now I am ugly and can’t get this pretty girl away!

Another week passed. I’m actually beginning to look more human. My skin is becoming paler, I have something like hair growing on the top of my head, and I even felt physical changes happening to my lower region! Now I need clothes! Using our powers, it wasn’t hard to hunt down a couple regular wolves and skin them for their hide.

The Family Head widened his eyes in surprise at my haul, but the Elder just looked and laughed. After creating a makeshift loincloth, I made wrappings for my sisters, groupies, and Hu Lao. I also made a loincloth for Little Brother, but he didn’t want to wear it. A slight kick to his grundle would probably fix that.

It did.

After every humanoid wore their clothes, we continued training. It was a good thing the plants here grew so fast. I had asked the Elder about bringing the frogs over, but he shook his head and gave a sad smile.

Apparently, Arthur had eaten some eggs a long time ago. They were the Family Head’s brothers or sisters. The grief killed the Lady Elder so only the Family Head remained. Luckily, the Elder had found some passing females to become mistresses.

But after hearing that, I realized Arthur had gotten us involved in something he had caused.

“If I kill Arthur, would you take in the rest?”

“Haha! I would, but how about just bringing the kelp with you and planting them in the marsh?”

“Oh, there’s a thought. Then we wouldn’t have to bother you. Thanks for the idea.”

“No problem. Hey, how long do you think until the energy you receive isn’t beneficial?”

“Oh, probably another day or two. By the way, I’m glad the path has helped you out so well. You look several years younger!”

“Haha! It truly is a blessing! If not for you, I wouldn’t be at this level! Heck, I might even get to live longer now! Hehe, I hope I get to see a great grandchild from you two someday!”

“Sir?! You do know I’m a frog, right?”

“Haha! So? You are strong! That’s all that matters!”

I don’t think so…but…since we are humanoid, I don’t think I count as a frog anymore. And neither does Hu Lao count as a normal heron. Whoa, I’m getting shivers. Huh? Little Sister? The groupies? Sheesh, I don’t like this predicament!

Come on! This isn’t what I wanted! I don’t want a freaking harem! If I had to choose, I don’t think I would even pick Hu Lao! She is irritating! Of course, I can’t tell her Grandpa that.

Sure enough, the next day we stopped feeling any change after eating the plants. Of course, they still filled our energy when we were running low so that’s a plus. If I had to say, I had gotten 47 blue and green strands, but only 5 turquoise strands. We hauled the kelp away back to the marsh.

But upon our return, we saw somethings we didn’t expect.

There were so many frogs! They were everywhere! Why?! This is crazy! If we tried to hand over these plants here and now, they would be gone in a moment! Have all they been doing is going at it? They are! Some are blatantly just laying eggs out in the open! A guy comes along and does his thing all over them!

For some reason, I am sickened. My siblings and groupies are looking at me expectantly. No. We go back the way we came. I am not babysitting some horn dogs. But, after all of that, the others are getting a bit restless.

Welp. There they go. Here I am just watching over the kelp. Just me, the peace, the quiet, Hu Lao, one of my Little Sisters, and all of the groupies. It seems that the humanoids have problems due to their human tendencies. They all seem to want one person for themselves, a mate for life.

But seeing a brother and a sister actually do the nasty behind some bushes kind of freaks me out. I can hear some plopping sounds and notice some large eggs being laid in the water. I looked over to see my Big Sisters lay a massive amount of regular sized eggs while Big Brother trotted over and proved his worth as a man. We weren’t far away, but we decided to go around and drop our siblings’ eggs off at the small pond. We even placed some of the plants here.

I was surprised to see one Little Sister and a couple of Big Sisters stay behind. I guess they were to watch over the children until they could care for themselves. So the thirteen of us went back upstream and headed for the unknown, practicing along the way.

I needed a way to determine the difference between my two Little Sisters! I guess I could call one love-struck. Ugh, in my previous world, I didn’t have any other girl even so much as look at me like these seven did. But, here, these seven would like nothing more than for me to father their children!

Please, save me from this predicament!