In fact, it is only now that I feel better that I realize how much worse I was feeling before. It feels just like waking up after a fever has broken, but now that it is over I feel great. After a nice big breakfast we get moving again, but I tell Lizzy she doesn't have to go slow anymore.

With Lizzy now setting her own pace we reach the lake about two hours after breakfast. The problem now is that I have no idea what kind of mana beast we are looking for. Since the lake is the water source for the area a lot of beasts visit it, so scent won't help.

We have no way to tell which of the many beasts is the one we are looking for. All I know for sure is that it should be a max rank mana beast, so it should be bigger than normal. That doesn't help much since I don't know much about the local mana beasts.

As I am sitting there trying to figure out a plan Lizzy starts drinking from the lake. After only taking a single drink Lizzy lifts her head and suddenly backs away from the lake. At the same time I notice the water moving in the middle of the lake, like something beneath the surface moved.

"Lizzy, what's wrong?"

Lizzy says "When I went to drink I sensed something watching me from within the lake."

"Maybe that is what we are looking for."

Just after I say that a huge head slowly rises out of the center of the lake. The head is big enough to eat Lizzy in a single bite, but it is a weird shape. As it rises further from the water I realize it is the head of a huge toad.

To my surprise the toad rises completely out of the water and stands on top of it. Something that big standing on water is fairly impressive, it definitely has water based abilities. I get a slight feeling of danger from the thing, and I can tell that it is already a sacred beast.

King Toad says "Was it your roar I heard last night? Are you here to challenge me?"

"It was my roar, but it was not a challenge. It was to warn off any predators that might think about going after the young ones."

King Toad says "If not to challenge me, then why are you here?"

"Actually, I am here to help a mana beast evolve into a sacred beast."

King Toad says "You can do that? That is beyond my abilities. Is it because you are a higher rank than me?"

"It's not because of rank. It is a special ability I have because of how I became a sacred beast. Do you happen to know the whereabouts of the max rank mana beast we are looking for?"

King Toad says "I do, but I don't trust you yet. As the king of this area the beast you are looking for is under my protection."

"Fair enough. What can I do to reassure you?"

King Toad says "For starters you can tell me what you meant by how you became a sacred beast."

Since I sense no hostility from the toad I let Haku and Ekard down to play with Windy watching them. Then I tell the giant toad how I was summoned and became a demon then later a sacred beast. He listens intently to my story, all the while standing on the water like it is nothing.

King Toad says "Well, that is certainly a unique way to become a sacred beast. I can see why you have special abilities. But why are you here?"

So I tell him who Great Mother Wolf is and how I met her, then about her request. I also tell him how she thinks more sacred beasts are needed to help keep the humans in check. While I am talking I pull out a bunch of food for lunch, which brings Haku and Ekard running.

King Toad says "I agree with her reasoning, humans are very destructive if left to their own devices. Only fear will keep them in check in my experience. Their fear of me is the only reason this area is left in peace."

"Does that mean you will let me help the mana beast evolve?"

King Toad says "Yes. I have already attempted to help her evolve, but I was unsuccessful."

As he is talking another toad rises from the water next to him, a smaller toad. From the difference in coloration it seems the smaller toad is a female, she is about a quarter of his size. King Toad is mostly brown with a few other dull colors, the female is bright blue and green.

King Toad says "This is my daughter. She doesn't have the ability to speak but she understands well enough. She has been listening the whole time so she knows what you plan to do."

At King Toad's urging his daughter swims towards us, it seems she can't walk on water. She swims gracefully but becomes clumsy once she reaches the shore. It is pretty obvious that she spends most of her time in the water and isn't used to being on land.

As I step closer and put my hand on her side I can feel her shivering in fear. I can't really blame her, after all I smell like a predator and I am right next to her. I stop my cultivation and gently use my sacred power to calm her down.

Then I use my power to trigger her evolution and help her get through it smoothly. The entire time I can feel King Toad watching me intently, worried for his daughter. Not that I blame him, he has no real reason to trust me yet, but it doesn't matter since I am done.

"You can relax, it is done."

King Toad says "So soon? Is it really such a simple thing for you?"

"She was already on the verge of evolving, she just needed a little push."

King Toad says "It is still something I was unable to do. You have my thanks. In fact I can return the favor if you like?"

"What do you mean?"

King Toad says "My mastery over water is advanced enough that I can bestow water abilities on others. I can give the ability to either the weasel or the lion, the others already have strong abilities."

"Then I would say Windy, Haku is still too young."

Windy says "Me? But I already have wind powers!"

King Toad says "Yes, you do. However, they are not strong enough to prevent you from gaining another power."

Windy says "So, I will have both wind and water abilities?"

King Toad says "Exactly."

"Windy, it is your decision."

Windy says "I will do it. I want to be more useful."

As soon as she agrees King Toad opens his mouth and spits out a bubble. The bubble moves to Windy and envelopes her, but she doesn't look to be in pain. The bubble only covers her for a few seconds before it is absorbed into her body.

"Windy, how do you feel?"

Windy says "I feel amazing!!"

"Thank you, King Toad."

King Toad says "No need for that, we are even now. I have only given her the ability, she will still need to train and practice with it."

"No problem, I will help her. The same goes for your daughter, she is a sacred beast now but her progress is up to her."

King Toad says "That I can help her with."

"Then in that case, we are done here and will be leaving your territory."

King Toad says "Then I wish you safe travels."