Chapter 91: Scales
The Grimalkynes departed, cradling the feather-shaped scales with joy. By that afternoon, two large baskets of fish scales were delivered. The shimmering interplay of gold and silver light was a magnificent sight to behold.
Logan extended a fingertip, lightly pinching a scale from the basket to examine it closely. The tennis-ball-sized scale gleamed with a distinct metallic luster and felt substantial. Applying a bit of pressure, he saw the circular scale bend into a sharp curve; however, the moment he let go, it snapped back to its original shape.
This left Logan somewhat disappointed. Gold is naturally an extremely soft metal and shouldn't possess such elasticity. It seemed the Goldenfry scales either contained no gold at all or were of poor purity—likely some sort of gold alloy.
Lacking specialized testing equipment, he couldn't reach a definitive conclusion. He would have to let his stomach do the analyzing.
Logan grabbed a basket of fish scales along with the algae they were packed in and shoved the whole lot into his mouth. His massive teeth let out a piercing metallic screech as he chewed, and one could even see faint sparks flying. To his now-powerful digestive system, this amount of material was nothing more than an appetizer that would be fully processed in no time.
As the scales hit his stomach, gastric acid—more potent than aqua regia—began to secrete, accompanied by surging electrical currents. Roiling bubbles carrying heat erupted from the corners of Logan's mouth. The sensation felt much like his previous life as a human, downing a massive amount of carbonated soda in one go.
He could clearly feel a vast quantity of gold ions being absorbed. Yet, compared to the immense needs of his body, the amount was still too small. Consequently, these scarce metals converged toward the most critical electrical organ in his body: the massive pair of Azure Horns on his head.
As time passed, the originally blue horns were gradually dyed with a tint of gold, eventually becoming as dazzling as golden glass with a semi-transparent texture. Now, the Azure Horns looked like a solar disk had descended upon Logan's head—giving him a look somewhat reminiscent of Aurelion Sol from League of Legends.
This external change brought enhanced electrical conductivity and a sharper sensitivity to magnetic fields. Logan was naturally satisfied with this; after all, he was looking more and more "expensive."
Unfortunately, the supply of scales was limited. After finishing them all, Logan smacked his lips, feeling unsatisfied.
How about heading to the spot where the Grimalkynes caught the Goldenfry? Even if there was no guarantee of a harvest, as the saying goes, "swing the stick whether there are dates or not"—it was worth a shot.
Logan decided to move out immediately. He would definitely bring along Zhu Peiniang, his "Automatic Electric Fishing Machine," while the White Grimalkyne would serve as the translator. He also needed a couple of guides.
After expressing his intent, the White Grimalkyne headed back to the tribe and returned shortly with their response. The Grimalkynes were willing to act as guides, but they needed time to prepare because dangerous monsters frequented that area.
Logan wasn't in a hurry. In fact, he was curious about these "dangerous monsters." What could it be? A Deviljho? An Ebony Odogaron? As long as he remained cautious, nothing should go wrong.
Thinking this, he looked down at the White Grimalkyne and felt a pang of guilt. He had forcibly altered its body for his own needs and kept it by his side as a translator; he truly owed the little guy.
If he got the chance, he'd have to make it up to him. He remembered that when the other Grimalkynes left, the White Grimalkyne's gaze had lingered on the feather-scales. As long as he had enough food, he could produce as many of those as he wanted. Since the cat liked them, he'd give it a few.
Logan shook his tail, and two feather-scales fell off. He pinched them with a claw and handed them to the White Grimalkyne.
"You don't seem to have a weapon yet. If you don't mind, use these. Have your tribe process them; they should turn out decent."
The White Grimalkyne looked up in pleasant surprise, staring at Logan in disbelief.
"Are these for me? But I haven't done anything..."
Logan had no patience for polite refusal and simply settled the matter. The White Grimalkyne had no choice but to carry the two scales back to the settlement, planning to regroup once the others were ready.
Three days passed in a flash. At sunrise, three Grimalkynes appeared before Logan. They were laden with bags containing "dung bombs" made from pungent plants, ropes, bows, and a small fishing rod equipped with a pulley.
The White Grimalkyne was now clad in a set of pink leather armor with two sheathed longswords on its back, looking exceptionally capable.
The thin feather-scales weren't heavy. Though they were nearly two feet long, they weighed less than a kilogram. With the White Grimalkyne's strength, it could wield both simultaneously without hindering its movement.
The two giant beasts followed the three Grimalkynes toward the southern side of the Coral Highlands. Before long, they arrived at a towering cliff. Over eons, the continuous cycle of growth and death of the coral polyps had left a thick layer of grayish-white residue on the cliff face.
Following a narrow path along the cliff for about two hours, a cramped cave entrance appeared. The Grimalkynes stopped and looked at Logan.
"It's right inside, meow!"
"But the hole is too small; you might not be able to crawl in, meow!"
Hearing this, Logan glanced at the relatively thin stone wall of the entrance. He signaled the cats to back away, then swung his claw with a heavy slam. The massive impact shattered the encrusted coral and cracked the rock. Soon, the entrance was widened enough to pass through.
"Alright, we can go in now."
With that, Logan took the lead. A few un-cleared rocky protrusions scraped against his scales, only to be ground into dust by his sheer muscular force.
Inside was a cavern with a massive vertical drop, cutting through five levels of cliffs. A profusion of vines and algae climbed everywhere, forming various elastic natural platforms. From below came the faint sound of splashing water, suggesting an underground river.
Logan twitched his nostrils. He caught a scent here that felt familiar, though he couldn't place it at the moment.
Seeing no immediate danger, he called Zhu Peiniang and the three Grimalkynes inside. The group began to descend slowly, navigating the steep walls and the crisscrossing platforms.
The cavern was deeper than imagined. After a great deal of effort, they finally neared the bottom. There lay a vast, deep pool. The water surged slowly, with no visible source or outlet.
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