Chapter 2: Errands
Dragonspine, North Western Outskirts, Near Sal Terrae
Steam hissed softly from between Azoth's fingers as he clapped his hands together, the faint light of the transmutation circle on his gloves casting brief blue flashes across the snow.
A heartbeat later, the ground before him ruptured.
The Cryo Whopperflower burst from beneath the frost with the violent force of a spring-loaded trap, crystalline petals unfurling like serrated blades. Shards of ice scattered with each movement, glinting in with pale blue light.
Rebis stepped back just in time to avoid being impaled by the spiked tendrils that whipped toward him. The air trembled from the impact as they struck the frozen ground where he'd been standing a breath earlier.
"Persistent."
The plant hissed, its body pulsing with Cryo energy. In an instant, it lunged again, petals spinning in a manner not unlike a fan.
He raised his right arm. The circle on his glove flared once more, and a thin, superheated veil of mist expanded from his position, diffusing the plant's biting cold with a wave of oppressive heat. The snow beneath his boots began to melt, hissing as steam enveloped the clearing.
Its movements faltered for an instant in what could only be described as hesitation. It was only natural for a creature born of ice to have an aversion to heat.
Taking advantage of its brief pause, Azoth drew the surrounding vapor inward, compressing it to a near-liquid density before releasing it in a sudden burst. The resulting explosion of steam struck the creature head-on.
The Cryo Whopperflower screeched, staggering backward as several of its petals wilted under the scalding pressure. It retaliated instinctively, slamming its body into the ground. Frost erupted in jagged waves across the field, reforming into icy spines that shot upward like spears.
Rebis' lips lifted slightly in amusement at the familiar attack. It was exactly the same one he used against the Pyro Hilichurl Shooter.
He clapped again, converting the incoming spikes into harmless bursts of vapor before they could reach him.
The flower dove into the earth, vanishing beneath the snow.
Unphased, and aware of this common trick universal to Whopper Flowers, Azoth knelt, placing both palms against the ground. The moisture beneath the surface instantly superheated, turning ice to water, and water to vapor.
The ground swelled, cracked, and then burst open as a geyser of scalding steam erupted upward, dragging the Whopperflower out with it. The creature shrieked, thrashing violently, its frost-crusted body now dripping with melted ice and steam.
"That's better."
Before it could recover, Azoth clapped his hands once more. The water vapor condensed into countless small droplets, then flashed into superheated needles of liquid. With a flick of his hand, they shot forward, tearing through the creature's already-weakened petals and eyes.
The Whopperflower screeched and convulsed. Cryo tried desperately to reform over its wounds, but the constant barrage of steam denied it the chance.
Finally, with a strained, gurgling hiss, the mimic plant collapsed, its once-glacial sheen now dulled and wilted from the heat. The scent of scalded chlorophyll and frozen sap filled the air.
Azoth exhaled lightly, before stepping towards its faintly twitching body, kneeling down and placing a palm on it.
"Take Over."
….
Stone Gate, Bishui Plane, Near Ridge Watch Domain
So Domains exist here—
The moment he saw the earth crack, his body was already moving. The benefits of having [Sage] and seeing everything in slow-motion couldn't be understated.
BOOM!
ROOOOAAAR!
A deafening roar split the air as a Geovishap Hatchling lunged from the ground, claws outstretched, scattering fragments of amber stone. Having moved in advance, Azoth only felt the rush of wind graze his coat.
It landed heavily, claws carving deep furrows into the stone before it spun sharply, its armored body glinting with golden scales.
Unlike the Whopperflower, this creature was pure muscle, and its movements heavy but explosive.
"But you're not invincible." If it was a fully grown Geovishap, he would have taken it more seriously, or more like he'd have no choice but to take it seriously. But given it was only a hatchling, he had some leeway to—
"Experiment." A faint blue hue spread across Rebis' skin, his hair turning white as frost. Whitish-blue petals sprouted from his crown falling to his shoulders. His body temperature dropped rapidly, his every breath releasing frost.
"Plant Soul: Cryo Whopperflower."
With a flick of his hand, jagged spikes of ice formed midair and shot toward the hatchling, only for them shatter harmlessly against its hardened shell.
As expected of a Geo aligned being.
The hatchling hissed in anger at being attacked, rearing back, and leaping high before slamming down. Azoth reacted instantly, switching forms mid-motion.
"Slime Soul: Cryo Slime."
There was no outward change to his appearance, yet when the Geovishap hatchling landed, shaking the earth and sending dirt and rocks flying, Rebis didn't stumble.
Rather, he absorbed the shock, his now-malleable body dispersing the kinetic force.
"What an interesting feeling." His limbs no longer felt bound by the limits of bone or tendon. And his flesh no longer flesh. It was oddly liberating that with just thought, he can freely manipulate his body.
The Vishap burrowed, and Azoth crouched, pressing a hand against the soil. The Cryo energy within him answered, instantly freezing the surrounding ground.
The hatchling burst up moments later, surprised by the frost clinging to its scales. In the next instant, it twisted mid-air into a roll, preparing to slam down.
The Alchemist calmly met it head on, even uttering the phrase he recalled his brother saying whenever he used his elemental skill.
"Burst forth."
A shield of ice bloomed in a flower-like pattern, reminiscent of Rho Aias. Unlike one might expect, the shield did not shatter, merely fracturing as the Vishap collided with it.
Reinforcing it with alchemy had clearly been a wise choice.
The recoil sent the creature spinning backward, leaving it momentarily stunned.
Azoth did not waste the opportunity. With a tap of his boots, ice erupted outward from his feet, spreading toward the Vishap as it struggled to regain its footing.
Unfortunately it was too slow. The ice enveloped the creature layer by layer, until only its neck and furious, glaring eyes remained exposed.
Crack!
The ice threatened to fail, and Azoth closed the distance without hesitation. His gloved hand shot for the Geovishap hatchling's eye—the only unarmored point—and he ruthlessly drove his malleable hand into the socket.
Raaaargh!
A roar of pain echoed from the hatchling's jaws as cracks spiderwebbed across the ice encasing it.
Yet, even as it flailed, Azoth's hand found its brain, and the violent thrashing ceased instantly. He withdrew his hand from the socket, steam rising freely from the gaping wound.
He didn't go for such a ruthless method because he was sadistic. The act brought him no pleasure.
Both eye and brain contained fluids—a target for Water Alchemy—and with the hatchling covered in protective plating, exploiting the vulnerability was the most efficient way to end the fight with his current strengths. He didn't want to drag it on and gain the attention from the Fatui Agents nearby the domain.
"It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change." Quoted by one Charles Darwin.
Azoth pressed a hand back against the Geovishap hatchling's head. The faint blue tint of his skin began to recede, and the petal-like formations atop his head dissolved.
"Take Over."
A familiar blackish-blue vortex flickered to life.
++++
A/N: Running errands can never be simple. This chapter is basically to show where some of the ingredients for certain traits he ends up getting come from, and also to not be surprised about the sudden Take Overs.