An Aura Farmer's Guide to Another World
Chapter 59: The Toad Boss - Part 3

Chapter 59: The Toad Boss - Part 3

The toad boss slammed into the far wall with a thunderous crash. Evelyn landed atop our barrier, her descent gentle, and controlled.

Though the purple gas had thinned enough for us to see through it, none of us dared step beyond; fear of its poison was anchoring us in place.

"Smells like methane," Evelyn said, eyes locked on the toad’s broken form.

"How long can you hold out?" Cupcake asked, eyes tracking Evelyn overhead.

Evelyn twirled her kusarigama, eyes locked on the toad as it rose and shook the rubble from its back. "I could do this all night," she said coolly. "But your barrier? It’s paper-thin."

Cupcake bit her lip, gripping her sword tighter. "Is the poison airborne only," she asked, her voice low, "or can it seep in through the skin?"

Evelyn shifted her stance, eyes following the toad’s slow march toward the altar. "Don’t bother holding your breath," she said softly. "Just stay put inside your little bubble Momma’s got your back."

"Tsk."

Cupcake looked away, her jaw tight. "Don’t think being poison-proof makes you invincible," she muttered.

"Evelyn," Lucy called out.

Evelyn looked down from above the barrier. "What?"

"Ever since we arrived in Silver Bell," Lucy said, not bothering to look up, "you’ve done nothing but piss me off."

Evelyn crouched on the barrier, eyes fixed on Lucy. "And?" she said, one brow lifting.

Lucy grinned, slowly shaking her head. "I’m going to make you pay for everything you’ve done."

From within the barrier, I watched Evelyn’s ears as they twitched. A slow, hungry smile spread across her face. "Do your worst, Lucy," she purred, her eyes gleaming. "I promise to savor every moment."

"If you insist," Lucy said, a comfortable smile on her face.

"Blood Art technique: Inferno."

In a heart-stopping instant, Evelyn’s clothes erupted into flames, and before we could blink, the fire roared to life, encircling her like a fierce predator.

The blaze ignited the methane contained in the poison gases, unleashing a furious inferno that engulfed the entire structure in a spectacular display of fire and chaos.

The flame flashed into existence and vanished in under three seconds, enough to cook both Evelyn and the toad at insane temperature.

Cupcake lowered the barrier, and Evelyn’s body dropped into my arms. I looked down at her face, thin wisps of smoke drifted from her mouth like she’d just exhaled a cigar.

Evelyn’s clothes were scorched away, leaving her bare in my arms. She glanced at me, then turned slightly toward Lucy. "That tasted delicious," she whispered, then her eyes fluttered shut.

’Thud-thud.’

The toad moved a few inches forward before suddenly tumbling over. Unfazed, he quickly righted himself, shaking his body vigorously.

To everyone’s astonishment, his tough outer scales sloughed off, unveiling a strikingly vibrant red skin underneath, smooth and supple, reminiscent of a snake’s.

’EEEEEK!’

The red toad let out a shriek, shot us a quick glance, then sprang sideways, landing against the wall and clinging to it like a spider.

The toad darted across the cathedral walls in chaotic bursts, zigzagging like a rabbit with terrifying speed.

In an instant, he was gone, his skin mimicking the stone so perfectly it was like he’d never been there.

’Clang!’

Cupcake materialized before me, her shield slamming against an invisible force, narrowly deflecting a hidden claw that would have skewered Evelyn’s guts.

I eased Evelyn down and stepped forward, sword drawn. Lucy and Cupcake mirrored me, forming a triangle around Evelyn, our blades ready, eyes sharp, looking out for danger.

Cupcake raised a fresh barrier, her eyes flicking from wall to wall, tracking every shadow.

’Bam!’

The toad crashed onto the barrier, shaking it hard. None of us had seen where he came from; not until he was already on top of us.

’Bam!’

The toad slammed into the barrier inches from Lucy, and the cracks spread like lightning across the surface.

"Drop the barrier!" I shouted, lunging forward. But just before my blade landed, the silhouette slipped away, vanishing into the shadows of the hall.

For a split second, as he neared the barrier, my ocean eyes caught him—flickering into sight like a ripple on glass.

Leaning toward Cupcake, I murmured, "Up close I think I can track it."

"How close?"

"One meter."

I stepped to the edge of the barrier, palm resting against it. "Let me out. I’ll draw him in then finish it."

’Bam!’

’Bam!’

’Bam!’

The frog slammed into the barrier three times, each hit deeper than the last until it shattered. Before he could crush us from above, Cupcake erected another barrier.

Her breathing grew faint, slow enough that I could count each fragile inhale.

I knew she could take the toad down alone, but she chose to shield us instead, worried the invisible beast might strike when we least expected, especially with Evelyn unconscious.

I laid a hand on Cupcake’s shoulder. "This won’t hold much longer. You’ll burn through your mana, let me finish this."

Cupcake brushed my hand away. "Darling, that thing lands a clean hit on you, and you’re gone. I won’t risk it."

My fingers clenched tighter around the hilt. I stepped to the edge of the barrier, casting a glance at Cupcake over my shoulder.

"Let me out,"

"But—"

"Trust me... I will be fine."

For a mere instant, Cupcake dropped the barrier, and I burst through.

I kept running until I reached the center of the barrier and halted. My feet planted firmly on the stone, my eyes darted frantically from left to right, up and sideways, desperately searching for the invisible frog.

’Clunk!’

’Argh!’

The toad lunged from my left, its claws extending in a blur, thrusting directly for my ribcage.

My eyes fell short of noticing his claws until they met my skin. In that instant, I spun on the same axis and kicked the frog’s incoming body, sending it crashing against the wall.

’Ribbit-ribbit!’

I turned toward where the body had landed, but it was gone. He’d vanished, silent as a spider slipping across the wall.

’Clang!’

My heartbeat surged, pounding against my ribs. From above, the frog dove, claws aimed straight for the top of my head.

I caught it only moments before impact, barely deflecting the claws with my sword.

’Drip-drip,’

I clutched the wound on my chest where his claws had grazed me. Blood dripped silently, pulling my attention from the frog’s next move.

Focus, focus.

"Blood Art Technique: Inverted Square."

An invisible cube formed around me, placing me at its center.

With just ten percent of my core capacity, I shifted from one angle of the cube to another through my third eye.

The skill allows me to see clearly inside the cube—but nothing outside it registers.

Focus, focus.

10ps

20ps

30ps

40ps

My knees gave out, dropping me to one knee, but I rose quickly, pressing a hand to my forehead for balance.

My hand sizzled from the heat it emitted, and sweat beaded behind my ears, quickly saturating my entire body.

Three more eyes emerged as my heartbeat surged from 10ps to 40ps.

The sensation was disorienting; four vantage points feeding into me at once, pulling my thoughts apart as they tried to keep pace.

I watched from all four corners of the cube, eyes glancing upward, anticipating the sweep of the toad’s claws.

With my original eyes shut, I set the sword beside my legs and let the soft patter of blood fill the silence.

I perceived my body from all angles. Back, chest, limbs—nothing hidden, everything rendered with 4K clarity.

"Slash!

The toad struck from behind. The moment its claws breached my cube, time slowed. I sidestepped, gripped my sword, and drove it into its lunging limb.

The frog’s momentum dragged it deeper into the cube. I stood firm, sword braced, then tore it in the opposite direction as the beast slammed past, carving through flesh.

’Bam!’

The frog’s body hit the ground, sliding far from the cathedral’s center. Its invisibility faded, revealing supple red skin drenched in green blood.

The toad boss was dead; I killed it.

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