An hour later, I was back outside, once more in Cloud Goat form. It was only a few seconds before the Oil Toads caused another fire, then another. These things seem to grow more aggressive as the night goes on.

I flew over to a particularly concentrated clustering of fire, and was elated to find myself the first to arrive. Then again, with so many battling toads, it’s now unlikely to stumble across them.

I looked down, and counted all the potential targets. There were fourteen toads here, one of which was slightly larger than the rest. As for what gathered them to this spot, it appears to be some kind of monster alligator. Even its underside was covered in thick, scaly leather, and an excess of skin drooped off all sides of it.

The larger toad lashed its tongue out at another toad, striking true, and stunning it just long enough to douse their opponent in a tar significantly thicker than what I’ve seen before. The D rank then raked its claws against each other, sending a shower of sparks in the stunned toad’s direction. The targeted toad tried to jump, but its opponent's tar was far too thick. It impeded the toad’s movement just enough that the sparks struck true, igniting it. It rolled around in the watery marsh where it landed, but could not extinguish the flames.

The other toads, seeing one of their like killed so effortlessly, split into two groups. Half hopped away, judging the risk of fighting the toad to be greater than the potential reward of eating the alligator. The other half seemed to silently agree to band together and take out their greatest opponent first.

Now, which group should I go after? The runners or the fighters? The runners will be easier to catch on their lonesome, but I’ll lose track of the rest while fighting one. The fighters will be more dangerous, but I can pick up their dead while they fight, or move on to another group if it gets too dangerous. What’s a little danger, anyways?

While the other toads were fighting, I condensed my cloud and dropped low to pick up the dead toad. Hovering just above it, I took a mana sample, then started to phase it into my subspace. One of the E rank toads noticed, and spat out some oil in my direction. It hit me just as I expanded my cloud coat, but was too late with its sparks to finish the job before I rose out of its range. Unfortunately for it, the D rank took advantage of its distraction; lunging and raking its claws against its side to eviscerate it during its moment of distraction.

I took a moment to deal with the toad oil, moving my cloud in such a way as to separate the tainted portion off. Afterwards, I returned to the dead toads, and phased them both into my subspace. None of the E ranks attempted to interrupt me this time, learning from the other’s mistake.

During this time, another E rank toad was struck down, making the fight four to 1. I’m genuinely impressed with this tenacious D rank, it seems as though it’s going to actually win this six to one showdown.

Or, at least it would if I don’t interrupt. My odds of taking all the spoils of war with it as my final opponent are significantly lower than if an E rank takes the spot. It’s my time to join the fight.

I followed the D rank toad, staying above it until I discovered an opening. It had a pattern of leaping directly forward a relatively precise distance to dodge attacks from the side. This, I can use.

I stayed ahead of the D rank toad, and the moment it began its forward leap, I dropped the largest rock I had — roughly one ton in weight — directly where it would land.

The D rank toad spotted the rock just before it struck, and lashed its tongue against it. The rock split, the tongue sticking to one half of it. It rotated its body, then flung the split rock directly at me. The toad landed, then immediately jumped straight into the air following its projectile.

I expanded my cloud-coat to cushion the blow before it struck. Barely managing to block most of it. The oil toad then lashed its tongue against me, breaking through the cloud to shatter a rib, then stuck to my body. Its weight was too heavy to keep aloft, and I slowly descended. This is the end… But not for me!

With its tongue still attached, I released my pent up lightning, arcing across its tongue and igniting its dripping tar. The toad screamed in agony and dropped back down to the ground below, releasing me from its grasp.

The D rank was not out of tricks yet, though. With an explosion of force, it shot out its tar from all sides, igniting the area, but repelling the flames engulfing it.

I was done with this fight. Out of mana, out of static, and out of cards to play. But the D rank toad was in a similar situation, yet it was not out of enemies.

The remaining four toads simultaneously launched their attacks, two spitting oil around it, and two flinging sparks.

The D rank toad stared up at me, and sat. Disappointment in its eyes, but accepting of its fate.

Good fight, brave warrior. I’ll see you soon.

---

I returned to my subspace right after finishing off the remaining toads. They weren’t too difficult to deal with, considering they went back to fighting each other right after their greatest competitor was gone. As for the last toad, I regained my mana using a crystal, and dropped another rock on their head while they tried dragging off the alligator. They were not a fraction as nimble, nor as clever as the eldest toad.

As for the spoils of war… One D rank and seven E rank Oil Toads, as well as the monster alligator.

I’m not sure what the alligator is, as I haven’t seen its abilities in action, and don’t want to risk trying it out before learning more. That being said, it needs to eat. I have no proof, but it’s probably a carnivore. I’ll feed it the pasty, burnt remains of the Caprae Nimbos. No use letting it rot.

Now that I’ve seen what these toads are really like, I’ve got a few questions. Why is there a need for a kill quest if the toads do it to themselves faster than I can? Why was there a maximum of 200 kills if there are thousands of toads here?

Perhaps it’s breeding season, and they prematurely posted the quest without realizing. Maybe IGAG just decided to wait for their numbers to dwindle before putting out an extermination quest, since the swamp isn’t anyone’s actual home. Or perhaps something else is going on. Maybe I should give that lab a look once this is over. Not now, of course. This place is too lucrative, both from the quest rewards, and from the amount of monsters and space I’m getting.