Chapter 143: Selina and Assimilation

"I surrender."

This Selina embodies the Bahadur tradition, deciding to surrender at lightning speed.

It's true that everyone in this academy prioritizes survival above all else—it's hard not to think it's an unofficial rule.

"Refuse to surrender."

Luo De smiled.

Purplish-pink resentment fire surged up from his feet.

His right leg had already transformed into the state of 【Lament That Shakes Heaven】.

He crushed the final layer of magical shield and stamped on the opponent's head.

The resentment fire instantly burned away the black robe's hood—and Daelina's delicate face along with it.

Even her bones were exposed.

This one's a ruthless soul.

She let out a muffled groan, brows tightly furrowed.

Beyond that, she showed no other reaction.

"Mr. Luo, we have no direct grudge—no need for such cruelty. Enslave me with a magic contract or spell, do as you please."

The agony of the resentment fire made her tremble violently; a small puddle of urine stench leaked beneath her.

Yet her tone remained calm.

"Mr. Luo."

Farsad called softly from behind.

This elf, educated among humans, was overly kind—even saintly.

Luo De saw the pity in his eyes, even toward an enemy who struck first.

Fine then.

Besides, I'm curious about this monster. After I ask my questions, if something feels off, I'll kill her anyway.

The resentment fire extinguished on its own.

"Let me handle it, Mr. Luo—I have a magic contract."

"No, I have something more reliable."

【Slave Spell Successfully Cast】

【Slave Subject 8: Selina Cobbs】

【Race: Zombie】

【Age: 32】

【Obedience: 38】

【Evaluation: As a human, Selina's magical talent and research dedication were exceptional, but within Bahadur Magic Academy, they were insufficient. To graduate smoothly, she used magic to block most of her emotional transmissions, allowing greater focus. To devote herself fully to research over the next twenty years, she transformed herself into a zombie.】

Selina froze.

Half her face was ruined, covered in crimson, rotting flesh and exposed bone.

The other half, still intact, turned toward Luo De, revealing a fleeting flash of shock.

She sensed the slave spell's uniqueness immediately?

Luo De silently admired—no wonder she was a Bahadur student.

But a zombie?

She looks utterly indistinguishable from a human.

"Seventh tier? That's pathetically weak."

He chuckled and sheathed 【Sword of Devoted Flesh】.

"It's just that Mr. Luo is too strong!"

Saixier exclaimed excitedly.

The battle had stirred her heart; her gaze at Luo De now carried little hearts.

"Probably not a full seventh tier."

Farsad said as he re-cast Light Spell, "Selina has been here for twenty years—she likely never completed the proper progression rituals for a mage."

"Progression rituals?"

"Yes. Whether legendary, domain, or arcane—each advancement has its ceremony. Even if her magical reserves are sufficient, she's only a half-seventh tier. Moreover… Mr. Luo, you're simply too strong."

The succubus Tally leapt from the shadows, hugged her master, and kissed him deeply.

For some reason, every time she saw her master dominate, she felt inexplicably thrilled.

"The elf is right—I am indeed a half-seventh tier."

Selina struggled to rise.

She cast a healing spell on herself, then a 【Dust Cleansing】 spell.

Seeing her hood burned away, she removed it entirely, revealing short, dark red hair.

But the resentment fire had scorched half her scalp bare—this half-normal, half-boned appearance looked terrifying to onlookers.

Selina paid it no mind, standing calmly beside Luo De as if nothing had happened.

A posture of complete submission.

Luo De found her face too disturbing to look at, so he cast 【Grass Domain】 to heal her.

"Thank you, Master."

"Tell me about you and this monster."

"Of course. As you've seen, this is my research site. My topic is 'Research and Discussion on Continental Assimilation.'"

"We've all heard of it. Get to the conclusion."

"Understood, Master."

Selina bowed slightly.

Then continued:

"I believe continental assimilation—spiritual assimilation—is real. Unlike the astral energy and aether found in other dimensions, our continent is saturated with spirituality, a sacred spark that is one of the fundamental forces of creation, possessing creative properties."

"Any foreign species entering this continent will, through spiritual assimilation, become entirely native. We previously mentioned the Dreadbeasts—I called them stowaways, and that's exactly what they are. They entered without any procedure, so their aether and astral energy directly contacted spirituality without buffer. The result isn't assimilation—it's mutation."

"Mutation only produces deformities. That's why Dreadbeasts prefer to parasitize the wombs of female mages—they believe this artificial gestation can buffer spiritual mutation. Unfortunately, nine out of ten attempts fail; Dreadbeasts lack the brain capacity for sophisticated thought."

"So what is the correct process of spiritual assimilation? It is—"

"The Labyrinth's Nest." Luo De interrupted her deliberately.

Selina paused.

A stiff smile appeared on her face.

"Master is correct. Indeed, the Labyrinth's Nest. In my theory, after the Labyrinth forms, its connection to the other dimension becomes tighter, allowing cosmic beings a chance to open a Nest entrance as an 'official' pathway to inhabit this continent."

"Then why are they so eager to come to our world?"

She paused again—deliberately.

She smiled at her new master, like a teacher waiting for a student's answer.

"What is it?"

Luo De smiled, unconcerned.

He halted the healing on her wounds.

At least the rotting flesh and exposed bone had stopped spreading.

Now her face was half-red, pitted, and scarred—ugly, but no longer the kind that would make ordinary people scream "ghost!"

Selina was a slender woman; her intact half-face was delicate and pale.

"Self-rescue."

She said, "Cosmic beings sensed an impending cataclysm in their dimension and chose to flee as an act of self-preservation."

"The Labyrinth has existed for ages—did they sense it ten thousand years ago?" Farsad asked.

"That's what I haven't figured out."

Selina looked at the monster standing motionless before them. "Even the deepest creatures within this Nest have undergone partial spiritual assimilation. Their intelligence has been halved; their speech lacks structure, is unbreakable, and cannot reveal the reason."

"Speech?"

Luo De smiled and stepped closer to the monster.

His left hand casually rested on 【Tremor Blade】.

"To be honest, I am the continent's foremost linguist—I can master any language or dialect without instruction."

Selina glanced at him.

With a blank expression, she said: "Master is truly impressive."

Then she immediately shifted topics: "As for the monster's state, I've used a mind-control spell. Though they naturally possess decent mental resistance, with the right method—"

Luo De grabbed her head and twisted it toward the monster.

"Ask it."

(End of Chapter)