Chapter 167: Error Growth Reused

It's just that the spell called 【Adamant Touch】 is ridiculously expensive.

Rod had inquired at the Magic Control Union; even with the employee discount, labor and materials together still required seventy thousand Jin Along.

Seventy thousand Jin Along?

He was stunned at the time.

Seventy thousand could buy two or three adamant weapons without any magical effects, you know.

Fortunately, he later asked the elf Lady Kali about it.

Truly, the Book of Ten Thousand Spells in the Windwall Forest lives up to its name.

Lady Kali had also mastered this spell.

Upon asking about the casting cost, it was half the Magic Control Union's quote, requiring only fifty thousand Jin Along.

The elf had no intention of making money from Rod; she was likely not someone short on funds, quoting only the bare minimum for labor.

The bulk of the cost lies in the spell's casting materials.

Adding points at the eleventh hour was at least because sharp-type skills were easier to farm.

Quickly.

The ten new points for 【Trembling Soul Blade】 were settled.

【Dragon Aversion】, 【Lubrication Art】, 【Instant Lockpicking】, 【Secret Door Detection】, 【Appraisal Art】.

Well.

Ten new skills, none of which could be used in combat.

That would have been fine, after all, these skills could always come in handy during non-combat moments.

But this 【Lubrication Art】?

【Upon activation, completely harmless lubricant is produced at the hilt】?

Why is it so unserious?

But by now, those ten points of 【Growth Spirituality】 had been spent.

Plus, a good amount was used before the battle started to let the ghoul Pan Ni and the orc Amy off the hook.

Now, only the reserved ten points remain.

Oh right, there were also five points of 【Error Spirituality】.

"Doesn't fit?"

The feathered person Caroline looked puzzled, then shook her head with a light laugh.

True.

There are no gods on the continent; images of divine messengers vary, and people have no unique longing for the sky, after all, there are many flying races and flying spells.

Therefore, the feathered people possessing wings were not linked to angels.

The so-called mismatch was merely Rod's inherent impression from crossing over from Earth.

"Draw your sword. I heard you are a fine swordsman... although I didn't see it in our previous exchange."

Upon hearing this.

Rod smiled slightly.

He could tell that the feathered person before him was someone deeply loyal to sword techniques.

For people like her, swordsmanship was more important than rank; raising one's rank was merely to drive higher-level sword techniques.

"I'm afraid you will be disappointed. To me, all sword techniques and spiritual arts are just tools."

Having said that.

He infused a point of 【Error Spirituality】 into the 【Trembling Soul Blade】.

【Attention! Trembling Soul Blade is undergoing Error Growth!!】

【Trembling Soul Blade's vision has surged!】

【Triggered Extra Effect: Polyophthalmia】

【Details: Due to Error Growth, the Trembling Soul Blade has awakened thirty-six demon eyes. The trigger condition for the Domain of Fear has shifted from 'one who sees the blade' to 'when the demon eyes' gaze is fixed.' Simultaneously, the demon eyes have enhanced the authority of the Domain of Fear.】

【Remaining 'Error Spirituality': 4】

【Attention! Trembling Soul Blade has undergone Error Growth. Spend 5 points of Growth Spirituality to clear this effect?】

"No."

This was actually not bad.

Changing from an area-of-effect skill that hit friend and foe alike into a targeted one.

It meant Rod wouldn't have to keep it sheathed all the time.

"Is that so? Then you are truly boring. One move, and you're done."

The feathered person Caroline suddenly lost interest.

She held her longsword, nearly as long as an adult's height, horizontally; the halo above it dragged disjointed sword shadows as it slowly slid.

A ripple of spirituality flashed through her pale blue pupils.

She spoke calmly:

"Phantom Sword · Phantom Demon Slash."

A black shadow shot out from beneath her feet, then instantly vanished into invisibility.

Its speed was almost too fast for the naked eye to see.

Rod felt it in his heart and twisted his body with all his might to dodge.

But the blade had already struck him before he began to dodge.

Sizz—

The metal blade and the Dragon Scale Art collided, erupting in fierce sparks.

The tremendous force was instantly and entirely channeled onto Rod, with no waste or leakage of spiritual power.

It was hard to imagine that a single slash from a seventh-tier expert could be so plain and unadorned, without harming any surrounding objects or environment.

The Dragon Scale Art was not broken through by the slash.

A deep white mark appeared.

The winged woman Caroline's expression shifted.

Rod's whole body paused for a beat.

Then he looked up with a grin.

"Not bad, that stings a bit. Now, it's my turn."

He drew the Soul-Tremor Blade.

Just now, he had finally used Errant Spiritual Power to grind out a skill that could reinforce the blade!

【Soul-Tremor Blade awakens the bloodline of the ancient Small Folk!】

【Triggers additional effects: Iron Bones, Polymelia】

【Details: The Soul-Tremor Blade gained Polymelia from the Small Folk due to Errant Spiritual Power, and became hardened by the Iron Bones effect.】

The silver-white blade was covered in raised fissures, like closed eyes; one could even make out eyelids and lashes.

Then the next moment, the empty spaces shifted from silver-white to crimson.

Tiny human arms, each the size of a finger, burrowed out of the blade like worms.

In no time, they densely covered every part of the blade except the bulging eye spots.

Countless tiny arms flailed blindly into the void in panic, some tangling together and wrapping the blade tightly.

It looked utterly revolting.

The winged woman Caroline frowned deeply, her face full of disgust.

Uh.

Rod was stunned for a moment at the sight.

But so what!

What's the use of looking good — a pewter spearhead with a silver shine?!

I, Rod, am a pragmatist!

Brilliant spiritual light flared on the blade.

"Seven Flashes!"

The Flash of Etheron, bearing the kingdom's name, is the signature skill of Etheron's army; from the lowliest soldier to the greatest general, none are without it.

With his practice over this period.

Rod's grasp of this spiritual art had grown ever deeper.

Not long ago, he had even reached the realm of Eight Flashes.

Sizzle—

The blade, wreathed in spiritual light, completed its slash in an instant, slicing evenly into the winged woman's body.

But Rod knew that of those eight strikes, only four had struck true flesh.

These phantom afterimages of light… troublesome.

"Not a bad slash."

The winged woman Caroline turned lightly to put distance between them.

One could see two new sword marks on her pristine white chestplate, but they had not pierced it.

And at her abdomen, a layer of protective body spiritual membrane had been torn open, slashing out a bloody wound.

But she paid it no heed.

Clearly, she was a close-combat type; she had not activated a mage's spell shield, but instead used a more close-fitting spiritual skin membrane.

"Lord Atu was right… no wonder he listed you as a target to be killed, Forester. You do have real potential."

"You're not bad yourself."

"Heh, you think I'm what, sixth-tier?"

The winged woman laughed. "Seventh-tier is the true starting point on this continent — nothing like the small fry you usually see."

She toyed with the longsword in her hand. "Your spiritual accumulation is quite good, even comparable to a slightly weaker seventh-tier. But we don't rely purely on spiritual accumulation."

"Sounds impressive."

Rod shrugged. He had long heard that spiritual power undergoes a qualitative change after seventh-tier, but he had never witnessed it himself.

"Then let me show you what a true seventh-tier looks like."

The winged woman Caroline held her longsword horizontally before her chest.

Poof!!

In an instant, a violent flash of Bai Guang erupted!

(End of this chapter)