Chapter 356: Scarlet Airflow

Rod did not return to Lady Kali's side.

During one trip to Jade City, he had passed through Blazing City, famous for its heat.

At that time he had not yet taken it into his head to strike at the vast exotic races, so he had missed out on the taste of fire-attribute races like fire spirits and fire lizardfolk.

Well then.

Fire lizardfolk could be skipped — he really couldn't work up much interest.

Back then, in the sauna of Blazing City's signature hot springs, he had caught sight of fire spirits, and they had looked quite nice.

Many people assume fire spirits are a humanoid race composed purely of flame, but that's not actually the case.

They can maintain a flaming form for long periods, yet they aren't limited to being only flame.

Fire spirits possess physical bodies just the same.

Skin a pale red, their whole bodies covered in wild orange-red flame patterns.

Very similar to humans, except their hair is replaced by flame.

Especially during sudden rainy weather, to keep their flames from being extinguished, they will draw every last wisp back inside their bodies.

A faint ripple stirred in Rod's heart.

He decided that, before dealing with the mind flayers, he would go have some fun in the fire spirits' territory.

After learning the exact location of Black Cloak Mountain, Rod hurried there at full speed.

It took him only about half an hour to find the spot.

The mountain got its name because it was wreathed year-round in a layer of black mist that never dispersed, like a giant forever draped in a black cloak.

But then again.

Now volcanic ash was drifting everywhere, everything was a gloomy black, and you couldn't tell at all that it had black mist swirling around it.

Rod had not yet landed.

From afar he could already see flames surging at the foot of the mountain, crackling and popping, mixed with streaks of silver light dancing through the air.

He took a closer look.

It was unmistakably the fierce woman in silver armor and silver spear he had seen before — at this very moment she was locked in a melee with a group of fire spirits.

This woman's fighting style was truly ferocious and valiant, her movements broad and sweeping; even while alone in the disadvantage of being surrounded, she could still charge forward without flinching, cutting down anyone who stood in her way.

Rod's brows lifted.

He suddenly noticed that every single one of her moves carried a streak of scarlet airflow.

Wherever that scarlet airflow swept past, it would often display a destructive spiritual force far exceeding what it should have.

However.

This thing didn't mesh all that well with her own spiritual energy — clearly it was not a power of her own.

"For a normal peak sixth-tier, she really is quite the expert — she could even Cross Realm to take on a seventh-tier with a fairly decent win rate. That scarlet airflow is rather interesting."

Truly worthy of being the 【Hero】 chosen by the half-deer folk.

Speaking of the half-deer folk.

Why hadn't he seen her Hero's Bestower?

Rod swept the area with 【Spider Sense】.

Oh, found her.

The half-deer Kira was under the effect of 【Bio Camouflage】, hiding far away, watching anxiously in Grey's direction.

"Hehe."

Rod descended and sneaked up behind her.

He seized her throat in one grab.

The half-deer girl's body jolted violently, then went rigid.

She turned her head, terrified and slow.

"I-i-iit's you!"

"Hehehehe—"

Rod let out a sinister laugh and gave her deer-rump a sharp slap, making her jolt again.

"I am the legendary flower thief of Etheron, come to take your chastity and stain your pure heart."

Kira blurted in panic: "I have no chastity! I have three boyfriends back home! On the road I've slept with countless men!"

Uh.

Is that so?

I don't believe it.

Rod still had a bit of insight when it came to judging the scent and behavior of pure girls.

"So what? Hehehehe—see these two fingers of mine? This is the Hand of a God of the Present Age — even a long-neglected fountain, once he touches it, will spring back to life. Think you can hold out?"

Kira stared at him as if seeing a ghost as he held out his fingers.

Seeing them about to probe toward her rear, she clenched her pearly teeth, twisted her deer-body, and kicked her hind leg straight at Rod's flank.

Rod laughed and leapt up, dodging it with ease.

As he came down, he pressed his knee right onto her deer-back.

The half-deer girl let out a pained groan and tumbled to the ground; suddenly a big hand was on her chest, roaming freely.

"!!!"

She clutched desperately at her chest, and fat tears she could no longer hold back streamed down in a torrent.

Rod, seeing he'd bullied her enough, took the initiative to pull back.

"How about you tell me — what's the deal with that scarlet airflow on your 【Hero】?"

Kira stubbornly glanced at him from the side.

"Y-you wish! You rat!"

"Hehehe—then it's not up to you anymore."

Rod unfurled 【Mirage Net】.

The lust skill derived from 【Negative Emotion Absorption】—an invisible net of spiritual thought surged into the half-deer's head; she shuddered and instantly fell into a vacant daze.

In the woven Illusory Realm, the Rod before her transformed into the appearance of 【Hero】 Grey.

Rod repeated his earlier question.

"Has Miss Grey forgotten again? Honestly, it's just no good without Kira by your side!"

The vacant-eyed Kira began to act coquettishly.

Rod patted her head, then gently stroked her deer ears.

She immediately showed a sweet, blissful expression:

"Then Kira will say it again—that's the 【Hero Amplification】 that comes from the resonance between the 【Hero Bestower】 and the 【Hero】! It's a great amplification only a righteous warrior like Miss Grey, who meets every 【Hero Qualification】 condition, is qualified to possess—a necessary weapon on the path to godhood!"

Oh?

【Hero Amplification】, huh.

Miss Xiao Ke's good friend Rachel, who is also a 【Hero Bestower】, never mentioned this to him.

But then again, you're not a hero anymore, so why would she tell you about it.

Interesting.

Still, could such a rather impressive amplification power really be achieved just from that half-deer elder's prophecy?

Rod asked again.

"On that point, we don't know either, but the Great Elder once promised that once the 【Hero】 fulfills all conditions, she will inform us."

"Get lost!!!"

A thunderous shout came from far to near, closing in at extreme speed.

The shrieking sound of tearing air rushed straight toward them; one could even feel the gale pressing against one's skin.

Rod laughed heartily, flipped up, and dodged.

A savage silver steel spear swept across where he had just been; fury flashed in Hero Grey's eyes.

【Rage +54】

Half of the silver armor on her body was scorched black, and even her face bore a patch of red burn.

"Kira! Kira!"

The half-deer was roused by the shout: "Miss Grey? Hehehe—Miss Grey, did you just secretly touch my head?"

"Look clearly at the person in front of you!"

"Mm. I remember now! It's that sneaky rat from before! He said he was a legendary flower thief, and he grabbed my chest! Boohoo, even Miss Grey has never grabbed my chest!"

Grey heard this and felt another surge of anger in her heart.

She stared hard at this person's face, and suddenly realized that no matter what, she could not clearly recall his features.

She said in shock: "Domain?"

"You know your stuff."

Rod smiled and manipulated Slime Xiaohei, solidifying it into a black fluid sword.

【Sacrificial Body Sword】 and 【Great Cultivator's Pruning Shears】 were both too conspicuous; right now he was making enemies, so it was better to keep them hidden.

(End of chapter)