Chapter 370: Zugermoy

Muscles knotted like coiled roots.

Bare-chested Rod stood in the clearing; anyone who saw his sturdy yet naturally proportioned body would instantly know just how much explosive power lay hidden within.

The ritual had begun.

Rod's spirituality was steady as he swiftly traced out the long-constructed spiritual battle soul along his spiritual lines.

Compared to the previous ten-meter-tall bronze dragon battle soul, this time the Fungal Warrior Gorgon's battle soul was much smaller.

About two meters tall—not much taller than him.

Composed of rotting fungi and twisted tumors, layer upon layer of withered bark-like mycelia covering its body, its limbs like massive tree roots, the surface coated in rough bark and sharp fungal spines.

Originally Gorgon's height was around four meters, but because Tally's transfiguration spell was only +2, it couldn't grow that large.

And because she always loved to preen and pose in front of Rod, she had actually attempted to use that face to seduce him, resulting in the Gorgon battle soul Rod constructed being far more good-looking than before.

The stacking of tumors was more harmonious; the bark and mycelia resembled armor and ferocious steel spikes, making the whole figure look as though it wore a layer of armor.

At the very least, it conformed to human aesthetics.

This small change was harmless; it could still establish a unique spiritual battle soul.

As the fox-shaped ancient mask crumbled away bit by bit like powder, the ritual to fix the battle soul also drew to its end.

"It's done?"

Watching Yuna revealed a pleased expression and looked toward Lady Kali.

"No, fixing the battle soul isn't hard for him—the key is that he needs to use this to break through to seventh tier. What comes next is the important part."

The elf answered with a sour face.

She looked quite indifferent, arms crossed over her chest as she gave a lukewarm evaluation.

But in reality, her right hand was hidden beneath her crossed arm, clenched into a fist so tight her knuckles were white.

"For Master, everything is simple and easy."

The succubus was also very optimistic; having followed her master for so long, she had chosen to believe in him completely.

Even if he failed, it was fine.

I heard that failing to advance to seventh tier brings a period of weakness—so when that time comes, won't I, Tally, be able to firmly pin him down and do whatever I want on his face?

Won't I, Tally Lilith, be able to turn the tables and stage a comeback?!

Hahahaha—Master, go ahead and fail~~ Tally will take good care of you~~ I absolutely won't give you a chance to stand up straight~~

I'll make you live on nothing but my saliva every day, tie you up and hang you from the raft to use!

As she thought and thought.

Tally's eyes turned red, her feet faintly unsteady.

The clothes in her arms carried her master's scent.

Crap, I can't hold it in.

She pressed her bowlegs together, squeezing her plump thighs tight.

Master~~~

Meanwhile, on Rod's side.

He released the spirituality he had been suppressing, letting the vast spiritual power pour into the spiritual battle soul.

An invisible storm of spirituality rose explosively with him at its center.

The spirituality constantly corrected, changed, and matured upon the battle soul.

Then it immediately fed back into Rod, simultaneously strengthening and repairing his body to adapt to the matured spirituality.

What followed was a matter of patient grinding.

Rod's spirituality was especially vast; this time would absolutely not be short.

He didn't know how long had passed.

"Gorgon."

A cold, sharp call suddenly rang out beside his ear.

???

Rod opened his eyes; the storm of spirituality still raged.

Outside the storm.

Lady Kali's sour face stared intently in this direction.

Watching Yuna pressed both hands against her chest, gripping so hard they went white, her face full of worry.

Tally had half her face buried in his clothes, greedily drawing in the scent, her two thighs rubbing together, her pink-and-purple succubus eyes rolling upward with emotion.

No—

What are you doing, Tally?

"Gorgon!"

The call came again.

This time clearer—a woman's voice issuing a command.

The voice was deep and magnetic, authoritative and inviolable.

At the same time, a black void appeared on the spiritual battle soul's right hand, emitting an obvious pulling force on Rod's spirit, attempting to draw him in.

But unfortunately, under the effect of 【Will of the Firmament】, this pull was no different from an egg striking a stone.

Rod fumbled around briefly and immediately figured out this black void's function.

This did not belong to Gorgon's ability, but was a planar channel someone had actively linked, opening on its body.

And without needing to think, one could know it was the lady calling Gorgon's name.

What was interesting was—

This is a special psychic technique; it does not directly transmit the body, but briefly summons the spirit form over.

When the time limit is reached, or the summoned one chooses, either can actively sever the connection and return.

"Hah—"

Rod's eyebrows lifted slightly.

Converting spirituality will take some time anyway — why not go take a look?

If I can run, what is there to fear!

No sooner said than done.

Rod immediately relaxed his will and let the black void draw his spirit form in.

Whoooosh—

The spirit form moved with extreme speed; the scenery before his eyes was rapidly dragged into streaks and patterns of color.

Then his eyes opened and closed once.

The scene before him had changed, and the sensation of feet pressing against solid matter came through.

Looking at the brand-new scene before him — a palace.

Rod's first reaction: it belonged to the one who had summoned him.

Along both walls, decorations crafted from a clever union of fungi and wood were casually placed and displayed, while the walls themselves bore exquisite murals painted in fungal pigments, each one depicting the origin of every ornament below it.

These recorded the great deeds of a certain being.

Rod stepped onto a vivid crimson fungal carpet; small fungal creatures hopped and crawled, making their home and living all around.

He looked ahead.

At the far end of the crimson fungal carpet sat a throne, set on high, fashioned from the cap of an enormous mushroom.

Black shadow just so happened to veil the being now seated upon the throne, revealing only a bundle of thick, curling, tentacle-like pseudopods, their surface coated in fungi and covered with sickening swirls of grey, blue, purple, and black ringworm.

"Gorgon."

The Lady upon the throne called out once more.

What was interesting was that she had not realized the one who came was Rod, and not the Rot Fungus Warrior Gorgon, even though Rod had appeared in his true form.

Thinking of this, Rod curved a faint smile and strode forward.

But just to be safe, he still used 【Disguise Domain】 to transform himself into Gorgon's appearance.

As he drew closer, the shadow upon the throne gradually rose like a curtain, revealing the true face of the Lady seated upon it.

The first thing to hit him was a foul stench carrying the scent of rot.

Then, atop that bundle of twisted tentacle pseudopods, one could see a woman's form, unclothed and full of allure.

Skin of a purplish black, exaggeratedly towering, with a waist so slender the outline of abdominal muscles showed through.

A beautiful face like a sculpture, bearing resentment and evil; four fibrous, strange horns sprouted from her brow ridge; moss formed an outer skin across her back and shoulders; a robe of mycelial pleats draped her, possessing somehow a gorgeous, bewitching, tragic beauty.

That such an ugly and beautiful body could be composed of smelly flat sheets and curling fungal plants was not due to any law of nature or genetics — it was all sheer chance.

A name surfaced in Rod's mind.

— Lady Zugu Zugu Moyi of the Fungi.

Rod strode with great vigor, covering three steps in two, arriving before the throne, and imitating Gorgon's bearing, he stood in solitary loftiness.

"Ro-Gorgon is here."

In secret he cast the 【Tongue Comprehension】 spell, so communication was unimpeded.

Zugu Zugu Moyi's majestic eyes looked him squarely in the face, and she visibly started.

Then, from cold indifference, she grew quite intrigued.

"Is it Our mistake? Gorgon, We feel you are more charming than ever — come up, let Us have a good look at you."

(End of this chapter)