Chapter 391: Despair Mycelium

The left hand holding the pure black slime sword turned into a phantom in the next instant.

In a flash, ten sword shadows struck nearly simultaneously.

【Ten Flash】!

Plosch!!

The sensation of cutting through skin, muscle, and bone traveled precisely up the blade to Luo De's hand.

The human body before him froze like a puppet with its strings cut, then began to split apart piece by piece from the head, tumbling to the ground.

Yet.

This was merely an ordinary four-tier dark elf, about one meter seventy tall—not the three-meter-tall seven-tier warrior from earlier.

"Oh? 【Teleport Trick】?"

Luo De casually dodged an arrow aimed straight at his face, then casually slashed down a warrior attempting a flank attack, raising his gaze to the seven-tier mage still mid-cast at a distance.

Beside the mage stood the seven-tier warrior who had just exchanged two blows with him.

He knelt half-on-the-ground, a half-buried golden sword protruding from his neck, spurting blood with a sizzling sound; his face was grim, teeth clenched, still bearing traces of shock.

"Quick reaction."

Luo De praised him, then vanished from his spot in the next instant.

He reappeared directly before the seven-tier caster, raising his left hand—a long sword as black as ink—while a ferocious wind slashed toward her face.

The caster was a beautiful female dark elf; startled by the sudden attack, her eyes widened in terror.

Her hands moved swiftly, casting a defensive spell—a wall of steel.

The defector Atix had mentioned that after becoming warlocks, their spells were fixed within the boundaries permitted by the Demon Lords; though this eliminated casting preparation, it also eliminated potential growth.

This warlock had used multiple buff spells, yet never once employed an offensive skill.

She was likely in a support role.

Kaz—

The steel wall shattered with violent sparks; the screeching sound of the cut pierced everyone's ears.

Intense spiritual energy combined with the razor-edged wind tore through her spell shield and ripped off one of her arms.

"Uhn!"

She grunted, not even screaming.

Even dark elves under soul control retained basic pain sensation.

Luo De pressed his advantage, lunging forward.

His right hand became a claw, plunging straight into the severed arm's wound; blood gushed wildly.

A faint trace of the Fungal Warrior's battle spirit appeared on his arm.

The power of 【Despair Mycelium】 surged into her body.

She could no longer endure it, letting out a piercing scream.

The nearby dark elf warrior roared and charged forward, face filled with urgency.

Luo De sneered, stomping hard on the ground.

【War Trample】!

The earth, a mix of soil and rock, cracked like a spiderweb, its intense spiritual shockwave striking the warrior first.

Thanks to the enhancement of 【Heavy Spirit】, the effect was even stronger.

The dark elf's face twisted in shock, her whole body trembling violently.

After being blasted backward, she couldn't even stand, collapsing straight onto her rear.

Meanwhile, the female caster, gritting her teeth through the pain, pulled a dagger hidden in her chest and stabbed it fiercely toward Luo De's neck.

Ding—

The dagger snapped instantly.

Its tip touched his skin and left not even a white mark.

【【Despair Mycelium】 successfully applied.】

【Target: Pamelaia Nightveil】

【Tier: Mid-Seven】

【Target's soul is sealed by the Purgatory Altar; cannot establish a "mycelial core".】

【Additional skill effects:】

1. Despair Mind;

2. Life Drain;

3. Summon Demigod;

4. Despair Domain (condition unmet).】

Oh?

There are additional skill effects?

Luo De checked the details, clarifying everything unclear.

First, the "mycelial core."

It functions like a parasite: after the mycelium infests a body, it absorbs the host's energy and transmits a mycelial core back to the caster.

The mycelial core is a concentrated essence of spirit, magic, origin, and soul power; consuming it brings great benefit.

Next, the additional skill effects.

【Despair Mind】 causes the target to experience unprecedented despair and terror, sinking into deep self-blame, regret, and hopelessness.

【Life Drain】 was easy to understand.

The third effect, 【Summon Demigod】, was interesting.

This "demigod" did not refer to any deity—it referred to the caster himself: Luo De.

Luo De could use the beings infected by 【Despair Mycelium】 as gateways to reach their locations!

Of course.

This summoning had a time limit, but he could come and go freely.

As for the unmet 【Despair Domain】, no reason was given.

"Let her go."

The powerful dark elf, rising from his half-kneeling position nearby, spoke coldly.

Luo De heard the concern and surrender in his voice.

Hm?

He doesn't want this female caster to die?

He chuckled: "Are you afraid of death? I heard your souls are in the Demon Lord's 【Blood Pool of Rebirth】—you can revive infinitely. What's there to fear?"

The dark elf tore open his tattered armor and took a deep breath.

"Every death, we lose a part of our memories; our individual consciousness weakens further. The more we die, the more we become soulless puppets. She… cannot die again."

Luo De was about to speak, but the female caster he held spoke first:

"Coward! Do you know what you're saying?! Are you betraying the Lord's will?! Traitor! Kill this human scum!"

But the powerful dark elf shook his head, lowering his hands in defeat.

"Pamelaia, how long has the Lord not contacted us? The blood wars in Purgatory are far crueler than any of us imagined. Can the Lord even survive complete purification?"

"That's not your place to question! Fool! Kill this man!"

Luo De sneered: "What's all this whining?"

With a crack, he snapped the caster's neck.

Then he suddenly twisted aside.

Almost simultaneously,

a black-gold warhammer slammed down just inches from his face, its violent spiritual energy trailing behind as a blue current, brutally powerful.

BOOM! The ground cracked, then exploded outward.

Dust and debris erupted into the air.

"A mere 【Echo Illusion】? You really think I fell for that?"

From the spreading dust, Luo De leapt out effortlessly, trailing smoke behind him.

Where the powerful dark elf had stood, only a flickering, phantom-like snowflake-shaped figure remained.

He tossed the corpse aside like a rag.

Then watched as the dark elf warrior slowly emerged from the dust, face dark with fury.

Luo De clenched his right hand in midair.

The broken sword still embedded in the warrior's neck—due to the 【Binding】 skill—began activating, crunching and drilling deeper into his muscles.

Already half-submerged, it now plunged fully into his flesh.

The warrior grunted, his eyes darkening with deeper malice.

"Forest Warden Luo De, you're even stronger than I imagined. Indeed, compared to the Tooth Fairy elf, you should've been eliminated first."

Luo De raised an eyebrow.

Rosalia the Tooth Fairy elf was supposed to appear at the engagement banquet—but she never showed.

After the incident, Luo De immediately used 【Far-Link】 to notify her, yet she still hasn't responded.

It seems the assassination squad was primarily targeting her—after all, she's the only seven-tier force openly present in Shiying Town.

The dark elves' stealth and disguise are indeed formidable.

Had he not caught the fleeting scent of disguise emanating from within 'Aidan' at close range, they might have succeeded in carrying out all their plans.

(End of Chapter)