Chapter 391: Despair Mycelium

The left hand gripping the pure-black slime sword became an afterimage the next instant.

In a flash, ten sword shadows slashed down almost simultaneously.

【Ten Flashes】!

Puchi—!!!

The sensation of slicing through flesh and bone traveled along the blade into Rod's hand, precise and unmistakable.

The human figure before his eyes stiffened in place like a puppet with its strings cut, then starting from the head, the body split into chunks that tumbled to the ground one after another.

However.

This was only an ordinary fourth-tier dark elf of around one-point-seven meters, not the three-meter-tall seventh-tier warrior from before.

"Oh? 【Displacement Trick】?"

Rod nonchalantly dodged an arrow aimed straight at his face, casually cut down a warrior sneaking from the side, then looked up at the seventh-tier mage holding a casting pose in the distance.

Beside the mage was precisely that seventh-tier warrior who had exchanged two moves with him head-on earlier.

At this moment he was half-kneeling on the ground, half a golden sword lodged in his neck sizzling with blood, his face dark as he clenched his teeth, still bearing a trace of lingering shock.

"Not bad reflexes."

Rod offered a word of praise, and the next instant his entire figure vanished on the spot.

When he reappeared, he was already before that seventh-tier caster, his left hand raising a pitch-black-as-ink longsword high, the gale rushing toward her sharp enough to terrify.

That caster was a female dark elf with a comely face; facing the attack that came so suddenly, she widened her eyes in terror.

Her hands were quick enough though, rapidly casting a defensive spell—a wall of steel.

The defector Atticus had mentioned earlier that after becoming warlocks, their spells were fixed within the permitted range allowed by the Demon Archduke; although it saved the preparation for casting, it also lost any possibility of growth.

The warlock before him had used quite a few amplification spells, but had never used an offensive skill.

Most likely her role was that of support.

Kazz—

The wall of steel burst with intense sparks, the slicing bringing a piercing shriek that assaulted everyone's ears.

The powerful spirituality, carrying sharp sword wind, ripped apart the spell shield on the caster along with one of her arms.

"Mmh!"

She let out a muffled grunt, not even managing a scream.

Even dark elves whose souls were controlled still possessed basic pain sensation.

Rod, having the upper hand, would not show mercy, stepping in to press the attack.

His right hand formed a claw and plunged straight into the cut at the severed arm; fresh blood spurted wildly.

The war soul of the Fungal Champion manifested faintly along his arm.

The power of 【Despair Mycelium】 poured into her body along with it.

At this point the other party could endure no longer, bursting out with a wretched scream.

The dark elf warrior beside her charged forward with a roar, urgency written across his face.

Rod gave a cold snort and his left foot stamped the ground hard.

【War Stomp】!

The soil, a mix of earth and rock, cracked apart on the spot like a spiderweb, the violent shock of spirituality striking this warrior first.

This skill, augmented by 【Thick Spirituality】, was even more effective.

That dark elf's face showed shock, his whole body trembling violently.

After being sent flying by the impact, he couldn't even stand steady, falling flat on his backside.

Meanwhile the female caster beside him endured the pain and cut off her scream, pulling a dagger tucked at her chest and viciously stabbing toward Rod's neck.

Ding—

The dagger snapped in response.

The sharp blade made contact with his skin, yet not even a white mark appeared.

【'Despair Mycelium' used successfully.】

【Target: Pamela · Nightfall】

【Tier: Mid seventh-tier】

【The target's soul is locked by the Infernal Altar; unable to construct a 'Fungal Core'】

【Additional skill effects:

1. Despair Heart;

2. Life Drain;

3. Summon Evil God;

4. Despair Domain (conditions not met).】

Oh?

There were even additional skill effects.

Rod checked the details, getting a clear understanding of the parts he was unsure of.

First was the 'Fungal Core'.

This thing was similar to a parasite; after the mycelium parasitized the body, it would absorb the host's energy and provide the caster with a fungal core.

The fungal core was a condensation of spirituality, mana, origin, and soul power, and was greatly beneficial after consumption.

Next were the effects of the additional skills.

'Despair Heart' would cause living beings to feel unprecedented despair and fear, sinking into deep self-reproach, regret, and hopelessness.

'Life Drain' was comparatively easy to understand.

The interesting part is the third point, "Summon Evil God."

This so-called evil god doesn't refer to anyone — it refers to the caster, that is, Rod himself.

Rod can use the fellows possessed by 【Despair Mycelium】 to reach wherever they are!

Of course.

This summoning also has a time limit, and he can come and go freely.

As for the 'Despair Domain' whose conditions weren't met, no reason was given.

"Let her go."

Not far off, a sturdy dark elf rose from a half-kneeling position and said coldly.

Rod could hear the concern and the yielding in his words.

Hmm?

He doesn't want this female caster to die?

He couldn't help but laugh: "You're afraid of death? I've heard your souls can resurrect infinitely in Archduke of Purgatory's 【Blood-Life Pool】 — what's there to fear?"

The dark elf tore open the tattered armor hanging on his body and took a deep breath.

"Every time we die, we lose a portion of our memories, and our sense of self as an individual weakens along with it. The more we die, the more we become soulless puppets. She can't die again."

Rod was about to speak, but the female caster he was gripping beat him to it and started cursing first:

"Coward! Do you know what you're saying?! Do you want to betray the Archduke's will?! You traitor! Make your move! Kill this mongrel human!"

But the sturdy dark elf shook his head and let his arms drop limply:

"Pamela, how long has it been since the Archduke contacted us? The Blood Drop Struggle in Purgatory is far more brutal than any of us imagined. Can the Archduke make it through the complete refinement?"

"That's not for you to think about! Idiot! Make your move and butcher this man!!"

Rod sneered: "What's all that squawking about?"

With a crack, he twisted the caster's neck in his hands clean off.

Then he suddenly twisted his body and dodged to the side.

Almost at the same instant.

A black-gold war hammer slammed down right in front of his face, the surging spiritual force dragging into blue air currents — brutally fierce.

With a thunderous boom, the ground cracked, then exploded apart.

Instantly kicking up a skyful of dust and smoke.

"A mere 【Echoing Phantom】 — you don't think I fell for it, do you?"

From where the spreading dust reached, Rod leapt out lightly, trailing wisps of smoke.

Where the sturdy dark elf had just been, only a snowflake-like figure shimmering with illusory magical light remained.

He tossed the corpse in his hands aside like a ragged rag.

Then he watched the dark elf warrior walk slowly out of the dust, his face dark and grim.

Rod's right hand clenched in the air.

The broken sword still lodged in the other's neck began to take effect due to the 【Owner-Recognition】 skill — scraping and burrowing into that seventh-tier warrior's muscle.

More than half of it was already deep in the flesh; now burrowing further, it sank in to the hilt.

The other let out a muffled grunt, the viciousness in his eyes deepening.

"Ranger Rod, you really are more formidable than I imagined. Compared to that Tooth Fairy, we should have dealt with you first."

Rod's eyebrows rose slightly.

The Tooth Fairy Rosalia should have appeared at the engagement banquet, but her figure was never seen.

And after the incident happened, Rod used 【Far-Speech Chain】 to notify her at the first opportunity, but even now there was still no response.

It seemed that the so-called assassination squad was mainly targeting her — after all, she alone was the only seventh-tier among Shi Ying Town's overt strength.

The dark elves' infiltration and disguise were indeed formidable.

If he hadn't caught the fleeting disguised scent from 'Aidan' up close, they might really have pulled off their entire plan.

(End of chapter)