[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-i-m-a-forest-warden-why-am-i-enslaving-a-succubu":3,"chapter-i-m-a-forest-warden-why-am-i-enslaving-a-succubu-i-m-a-forest-warden-why-am-i-enslaving-a-succubu-chapter-40":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","I'm a Forest Warden—Why Am I Enslaving a Succubus?",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2329084,4555,"Chapter 40: Ghoul","i-m-a-forest-warden-why-am-i-enslaving-a-succubu-chapter-40",40,"\u003Cp>On the open ground at the edge of Shuangzhi Mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several fresh, massive pits marred the ground, leaving behind unstable spiritual and magical residues.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Broken swords and corpses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Overturned banners and a reeking stench rising to the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dimea closed her eyes and focused her mind, her hands releasing magic that spread throughout the magical prison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She attempted to dismantle the spell through magical deconstruction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this was never an easy task.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The witch’s face was pale, her golden hair dimmed slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was a blood hole in her abdomen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though witches do not die from internal organ damage, this still inflicted serious harm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the first round of attack, she had held the upper hand against the half-werewolf.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a witch, she learned spells far faster and possessed considerable mastery over control spells that countered melee warriors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, she even thought this would be another swift and perfect victory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unexpectedly, a sixth-rank shadow mage and a stronger sixth-rank beastman suddenly appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Caught off guard, Dimea was severely wounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was quickly trapped by the enemy mage’s Shadow Prison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soldiers deprived of her spell support soon collapsed under the sixth-rank beastman’s assault.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What puzzled Dimea was this:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They showed no intention to pursue the fleeing soldiers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past, the Ruins Brotherhood always charged relentlessly the moment they gained even a slight advantage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A year ago, Dimea had learned the tactic of feigning weakness to lure them into prepared ambushes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This trick had always worked perfectly against the Ruins Brotherhood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, the Ruins Brotherhood’s strength far exceeded their usual level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even more unusual was their lack of the usual recklessness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, mage, is she breaking your spell?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The half-werewolf Cassidy asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shadow mage glanced at her indifferently, then couldn’t help but praise:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No wonder she’s a witch—her understanding of magic is astonishing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So she’s going to escape?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassidy grew tense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Capturing this witch had taken some time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And her magic was powerful and stubborn—she was barely sixth-rank, yet nearly turned her into mush.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amy slammed her blade into a rocky slope, her battle spirit blazing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let her out! Amy will beat her!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She declared she hadn’t had enough fighting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shadow mage and Cassidy glanced at the beastman, then both decided to ignore her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Relax, Miss Half-Werewolf, my spell isn't that easy to break.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stepped back into the shadow beneath a tree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A mature shadow mage should always remain within shadow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassidy looked at him with disdain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You know, mage, a little sun won’t hurt you—look at your face, it’s as pale as a vampire dead for three years.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t vampires turn to ash when they die?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shadow mage blinked, confused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassidy rolled her eyes dramatically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s a recent joke from the Snow Hill Evening News, you idiot,” Amy mocked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even the beastman knows it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shadow mage averted his gaze, awkwardly laughing twice: “I don’t read newspapers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he suddenly grew serious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stared toward the distant mountain path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s movement over there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassidy looked that way; spiritual fluctuations rippled through the air, fading gradually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The strongest witch was already trapped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shiying Town had no one left who could threaten them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet for some reason, the half-werewolf’s [Beast Heart] remained taut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s Pan Ni’s area,” she said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who’s Pan Ni? Is she strong? Amy wants to fight her,” said the beastman Amy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh! She’s a ghoul mage—you won’t like her, Amy,” the shadow mage warned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassidy hesitated, then said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I need to go check.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t leave! You have to help transport this witch!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Isn’t there a beastman here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She’s no use for labor—she’s got nothing but muscle in her head!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s right, Amy’s head is all muscle too,” the female beastman nodded in agreement—muscle was the highest praise for a beastman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they neared the central battlefield,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo De sensed a needle-like prick through the spiritual breeze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He instantly went alert and moved forward swiftly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the next instant, a figure burst from the ground where he had stood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately, mounds of earth rose and crept forward from nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He drew [Sword of Devotion] and split an incoming [Corrosion Orb] in two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who is this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The stench of decay in the air was unmistakable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ghoul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not far away, a slender woman in white, holding a lantern, floated gently to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her hood was caked in mud; her dry, filthy black hair cascaded like a waterfall, completely obscuring her face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A tattered belt, its gems removed, cinched her slender waist, accentuating her full chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, the rot visible on her exposed arms and feet proved her to be a hideous female ghoul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A sentient ghoul—rare indeed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her ability to cast spells alone proved she possessed intelligence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo De advanced, but had not yet reached her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Four ragged male ghouls burst from the ground, surrounding him in attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Only fourth-rank.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo De activated all his buffs instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was far from the trees—[Tree Armor] offered no special bonus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hss!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One slash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three ghouls had their heads severed simultaneously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fourth, slower, barely dodged the blow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, ghouls kept crawling endlessly from the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These ghouls were low-ranked, none higher than fifth-rank beginner, but they outnumbered him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They surged forward, surrounding Luo De.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This tactic might work against ordinary human warriors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their endurance was limited; even a sixth-rank warrior would fall under the assault of a horde of rotting, poison-laced ghouls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But unfortunately for them,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Tree’s Blessing] granted infinite regeneration, and [Second Heart] bestowed extraordinary stamina.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Falling became impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only pity was that Luo De lacked a wide-area spiritual attack—killing them was simply too slow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At one point, he even considered attacking from within [Seal of Eternal Darkness] to trigger a larger explosion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, it didn’t work out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gradually, Pan Ni realized something was wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the low-rank ghouls could not halt his advance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a ghoul mage specializing in summoning spells, she finally realized that her opponent was not to be trifled with.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She winced inwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she hadn’t lost her only sixth-rank ghoul servant to an explosion during her battle with the witch, she wouldn’t be in such a desperate state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this situation, she was at a disadvantage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Luo De darting about, her servants were rapidly dwindling in number.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She no longer hesitated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From her mouth hidden behind her hair, she spat out several complex incantations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blue flame in her lantern flared violently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>a group of ghoul servants’ eyes glowed red, gathering together and piling into a small mound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Pan Ni’s incantation grew more intense,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>magic flowed over the flesh of the ghoul servants, gradually stitching their skin and muscle together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lifeless flesh writhed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, it fused into a single ghoul over three meters tall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its spiritual aura had reached the sixth rank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo De suddenly noticed the corpses beneath his feet merging, forming a slime-like mass that began to trap his feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fused ghoul had reached his side and raised its massive hand—its palm bearing a face—toward him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A violent gust of wind slammed into his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Die, human!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1178,"2026-06-20T19:55:30.170Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","b32592b2a3667156990318b4b58851bca7bb3dccc9a20427307d51ee2b16fcb7","i-m-a-forest-warden-why-am-i-enslaving-a-succubu-chapter-41","i-m-a-forest-warden-why-am-i-enslaving-a-succubu-chapter-39",704,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-m-a-forest-warden-why-am-i-enslaving-a-succubu-cover.jpg"]