Chapter 408: Mycelium and Passage

"It's so late, where are you going?"

Luo De patted Yuna in his arms, signaling her to get up.

"Mmm~~"

The arachnid elf responded with a lazy nasal hum, wrapping both arms around his neck and burying her face between his collarbone and neck.

She rubbed against him twice more, still half-asleep.

Her full chest pressed against Luo De's pectorals.

With the youthful resilience of a girl and the naturally hardened skin of a dark elf.

Even if not large, it was thick and firm enough.

Fine.

Yuna was never one to be affectionate; let her indulge a little now.

Rosalia felt slightly awkward, then turned her gaze behind them and showed clear shock:

"The acid fog… gone?"

"Oh right, the acid fog's gone."

The tooth fairy fairy found his feigned surprise amusing.

I thought Luo De was merely a powerful spiritual warrior, but I never expected you also possess the technique to handle dragonbreath acid fog—truly an eye-opener.

"Oh, just a little trick. I heard you're leaving?"

"I leave tomorrow morning."

"So soon? Then why aren't you resting properly? Why come here so late?"

Rosalia felt a twinge of discomfort.

Recently in the mine, she thought she'd made herself perfectly clear; Luo De was a smart man, and she assumed he wouldn't persist.

Now, hearing his concern, she feared he still harbored feelings.

"The acid fog here might affect crops in the farmland zone—it concerns Shiying Town's winter and early spring. I was worried, but now that you've resolved it and are already cozying up with a girl, I suppose I was overthinking…"

Before Luo De could speak,

she added: "When I return to Stormwind City, I won't come back to Shiying Town. Baron Lam has promised that once the dragon calamity subsides, he'll recommend me to the 'Wind of Shadow Hunters' in the Kingdom of Aetheron. I'll be posted to Skard City."

"The 'Wind of Shadow Hunters'—its predecessor was one of the squads involved in the goblin massacre years ago. I've been seeking an opportunity to join them; there must be clues from back then. Perhaps I can uncover the mastermind behind it."

Luo De nodded.

Since they'd made things clear, he wouldn't pursue her further.

But they were still friends.

His earlier concern was simply that of a normal friend—he always drew the line clearly.

"Someone capable of orchestrating an operation of this scale likely holds a high rank. You—"

"I will spend my entire life killing them."

Luo De sensed the firmness in her tone and smiled: "I wish you success. But don't do anything foolish. If you need help, come to me—we're friends, after all."

Hearing the word "friend," Rosalia's furrowed brow finally relaxed.

She sincerely said thank you.

The night wind howled.

The golden veil of mist once again filled the temporary void left by the acid fog; the sky sank back into dim haziness.

Rosalia came quickly and left quickly.

By the time Yuna came to her senses, she'd only seen the back of her retreating figure.

"Miss Rosalia? How did she… AHH!!!"

She suddenly shrieked, her dark skin unable to hide her flushed face, mortified and wanting to die.

In her drowsiness, her saliva had soaked a large patch of Luo De's collar.

She frantically tugged at her sleeve to wipe it away.

Luo De didn't mind.

Just as he was about to tell her to stop, a message popped up on his panel, making his expression turn strange:

【'Despair Mycelium' used successfully.】

【Target: Sabrina Nocturne】

【Rank: Sixth Tier, Low Stage】

【Target's soul is sealed within the Purgatory Altar; 'Mycelial Core' cannot be established.】

【Additional skill effects:】

1. Despair Mind;

2. Life Force Drain;

3. Summon Demigod;

4. Despair Domain (condition not met).】

What's going on?

I haven't used this skill yet…

【Despair Mycelium】—Luo De had used it twice before.

Once successfully, once with no reaction.

The successful use was when he met the dark elf squad—the target was that seventh-tier mid-stage mage.

He checked his records.

Confirmed: the name was 'Pamelya Nocturne'.

Now,

a sixth-tier mid-stage dark elf named Sabrina Nocturne.

That must've been the one that didn't react.

That attempt was experimental—targeting one of the dark elf moles in the Argyle Estate.

"Maybe it only activated now because she just resurrected from the Blood Pool?"

Luo De noticed the panel didn't just list Sabrina's spells, secret arts, and spiritual techniques—it also showed her precise location and a third-person surveillance feed.

When he focused on the feed, the image instantly enlarged.

Clearly revealed was a dark elf girl with jet-black skin and white hair.

Naked, drenched, faint red water stains trailed from her steps, dripping onto the ground and hissing into blue smoke as they vanished. She walked down a corridor of sulfur, flame, and jagged black rock.

Unaware Luo De was watching.

"So she really just resurrected from the Blood Pool. This is Purgatory?"

He mused to himself while soothing the panicked arachnid elf.

Yuna felt she'd committed a grave offense; even though Luo De clearly said he didn't mind, she remained guilty and self-reproachful.

"What's the big deal? If you're going to blame anyone, blame yourself for not drooling enough—I could brew tea with it and still not have enough."

"Huh?"

"Huh what? We've exchanged saliva countless times—this little thing I—"

"Master wants to brew tea with my saliva?!"

Luo De:?

How did you interpret it that way? I was just comforting you.

"Yuna is willing—whatever Master wants, Yuna will do. Coincidentally, Yuna has recently made progress in magical potion research—perhaps she can create a potion that greatly increases saliva production and improves its taste."

"Hmm."

Luo De briefly imagined it—actually, not bad.

"Try it. Approve your own request. If you can't find any materials, just ask me."

"Received, Master."

Yuna replied, her face bright with excitement.

Back to the surveillance feed.

As they spoke, the corridor where Sabrina walked began to change.

First, the light.

From the dim orange glow of flame, it shifted to a soft, bright white.

Then the walls and sulfur.

The jagged black and filthy yellow began to fade, thinning until they vanished entirely.

As she passed through a ring of alternating red and yellow light,

the corridor transformed.

White latex ceiling, marble floor tiles with natural veining, and on either side, white-toned artworks and portraits.

Briefly passing through, a half-lattice wall revealed the view beyond.

The U-shaped harbor of Coral Bay, facing the Montes Sea.

Luo De narrowed his eyes.

"Is there a direct passage from Coral Bay to Purgatory…?"

(End of Chapter)