Chapter 460: Chaotic Energy and Goodbye Lily

There was nothing to hide about this matter, so he told the Young Lady of the Elves directly, and also explained the abnormal situation of the half-elf Virgil along the way.

Lady Kali's voice turned serious.

She immediately warned Rod coldly about how many experts and how many mad mages there were in the Sword Bay region.

She went on and on, snarking and sneering for a long stretch.

Lady Kali's little mouth was dipped in venom, but her heart was warm.

Mainly reminding Rod to keep a low profile and avoid drawing attention.

Seeing her endless nagging and warnings, Rod cut off her next words with a single line: "You don't need to worry about me so much."

Just then, Tally in his arms was about finished and got excited.

The rare immediate experience seemed to affect this succubus even more.

She arched her back and clenched, her ears flushed red, becoming insensitive to her surroundings, and was about to topple sideways.

Rod hurriedly held her, afraid she would fall off the horse.

Lady Kali clearly heard the commotion, gave a cold snort, and her words turned much icier than before.

【Lady Kali: Even if you get targeted, once you're dead you won't be able to ruin the girls in the forest.】

She didn't wait for Rod to reply.

She then began to explain the situation of the half-elf Virgil.

【Lady Kali: If I'm not mistaken, that half-elf should be infected with chaotic energy from the other plane.】

Chaotic energy?

【You should know about the matter of the spiritual storm's outbreak period in the other plane. Most mages, myself included, originally believed the recent spiritual storm would be a cyclical event, but the truth is that the spiritual storm has lasted a full half year and shows no sign of weakening.

Since mages first set foot in the other plane, since any relevant historical records exist, there has never been a continuous spiritual storm like this. Its eye will sweep in all manner of chaotic spirits and energies.

For example, aether and spiritual energy, the spell-power and spirituality left behind by mages, projections of mental desire from the material plane, the corpses of various cosmic beings, and the measures they took to save themselves, and so on and so forth.

From this, an extremely chaotic and disordered chaotic energy naturally arose. It can warp flesh, cause steel to grow flesh and bone, and grant spells a living spiritual will — from consciousness to the inorganic, violating all manner of magical and physical laws.

This is also why I opposed your frequent trips to the other plane.】

Rod fell silent in thought.

He immediately thought of the Dragon-Slaying Greatsword.

That thing was exactly steel growing flesh and bone.

Moreover, the intellect within had clearly stated that something inside the half-elf Virgil was the same as Rod's essence, and was what the greatsword craved.

"Could it be that my essence is also chaotic energy?"

Don't scare yourself, it shouldn't be.

Wait.

Speaking of steel and flesh warping, another object on Rod's body had undergone the same thing.

【Tremor Blade】, enhanced by 【Errant Spirituality】, had once gained 【Many-Eyed Affliction】 and 【Ancient Smallfolk Bloodline】.

Though the latter severed itself on its own because the bloodline could not be sustained.

Could there be some connection here?

As someone severely lacking in magical knowledge, even if there were, he couldn't figure it out.

Rod shook his head and decisively gave up thinking about it.

When he returned to the forest, he'd just have the zombie Selina or Lady Kali take a look.

After ending the conversation with the Young Lady of the Elves.

After playing with Tally a few times, Rod took the initiative to stop.

He couldn't keep going.

On one hand, Deepwater City was close, and pedestrians were gradually increasing.

On the other hand, if Tally kept eating she was going to get a food coma — sure enough, not long after the two had separated, she was already curled up in Rod's arms dozing off.

After roughly another half hour of walking.

Deepwater City's towering walls rose into the clouds, grand and magnificent, taller than those of any other city.

But Rod's attention was first drawn to the large crowd gathered before the city walls and moat.

Cheers and shouts of acclaim rang out.

Colored streamers and flower petals drifted down.

A procession slowly approached from the north.

It was a broad wagon assembled from steel chains and steel plates, upon which lay a green dragon that had already breathed its last.

And the ones transporting the green dragon's corpse were a group of adventurers striding proudly with chests puffed out.

When Rod first arrived at Axe Throw Beach, he had heard that the Chivalric Alliance and the adventurers were planning a dragon hunt.

He had originally wanted to go watch, never expecting it would go so smoothly.

Soon.

Rod spotted a cute figure barely half the height of a normal person, petite and delicate.

The halfling, Lily.

She still wore that red magical leather breastplate, stepped along in little leather boots inlaid with yellow gemstones, wore shorts that revealed her perfectly proportioned legs, and walked as if goose-stepping.

A rounded face, a small and straight nose, beneath it a mouth that always wore a cool little smile.

Lily had been basking in the crowd's admiration and joy when she suddenly sensed something, and with a turn of her head, her gaze landed on Rod, who was riding a horse not far away.

She froze for a moment.

Then her excitement flushed the tip of her nose and her cheeks red.

Rod, surprised by her perception, also showed a gentle smile.

After the grand ceremony welcoming the Dragon-Slaying Party, the sky gradually darkened.

The Heroes' Alliance had rented out a tavern in the southern district of Waterdeep for all the Dragon-Slaying Party participants to hold a victory party.

The atmosphere was at its peak.

On the stage, a female bard wearing a tricorn hat was singing loudly.

Below, men cheered and applauded in response.

Rod was naturally pulled over by the emotionally stirred Lillie, and the two found a less crowded corner to chat.

"When did you arrive? Why didn't you write to notify me in advance?"

Lillie sat on a high stool, her dangling legs swinging happily.

She didn't take a single sip of the apple beer in her hand, instead staring at Rod with her clear, bright eyes, a smile playing on them.

Rod took a sip of Waterdeep's Giant Ale.

Hmm. It's about the same as Axe Beach's; after all, the two places are relatively close, nothing can be done about it.

"I happened to be in the area on business. Knowing you've been busy in Waterdeep, I came to check on you. I didn't expect you to go straight for dragon-slaying; you're truly impressive, Lillie."

"It was all thanks to everyone in the Heroes' Alliance and some local heroes working together."

"That Young Lady bard on stage has been praising your active role non-stop, emphasizing that your contribution was indispensable. Don't be so modest."

"Hahaha—"

The halfling girl laughed heartily, her small, cute nose lifting slightly in pride.

"It's been a long time. You, Rod, actually know how to say such things."

Lillie was happy about the successful dragon-slaying.

But she was even happier to meet Rod again. After nearly four months of not seeing each other, she had feared their relationship might have grown distant, but now that they had topics to discuss, it suddenly felt as if they had returned to the days in Emerald City.

The two ignored the noisy background sounds.

Taking advantage of the lingering excitement from the dragon-slaying, Lillie cheerfully recounted the events of this incident.

Rod acted as a worthy straight man, occasionally interjecting with jokes and such, making the girl laugh out loud.

They chatted and drank like this.

At this moment, a large palm suddenly slapped Rod's shoulder.

(End of this chapter)