Chapter 464: Speculation and Airflow

"I'm not, but I've seen quite a few."

Rod replied.

This was a question he got asked all the time.

No choice about it—not to toot his own horn, but his combat prowess was right there, and anyone who knew him was aware of it.

When the Half-Deer folk looked for the prophesied hero, of course they wanted someone powerful and with potential.

Someone like Rod—young and badass, yet unable to pass even the first condition of the 【Hero Judgment】—came across as very strange.

There were only three possibilities.

One: his potential was already exhausted, or unlocking it would take a very long time.

That was obviously impossible—dude was running a cheat.

Two: the prophecy of that Half-Deer Elder couldn't find him.

Maybe it was an effect brought on by transmigration? He didn't know.

Three: the prophecy was effective on him, but within it he might die soon, so there was no point in him becoming a 【Hero】.

Four: his heart was crooked, the hero prophecy looked down on him, and he might even become the dungeon boss for the future 【Hero Candidates】.

Don't you say it.

But really, don't.

It did seem like the third and fourth possibilities were more likely.

Rod found it funny, but didn't dwell on it.

After all, in his past life he was a descendant of Yan and Huang; compared to prophecies that supposedly couldn't be changed, he leaned more toward "man can conquer heaven."

And Lily, hearing his negative answer, was indeed a little stunned, just like everyone else.

She knew Rod's strength very well—the sword that pierced the heavens back in the Open-Air Labyrinth was still etched in her mind.

So, with her natural pride, she began to scoff.

"Then it looks like this so-called hero prophecy is nothing special. Not long ago I was chosen as a candidate by a Half-Deer, but he was an idiot—ran straight into a dragon's breath and died during dragon-slaying."

"Ah-ha, there was such a thing? I've seen those candidates use a kind of red airflow—seemed pretty powerful."

"It's alright, I don't think it's as useful as the 【Grieving Pain Hate-Fire】 from the Open-Air Labyrinth pass."

During the earlier trip to the Open-Air Labyrinth.

Dragon-soul girl Naolin, at Rod's instruction, had also granted Lily the advanced pass, so she could use the Hate-Fire too.

As she spoke.

Lily raised her slender little hand; crimson airflow streamed upward from her palm, like flowing flames.

"Can it still be used after the 【Hero Giver】 dies?"

"No, this is a 【Hero Buff】 obtained after resonance between the 【Giver】 and the 【Candidate】. Once one side dies, the buff disappears."

"Then this?"

"I figured it out on my own."

She proudly lifted her chin, flashing a cool little smile.

Rod was stunned.

During the raid on the mind flayers coveting the magic ring, he had met a silver-spear, silver-armor hero candidate in the super-volcano-erupting nation of Kava.

At the time he had tried to grope for the meaning behind it, just hadn't succeeded, that's all.

You have to remember, Rod was someone who had popped Spirit Seeds.

Hiss—

Halfling Lily—pure, unadulterated talent monster!

No wonder her class progression was like running a cheat too.

Lily was quite satisfied with Rod's gaze right now; her cute little face was practically tilted up to the sky, her smile impossible to suppress.

"Aiya, it's not that hard, I can teach you too. It's just that once you lose the resonance with the Half-Deer, using this thing puts a pretty noticeable burden on your lifespan and soul."

"Quite the Half-Deer style—always paying with lifespan and soul."

Rod said.

He then recalled how the Half-Deer girl Xiao Ke had once burned 20 years of lifespan on a prophecy to help him.

He felt indebted, and had asked the elf Lady Caliste about ways to extend lifespan.

The elven Young Lady recommended the 'Spring of Life Potion,' which could extend lifespan by 50 years—most importantly, she knew the crafting process.

It just required at least 10 milliliters of 'Life Essence' and one 'Heartwood of a Thousand-Year Ancient Tree' as the main materials.

These two things were truly rare; Rod asked around everywhere he went, and found nothing.

He shook his head and stopped thinking about it.

New skill—learn it.

He didn't care what side effects there were.

The crimson airflow could noticeably amplify the power of spiritual arts and spells.

This kind of good stuff—I don't have to use it, but I can't not know it.

Very quickly.

After Lily finished explaining the key points and usage methods, in less than half an hour Rod could already wrap the same crimson airflow around his palm.

The halfling girl nodded, very satisfied with Rod's learning speed.

"It's a bit like 【Spirit Overload】, but the crimson airflow's amplification is more exaggerated, and it comes with 【Will of Wish】."

【Will of Wish】.

That is, when the user harbors a strong wish for something, the crimson airflow's amplification multiplies several times over.

And there is no upper limit.

It truly has the flavor of an anime protagonist's power of will.

"Correct, but for me, the amplification is merely average. Moreover, using it alone consumes lifespan and soul power; it's somewhat useless."

Lili listlessly flicked her hand.

Shaking off the crimson air currents as if extinguishing a match:

"If I could link my spirituality with others like the half-centaur, the side effects would presumably be less severe. Pity. I learn and mimic spells quickly, but I can't quite bring myself to develop it."

"Spirituality link?"

Rod pondered thoughtfully.

He recalled that Tally possessed a 【Spirituality Link】 buff in 【Blissful Party】.

【Spirituality Link: When everyone present fights together against the same enemy, all skill effects are enhanced by 14%. For every person missing, this effect weakens by 2%.

Current linked count: 7】

Perhaps

this skill could serve to share the side effects of the crimson air currents?

It was a good idea.

Once back in the forest, he would ask the elf Lady Kali to help research it.

While speaking,

the night faded completely, and the sky brightened greatly.

Within a short while, the streets of the dock district began to bustle.

Lili still required no rest.

She needed to notify the Hero Alliance that the mastermind of the fraud case, the Old Green Dragon, was still at large. After leaving a contact magic stone, she bid Rod an reluctant farewell.

Coincidentally, Rod also had matters to attend to.

The succubus in the shadows, starved all night, began jumping out and screaming again.

To avoid eating on the spot above the crowded streets,

Rod landed swiftly and found a decent inn.

As soon as the door closed, Tally, clad in not a thread, clung to him eagerly, her hips shaking wildly.

Next came muffled groans and soft moans, along with the creaking and thumping of the bed.

After a brief investigation, the Hero Alliance announced that the Old Green Dragon had escaped and the young Green Dragon had died in his place.

This caused a brief stir in Waterdeep.

Adventurers belonging to the same dragon-slaying party did not agree and scolded the Hero Alliance for making trouble out of nothing.

Indeed, this was a fine opportunity to make a name for oneself; with this interference, it became somewhat subtle.

But that was all.

Life in Waterdeep was not as thrilling as at Axe Beach.

As for Rod,

he spent the morning fooling around and fighting with Tally.

Starting at noon, he went with Lili to tour the various attractions and enjoy the food in Waterdeep and its surroundings.

By nightfall, it was time for the two of them to act as knights-errant.

In the blink of an eye, three days passed.

The elf Lady Kali had successfully resolved her own affairs and sent a 【Chain of Far Speech】 notification that they could begin the return journey.

(End of Chapter)