Chapter 532: Sword Sheath and Summoning

"As you've always done, break free from Asmodiels's control."

Aurelio closed his eyes and focused on mobilizing the spirituality within his body.

The half-deer guardian, as the Hero Giver, stood protectively beside his hero, watching Natalie with vigilance.

"Given our past relationship, I have no qualms telling you: this is a secret technique I stumbled upon called 【Soul Sword Sheath】."

"Using a self-repairing weapon as a base, transform yourself into the sword's sheath to forcibly sever ties with the Demon Lord and escape control."

"If you think you can seize my stiletto, abandon that notion—this technique requires prolonged spiritual cultivation until you achieve perfect harmony with the weapon."

"Even now, I have only a thirty percent chance of success. Had this war not broken out, the Blood Pool's power would have faded further—I wouldn't have dared. But if I succeed, I'll unleash my full Eighth-Rank peak power, and this Forester will surely fall beneath my blade—hah!"

Natalie Blackmoon's gaze shifted for a moment.

She did not doubt the man was lying.

They had been together since adolescence, sharing an extraordinarily long bond; Aurelio was not the type to lie.

In desperation,

in her peripheral vision, she spotted a distant, unpolished, crude oversized pruning shears, plunged point-down into the ground.

It was a weapon radiating cold, suppressed, evil energy.

One glance revealed its extraordinary nature.

"If you don't want to die, don't touch that weapon."

Aurelio had clearly entered his state—he floated midair.

Yet he still spoke to warn her.

Natalie froze, then stared closely.

She saw the ground where the shears were planted melting into yellow-green rotting sludge, bubbling with foul-smelling gas.

Even the surrounding grass rapidly mutated into writhing, clawed tentacles.

"Then what should I do? I have no choice."

"Natalie… you haven't changed. Once you lose your anchor, you panic like a mindless fool."

"You—"

Just as she opened her mouth to curse, her former lover suddenly spoke:

"If I fail, this half-deer will teach you how to use the 【Soul Sword Sheath】. Using mine is better than using that shears."

". urelio, you—"

"Enough! Who's commanding the battlefield now?"

". he leader of the Blood Thorn Clan, Tashaya."

"Record this pruning shears. Have her announce on the battlefield that Luo De is dead. It doesn't matter if they find out—he's a spiritual warrior; he cannot escape this ritual site. As long as he doesn't appear, he might as well be dead."

Natalie understood—he wanted to disrupt the enemy's morale.

She asked, puzzled: "If you're trying to break free from the Lord's control, why does this war concern you?"

Aurelio opened his bloodshot eyes, revealing a desperate, grim smile: "The ones I love, my people—they're still on the battlefield, still controlled by the Blood Pool. For them, I'd destroy all of Hell and the continent without hesitation."

Pamela Nightveil, entwined by 【Despair Mycelium】, suddenly opened her eyes.

Like a puppet, she sat upright, rigidly, from the bed.

Her eyes widened, vacant and unfocused.

Within them swirled endless despair and terror.

Facing the ornate mural wall, she murmured in a hollow, eerie voice:

". y Lord? Is it you?"

"Yes. Yes. Pamela understands."

"Understood. My Lord is eternal."

As she spoke,

another dark elf woman on the bed lazily rose and embraced her affectionately.

"What's wrong? Another nightmare?"

"Shirri—"

"Ah, there's a soundproofing array here. You just woke up, so you might not know—the reptilian humans of Shiying Town have attacked us. Isn't that laughable?"

Shirri sneered dismissively.

Her fingers combed gently through Pamela's disheveled hair.

"Don't worry. Lord Aurelio has already gone over. Nothing will happen. You were thoroughly worn out last night by the Lord—go back to sleep."

"Aure. io—"

Pamela Nightveil reacted as if triggered by a keyword.

Her expression twisted in pain.

But Shirri, still embracing her, didn't see her face—she assumed Pamela was still haunted by the nightmare.

After all, as one of Aurelio's wives, Shirri had long borne the duty of caring for this husband's "ill" first love.

She was accustomed to this state.

Shirri, by this role, gained even more of Aurelio's favor; yet her naturally gentle nature also made her fond of Pamela.

"There, there, it's fine. Want breakfast? By the way, tell me how you generate power in that position—I always strain my waist."

Pfft—

She shuddered violently.

Suddenly, a sharp pain pierced her chest.

She looked down in confusion and saw a dagger piercing through her abdomen.

The hand gripping the hilt belonged to Pamela Nightveil—the woman who had shared her bed with her last night, who had cared for her day and night.

"W-why—"

Pamela Nightveil stared with wide, vacant, despairing eyes, tears streaming down.

"For that Lord."

She twisted the dagger violently, tearing the wound wider.

Riiip—

Crimson blood gushed uncontrollably.

Shirri, lacking combat strength, collapsed weakly into the other's arms.

The wound wasn't immediately fatal; her naturally resilient life force allowed her to glimpse a bizarre scene before fully returning to the Blood Pool:

Pamela Nightveil dragged her to the floor.

Mechanically chanting praises to some entity, she wept as she used Shirri's blood and organs to paint a massive ritual array on the carpet.

Shirri was a mage.

She recognized it as a summoning array.

Standard summoning incantations were "Summoning Request" and "Control Command."

But—

Pamela's incantation involved "True Name," "Praise," and "Sacrificial Oath."

Observing the chaotic energy, distinct from mana,

Shirri knew—

This was the summoning method of an unknown entity from another dimension.

The summoning speed was extremely fast.

In an instant, it surpassed the vast majority of summoning spells on the continent.

A familiar yet alien voice appeared at the center of the array.

Shirri's dull gray eyes widened in extreme terror.

She had seen this person's image.

—Forester Luo De!

In her final moments, she had only one thought:

This being was not human—it was a demonic entity from another dimension! The dark elves were fighting an unknown extraplanar demon!

"This is the derivative skill of 【Despair Mycelium】: 【Summon Demigod】."

Luo De examined his body in astonishment.

His equipment, clothing, spell satchel, and the Sword of Devotion at his waist—all were present.

Even the slime, Blackie, stuck to him, was summoned—she was happily sucking sweat from his abs.

This was a complete, high-level physical summoning.

【Target: Pamela Nightveil】

【Rank: Seventh-Rank Mid】

【This target's soul is sealed by the Hell Altar; cannot form a "Mycelial Core"】

【Additional Skill Effects:】

【1. Despair Mind】

【2. Life Force Drain】

【3. Summon Demigod (Cooldown)】

【4. Despair Domain】

Luo De smiled.

"Who's going to hold me captive now?"

【【Summon Demon God】in progress】

【Projection coordinates established.】

【Projection duration: 71 hours, 59 minutes, 30 seconds】

After using this skill, a "projection coordinate" is established at the original location.

Before the "projection coordinate" expires, Luo De may choose to actively return himself.

Luo De glanced at the ready 【Realm of Despair】 option on his panel and sneered:

"Not enough power from the Blood Birth Pool, heh heh."

(End of chapter)