Chapter 535: Pollution

The scent of sulfur filled the air.

Inside the dome of the Blood Birth Pool.

Twelve black-golden sword beams completed their strikes in an instant.

Even the stray air currents from their tips became razor-sharp blades.

On the jagged black rock, the ground littered with red-tinged footprints, and the ceiling above—all bore terrifying sword cuts.

Aurelio used 【Flash】 and a shield spell he had never employed before to avoid or block part of the damage.

Several of the strikes were caught by his 【Demon Hunter】 stiletto.

In total, only one or two blades actually struck his body.

The dark elf grunted, two deep, bone-exposing cross-shaped wounds bursting open on his chest!

Blood sprayed through the air.

"Oh?"

Luo De was slightly surprised.

The feel had changed.

The muscle strength hadn't increased—it had transformed.

Hitting flesh now felt like striking steel.

Based on Tally's surveillance report, he naturally knew this dark elf general had combined a secret technique with his 【Demon Hunter】 stiletto to break free from the Duke's soul control.

His secret technique even sounded like the "body abandonment" Luo De had heard of in his past life.

At first glance, it seemed utterly implausible.

Yet somehow, the 30% chance had succeeded.

Hero candidates still had something to them—some trace of heaven's fortune clung to them.

"You?!!"

Aurelio's face twisted in shock, staring at the man who should have been trapped inside the black orb ritual.

"Why… the ritual showed no change at all?"

Luo De sneered, ignoring him.

He glanced back at the disfigured dark elf woman: "Pamelaya, get into the Blood Birth Pool."

The dragging mass of stomach and lungs nodded its "head" and slowly crawled toward the pool.

"Pamelaya?"

As Aurelio saw the horrific state of his first love, his face turned ashen, fists clenched, eyes blazing with fury.

The 【Demon Hunter】 stiletto in his hand blazed with silver light.

In an instant, it vanished into a phantom shadow.

"What did you do to her?!"

"What did I do? I hold grudges. Whatever you did to mine, I'll return tenfold."

Luo De swung his black-gold longsword with one hand, meeting the stiletto in a clash.

Ding—

The impact echoed violently through the enclosed space, deafening.

Sparks flew!

【Trigger Sharpness Check】!

【"Sacrificial Body Sword (Black-Gold Coating)" Sharpness: 84】

【"Demon Hunter" Sharpness: 92】

【Result: Failure!】

Heavy air blades spilled outward, carving grooves into the walls.

The half-unicorn Einala, standing at the edge, had to activate a magical shield, her face filled with shock.

"How can a petty thief possibly match Aurelio in combat?"

Swordlight flashed.

The two clashed like a gale, the crisp ring of steel on steel unceasing.

Both moved with swift, precise precision—like lightning striking, each swing carrying crushing force.

Crack—

A crack split the black-gold longsword.

The 【Black-Gold Coating】 had raised the Sacrificial Body Sword's sharpness to 84, still nearly 10 points below the Demon Hunter's 92.

After a brief exchange, the blade finally showed clear signs of fracture.

"Without your weapon's advantage, what do you have left?! Luo De!"

Aurelio roared.

Luo De jerked his head aside to dodge the thrust aimed at his face, then twisted his waist and swung a punch straight into his jaw.

Even without 【Power Liberation】.

But having advanced to the high stage of seventh rank, his strength was boosted by 【Dragon Power Art +2】—far from negligible.

Yet Aurelio seemed to welcome the blow.

He grunted in pain.

Then, deliberately riding the punch's force, he flew backward—toward Pamelaya, now at the pool's edge.

"Heh…"

Luo De wouldn't let him have his way.

He raised his hand; his palm split open like a zipper, revealing a round, bulging eyeball.

【Global Vision +1: The Hundred-Eyed Demon gains unobstructed 360° vision in battle and gains the extra skill "Eye Growth." Each additional eye increases perception by 1. %.】

The eyeball turned crimson in an instant.

A thick, wrist-sized 【Flame Ray】 erupted, its powerful impact slamming Aurelio into the wall.

Meanwhile, the five organs sprouting limbs successfully dragged Pamelaya into the Blood Birth Pool.

Immediately.

The Blood Birth Pool boiled violently!

The crimson water began to shift—black and green surged forth in succession.

"Pamelaya!!!" Aurelio screamed.

The half-unicorn Einala frowned: "What are you doing, Aurelio? She's a necromancer—she can be revived. Kill this man now!"

"No! Einala! This man's spell is flawed! It will drain Pamelaya's entire soul energy at once!"

"... ho is this man? How does he have such power?"

Aurelio gritted his teeth: "Forest Warden Luo De! The greatest threat in Shiying Town!!"

"What?!"

Einala stared at Luo De in shock.

Indeed, her friend, the half-wolf druid Oujia, lived in the Windwall Forest—and Luo De, the leader of Shiying Town, was the forest's warden.

How many men named Luo De could Oujia possibly trust?

At that moment.

Someone rose from the Blood Birth Pool.

They splashed out, dazed, scanning their surroundings—then instantly twisted into despair, clawing frantically at their throats.

They tore their skin open, exposing raw muscle and blood vessels, and within moments, killed themselves.

Aurelio's face darkened.

No matter what Luo De had done, this meant the Blood Birth Pool's power would drain faster!

Einala reacted faster.

She surged her inner spirit, condensing it from the sulfurous ground of the Abyss, then swiftly summoned two stone beasts.

She cried urgently: "Quick! We must kill him together—this war will end at once!"

"Hehehehe—"

Before Aurelio could respond,

Luo De, standing calmly in the distance, began to laugh.

First a low, mocking chuckle, laced with relief and ease.

Then the laughter grew wild, unrestrained.

Finally, it erupted into a full-throated, derisive roar.

"Kill me? HAHAAAAAAAHAAAAAA!!!"

The Despair Domain was fully set. All rear threats eliminated.

The dark elf was doomed.

And now, having just broken through to the high stage of seventh rank.

How could I not be arrogant?

Luo De advanced slowly, unhurried.

He raised his left hand, squeezing the sacrificed eyeball from his palm; the moment it hit the ground, it melted into a pool of orange-red magma.

Dense spirit rapidly and densely coated the blade of the Sacrificial Body Sword.

Then, next, there is only one thing to do.

Kill.

Luo De fixed his gaze on Aurelio.

Soul Sword Scabbard, is it?

I have a technique in my Gorgon Battle Soul I've never used—perfect chance to test it on you.

(End of Chapter)