Chapter 541: Dewdrops and Activation

After the absorption of Lilyth's physical blood droplets by 【Seductive Fluid】 reached 100%.

The skill leveled up to +10.

And three additional skills were unlocked:

【Primordial Dew】【Paradox Motive】【Apocalypse Tide】.

The first one, Mystera had mentioned, and it was indeed exactly as she said.

The second one was somewhat powerful.

【Paradox Motive: The desires generated by living beings toward you are converted into your source of power.】

With this skill activated,

It could be said that Luo De simply lay in the cannon room for 24 hours a day, with seduced females taking turns to serve him, granting him a continuous stream of strength.

And its effect was far superior to 【Elbert's Pleasure Secret Scripture】.

But that's not entirely accurate.

【Elbert's Pleasure Secret Scripture】 primarily enhances spiritual accumulation.

【Paradox Motive】 enhances bodily essence.

The third is 【Seductive Fluid】's only offensive skill.

【Apocalypse Tide: One of your bodily fluids contains a miniature abyss capable of eroding domain or law-based power.】

Though it also seems very powerful,

It is limited to that specific bodily fluid.

I can't just produce it on the spot whenever I encounter a domain or law, can I?

"What are you talking about?"

In the boundless expanse of the magical network space,

Mystera said.

"I only need bodily fluid. The kind of inefficient activity you imagine has no meaning and cannot occur."

"."

Luo De sighed, slightly embarrassed.

"Lady Mystera, you must understand that a man's needs require some stimulation."

"What do you mean? Are you implying something? I know men can use their hands."

The future goddess of magic frowned even deeper.

She even subtly stepped back a little, creating distance from Luo De.

"It's possible, but you might not know—it's dry, slow, and might not even work. The energy your body needs for revival is substantial, isn't it?"

"."

"Of course, I'm not thinking of you—I mean I've raised a succubus; I can have her come help."

"No!"

Mystera firmly rejected the suggestion.

"This cannot reach a third party's ears. Succubi are fickle creatures—what if they use this to blackmail me? I am not a killer, but I do not hesitate to kill."

Luo De waved his hand.

He halted the topic:

"But now the problem is—you're inside Asmodeus's body, and I'm fighting him. How do I give you bodily fluid?"

"I have my own method. After your 【Rage】 state ends, I will no longer be able to pull your consciousness back. At that moment, you must not trigger Julia's 【Blood Burst】. Remember!"

Mystera remained in blood form.

Julia's 【Blood Burst】 is extremely targeted; it seems even she, not yet at her peak, feared severe damage.

"But don't worry—once I leave your body, I will drain most of Asmodeus's power. He will be gravely wounded and retreat to the Abyss to recover, unable to strike against you. I remind you again: this must not be spoken of. I will reward you afterward."

"Got it."

"No, I don't trust you. We'll sign a contract first."

"Please… you're the one who came to me for help."

"How do I know you didn't learn about my situation and deliberately cultivated 【Primordial Dew】?"

Mystera stared intently at Luo De.

Even within the magical vortex's eyes, suspicion and scrutiny were evident.

Luo De was speechless.

He had the persistent feeling that Lady Mystera was excessively cautious.

But then again,

In the original Catastrophe of the Magic Web, she was brutally betrayed by those magic web mages.

Her body was sacrificed, leaving only her head to sustain the network.

A bit of paranoid PTSD is understandable.

At that moment,

Luo De suddenly felt his body being pulled upward, as if by an anti-gravity spell.

"Time's up."

Mystera grew tense.

Her hands clasped before her, the slight pressure of her upper arms leaving soft indentations in her slightly loose collar.

A trace of pleading appeared on her face.

"Remember, Mr. Luo De, do not activate 【Julia's Blood Burst】. I may lose my chance at resurrection entirely—and die. I beg you."

"Mm."

"Perhaps you were manipulated into attacking me; otherwise, you wouldn't happen to possess this spell that harms me so greatly. But please, please spare me. When I become a goddess, I will protect you."

Luo De was speechless as his consciousness was lifted out of the magical network.

"It's all coincidence. No one ordered me to attack you. Right now, helping you is the same as helping myself."

"Coincidence? Is the person's name 'Coincidence'? Please, don't listen to him, Mr. Luo De."

"."

The lady, deeply entrenched in paranoia, radiated no glory except the divine halo behind her.

After all, she had not yet fully ascended to godhood.

Her personality likely hadn't changed since she was alive.

Even now, she clasped her hands together, begging not to be killed again.

She didn't stop until Luo De's consciousness was fully pulled out of the magical network space.

A flash of light and shadow.

Luo De snapped his eyes open.

In the sky, the massive gate to Hell still had not vanished.

Before him lay the shattered city walls of Coral Bay, the ruins of buildings, blood drifting in the air, and hellfire.

And a massive, fleshy mass obscuring half the sky.

"Master! Master is awake!"

Only when Tally's delighted voice reached him

Did Luo De realize he was lying on a soft, cushioned thigh, every part of his body aching.

His 【Dragon Scale】 techniques on abdomen and chest had been breached; several through-and-through blood wounds gushed blood uncontrollably.

【Regeneration】 and the dual domains' healing were ongoing.

He gritted his teeth and pushed himself up on his elbows.

Ahead, he saw the half-elf Lily and the dog-man Sharon holding up a magical shield, blocking the wild hellfire.

Further back,

Asmodeus knelt on the ground, disheveled and broken.

His face twisted in rage.

His elegant black-red robe was torn to shreds, blood streaming from his body, hellfire surging violently around him, raging indiscriminately.

【Julia's Blood Burst】 current stack: 258

【Paralyzing Claw Strike】 current stack: 1831

Huh?

Different stacks?

After carefully checking his panel, Luo De understood.

The former accumulated potential energy; the latter accumulated attack counts—naturally different.

Luo De did not hesitate.

He immediately activated 【Paralyzing Claw Strike】.

Mystera only said not to trigger 【Julia's Blood Burst】; she never said not to trigger this one.

Two hundred layers of Blood Burst might hurt the Archduke, but killing him? That's wishful thinking.

Instantly,

Asmodeus stiffened, trembling into paralysis.

The hellfire around him extinguished with a roar.

Meanwhile.

A streak of blood peeled away from his scalp, taking with it vast quantities of magic and essence.

It coalesced into a semi-transparent humanoid form composed of veins and magic.

"Ughhh!!!"

Asmodeus's face twisted in agony as his aura and pressure plummeted rapidly.

He was desperately resisting.

But clearly, under the stacked paralysis effects from Mistral and the high-level spells, his resistance had little effect.

As the semi-transparent humanoid form made entirely of veins and magic fully separated.

Asmodeus shrank from four meters to roughly two, utterly withered.

He appeared utterly aged.

He glared at Luo De with hatred, then cast a fearful glance at the humanoid form above him.

His hands glowed with magical orbs.

It seemed he was activating some secret art.

After spewing a mouthful of blood, he forcibly negated the paralysis and plunged straight into the Infernal Gateway without looking back.

With a tearing sound, the gateway dissolved, the fissure vanishing instantly.

Sharon and Lily ahead had already prepared for a final stand, caught utterly off guard by this sudden turn.

Lily asked, confused: "What just happened?"

Sharon thought for a moment and said: "He was already severely wounded when he appeared. After that vein-thing pulled away, he lost over half his magic and essence. Such a grievous wound to his core—even a Duke would struggle to rule even the first layer of the Infernal Realm."

Lily exhaled in relief, then excitedly said: "So we've driven off an Infernal Duke!"

Sharon glanced back at a certain Forest Warden.

Seeing him wink at her playfully, her tension eased slightly.

"To be precise, it was a certain Forest Warden who drove off an Infernal Duke."

"That won't do. Both you and I took part—this achievement is ours to claim."

Lily smiled.

Tally wrapped her arms around Luo De's waist and pulled him close.

She pointed at the distant, motionless humanoid form of veins and magic.

"But what is that thing?"

Both mages fell silent, their faces filled with confusion.

Luo De, of course, intended to honor his pact with Mistral, and waved his hand:

"Just a little trick of mine. No concern."

He gently pried open the succubus's arms.

Tally pressed herself fully against him, her chest pressed against his ribs—somehow, the sensation was oddly pleasant.

"I'll handle it. You two go deal with the remaining Dark Elves."

The Infernal Duke had fled; the Infernal passage was sealed; the Bloodborn Pool was corrupted by the Realm of Despair.

The Battle of Coral Bay had been won outright.

What remained were only post-battle logistics.

Sharon snorted: "You tell me to go, and I go? I'm staying right here to watch you."

Tally nodded: "I'm watching my master too. You were stabbed repeatedly by spells just now—what if you start liking it, and never stab me again?"

"."

Lily, the halfling, sighed bitterly: "I've already notified Dimia and the others—they'll arrive soon. I'll stay too, in case someone launches a counterattack."

Luo De waved his hand.

Let them do as they pleased.

But he still instructed the three girls not to approach. He limped alone toward the motionless magic-vein creature—Mistral's form.

"Luo De! You were going to betray me after all!?"

As he stepped before it.

A trembling, tearful voice echoed in his ear:

(End of Chapter)