Chapter 619: Levi and the New Machine

Rain fell in a gloomy drizzle.

Rod stopped and watched from afar as Levi walked forward step by step.

His father, Carter, the Grand Commander who had turned underground, had begged before leaving, asking Rod not to kill his son.

Rod had originally intended to keep him as a hostage or something similar.

But after thinking it over seriously, he felt it held no meaning.

Carter was a man capable of resisting by sheer will, caring nothing even if it cost his life.

Forcing someone's son to stay would be somewhat deliberate and show a lack of trust.

"What's wrong, Master?"

Tally, who had transformed into a petite flower spirit behind him, held the umbrella high with both hands.

Seeing him stop, she couldn't help but ask.

Then her gaze shifted away from Rod, and only then did she finally spot Levi in the distance.

She chuckled lightly: "Is it him? Do you believe, Master, that Tally could defeat him now?"

"There is no need for that."

"He doesn't even know about his father's situation. Didn't Rosalia say that after giving him Carter's sword relic, he sat in a daze for an entire day? He must have come to seek revenge on you. Speaking of which, Master, do you know how succubi seek revenge?"

"What way is there to seek revenge? Isn't it just killing?"

"It's not the only way, you know!"

Tally held the large umbrella with both hands but insisted on hugging Rod's arm, giggling as she pressed the edge of the umbrella right onto his head.

"If it's a male, just slice off a—"

"..."

That was a bit cruel.

Imagining it slightly, Rod shivered faintly.

Tally's smile grew even brighter as she affectionately and tenderly pressed Rod's arm deep

"So Master, you must not abandon me, okay?"

"... Then what if the object of revenge is a girl?"

Plop—

Before Tally could answer.

Levi, the deputy commander of the Conscription Corps and the orphan of Grand Commander Carter, arrived before them, holding the steel sword whose hilt was stained red with blood.

"Rod..."

He gritted his teeth and spat out the two words, his entire body surging with spiritual energy, forming a swirling vortex of blue and red.

Then, looking at Rod, he suddenly froze, his eyes widening in utter disbelief.

This lasted a full three seconds.

He calmed his spiritual energy, turned his head without looking back, and left.

His body wrapped in bandages, murky blood dripping to the ground only to be washed away, his head hanging low, it was a somewhat tragic figure.

"What was that?"

Tally, who had been unusually eager to act, didn't understand and asked, watching the figure depart.

Rod nodded in approval.

"Carter was indeed right; his son is quite intelligent."

Before leaving, Carter had once removed the 【Blood-Dipped Mark】 from Rod's body; this was the mark of their family's breathing technique.

And after Levi sensed no mark on Rod, he might have realized that his father had reached some agreement with this Forest Warden and was likely not dead.

"A stubborn mule who refuses to speak clearly."

Having understood, Tally gave her assessment of Levi: "Unlike Tally, Tally is willing to tell Master everything~"

Rod ignored her and continued watching Levi's retreating back.

"Since your father is in such a state, he naturally cannot look after you, and I have no reason not to take care of you as well."

Saying this.

The war soul of the Fungal Rot Warrior Gorgon emerged from behind, and a thread of spiritual energy drilled into Levi's body.

【【Despair Mycelium】used successfully.】

【Target: Levi Leonis Alvis】

【Rank: Mid-Eighth Tier】

【Additional Skill Effects:

1. Despairing Heart;

2. Vitality Drain;

3. Summon Evil God;

4. Despair Domain (Conditions not met).】

【Construct 'Sclerotium'?】

"No."

This skill wasn't meant only for dealing with enemies.

It could be used to maintain contact; more importantly, at a critical moment, 【Summon Evil God】 could even bring about a deus ex machina to help.

The underground laboratory where magic rings were crafted.

Which was the residence of the zombie Selena.

Inside the cave.

Rod stared at the enormous rectangular machine before him, built from brass and magic power stones.

He couldn't help feeling a little dazed.

It had a somewhat modern mechanical style, mixed with dwarven brass craftsmanship, and at the same time carried the supernatural flair of spellwork.

The mashup was too much.

Selina stood expressionlessly beside the power stones, inputting magical energy to calibrate.

Right in front, with her upper body completely buried inside the machine and her bottom sticking out, swaying unsteadily, was the half-vampire Vanessa.

Rod didn't have the heart to disturb the two busy women.

He gave a kick to the mind flayer Hart, who was standing nearby with arms crossed, watching the show, and asked:

"What are they doing?"

Hart stumbled, nearly falling over.

Those wicked octopus eyes gave him a resentful glance: "A few days ago, this Young Lady half-vampire woke up, saw Selina pulling an all-nighter making magic rings, and to speed things up, they built this contraption together."

"Speed things up—how does this thing speed things up?"

"She said it can automatically produce suitable ring blanks, so after cutting out that step, they only need to input the required spells. I don't know the specifics myself—I'm not a mage."

Rod let out a surprised "Oh?"

He was quite pleased inside.

Then he looked at Hart beside him, and his face turned sour.

"Look at them—barely arrived and already contributing. And look at you—every single day you just freeload and wait to die, not even helping Selina. Tell me, what's the use of me keeping you around?"

Hart: "."

Don't you dare use my Mind Barrier.

Now every girl living in the forest wants a Mind Barrier cast on her—tell me, I've already devolved from an elder brain to a mind flayer, how much energy do you think I have?

Rod smiled and paid no heed to Hart's grievance.

Taking advantage of no one watching.

His palm slipped inside her clothes, kneading and rubbing, giving her body a thorough check-up.

Soft and springy, with a texture just like jelly.

But then again.

Mind flayers reproduce differently from ordinary creatures of the continent, so naturally they don't have such thoughts.

She just stood there motionless, paying no attention to the hand touring around inside her chest clothing.

Tally copied the trick, walked to the other side, and with a mischievous grin reached in to grope as well.

Hart: "."

"Aaah!!"

The half-vampire Vanessa by the ring-blank machine suddenly let out an angry shriek.

She pulled her upper body out and hurled a sphere in her hand onto the ground.

"It doesn't work! This is useless!"

She wore a head wrap, her blood-red long hair bundled inside it.

Her upper body was a short button-up vest—probably Selina's—the buttons strained very tight, and it didn't really fit her.

It was stuffed full and bulging, and the slender waist and belly that peeked out clearly had a thin layer of soft fat, yet somehow still showed quite distinct, smooth ab-line contours—looking like it would feel very nice to the touch.

She was a little over 1.6 meters tall, and in that outfit she looked all the more capable and efficient.

"It's you!"

Only now did Vanessa notice Rod, and cried out in surprise.

Then she immediately grew puzzled.

"What was your name again?"

Rod gave a wry smile.

This one had been affected by the witch-cat's 【Memory Wish Stone】, so her memory was clearly a bit off.

(End of this chapter)