Chapter 63: Changing the Approach

The metallic taste of blood.

This was Rod's first sensation upon waking.

He had killed before, but compared to the faint, thin scent of blood from earlier, now he was as if inside a sphere of blood.

Thick like fog, filling the air, and dense as if thickened with starch.

And the second sense.

Was the jackalope man appearing before his eyes.

The scrawny jackalope man trembled like a sieve, his eyes filled with the fear of death.

His crotch was wet and thick, everything released, though the stench was completely covered by the smell of blood.

At this moment, his head was gripped by Rod's single hand, as if it would be crushed at any moment.

"Oh, sorry."

Remembering how this little thing had panicked and fled on the battlefield, the pressure of his fingers immediately loosened.

For this jackalope man, captured to become rations for the rear, Rod still held an attitude of sympathy.

And this jackalope man, Skin, after being put down by Rod.

Screamed and ran backward.

He even fell halfway due to weak legs.

"Alright."

At this moment, the golden light of sunrise spilled across the earth.

A scorching heat instantly descended; upon touching the soaked soil, a foul, hot wave surged up.

Rod looked around.

With him as the center, the soil was all minced meat, severed limbs, and internal organs.

Naga bodies were three to five meters long, so their intestines far exceeded normal length; countless intestines, carrying a sour stench, surrounded him.

In any case, no complete forms were visible.

Except for that severed arm, forcibly pierced into the tree trunk; this clearly showed it was the result of a mighty throw.

"Is this a bit too brutal?"

Rod tore off the short shirt that had been stretched and torn on his body.

Just as he lifted his foot, he realized his shoes were gone, and a clump of white and red viscous matter remained on the sole of his foot.

"Ah."

Decided.

From now on, this 【Rampage】 cannot be used except in critical moments.

【Trial Completed】

【Obtained 'Scorching City Open-Air Labyrinth' High-Level Pass】

【Obtained Physical Proliferation, Obtained 'Resentful Painful Hate Fire'】

【Resentful Painful Hate Fire: The resentment of the Dragon Soul has become substantial, cursing the living on earth at all times; your slaughter pleased it.

You will absorb the resentment of dead living beings, accumulating it into powerful Hate Fire.】

【Derived Spiritual Technique: Sigh of Resentment Shakes the Heavens】

【Sigh of Resentment Shakes the Heavens: Consume all resentment to become substantial, transforming into an indestructible purple armor; speed, strength, and defense increase greatly.】

"Ho ho."

Quite an excellent skill.

Rod could immediately sense the resentment in the blood-soaked ground and rapidly absorb it.

【Resentment: 318】

As for the 【Physical Proliferation】 skill, it left him somewhat puzzled.

He could not transform like Tally; he could only proliferate limbs he already possessed.

The only function Rod could think of was to regrow severed limbs.

"Red Dragon Saban's body once proliferated infinitely and irregularly; it seems this labyrinth truly has a connection to him."

Rod looked toward the place where Eve had been.

"Well then, since the commission is complete, shouldn't I collect the reward?"

No one was there.

He expanded his perception range to the maximum but still found nothing.

That Naga Princess had long since fled.

"Tally."

No response.

"Tally?"

It seems she is not in the shadow.

The succubus was a sensible little clever one; Rod believed she had noticed the Naga's escape.

The Nu Yi Zhou can sense the location of the enslaved target.

Rod, unhurried, first used the 【Purification of Dust】 technique from 【Guardian Veil】 to clean several times, then changed into a fresh set of clothes.

【Dedicated Body Sword】 lay not far away.

"Why did Amy continue using her weapon after going berserk, while I threw my weapon away?"

Rod shook his head, unwilling to think too much, sheathed the golden sword, and slowly walked toward Tally's direction.

Half an hour later.

It was still in that stretch of mountain forest.

Tally leapt out from the shadow of a jujube tree.

She sprouted four extra arms and clung to Rod like an octopus.

She buried her face in his neck and took a long, deep suck.

"It's been so long since I've smelled Master's scent."

"It's only been an hour or two, don't be silly."

She suddenly lifted her head and looked seriously into Rod's eyes.

"Master, was that the female beastkin's skill?" The skill she meant was, of course, 【Berserk】.

"Mm, did it scare you?"

Rod felt a little apologetic—【Berserk】 was a skill that didn't distinguish friend from foe, and if he accidentally hurt Tally, that would be unpleasant.

Who would have thought this one's eyes would light up.

"Can it be used in bed?"

"."

Alright, truly worthy of a race that actively seeks out the Yigo race to mate with—I underestimated you lot.

"Don't go silent, Master~ Can it be used in bed? Master~"

Rod pinched her cheeks and forcibly muted her.

"Cut it out, what about that Naga?"

Tally wrested free of his fingers and gently nibbled them in her mouth.

Then she pointed down the distant hillside.

But there was nothing there.

"She used a mimicry treasure, she's right there. This one was even trying to steal your glowing sword earlier—are you really going to do her? I can transform into a Naga too, look, four arms."

Tally spread her four hands open.

Rod gently stroked her head.

"Tally, with me, you've already lost the chance to experience all sorts of male-race X experiences like other succubi, so why not change your thinking and study the X knowledge of various female races together with me?"

"Eh?"

Tally froze, tilting her head to one side.

"Then you will be the most one-of-a-kind succubus in the world."

Rod saw her stunned little expression and found it too cute to resist, so he stole a kiss.

【Tally's obedience to you +3, current obedience: 64】

Tally didn't agree right away, but the increased obedience still showed her attitude.

"Let me think about it?"

Lost in thought, Tally slipped back into the shadow.

Rod, on the other hand, walked straight over without waiting for Eve to notice and flipped the mimicry treasure away in one motion.

The Naga gave a start, her Bai Tu trembling violently.

At that moment she was applying medicine to her palms, which were covered in bloody marks, her face full of bewilderment.

Rod could sense the aura of 【Devotion Body Sword】—given the newly added 【Bound Master】 skill, any contact without his permission would harm the other party.

"M-Mr. Rod, so you're all right."

A trace of fear flickered in Eve's eyes—after all, no one who saw that scene with their own eyes could fail to be afraid.

Lamiya above!

This guy had ripped a land Naga clean in half with his bare hands!

"Princess Eve, I've come to collect my payment."

Rod bared his teeth in a grin, flashing a row of white.

Eve forced a stiff smile, but in her heart she had not the slightest intention of submitting.

At the same time, she was very confident in the treasure on her body.

Giving it is absolutely not happening.

After all, being a deadbeat is a Naga's virtue.

She had to escape, but first the magic contract had to be torn up.

Eve drew a deep breath and rose to her full height.

She folded her four arms across her chest, looked down at Rod, and revealed a confident, contemptuous smile.

"Human, being able to trade with a land Naga princess of the Bulaer clan is the greatest honor of anyone's life, but unfortunately, you. Do not yet have that qualification!"

She abruptly activated the treasure on her wrist.

A dazzling flash of spiritual light burst forth.

At the same time, she pinched out a magic ring, ready to slip away the moment she finished showing off.

In midair, a magic contract formed of spiritual essence appeared.

Under the treasure's influence it gradually grew unstable, showing signs of breaking apart.

That instant gave her a great deal of courage.

"How laughable, human. A mere mortal like you, actually daring to covet my body. A little thing no bigger than a puppy or a piglet—do you really think you could give a great land Naga the slightest bit of feeling?"

(End of chapter)