Chapter 656: Reencounter

Rotten swamp bubbles exploded at Rod's feet.

Beneath the rising green toxic mist of the spell, spiked magical chains suddenly burst from the ground, spiraling upward along ankles and palms until reaching thighs and upper arms.

The clones of Moonshadow clearly inherited their original’s combat experience.

They seized this brief moment of stillness.

Poisonous spears from the silver-scaled serpent folk, rune-etched great axes wielded by the earth-crystal beings, massive iron clubs raised by trolls, and lethal spells from countless Moonshadow spirit clones all struck at once.

They came with terrifying speed, clearly coordinated and strategically designed.

Rod had barely snapped the magical chains binding his hands when spells and weapons slammed into his face.

“Ha.”

Boom!!!

Magical energy screeched in violent friction as the ground trembled violently and dust surged like tidal waves.

Flames, ice spikes, sandstorms, and lightning surged forward without restraint the instant weapons struck, instantly kicking up thick clouds of dust.

Miss Hailie of the Spirits had just shredded a massive beetle sentinel.

She spun around at the sight and couldn’t help but show concern.

But then—

No smoke, no damage rule.

The next moment—

The shadowy corpses of the silver-scaled serpent folk, earth-crystal beings, and trolls were torn to shreds and blasted outward like shotgun pellets through the smoke.

Some smashed noisily into dead ancient trees; others were deliberately guided to collide with the casting Moonshadow spirit clones.

Boom! *2

Two explosions sounded simultaneously.

Chaogaogonglvde 【 Tuichishu 】 Jiazazhebingrenyudebingjingzuoyoupentu 。

As the smoke instantly cleared, two unlucky foes were pierced through and through by tiny ice fragments, dead beyond any doubt.

Rod, now revealed, remained completely unharmed within his ultra-defensive Dragon Scale spell.

A fierce wind surged, whipping his hair and cloak—this man, even with an utterly ordinary new face, radiated overwhelming authority.

“Rod!”

For some reason, Hailie couldn’t help shouting out in joyful surprise at the sight.

Then she suddenly froze.

She felt strangely like Tilly, the succubus always by Rod’s side.

That woman always screamed and yelled at moments like this.

I am definitely not that kind of girl!

She immediately clamped her mouth shut, as if she’d swallowed a fly.

Pssssst—

A searing flame ray shot past from the side, cleanly piercing the spider-ape that had stealthily crept up behind her.

The spider-ape was pitch-black, clearly possessing a stealth ability, and had been nearly perfectly concealed within the mist and shrubbery.

The fist-sized flame ray melted through its skull, causing its raised black spear to droop uselessly.

Hailie broke out in a cold sweat.

“An eighth-rank mid-tier ambush.”

Had it not been for that flame ray, her protective shield would have been shattered.

“Watch your back.”

“Oh, oh!”

She felt a twinge of shame—she was, after all, a high-seventh-rank captain.

Why did she feel like a rookie in front of this man?

Boom!!!

Suddenly, the ground shook violently.

The dust Rod had dispersed surged back up like ripples on water.

The trembling didn’t stop—it became rhythmic, the earth beginning to spasm in a steady pattern.

An earthquake?

No—these were footsteps.

Luodeniutoukanqu ， Miwuzhizhong ， Chaoyuekushugaoduyueqimichu ， Chuxianyishuangnonglieshayideyoulansetongkong 。

A giant.

And a giant with four arms!

Its rough skin was armored in thick, hardened plating; its heavy footsteps churned the ground like a siege engine charging forward.

“Tch.”

Rod clicked his tongue.

Behind him, blue-white soul mist surged outward and rapidly expanded upward.

In an instant, a colossal bronze dragon spirit, towering like a mountain, fully materialized.

With a terrifying, earth-shaking roar, the dragon collided with the multi-armed giant.

Boom!!!

Both giant and dragon shuddered violently, sending clouds of mist and dust exploding into the air.

The epic clash of Second Era titans continued into the present.

And as before, the multi-armed giant’s body cracked and shattered, shedding stone fragments in a clear sign of weakening.

But Rod’s bronze dragon was merely a spirit endowed with brute force alone.

The next moment—

The giant’s stone surface suddenly swelled into countless dense, bursting tumors.

Boom!!!

The tumors exploded violently, spewing fire and shrapnel that instantly pierced through the dragon spirit’s soul mist.

The spirit let out a final, agonized roar as it reeled backward, barely holding its form.

The multi-armed giant roared triumphantly to the sky.

Rod spun and punched, shattering the head of a spirit mage.

“A giant?”

The slime-black sword shot out from within his wrist.

Rod caught it, swung it sharply—the black blade gleamed coldly, and immense spiritual energy coalesced in an instant.

[Giant-Splitting Slash] + [Six Flash]!

Six colossal blades flashed across the multi-armed giant’s body, and its roar cut off abruptly.

Rustle—

The massive stone body tilted, revealing clean-cut surfaces, then collapsed with a thunderous crash.

More dust billowed up.

It crushed numerous Moonshadow clones beneath it.

Rod sheathed his blade, crackling with furious electricity, and charged back into the Moonshadow clones.

He slaughtered wildly.

The killing never ceased.

Interestingly, the [Cruel Mark]’s skill, [Infinite Strength], slowly increased during this lifeless carnage.

[Infinite Strength: 26% → 32%]

About half an hour later—

The Moonshadow clones were finally all eliminated.

Hailie’s magic was nearly depleted; she slumped weakly onto a rocky outcrop, pale-faced.

The cracked mud bed was scarred with charred trenches and frozen ice spikes.

Pools of dark purple liquid formed in depressions, a mixture of blood and shadow.

Rod stomped through a puddle and walked over to her.

“You okay?”

Hailie offered a weak, tired smile, glancing at this man whose aura remained unnervingly steady: “Can’t compare to you—I nearly drained myself dry.”

The mist continued to drain magic.

The spirit lady had already expended massive mana fighting [Luka’s Mad Eye], and hadn’t recovered before being thrown into intense combat—running out was only natural.

Rod feared she might faint.

He stepped forward, wrapped his arm around her shoulders, and activated [Green Vine Mutual Healing].

A shy glow appeared on Hailie’s face; she disliked his closeness and gently pushed him away:

“I-I, I’m sweaty.”

“At a time like this, do you really care about that?”

Rod smiled, ignoring her resistance, and pulled her firmly into his arms.

“Mmm…”

Haley, an old maid, let out a cute sound unsuitable for her age.

The man’s body was warm, the heat making her feel drowsy.

Just as she thought she could finally rest properly, two heart-wrenching screams rang out from the woods.

Quickly.

A large white cloud burst through the mist with a splash.

Two familiar figures, frantically fleeing, also entered their field of vision.

A Star Spirit mage, missing one lower leg and one eye, his chest padding fallen away, leaving his chest fabric sagging hollow.

An elegant, beautiful Cloud Elf, panicked, her eyes filled with bloodshot veins.

The four locked eyes.

“Medlin!”

“Haley!”

“Luo De!”

“.”

(End of Chapter)