What do you mean by "this is a dating game"?

Chapter 28: Hunting for Giant Skull Maggots

In the dim, dense forest, Sieg and Grapefruit ran at full speed.

Everyone knew the situation was dire; if they didn't run now, they might never have another chance. The two of them ran silently for over twenty minutes straight before Xiyou finally gave up.

"Stop, stop, stop..."

Ouch.

She was exhausted and sweltering.

Her sleeves were already rolled up to her elbows, and she was breathing through her open mouth, her hands supporting her hips.

Sweat dripped down and rolled into the clearly visible hollow of her collarbone.

"Is it safe?"

She turned her head and asked.

"not yet."

Sieg wasn't in much better shape either. He looked around and saw that the vegetation density had dropped significantly and the soil under his feet was noticeably damp. They had already left the "dense forest at the foot of the mountain" and entered the "silted marshland" area.

We still need to move forward.

He said, "We can't rest yet. There's a blood swamp ahead. Only when we get there can we say we're safe."

"...What blood swamp?"

"The Scarlet Fortress has three boss monsters, one of which is in the 'Sludge Basin' and is called the 'Skull-Hunting Maggot'. That's where we need to go."

What?

What are you saying?

The term "hunting skull maggot" sounds disgusting and terrifying.

Grapefruit didn't want to go. She took off her wizard hat and fanned herself, her light blonde hair swaying. "But I'm so tired, I can't walk anymore."

"Then I'll carry you on my back?"

"Okay, okay."

Good for your size!

Sieg's face turned cold, and he sneered, "You wish! If you can't walk anymore, don't go. I don't think the skeleton archers can hold out for long. When that spellbreaker catches up, you'd better have the ability to deal with him."

Grapefruit raised her fist: "Dagen! How dare you talk to your captain like that? I'm the one who pays your salary!"

"When are you going to pay my salary? If you want to die, get the hell out of here, and don't splatter your blood on my shoes."

Sieg took a deep breath and walked forward.

Xiyou thinks he really went too far!

But now is definitely not the time to rest or be willful.

That lawbreaker...

What's going on?

Why does a Tier 1 adventurer have such an overpowered ability as "magic resistance"?

Xiyou gritted her teeth and kept up. Xige still had some conscience. He saw that Xiyou was indeed struggling and didn't seem to be acting, so he reached out and grabbed her arm, dragging her forward.

The soil beneath our feet was getting wetter and wetter, and each step made a squelching sound.

Xiyou noticed that the stains on her boots weren't mud, but crimson blood.

Wisps of bright red mist gradually appeared before my eyes, drifting and floating in the air like cotton candy.

With each breath, I could smell the sulfurous odor, and my throat gradually felt uncomfortable.

Sieg said, "Set up a magic shield. The air in the Blood Swamp contains trace amounts of toxins; inhaling too much will cause problems."

So what is the purpose of our visit here?

Are you breathing toxic air?

Grapefruit raised her wand, creating a hemispherical magical shield that kept the blood mist out.

She squinted: "You'd better explain your purpose."

"Magic resistance is a precious and powerful 'attribute,' usually only found in some powerful equipment or rare essences, and it is very likely to come with some kind of side effect. You should be familiar with this."

Sieg spoke slowly.

He then asked, "So here's the question: the Demon-Hating Demon is only a first-tier monster, how could its essence grant adventurers magic resistance?"

Grapefruit calmly replied, "I do want to know the answer."

Sieg laughed, "The answer is—a spellbreaker's magic resistance isn't inherent, but rather a state that needs to be maintained. You have the Arcane Eye; you should have seen the details."

"..."

After a moment's thought, Xiyou quickly recalled the details.

Jet-black magic armor!

When the spellbreaker deflected Nefarian's iron scroll, his body was covered in a jet-black armor, which was the source of his "magic resistance".

The two of them talked as they walked, and by now they were deep inside the blood swamp.

The blood mist in the air was no longer wisps or clumps, but filled the entire space.

The crimson fog obscured the view; nothing beyond five meters was visible except for a rolling trail of blood smoke.

Sieg found a protruding rock, beckoned to Grapefruit to come and sit down.

He said, "A spellbreaker's magic resistance comes from his magical armor; to maintain the armor, he needs to continuously expend magic. This ability has a good and a bad... 'flaw'."

"It's already flawed, what's good about it? Miss Grapefruit doesn't understand what you're talking about at all."

I'm really tired, and my feet hurt.

Taking advantage of the calm surroundings, she took off her boots and freed her feet.

A wisp of hot steam rose from the toes encased in black stockings.

"..."

Sieg instinctively straightened his body, then quietly and slowly leaned back.

Grapefruit noticed his actions: "What are you doing?"

"It's nothing."

Why are you hiding?

"...I didn't dodge."

Still haven't dodged?!

With such a big fuss, do they think grapefruit is blind?

Xiyou really wanted to stomp on Xige's face. Even if he was disgusted, he shouldn't have shown it so obviously. Where was his gentlemanly manners?

Sieg, his face solemn, continued, "The flaw is that the Spellbreaker cannot actively activate or deactivate his anti-magic armor. The anti-magic armor will activate when it senses aggressive magic around him, and will remain activated until the threat is eliminated."

"oh!"

Now I understand.

Looking at the deep blood mist outside the magic barrier, Xiyou said, "So you brought me here. If he dares to step into the blood swamp, the armor will automatically activate, and his magic power will continuously drain away; once his magic power is exhausted, I can harm him!"

"Yes."

Sieg smiled slightly and said, "The blood mist is impure and rich in noise, making it difficult for mental energy to penetrate. Even if he is a 'Blood Hunter' and possesses tracking skills, it won't be easy for him to lock onto us if we hide here. Moreover... he might step into a 'trap'."

Xiyou beamed with joy and breathed a sigh of relief!

The pressure from the magic resistance was too great; she thought that even if she didn't die this time, she would be badly injured.

I really didn't expect that.

Sieg's meticulous and thorough approach dispelled all doubts.

Now, not only does Xiyou feel safe, she is even eager to try. If that spellbreaker dares to go deep into the blood swamp, once his magic power is exhausted, Xiyou plans to let him know why the mage is the master!

While she felt relieved, she also found it strange.

Looking at Sieg's calm profile, she thought, "Just who is this Da Gen? Not only does he possess vast knowledge, but he can also remain so calm! A powerful enemy descends from the sky, and a crisis arises unexpectedly, yet he remains completely unaffected, devising a way to escape based on the circumstances, and even planting the seeds for a counterattack..."

To say that Sieg is quick-witted seems a bit of an exaggeration.

His real strength lies in his experience.

He understood the abilities of the "Demon-Slaying Essence" and was even more familiar with the terrain of the "Crimson Fortress".

It was this extensive knowledge that enabled him to strategize and predict events with uncanny foresight.

He must either have a family with extensive learning or be guided by a famous teacher; in any case, he is not an ordinary person.

Grapefruit respects everyone, especially their privacy.

She silently put on her boots, ready to engage in battle at any moment: "Dagen."

"Um?"

Sieg turned his head.

"I'm very interested in your past and would like to hear your story."

Xiyou outlined her red lips, her star-like eyes looking directly at him: "Whenever you want to speak, please remember to tell me. No matter when, I'm always willing to listen."

What?

What are you saying?

Sieg laughed: "I don't have a past worth talking about."

"How could you not have one? You're being really mysterious!"

"..."

I don't think so.

Sieg sighed softly and said, "There's nothing mysterious about it. I'm just... an unlucky guy."

He said this.

It's quite frustrating.