Defying the Fate of Beheading

After realizing this, Louis decisively abandoned the fight.

He recorded the relevant content on the document issued by the guild:

"From the front of the safe zone, go straight across the swamp, and at the end of the swamp, you'll see the silhouette of large magical creatures moving in the distant mountains."

"It can be confirmed that the speed of these magical creatures is already threatening to titled professionals."

He closed the document, and the group changed direction to head another way.

Soon they reached an uncharted area along the edge of the swamp.

"There are magical creatures."

Louis said calmly.

He casually plucked a withered branch and swiftly thrust the sharp end into the water.

With a splash, Louis kicked a screaming magical creature onto the shore.

"A magical creature of about LV4, probably a Shadow Lizard."

Shadow Lizard, an amphibious magical creature.

Because its skin dries out extremely easily, it hides in the water most of the time.

Its usual mode of attack is to directly bite.

Since its teeth are highly toxic, it will flee immediately after biting its prey.

It would then, like a seasoned hunter, quietly wait nearby for the poisoned prey to succumb.

With skin capable of changing color, it's challenging for ordinary people or magical creatures to detect it when it's submerged.

Well, except for Louis.

Not only does he have a permanent hunting sense ability, but he has also mastered the wondrous power of Spiritual Ability.

In Louis's eyes, the consciousness rippling underwater is as noticeable as a spotlight in the dark.

The cygnet mumbled:

"Just kill directly, why bother?"

She meant Louis could have just drawn his sword to kill it without the need to use a branch.

Louis pondered for a moment: "But don't you think it's cooler this way?"

"I would choose to kill directly."

"No, you don't understand. If I can balance strength with beauty and style, I have no reason not to."

But Lumi, dressed in light armor, nodded and said:

"That's not wrong. For professionals, any action that can motivate them to improve is in line with their needs."

"Even if growing stronger is just to show off better in front of others."

Olivia sneered, feeling that Lumi might have inadvertently made a sly dig at someone.

...

Far away in Tino City, Jino sneezed.

He felt as if someone had unknowingly insulted him.

...

In the time that followed, they explored various environments and encountered different magical creatures.

For example, upstream of the swamp's water source, they discovered many writhing crimson grubs.

These were larvae of a magical creature called Blood Fleas, capable of sucking human blood and even residing within humans, damaging their organs.

Of course, for some reason, Blood Fleas extremely like turning people into Eunuch Warriors, books say because they find them tasty.

As adults, Blood Fleas, now capable of flight, delight in piercing the bodies of humanoid creatures to lay eggs and hatch within them.

Although their challenge level is only LV2-3, their peculiar traits make many people dread them.

Louis didn't fare much better.

Yet, before he could act, the cygnet launched a "Jade Phoenix Descent."

The Jade Phoenix Fire that descended from the sky instantly engulfed the entire river in flames.

The gushing river water couldn't extinguish the blaze.

Indeed.

The Jade Phoenix Fire appears as flames, but its essence is something else entirely.

"Did you kill them all?"

Louis asked.

"No, but they have vanished."

The cygnet said with a pained expression.

Louis realized.

Almost forgot, for creatures not native to Star Continent, the Jade Phoenix Fire of a Jade Phoenix Mage is akin to banishment magic.

Once classified as a non-Star Continent creature, they're easily sent to the astral realm by the flames.

One wrong step, and they're lost in the astral realm, never to find their way back home.

"They are too disgusting and too many, it's better to clear them without leaving any corners untouched."

The cygnet seriously told Louis.

Then they were chased by the returning adult Blood Fleas.

"Set another fire," Louis told the cygnet.

"I have none left," the cygnet said, almost crying, carried on Louis's shoulder like a sandbag.

The wriggling grubs in the stream had disgusted her so much, she went all out with her power.

"Besides, don't you also have Jade Phoenix Fire?"

Originally running, Louis hesitated for a moment but still said:

"There isn't much Jade Phoenix Fire left. I'm still far from using my ultimate technique."

The cygnet said:

"No one's asking you to use Emerald Sacrifice to blow yourself up!"

"What I mean is, without the ability to use Emerald Sacrifice, our Jade Phoenix Fire might have more uses, so I choose..."

Louis turned around, grabbed Limuru from his backpack, and tossed him into the air.

Seemingly surprised by the sudden toss, Limuru, dazed, hadn't reacted yet.

Halfway through, instinctively summoned a vast writhing mass of metallic liquid.

It was then that Louis acted:

"Have you ever felt the power of steel?"

Spell [Mechanical Mind] activated.

Louis entered high-speed calculation mode.

In just a breath, the silver liquid entwining Limuru's body swelled instantly into a spiked sea urchin.

With an unpleasant metallic scraping sound.

Everyone instinctively covered their ears.

Then they witnessed the majority of Blood Fleas skewered by the blooming metal sea urchin.

"All done... uh, Alice, calm down a bit."

Louis watched as the blood energy erupted like a raging storm, blossomed into dozens of sword lights, and under Alice's ferocious grin, split them in half, leaving him temporarily speechless.

"Alice, you're being too extreme!"

Louis blinked and said: "Next time, just have Olivia burn them all."

Alice sheathed her sword calmly: "Did I mention I'm afraid of bugs?"

"No."

"Well, now you know."