Chapter 230: The Swamp Monster's Gift!
Recovery and Gratitude
Cough! Cough! Cough! Cough!
A series of coughs echoed through the quiet forest. Luke leaned against a stone, clutching his chest with his left hand, his face deathly pale.
The power of that black beam was far stronger than expected. Although the wound had healed, his body was severely injured. Luke felt a sense of fatigue he had never experienced before.
"Worthy of an ancient demon. Managed to get one last hit on me even when dying."
Luke wiped the residual blood from his mouth and injected two doses of life serum into his body. A wave of exhaustion washed over him. His eyelids began to flutter, and he fell asleep against the stone.
Time passed slowly. After an unknown duration, a sapling pushed through the soil on the ground in front of him, revealing fresh green shoots.
The shoot slowly grew, quickly developing into a tree several meters tall. A human face emerged on the brownish-yellow trunk—it was the Swamp Monster, Alec Holland.
Ghast's final attack had nearly killed him. Fortunately, the demon's attention had been drawn by Luke, preventing a follow-up strike and giving him a chance to escape.
Alec quietly watched the young man sleeping against the stone, an extremely complicated emotion flashing across his face. As a Spirit of the Green, his senses were far sharper than ordinary humans. The aura emanating from this young man was too terrifying—a fear that could incinerate all life-force and corrode everything, like a butcher's knife wielded by Death itself.
"A terrifying individual!"
He sighed softly. Even though he disliked Luke, he had to acknowledge the debt. Luke had saved him twice and killed the demon Ghast, saving the Swamp Forest.
The debt was too great to ignore!
Alec extended a branch-like hand. The power of nature infused his palm, forming a small bud. The bud grew, blossomed, faded, and scattered its petals. The seed swelled slowly, transforming into an emerald-green fruit.
A vast life energy spilled outward, and green shoots miraculously began to sprout from the soil below.
Luke opened his eyes and frowned.
"Professor, I'm not a fan of the story about Snow White and the Queen."
Alec spoke with a tired expression. "That black light possessed extreme destructive power. It has begun damaging your body. You need this fruit. It will help you recover."
"Take it. This is my repayment for saving my life."
Luke hesitated for a moment, then reached out and took the fruit. He took a bite. An incredibly refreshing flavor burst on his tongue. The fruit dissolved instantly, turning into a warm current that spread through his body. Wherever it passed, all fatigue vanished, his mind became clear and sharp, and the blood-filled hole in his chest slowly began to heal.
He was momentarily stunned. He quickly swallowed the rest of the fruit, closed his eyes, and meticulously sensed the changes in his body. His heartbeat, blood, skin, strength... everything was improving and strengthening. His very life seemed to be purified, changing from the inside out and ascending to a new level.
What a treasure!
This is absolutely incredible!
Luke clenched his fist. A feeling of power bloomed in his fingertips. Compared to before, his physical fitness had increased by at least three times, just enough to barely reach the level of a true metahuman.
"With this fruit eaten, our mutual debt is settled. Goodbye, Young Master Shaw of Coast City. May the power of the Green protect you."
The tree began to wither, and the human face on the trunk vanished.
Luke didn't stop him. He stood up, briefly stretched his body, and then donned his armor and flew toward the waterfall.
The Spoils of War
Adam, now looking like the "demon Ghast," stood at the cave entrance. Seeing Luke approach, he quickly stepped forward.
"Young Master."
Luke looked him up and down and smiled. "How's the body?"
"Very strong."
"Just strong, nothing else?"
Adam pondered for two seconds, then slowly said, "It has a lot of magical power."
"And?"
"That's all."
Luke shook his head in disappointment. He patted the tall shoulder. "You're a demon now. Demons should have a greedy, cunning, and vicious appearance. Don't always wear a poker face; people will get the wrong idea."
"Understood, Young Master. I will endeavor to improve."
"Endeavoring isn't enough. You must practice. Come on, smile for me."
Adam forcibly stretched the corners of his mouth, revealing a cavernous mouth and jagged fangs. This appearance would frighten not just children but adults as well.
Luke sighed helplessly and walked into the cave, with Adam following closely behind him.
Due to the waterfall flooding the area, the cave was submerged in river water. The further they went, the deeper the water became. The two had to hover in the air and fly forward. Passing through the narrow cave, they emerged into a vast underground space.
Luke activated the two large lights on his armor's chest. The stark white beams illuminated the front, revealing a delicate yet magnificent Pyramid of the Sun God.
"The Swamp Monster wasn't lying. There really is an ancient Indian civilization beneath the waterfall."
The two proceeded along the sacrificial path, which was nearly submerged by the river. Bones lined both sides of the path, along with several shed snakeskins. After ascending the steps, they reached the main entrance of the pyramid, which was covered in various hieroglyphic symbols.
These writings were at least several thousand years old and held great research value. If a historian were here, they would certainly immerse themselves in study, but Luke had no interest whatsoever.
He kicked open the stone door. A huge black shadow suddenly lunged from the corner. The snake opened its mouth, revealing deep red venomous fangs. Adam stepped forward, grabbed the fang, and snapped it off with a forceful wrench.
Crack!
The fang broke instantly. The black shadow screamed in agony and recoiled in terror.
Luke glanced at it indifferently. The black shadow froze in place as if struck by lightning. Adam walked up, forcibly ripped open the snake's mouth, pulled out all its fangs and teeth, and then choked it by the neck, lifting it up to Luke.
This was a ten-meter-long, gigantic Cobra King. Its body was entirely black, with two rows of brown markings on its back. It was utterly terrified by Adam's brutal methods, hanging its head in fear, stripped of all its kingly prestige.
"What's your name?"
"Si... Simon!"
"I asked for your full name."
"Simon K. Brown!"
The Cobra King spoke in terror. It glanced at Luke in the Phantom armor, then at the monstrous-looking demon Adam, its head buzzing with fear.
It was the gray-robed figure's personal guard, tasked with watching over the lair, and thus hadn't participated in the battle outside. It could only sense the danger of the fight through the constantly vibrating stones.
After the great battle ended, it expected its master to return, but instead, two unfamiliar visitors arrived.
An armored figure, and a demon!
Where is the master? Where is he...
The more the Cobra King thought, the more uneasy it became. Its eyes flickered, and its body trembled.
"Where is your boss's bedroom?"
"I... I don't know."
Splat!
Adam reached out and gouged the blood-soaked eyeball out of the snake's head.
Luke asked again, "Where is your boss's bedroom?"
"East... east side, end of the hallway! Please, don't kill me! I never did anything bad!"
Luke ignored it, walked around the main hall, and headed for the eastern hallway.
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