Angel's "Magic Energy Explosion" possessed a built-in "force field" effect.
It could cause some damage to the strange tree and its attached vines.
Duke glanced at Angel.
He snorted in dissatisfaction.
He never tolerated anyone getting more attention than him.
Facing the strange tree, he opened his mouth and spurted out a stream of white, cold air!
The power of this secondary dragon's breath far surpassed that of zero-level magic.
Duke's blast pierced the strange tree's cold resistance!
The branches were covered in pale frost.
The vines' creeping speed slowed noticeably.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
However, in a corner they couldn't see...
Several more vines, dodging the dragon's breath, quietly burrowed into the soft soil.
The vines weaved and slithered beneath the soil.
One of them suddenly broke through the ground beneath Angel's feet!
It unexpectedly wrapped around his feet!
The vine was like a slithering python.
It slithered along his calves, swiftly twisting upwards.
Angel was startled and struggled frantically.
However, he had been frail and sickly since childhood, and his strength wasn't even as strong as that of a girl his age. How could he possibly break free from a vine like a giant python?
Hound Step!
Alan's figure flashed, rapidly approaching the black-robed youth.
At the same time, the ground ahead exploded!
Two more vines emerged, blocking his path.
Alan activated Hound Step again, dodging the entanglement.
He then drew another three points of magic power and unleashed the "Butterfly Dance" taught by Herent.
As he charged forward at high speed, his figure swayed rapidly, transforming into a hazy phantom.
Alan easily dodged the two vines blocking his path.
In the blink of an eye, Allen was in front of Angel.
He drew the dagger from his waist and slashed!
With a snap!
The vine, which had already reached Angel's waist, was cleaved in two by his sword.
"Go!"
Alan pushed Angel away.
At the same time, the vine he had severed lashed wildly.
A large amount of dark green sap spurted from the broken surface.
The system issued a timely notification:
"Level 1 toxin detected, slightly corrosive!"
Alan placed Angel behind him, shielding him from the incoming venom.
He remained calm.
On the other side of the battlefield.
Duke had intended to use dragon breath to rescue Angel. Seeing Allen's movement, which was unmistakably Heron's signature "Butterfly Dance," his expression darkened.
He snorted coldly and quietly stepped aside.
By this time, the strange tree had freed itself from its frozen state.
It released more vines, which snaked along the ground, encircling Allen and Angel.
A red figure suddenly flashed through the woods.
Heron, having received Felin's emergency distress signal, rushed over and threw a porcelain vase.
Bang!
The vase struck the strange tree and immediately exploded, emitting a large amount of orange-red oily droplets that quickly evaporated.
A sweet, greasy smell permeated the dense forest.
Plants exposed to the droplets, including the leaves and vines of the strange tree...
were withering and dying at a visible rate!
Alan observed this scene and speculated.
The oily liquid Helen had sprinkled was likely some kind of potent defoliant synthesized through alchemical processes!
"Killer vines aren't that easy to kill!"
Helen shouted anxiously at the teenagers.
"Run!"
Felin, Duke, and Angel seized the opportunity to escape the extremely dangerous woods.
Helen followed closely behind, fleeing the bushes.
Alan followed Helen.
As he left, he picked up the branches he had cut earlier.
Without a sound, he began to harvest the unique ingredients.
The berries produced by the killer vine looked a bit like blueberries.
Alan casually picked a bunch from the branches and ate them as he walked.
Soon, everyone returned to the main group.
Flynn was excitedly recounting his thrilling encounter to the other apprentices.
Duke and Angel also looked shaken.
Only Allen looked calm, eating berries as he walked.
As if he were enjoying a picnic.
At first, everyone thought he was just a bit of a jerk, not knowing what fear was.
Later, they discovered the berries he was eating were actually the fruits of that terrifying killer vine...
Allen was completely speechless.
This kid is truly obsessed with eating!
"Is it delicious?" Helen asked casually.
Allen smiled and handed her a bunch of berries.
"You'll know if it's good until you try it yourself."
Helen took a bite and immediately spat it out.
"Gah... Pah! So disgusting!!"
This fruit is truly awful, full of bitterness.
Angel came over to Allen and thanked him.
Thanking him for risking his life to save him in such a dangerous situation.
"We're all companions, there's no need to be so formal."
Allen casually handed him a bunch of berries.
"Take one. It'll clear away heat, detoxify, and reduce internal heat."
Angel chewed the berry, frowning slightly.
It was bitter and astringent.
But he still managed to swallow it.
Afterwards, he told Allen an interesting story about this berry.
"I read about it in a book."
"The taste of killer vine berries depends on how much fertilizer from decayed corpses the roots have absorbed."
"So the most ferocious killer vines often produce the most delicious fruit."
"This killer vine..." Angel looked at the remaining berries in his hand, his eyes filled with disdain. "Maybe it hasn't killed enough people."
"Angel, you know so much." Allen smiled. "It's rare for you to take the initiative to talk to me, and to tell me so much."
For this naturally withdrawn black-robed teenager, this was truly a first.
"Well... thank you, Allen. I owe you my life."
The black-robed youth extended a pair of pale, thin hands and shook his vigorously.
After watching Angel walk away, Allen accessed the system page.
"Take the special ingredient: Killer Vine Berry."
"Potential +2!"
"Spirit +1!"
Current stats: Constitution 18, Agility 17, Spirit 20
As Spirit power increases, Magic Power also increases to 40 points.
The relationship remains constant at two.
Allen also noticed that the Killer Vine Berry provides two points of Potential.
It seems that special ingredients also have different qualities.
The stronger the monster, the higher the quality of the special ingredients it yields, containing more potential.
More importantly, Allen has already accumulated 3 potential points.
Spend 2 points to attempt a martial arts fusion!
With the remaining 1 potential point, he plans to raise his Pure Poison Demon Bloodline.
Raise his mid-level qualifications to high-level qualifications.
Both his training efficiency and level cap will be much higher!
…
The tour group camped for the night.
Allen politely declined the offers from several women.
He stayed alone in a tent, cultivating his mind and character.
He had important matters to attend to tonight and needed solitude.
The night was deep and quiet, and all was still.
Allen wasn't asleep yet.
Sitting alone in the tent, he opened the system page.
Martial Arts Fusion, activated!
Investing two potential points, the Gluttony system began to deduce.
After a flurry of rapid calculations, the fusion formula was finally determined:
Butterfly Dance + Hound Step = Wandering Step
Wandering Step is both a Level 2 martial art and a Level 2 spell.
The two versions have the same name and function.
Spend 6 mana points, transform yourself into a cloud of silver mist, vanish from your original location, and teleport to an unoccupied location within your field of vision.
The maximum teleportation distance is exactly 100 meters.
However, the martial arts version of "Wandering Step" dispenses with the need for hand gestures and incantations.
It also activates faster and outperforms the spell version.
Alan couldn't help but feel itchy as he gazed at the newly fused martial arts.
He wanted to find a place to practice immediately, but he was also worried about being exposed.
Theoretically, a sorcerer apprentice couldn't possibly learn a tier 2 martial art.
If this were to become public, he wouldn't be able to keep a low profile.
For the same reason, Alan couldn't claim pure bloodline just yet.
He would likely have to undergo another bloodline test upon entering the academy.
The results didn't match his registration information. How could he explain this? If the school authorities were to be alerted, he might be arrested and interrogated.
This long journey is almost reaching its end.
Tomorrow morning, he must report to the Warlock Academy.
At this critical moment, Allen didn't want to cause any trouble.
Resisting the urge to purify his bloodline and practice "Misty Step," he fell asleep with anticipation for tomorrow.