I'm a forest ranger, why would I enslave a succubus?

Chapter 644 Maze Rules and Encounters

[Perceiving the environmental rules of the 'unknown maze':]

[Disorder: The positions of the buildings within the maze reset each time it is opened.]

[Corridor: No matter which direction you walk, you will eventually move towards the center.]

[Mist: Significantly reduces spiritual effects such as perception, magic sense, magical vision, and darkvision.]

[To please: Collect all three tokens, offer them at the altar, and the maze will end.]

[Erosion: Staying in one place for an extended period will trigger a 'Memory Erosion' effect, requiring a willpower check.]

[Unknown 1: Not yet triggered.]

[Unknown 2: Not yet triggered.]

【Caution! ]

[The above-mentioned maze environment rules are not physical punishments; those with 'alternate spatial tendencies' cannot be exempted.]

Night, forest.

A pale, round moon floated above the forest, its clearly visible craters resembling rotting lesions, making the pale moon look like a festering eye.

Black, withered branches pierce the sky, twisted and eerie.

Thick fog seeped from the humus, slowly creeping around the tree roots.

A rich, cloying scent of water, grass, and wood filled my nostrils first.

"forest."

Rhodes opened his eyes and looked up at the pale moon in the sky.

The entire forest was bathed in moonlight, its surface a bluish-gray like the belly of a dead fish.

"Pale corridor".

The Protoss Hylie snapped a branch off the ground with a snap, revealing the name of the maze.

"The entire maze is in a special spatial structure. No matter where we go, we will eventually move towards the central altar."

She was unaware that Rhodes possessed the skill of "Interdimensional Tendency," which allowed him to understand the rules of his environment, and she explained it to him in a soft voice.

"Have you been in here?"

"I experienced this once five years ago, and suffered a crushing defeat."

Hayley smiled bitterly. "This Star Association trial was originally scheduled to begin in April, but because Lord Mystra's ascension to godhood was successful, the entire continent was covered by a magical net canopy, and the maze seemed somewhat unstable. It has been adjusted until now, in mid-May."

After leaving the restaurant, the two held hands for a while in the museum's back garden, waiting until the trial began.

The entrance passages separated the various trial candidates, perhaps to maintain their avant-garde and mysterious aura.

However, members of the Star Association were still responsible for opening the passage.

When they saw Hailey leading a human as a vanguard, they couldn't help but show expressions of doubt and disdain.

"This maze also looks somewhat desolate and eerie."

"It was alright before, but now it's definitely a bit... the moon has turned pale."

Hailey said with a smug smile, "However, the central area is a broken temple ruin, with a long history. It may even be a product of the First Era. You can still find traces of our Protoss activities in the First Era. If you have an interest in archaeology, you should definitely take a look."

"."

Rod didn't respond to her comment.

The Protoss have a strong sense of self-confidence and self-esteem, and they will seize every opportunity to tell you about their nonexistent history.

He immediately changed his mind and said, "We should leave. If we stay here any longer, this fog might invade our bodies."

"Oh? How did you know?"

"My guess."

"You guessed right. By the way, I suggest we maintain contact during non-combat periods to avoid problems with the combat imprint."

She stretched out her small hand, her face completely open and honest, showing none of the fluorescent glow that Protoss people exhibit when they are shy.

It seems like it's all for a trial.

Rod didn't care and grabbed it.

Walking side by side with the Celestial Elf, his thumb would unconsciously rub against her palm from time to time.

"You'd use such a troublesome form of enslavement? I don't care, but you're a girl."

"This magical item is a bit troublesome, but as long as the two of us are no more than two hundred meters apart, the longer the time, the greater the boost will be. I'm doing this for the trial."

"Oh, I see. How old are you again? You're not married, are you?"

"I've never even had a boyfriend, Rod. Not asking a lady's age is basic etiquette."

Hailey pinched his palm playfully, her face showing displeasure.

And when you feel the other person's heart pounding.

At the same time, I felt a surge of joy inside.

Holding hands! Dangerous environment! Isn't this exactly what romantic adventure stories often describe—transforming the tension and excitement into the attraction of someone nearby!

Steady!

Rhodes, you're finished! I'll take you down!

"Are you nervous? Is your heart beating a little fast? Calm down, or it will affect your concentration when casting spells."

Rod frowned.

Hailey paused for a moment: "No, no, no, isn't it your heart beating?"

She pressed the hand holding the staff to her chest and froze instantly.

Bang bang bang!
what's the situation? ?

Why are you jumping so fast?
Although it was my first time holding hands with a boy, although it was also my first time adventuring with a man, although this guy was indeed very handsome, although...
Bang bang bang! !

No, I'm definitely nervous! I'm just nervous, that's all!
bang bang bang! ! !
The excessively rapid heartbeat didn't seem to be coming from the Protoss lady's body.

Rod suddenly paused, stunned.

He grabbed the Celestial Elf girl, whose expression was constantly changing, and pulled her into his arms, then retreated rapidly.

"Bang——!!!"

A sandstorm erupted, sending mud, grass clippings, and gravel flying everywhere.

The thick dragon claw, covered in cobalt blue scales, slammed down where they had just been, instantly cracking the ground, with spiderweb-like fissures spreading for several meters.

"Roar--!"

A deafening roar of a dragon echoed through the forest, and the air vibrated with a buzzing sound due to static electricity.

In the dark blue mist, a pair of amber vertical pupils flashed like lightning in thunderclouds, locking onto the two of them.

"Blue dragon? You Protoss are quite capable, managing to acquire a Blue Dragon Vanguard."

Rhodes steadied himself, and Hayley, who was in his arms, paled slightly. She left his embrace in shame and anger, and a bright magical shield enveloped her entire body.

"Hahahaha-"

As the maniacal laughter erupted above, the mist dissipated, and the dragon's full form finally appeared—

Towering like a mountain, its long neck curved like a bow, every scale gleaming with a cold metallic luster under the pale moonlight.

The enormous dragon wings were half-open, the lightning-like patterns on the wing membranes faintly glowing, and the bone spikes on its back gleamed blue due to the impending lightning.

And on its head.

He was a male Protoss of medium build.

"I thought Madeline was joking with me, but I didn't expect you to actually bring in a human to act as a vanguard. Haley, what were you thinking!?"

Hailey gritted her teeth, her face full of displeasure.

She never showed any expression, not even when facing Medlin.

Rhodes asked curiously, "Who is this? Do you have a grudge against him?"

“Boileau, the captain of the fifth squad of the Security Department, is the guy who stole the token from me five years ago! He even injured me!”

"That can't be left like that."

Rhodes smiled.

Hailey knew that Rhodes didn't intend to reveal his identity with weapons, and couldn't help but worry: "Are you sure you're okay? I'll weaken the glass transformation of the scales."

"It's alright. I remember that blue dragons don't have high cold resistance, right?"

"Is such that."

"That's good."

Rod turned and walked forward.

The soil and fallen leaves beneath their feet instantly froze, and a layer of pale frost spread out like ripples.

The ice spread, the cold air rose, and the water vapor in the air condensed into tiny ice crystals, which reflected a cold, sharp light under the moonlight.

With each step you take, a [Wailing Ice Tree] will rise up.

Hailey was taken aback.

He muttered to himself, "You've gotten stronger again? So fast? Are you even human?"

In a moment.

Rhodes's very existence was like the arrival of winter.

Everything—the land, the dead trees, and everything else—was silent and slow, yet unstoppable as the frost spread and affected them.

A vast and magnificent ice field.

[Yudian's Ice Blade Domain +13].

(End of this chapter)