The villainous young master just wants to live a Buddhist-like life.

　Dark casually remarked, "Because people strive for higher places."

　Forest ranger: "..."

　The chirping of insects from all around was interrupted for a moment.

　After a brief moment of stiffness, the forest ranger continued, "Do you know why fire is extinguished by water?"

　This is because water, while being a non-flammable substance, can absorb heat, lowering the temperature of flammable materials below their ignition point.

　Dark said, "Because water overcomes fire."

　The forest ranger remained silent for a while before saying, "It seems you have a very thorough understanding of elemental weaknesses and strengths."

　Dark: "I memorized the elemental counter chart."

　A heavy gloom had already appeared in the forest ranger's eyes.

　Shadow: "Do you know why we always see lightning before we hear thunder?"

　[Of course, it's because light travels faster than sound.]

　Dark blinked: "Where does thunder come from without lightning?"

　"Kacha!"

　The cup in the forest ranger's hand cracked instantly.

　The remaining water also seeped out from the cracks.

　Long hair grew on the back of his hands, which suddenly swelled up and became extremely...

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　sturdy.

　That "expansion" spread upwards from the palm, and the originally thin arm was transformed into a muscular giant arm in the blink of an eye, with a hard shell suddenly bulging on the shoulder like armor.

　The half of the face illuminated by the light had somehow distorted into the face of a gorilla, creating an extremely jarring contrast with the other half of the human face.

　"Roar!"

　A wild, beast-like roar burst forth from its throat.

　The forest ranger slammed his hand down on the wooden table, shattering it, and stood up.

　The sudden burst of ferocious energy caused the chirping of insects to cease abruptly.

　Dark turned his head slightly, and a flying splinter of wood grazed his cheek, drawing a drop of blood.

　.

　But he laughed and said, "That's right. We're all civilized people. Why use words when you want to take action?"

　He then leaped backward, his fingers slicing through the card holder, and two magic cards were already between his fingertips.

　"In the name of Dark Demon, I summon the Dream Demon!"

　As the light of summoning flashed in the field of vision, the dark green ghost-type magical spirit darted out.

　"Yao Mi—"

　Perhaps realizing that this was not a duel arena, the Misdreavus rubbed against Dark's face as soon as it came out, as happy as a fish in water.

　Dak reached out and pulled it in front of him, his expression already relaxed.

　Although I don't know exactly where I am, since I was able to successfully summon the magical spirit, there's nothing to be afraid of.

　The forest ranger opposite him, though dressed in a grotesque half-ape, half-human form, didn't lunge at him with the same ferocity as his aura. Instead, he reached down with his left hand and pulled out a magic card from a card pouch hanging on his left leg!

　Without a doubt, he was also a mage.

　Dark's expression shifted slightly, and he sneered, "So you're a fellow professional."

　The forest ranger, with his half-human body, murmured, "I've witnessed your duels. Each of your magical spirits possesses an extremely high level of intelligence."

　Dark said frankly, "Since you came specifically because of me, you must have been prepared to face death."

　“Death is merely the beginning of new life; the meaning of fate lies in being broken.” The ranger’s voice was tinged with the roar of an animal.

　Dark said nonchalantly, "Then die again—activate, Vampire Ritual!"

　"Yao Mi!"

　The dream demon suddenly flew forward, its blood-red liquid...

　The substance dripped from in front of him, spreading outwards in layers the instant it touched the ground.

　A massive blood magic circle was quickly erected, and the vampire heiress, holding a black parasol, gracefully stepped out from it.

　"Blood sacrifice!"

　Dark held up two fingers of the magic card and pointed at the forest ranger.

　The vampire heiress's slender eyes narrowed suddenly, a glint of blood-red light flashing within them.

　Then she closed the parasol, and blood flowed from her fingertips.

　The parasol coiled around the handle like a snake, causing the black umbrella with its fang-like frame to emit a reddish-black light.

　When the blood-red light reached its peak, she exerted force with the toes of her dancing shoes, and her whole body rushed towards the forest ranger like a gust of wind. The parasol in her right hand transformed into a deadly weapon, and the light wrapped around it turned into a storm of blood, piercing the forest ranger's chest like a spear!

　But the forest ranger was on guard when the "Vampire Ritual" was activated, and the magic card in his hand had already lit up.

　"Jungle Beast Armor!"

　A green, vine-like light burst forth from the card, instantly covering its entire surface.

　The ranger, now fully dressed, did not back down. The muscular gorilla lashed out with its right arm, attempting to grab the vampire heiress's umbrella handle.

　But when that large hand touched the storm of blood swirling around the parasol, it was instantly ripped open with countless wounds.

　The vampire heiress charged straight in, the tip of her umbrella piercing the forest ranger's human left side without hesitation.

　"Pfft!"

　The green "Jungle Armor" was no match for the attack enhanced by "Blood Sacrifice".

　The forest ranger's left chest was suddenly pierced through, leaving a horrifying hole!

　"It's actually a seven-star magical spirit!"

　The forest ranger's face turned pale, but after his left chest was pierced, he activated his second magic card.

　A fierce roar erupted from the Gray Mist Forest, shaking the earth!

　……

　[2-in-1 4000+]

Chapter 454 Darkdemon's Armed Evolution (64.5/233)

　护林员的身躯并未倒下。104;116;116;112;58;47;47;119;119;119;46;50;99;121;120;115;119;46;99;111;109;47;

　The large hole in his chest seemed to be nonexistent; although his face was deathly pale, his body didn't even sway.

　Instead, the small wooden cabin where they were located began to shake violently as the beast's roar suddenly rang out.

　Just seconds later, the tremors intensified, and the roar of beasts exploded overhead.

　Dak suddenly stepped back from the hut and saw a giant claw descend from the sky, crushing the hut with a single stomp.

　Two shadows suddenly darted out from the collapsed wooden house.

　The vampire heiress, holding a parasol, landed lightly beside Dark.

　The forest ranger, however, retreated rapidly towards the edge of the gray fog forest.

　Dark slowly raised his head and finally saw the shape of the enormous creature rushing out of the forest. It was a giant beast that looked like a Tyrannosaurus Rex!

　"Ironclad Dragon Beast!"

　A thought flashed through Dak's mind, and he recognized the origin of the giant beast.

　The Grey Mist Forest is quite well-known in the kingdom.

　It is shrouded in gray fog year-round, and many rare species that are theoretically extinct live inside.

　But once those species emerge from the gray fog, they quickly perish.

　The lingering gray mist in the forest is like the dust of time, bringing back to life the lives that have vanished in the past.

　However, in recent years, more and more experts have argued that the extinct species living in the fog are merely the embodiment of people's beautiful fantasies.

　Those species are actually just illusory projections existing in the gray fog.

　However, regardless of the interpretation, the existence of gray fog life cannot be denied. They can be touched, grow, prey on, and even fight, making them no different from real life.

　Claire's Travelogue clearly describes the Grey Mist Forest and also mentions the forest rangers there.

　Being a ranger in the Grey Mist Forest is a lucrative job, passed down through generations.

　They were able to guard the Gray Mist Forest thanks to that hundreds-of-years-old Ironclad Dragon Beast!

　As a sub-dragon species, Armored Dragon Beasts already have extremely long lifespans, but this particular Armored Dragon Beast from the Gray Mist Forest seems to be even more special.

　Dark squinted at the Ironclad Dragon Beast, but couldn't help but reveal a mocking smile.

　The Ironclad Dragon Beast saw no wisdom in any long-lived species, only the brutality of a monster.

　"The forest ranger over there."

　Suddenly, Dak spoke up loudly.

　The forest ranger, who had retreated to the edge of the forest, suddenly looked up at him, his expression unreadable.

　Dark asked curiously, "I see a passion for knowledge in your eyes. But why do the lives you created lack wisdom?"

　The forest ranger's face suddenly contorted into a demonic expression.

　As soon as Dark asked that question, he clearly sensed a shift in their stance.

　He was the one who created this environment, and it is only right that he should be the one to interrogate the other party from a superior position.

　But the twelve-year-old young mage refused to follow his lead from the very beginning, causing his already unstable emotions to finally spiral out of control, revealing half of his evil face.

　Things have developed in a way that has completely exceeded his expectations.

　To fight or to flee?

　The thought suddenly popped into my head.

　But the forest ranger's eyes flickered, and he chose to continue fighting.

　He wanted to uncover the secrets of the enemy's magical spirit from the battle!

　The battle continued.

　The forest ranger didn't give any verbal instructions, but the massive armored dragon suddenly sprang into action.

　It roared fiercely at Dak on the ground, and the stench emanating from its mouth made people want to cover their noses.

　"Yao Mi!"

　The succubus flying above Dark's head was shaken by the breath and immediately put on a bitter face.

　"When this armored dragon beast was at its peak, it should have been at least an eight or nine-star strength, right?"

　Dark manipulated the magic cards in his hand, completely in control of the current situation.

　The other party's purpose is already clear: they are here to uncover the secrets of his magical spirits.

　Unnecessarily summoning other magical spirits will only force them to obey the other party's wishes.

　"In that case... Vampire heiress, the ranger over there is yours."

　"Uh-huh."

　The vampire heiress nodded vigorously, cherishing this hard-won opportunity to fight.

　In the next instant, she burst forth with wind-like speed, swiftly bypassing the armored dragon beast and attacking the forest ranger.

　Dark himself activated another magic card in his hand.

　"As for this armored dragon, I'll handle it myself!"

　He raised the magic card, his eyes gleaming with excitement.