If it weren’t the newly-acquired <Deep Analysis> skill, even with Paglio spoon-feeding the relevant knowledge, Chen Rui couldn’t solve these mysteries. The huge loss of spirit exhaustion the past few days was not wasted ultimately.
These inscriptions should be engraved deep in the ground. As many years had passed, plants had been growing on the inscriptions. However, their power and effect weren’t weakened at all. Instead, they made use of these plants to produce more peculiar effects. These were the dragon’s most mysterious ancient inscriptions.
There was a lack of light in the jungle at night; there were places where even the moonlight couldn’t penetrate. Chen Rui carefully followed the detection method taught by Paglio, then he successfully found the safe spot within the inscriptions and passed through another “big tree”.
However, that was just the beginning. Chen Rui could feel that there were a lot of hidden inscriptions in front. Together with the scary ghost dragon with unpredictable strength, it could be considered as a crisis.
Since Chen Rui discovered the mystery of the big tree, Athena didn’t dare to move abruptly after Chen Rui shouted at her. Chen Rui carefully walked to her front, bent down and looked carefully, “This is likely to have the power of <Expulsion>. If you take a few more steps, I don’t know which part of the jungle will you be teleported to. However, we have to pass it. Give me your hand, I’ll lead the way.”
Athena didn’t hesitate to hold Chen Rui’s extended hand. When their hands were held together, both of their hearts had a strange feeling simultaneously. Athena felt a temporary blank in her mind. After the blank, it was an unprecedented feeling with a little nervous and a little sweet. Although her face started to heat up again, she hoped that she could always hold his hand.
When Chen Rui first met Alice, they once also held hands “intimately” before, but they were being fooled by little loli as the result. Athena’s hand wasn’t as smooth as Alice’s, but her fingers and palms were more slender and warm. Despite holding hand in such a special situation, it was inevitable for his heartbeat to accelerate, but his attention quickly shifted onto the Dragon Inscription.
After passing through the <Expulsion> inscription, both Chen Rui and Athena felt a strong repulsive force flowing past their entire body. It was kind of like passing the river by stepping on the rock mounds. One misstep would result in being carried far away by the “river”. After successfully passing the inscription, Athena was fully convinced with Chen Rui’s capability. In her opinion, it was definitely another grand master’s thought that came handy in time. If it weren’t for him, she couldn’t come to such a place at all by herself.
I truly don’t know how much more miracles can this human man create.
The dangers ahead were still there. They had a tacit understanding; Chen Rui didn’t let go while Athena had no intention of withdrawing too. The two continued to proceed while holding hands.
Chen Rui passed the effective area of several inscriptions in a row and felt a little more confident. If it weren’t the threat of Ghost Dragon, it could easily be taken as a Dragon Inscription exam before going to the Silent Night Wetland.
At that moment, there was a faint red light appeared at a place not far in front. The two approached carefully. It was a plant that was about one meter high; with barbs on the branches; the leaves were purple; there were a few round red fruits on it which were emitting a faint glow.
Athena’s red eyes lit up. She concentrated her mind and carefully recalled the description of the devil fruit in writings. Finally, she confirmed that it was the treasure that the demons dreamed of.
There were 5 or 6 fruits that looked like they were just ripened. For the demons other than the royal family, the values of these fruits almost couldn’t be measured with magic crystal coins. In the history of demons, there was once a battle between lords for the devil fruit.
Once I eat one, there will be a good chance for me to break through the limits of Higher Demon in the future, reaching Demon King, Great Demon King or even higher levels!
Athena suppressed the excitement in her heart and didn’t act rashly. Instead, she was carefully wary of her surroundings. Surprisingly, the “rumored” ghost dragon that wanted to devour the devil fruit was nowhere to be found. As she was about to approach, her hand was held back tightly by Chen Rui, “I sense something wrong. Don’t rush!”
“Do you know? For the demons other than the royal family, no one can resist the temptations of the devil fruit. I must get it.” Athena said while extending her hand, “If I don’t take this chance, I’m afraid we’ll all be in danger when the ghost dragon arrives.”
After that, Athena carefully approached a few steps. After making sure there was no danger, she leaped toward the devil fruits.
“Wait!” When Athena first went forward, Chen Rui suddenly remembered something. At that moment, Athena was already in the air, trying to grab the devil fruit; it was already too late.
“Throw your sword toward it! Athena! Quick!”
Chen Rui’s screams made Athena startled. Due to her trust on Chen Rui, she entered her Great Demon’s battle form in the air, clenched her teeth and threw her greatsword at the devil fruit.
Poom! Poom! Poom! Exploding sounds could be heard one after another. The greatsword was blown away and torn apart. Athena’s figure was blown back by the aftermath of the explosion, but she was caught by Chen Rui before she fell to the ground.
That force made Chen Rui moved backward a few steps; he almost lost his balance. He saw Athena in his arms returned to her usual form with her body covered in blood. There was even a shattered blade on her shoulder. Luckily, the greatsword detonated the inscription’s power ahead, otherwise, Athena would probably end up like that shattered sword.
Fortunately, the broken blade’s force was reduced by the shoulder plate. If not, her entire arm could’ve cut off. It was a blessing in the unfortunate.
Athena’s body was trembling involuntarily. Her face was particularly bleak under the moonlight. She was clearly seriously injured.
“Athena!” Chen Rui had remorse in his heart. Why didn’t I realize there’s something wrong with the devil fruit earlier? There must be an inscription there; the meaning it represents is <Mirror and Explosion>!
The devil fruit was just a mirror image as a bait. Its actual intention was an explosion trap!
Athena felt tearing pain all over her body. She even lost the strength to talk. She knew that if it weren’t for Chen Rui’s reminder, she would’ve already died. Looking at the human’s worrying face, her heart was filled with regrets. “I’m sorry that I was too stubborn and I didn’t listen to your advice.”
If it weren’t for her eagerness, not only she wouldn’t be injured now, but her hand should still be in the warmth of this man. Why didn’t I trust him?
“What’s the point of saying that now. Let me patch you up first.” Chen Rui gently squatted down. He took out a blanket from the space bracelet and padded it on the ground. Then, he carefully placed Athena on top. He clenched his teeth, pulled out the broken sword, removed the shoulder plate, sprinkled some healing powder on the wound and bandaged it. After that, he exchanged a bottle of healing potion and poured it into her mouth.
“Athena, I know that the devil fruit is very important to you. I blame myself for responding too slow just now; I didn’t notice the trap earlier. Don’t worry. I will definitely help you get the fruit. Wait for me here and don’t move.”
“Don’t go…” Athena trembled and she looked frightened. “It’s too dangerous here. I don’t want the devil fruit anymore. Let’s leave…”
“Trust me! Remember not to walk away. There are dangerous traps everywhere. When I come back, I want to see you here!” Chen Rui held her hand hard. He then stood up and looked carefully at the ground. He quickly headed to the other side and disappeared from Athena’s sight in the blink of an eye.
Athena’s eyes were already red. She began to pray to the demon god for a man other than her father for the first time in her life.
Chen Rui had already guessed the approximate location of the actual fruit from the mirror image. Perhaps it noticed that the explosion trap was triggered, the scary roar began to sound again, seemingly to warn the approacher to stop getting closer.
Chen Rui felt that the sound was getting closer and closer; he knew that he was in the right direction. He was just worried that he would be noticed by this powerful ghost dragon, so he had been careful; he didn’t dare to make too much noise.
Passing a series of traps, then bypassing an inscription of <Hidden and Teleportation>, finally, a relatively open stone pile appeared in front of his eyes. Underneath a pile of stones, there was a plant identical to the mirror image. It was the devil fruit. However, the most eye-catching thing wasn’t the devil fruit with a faint red light, but the huge figure that was entrenched next to the fruit.
It was indeed a dragon. More accurately, it was the skeleton of a dragon. However, this supposedly skeleton of a deceased was actually alive. Under the purple moonlight, the huge, white skeleton was wrapped in a strange hue. The pair of eyes that should be empty were glowing in green light, making Chen Rui felt a chill down his spine.
Chen Rui finally understood why this thing was called a ghost dragon.
Although the ghost dragon looked extremely powerful, it didn’t detect the existence of Chen Rui. Chen Rui saw it yelled at the sky again. Chen Rui’s distance was already close. He felt a horrifying pressure in the sound, anyone that heard that would be scared out of their wits.
This kind of pressure, Chen Rui had only felt from Paglio. It was just that the pressure from this ghost dragon was much inferior than the poison dragon. However, it was definitely Dragon’s Demeanor!
Although the location of the ghost dragon had yet to reach the effective range of <Analytical Eyes>, Chen Rui didn’t dare to move recklessly. The poison dragon once said that even the newly born baby dragon had the strength of a Demon King. From the power of inscriptions previously, it was probably at the strength of Demon Emperor. It was far from what he could handle with his current strength.
In this case, how can I get the devil fruit?
Chen Rui thought and his gaze focused on the inscription behind him. Dragon Inscription wasn’t an intelligent “program”. Unless it was a special inscription like an individual bloodline, as long as someone triggered, it would produce the corresponding effect even if it was its creator.
Although Chen Rui’s strength couldn’t set up a powerful inscription alone, with the Super System’s current “understanding” of the Dragon Inscription, creating something that could trigger and connect available inscriptions was achievable.
The best solution was to use a series of <Teleportation> inscription to instantly transfer the ghost dragon to another place, then he could quickly evacuate with Athena.
The ghost dragon had been roaring for awhile. After it didn’t sense the presence of other intruders, it immediately lowered its head and the huge skull stopped above the devil’s fruit. The faint green light in the eyes of the ghost dragon began to move into the mouth, slowly extending toward the devil fruit like a tongue. It looked particularly strange.
At that moment, there was a noise from the right suddenly. The green light trembled and retracted. At that time, the dragon’s head turned to the other side, giving others a feeling that its reaction was sluggish.
The ghost dragon walked slowly toward the direction of the sound and growled several times. It was a mix with a powerful Dragon’s Demeanor that was filled with warnings and intimidation.
At that time, a figure had appeared in front of the demon fruits like lightning. All 6 fruits had disappeared by just waving his hand.