Chapter 42: Help

Inside the cave, the entrance was still relatively bright, but as one ventured deeper, it became darker. Fortunately, despite the darkness, the cave wasn't damp.Orion took out a firestone, and the Twilight Viper, from its mouth, suddenly spat out a ball of flame, igniting the firestone and illuminating the cave significantly.

Tonight, Orion planned to spend the night here.

Following Lysinthia's instructions, the Twilight Viper slithered to the deepest part of the cave to rest and recover from its injuries.

As for Lysinthia, she had already left the cave to prepare food for Orion.

Feeling a bit bored after resting for a while, Orion entered the Survivor Platform, hoping to find something useful for himself.

However, as soon as he logged in, he received a reply from Arthas, the seller of the Bloodline Evolution Stone.

"What quality of crystal cores are you offering for the trade?" Sёarᴄh the NôvelFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

After thinking for a moment, Orion replied.

"200 C-grade crystal cores!"

This offer was made with sincerity. After all, anyone who could sell a Bloodline Evolution Stone was likely at least hero-level in strength.

In other words, this seller, Arthas, was probably a hero-level survivor.

Just as Orion was about to continue browsing the platform for other items, he was surprised to receive a quick reply from Arthas.

"Not enough. Add a bit more!"

200 C-grade crystal cores aren't enough?

After some thought, Orion responded.

"I'll add 3 B-grade crystal cores, but that's my final offer!"

To be honest, Orion was a bit nervous. He feared that the seller might reject the deal and stop negotiating.

Half an hour passed. Then an hour. Just when Orion thought the seller had lost interest in his offer, a reply finally came.

"Sorry, I had an urgent matter to attend to. I'm available now!"

"Your offer is average, but crystal cores are solid currency. I'll accept the deal!"

"My name is Arthas. How should I address you?"

Seeing these messages, Orion realized that Arthas had been playing a game, waiting for him to grow impatient. However, when Orion didn't respond, Arthas decided to compromise and proceed with the trade.

"You can call me Hulk. I need three Bloodline Evolution Stones! I feel like I'm going broke!"

Orion grumbled a bit and initiated the trade.

"Hahaha... Hulk, Investing in yourself and your tribe will yield the greatest returns!"

Orion didn't engage in further small talk with Arthas.

He planned to return to the Blackstone tribe the next day, leave the Bloodline Evolution Stones there, and then head to the succubus tribe to fetch his bride.

---

Meanwhile, in the succubus territory...

Moo... Moo... Moo...

The crazed bellowing of bulls echoed through the dense forest, and a rain of arrows fell upon the Berserk Bulls, but they didn't seem to feel a thing.

These Berserk Bulls knew no pain and continued their charge toward the succubus defenses.

The frail succubi had no choice but to retreat while fighting, giving up a large portion of their hunting grounds to the crazed beasts.

Inside the succubus palace, the atmosphere was suffocating.

"Damn those Berserk Bulls! Why don't they go to the werewolf territory? Why don't they attack the giants?"

"Are we succubi that easy to bully?"

"Damn those Berserk Bulls, those despicable Buffalo Folk..."

Succubus Queen Delilah was furious, but there was nothing she could do.

The crazed Buffalo Folk were completely immune to the succubi's charms.

With winter approaching and all the races of the Black Forest scrambling for resources, the succubi's hunting grounds had been invaded by the Buffalo Folk.

"What should we do now?"

"Yes, Your Majesty, are we just going to let them have their way?"

"This is our territory, Your Majesty!"

"This winter will be unprecedentedly harsh, and we haven't gathered enough supplies yet!"

"..."

The chatter of the succubus elders filled the palace, making Queen Delilah's mood even worse.

At that moment, one of the elders spoke up softly.

"Your Majesty, perhaps we could ask the giants for help?"

"Their bloodline warrior, the one with the dragon, wants to marry into our tribe, doesn't he?"

"Maybe we could take this opportunity to ask the giants to help us drive out the invading Berserk Bulls?"

It had to be said, this elder's suggestion immediately calmed the furious Queen Delilah.

"Yes, if our internal forces can't solve the problem, we should use external power! That's the true way of the succubi!"

Queen Delilah reflected, deeply examining and analyzing herself.

"Have there been any sightings of giants in our territory?"

Her voice echoed through the palace, cold but laced with a hint of seduction.

"Your Majesty, we haven't spotted any yet!"

The palace fell silent again.

After a long pause, one of the elders muttered quietly.

"Your Majesty, could it be that the giants have changed their minds and no longer want the marriage?"

Succubi were known for their intelligence, but they were also a suspicious race.

The other elders were about to start discussing this possibility when Queen Delilah's voice cut them off.

"They haven't changed their minds. Chieftain Clymene personally came to arrange the marriage for her brother and left behind a generous dowry."

"So, Clymene's brother will definitely show up in our territory."

"As for whether or not he has an Abyssal Dragon, that remains to be seen."

Queen Delilah's words silenced the elders for a moment.

After a brief pause, the same elder who had suggested asking the giants for help cautiously spoke again.

"Your Majesty, should we still send Lady Lilith to marry him?"

The palace fell into a deep silence. No one answered the question.

Queen Delilah, the one being asked, leaned back in her throne, her eyes half-closed, lost in thought.

---

In the giant territory, deep within the forest...

Orion pulled his trident from the head of a massive Earth Magical Bear and signaled for Dace and Otho to come over and start harvesting the meat, fur, and crystal core.

As for the rest of the bear, it became a snack for the Abyssal Dragon.

Stretching lazily, Orion couldn't help but feel invincible.

Ever since completing the SSS-level bloodline trial, Orion's attributes had skyrocketed. No beast below hero-level could withstand even a single attack from him.

With a strength stat exceeding 1,000, Orion felt like he could move mountains.

Dace and Otho looked at Orion with awe and reverence. Their admiration for him grew with each passing moment.

The Earth Magical Bear, though a variant of the Flame Magical Bear, was still a peak elite-level beast. Yet Orion had killed it in just one second.

"Beyn, how far are we from the succubus territory?"

"Elder Orion, we should reach the border by nightfall."

Orion patted the Bagbird stomach pouch at his waist and glanced at the large bundles strapped to the Twilight Viper's back, feeling satisfied.

"Have any of you seen Lilith? What does she look like?"

As Orion asked this, Lysinthia, who was pouring water for him, also looked up at Beyn.

Lysinthia was curious. The succubi were said to be both beautiful and promiscuous. She wondered if they were more beautiful than Medusas.

"Maybe the succubi aren't as pretty as me," Lysinthia thought to herself. After all, her bloodline was pure, and she had a high chance of evolving into a Medusa.

Beyn shook his head.

"I haven't seen Lilith, but I've heard she's the twin sister of Queen Delilah, so she should look similar."

Orion squinted, thinking for a moment before asking again.

"Has Clymene seen her?"

"I'm not sure about that."

Beyn shook his head again, and his answer left Orion somewhat dissatisfied.

Half an hour later, the Earth Magical Bear had been fully harvested, and the group set off once more.

This time, Orion didn't store the Abyssal Dragon. Instead, he led the way with the dragon at the front.

They were close to the succubus territory, and since it was his first visit, Orion wanted to make an impression.

---

A day later, with Orion at the lead, the Abyssal Dragon and the Twilight Viper entered the succubus hunting grounds.

However, not long after entering the territory, they encountered a group of unexpected guests.

It was a group of Buffalo Folk, all of them unusually large and muscular.

Before Beyn could step forward to question them, a dozen crazed Berserk Bulls charged at them.

Standing atop the Abyssal Dragon, Orion's eyes flashed coldly as he patted the dragon.

Roar...

In the next second, the Abyssal Dragon's roar echoed through the forest, followed by the screams of the Berserk Bulls.

Fifteen minutes later, Orion stood over the bodies of the fallen Buffalo Folk and turned to Dace, Otho, Beyn, and Torba.

"Go, find some vines and string them together. We'll take them to the succubus tribe."

"I think this will make a fine gift!"

Orion squinted, a smile playing on his lips.

The moment he saw the Buffalo Folk members, Orion had already pieced together most of what was happening in the succubus territory.