Enhancement

"Tsk--"

Medusa spat angrily, but her attacks did not stop.

"Wow, that was close!"

Wang Xiaoming, grinning, said as he barely managed to block Medusa's attack with his "Durandal" weapon.

"This is really infuriating--"

Upon hearing Wang Xiaoming's answer, Medusa, gritting her teeth, swung her scythe even faster.

How many rounds have we been deadlocked for?

Dozens or hundreds?

Medusa didn't bother with calculations; she only knew that the man before her was like a slippery eel. Aside from occasional mistakes during their initial exchange, he became increasingly adept at responding to her attacks as time went on.

It's like constantly learning combat techniques...

Etc--

The belatedly Medusa seemed to have finally discovered the key point. After this round of clashes, using the force of the recoil, the serpentine soared high into the air, leaping back onto the chains. She glared angrily at Wang Xiaoming beneath her:

"You're using me as a sparring partner?!"

"No, I didn't, don't talk nonsense."

Seeing Wang Xiaoming's "serious" denial, Medusa's anger flared even more, her golden vertical pupils burning like molten gold.

"Okay, okay, I was just acting, alright?"

Seeing that Medusa didn't believe him, Wang Xiaoming sighed, put away the "Durandal" in his hand, ending his half-hearted "performance," and then muttered in a voice that Medusa could just hear:

"Seriously, you can't blame me for finding out so late."

"You--"

Medusa instinctively wanted to refute him, but Wang Xiaoming was right. If she hadn't noticed it herself, why should her opponent remind her? So Medusa could only suppress her anger. She was really furious!

However, Wang Xiaoming's attention wasn't on Medusa at this moment; all his focus was on what was in his mind.

Real name: Wang Xiaoming (Hector)

Attributes: Order, Neutral

Strength: C

Durability: C

Agility: B+

Magic: D

Lucky: C

Noble Phantasm: B

Perhaps because he was once Master, Wang Xiaoming himself never expected that his intelligence data would appear in his mind the moment he fought Medusa.

Medusa's guess was correct; Wang Xiaoming was indeed using her as a sparring partner to accelerate the fusion of his Spirit Origin with Hector's.

Aside from the initial, hasty, instinctive defense, every subsequent encounter with Medusa allowed Wang Xiaoming to continuously validate the combat techniques and experience left behind by Hector, the Troy hero from the Age of Spirit Origin.

"That despicable guy!"

Medusa, having broken free from her anger, glared at Wang Xiaoming across from her through gritted teeth, her long purple hair, which had been bound behind her back, suddenly cascading down.

Under the moonlight, the serpent nymph's long, flowing hair stretched out, then transformed into venomous snakes, and finally into chains.

The black chains completely blocked Wang Xiaoming's escape routes. Before he could even consider his next move, he suddenly heard Medusa's furious roar:

"Let me strangle you with my hair!"

As soon as she finished speaking, the enraged serpent banshee charged at Wang Xiaoming like a berserker who had lost her mind.

However, Medusa's attacks this time were no longer as playful as before; as she swung her scythe at Wang Xiaoming, her long hair transformed into chains that relentlessly slammed down on him.

Instantly, Wang Xiaoming felt the pressure on him increase, but thanks to Hector's marksmanship, he was able to barely cope with the attack.

But he couldn't hold on for long. Wang Xiaoming's eyes began to dart around, searching for a way to escape.

Clearly, Wang Xiaoming's "little tricks" did not escape Medusa's notice. Seeing that the man in front of her seemed to be having second thoughts, she quickened her pace.

Right now, all she wants is to kill this man who has brought her such humiliation as soon as possible!

"Hard work pays off"—that's probably the best way to describe Medusa right now. Under her almost frenzied attacks, the spear in Wang Xiaoming's hand seemed to be unable to bear the weight and slipped directly from his grasp!

"Go to hell!!!"

Seeing that the opportunity had arrived, a glint of excitement flashed in the Serpent Demoness's vertical pupils. The scythe in her hand transformed into a venomous snake, aimed directly at Wang Xiaoming's heart!

"Oh--"

However, Wang Xiaoming didn't seem to think so. After a cold laugh, he dodged the fatal blow in a posture that was extremely contrary to human mechanics under Medusa's incredulous gaze. The "Durandal" that had slipped from his hand earlier had somehow reappeared in Wang Xiaoming's hand.

--Re -Reassume Stance

This skill, inherited from Hector's Spirit Origin, allows the user to quickly recover to their initial state in battle, regardless of how illogical or contorted their posture may be, simply by will.

It was precisely with the help of this skill that Hector was able to escape from the pursuit of Achilles, who was blessed by the gods, on several occasions.

However, Medusa was clearly not Achilles. With her fatal blow failing and her weapon not yet fully retracted, the entire plain of her chest and abdomen was no longer guarded against Wang Xiaoming.

Wang Xiaoming clearly seized this opportunity...

Pfft--

"Durandal" pierced Medusa's abdomen directly, but Wang Xiaoming's choice this time was clearly wrong.

For Servant, they do not have physical bodies in the conventional sense. The body of Medusa that Wang Xiaoming pierced was actually just a "pseudo-object" constructed from magic.

As long as the Servant's Spirit Core is not damaged, other wounds are merely additional mana loss for the Servant.

By the time Wang Xiaoming realized the problem, it was too late. Medusa reacted and retreated immediately. The moment the spear separated from the wound on her abdomen, she jumped back several times and escaped Wang Xiaoming's attack range.

Clutching her abdomen, Medusa seemed to have sustained considerable damage from the attack, even if it wasn't fatal.

"You just wait!"

The venomous voice was like a curse; after uttering these harsh words, Medusa turned and fled the battlefield.

"To actually turn one's back to the enemy... how could this person be so careless?"

Watching Medusa's retreating figure, Wang Xiaoming shook his head, then closed his eyes, held "Durandal" upright in front of him, and muttered incantations:

"Target confirmed, location fixed--"

As Wang Xiaoming silently recited the mantra, the "Durandal" within him began to glow with golden light, and then—

"--' The Durindana (Durandana)'! Get blown away!!!"

The instant Wang Xiaoming finished speaking, the spear he hurled transformed into a golden streak of light, piercing the sky and engulfing the fleeing snake demon!

PS2: Am I hopeless for always typing Medusa as Medea? ORZ

Chapter 148. Strengthening

Clang--

After draining the remaining magic from her body and pulling out the spear that pierced her Spirit Core, Medusa threw it aside and collapsed helplessly to the ground. At this moment, Medusa could only be described as pitiful. The huge wound in her chest and abdomen where "Durandal" had pierced her, and the purple spiritual particles constantly emanating from her body, all indicated that this serpent banshee was about to leave the stage.

"Oh--"

Raising her head and gazing at the dim sky that shrouded Fuyuki, Medusa gave a bitter smile:

"To think that a human could push me to this point..."

If my sisters found out, they'd definitely laugh at me mercilessly.

--Crunch, crunch

The sudden sound of footsteps was unusually clear in the otherwise quiet environment. The snake-woman, whose thoughts were interrupted, turned her head to look at Wang Xiaoming, who had already come up in front of her.

"You won, man... cough cough!"

Are you here to laugh at me?

There's nothing we can do about it. Since we're about to leave the stage, there's no point in being unwilling.

"Yes, I won."

Medusa, who was prepared to accept the victor's sarcastic remarks, was met with a nonchalant echo from that despicable man.

"..."

The atmosphere suddenly became awkward.

"Is there anything you'd like to say?"

Having probably seen through Medusa's "frustration," Wang Xiaoming "kindly" broke the awkward atmosphere between the two before she left.

Who exactly are you?

After a brief silence, Medusa chose a question that wouldn't hurt her pride as much, since losing to a human Servant was such a humiliating thing...

"Me? I could barely be considered a Servant... no, I should be a Demi Demi-Servant."

After hearing Medea's question, Wang Xiaoming scratched his head and thought about it for a while. He still felt that his current situation was similar to that of his junior.

"A... Servant?"

Medusa was clearly confused by this unfamiliar name.

"They're probably humans who have fused with the power of Heroic Spirit."

Wang Xiaoming used some simple and easy-to-understand words to create an explanation.

"Is that so...? It really is a strange existence."

After receiving Wang Xiaoming's answer, Medusa paused slightly, then narrowed her eyes and chuckled softly:

Just like you.

"Ha?"

Wang Xiaoming was somewhat stunned after hearing Medusa's words.

Honestly, why is it strange that a good man like me, who is devoted to his family and loves his wife, is like this?

"..."

However, Wang Xiaoming's doubts were obviously unanswered. After leaving such a vague evaluation, Medusa's beautiful body was directly replaced by purple spiritual particles, and under the desolate moonlight, the beautiful purple light seemed about to dissipate with the wind.

But what happened next was beyond Wang Xiaoming's expectations.

A strange light suddenly shone from his chest. Instinctively, Wang Xiaoming pulled open his shirt and discovered that the "gem" that Circe had given him was emitting a strange glow.

"This is?"

The unexpected turn of events left Wang Xiaoming completely bewildered. Meanwhile, the gemstone, now freed from the constraints of clothing and radiating a dazzling seven-colored light, floated out of Wang Xiaoming's arms and drifted through the air.

"Call out!"

As if finding the right spot, the gem froze in mid-air, its dazzling light transforming into an electric net that, over time, devoured all the purple spirit particles scattered in mid-air.

After capturing the spiritual particles that had dissipated into the atmosphere, the "gem" wobbled back into Wang Xiaoming's hand from the air.

"This thing..."

Once the dazzling light subsided, Wang Xiaoming began to examine the "gem" in his hand again.

The "gem" is about the size of a thumb, and its smooth surface shimmers with iridescent light, making it extremely dazzling.

"..."

It's you, Saint Quartz!

Don't think I won't recognize you just because you're wearing a disguise!