The sunset glowed like fire, dyeing the sky a magnificent crimson gold.
Rudeus had just stepped out of the bathroom, his damp hair still carrying a few drops of moisture, the warm white steam slowly dissipating from his shoulders.
A figure with striking red hair stood silently by the window.
The evening breeze gently caressed Eris's hair, and a few strands swayed softly in the afterglow.
She turned her head to the side and looked into the distance, her features as soft as a crescent moon reflected on the lake.
It's so beautiful that one can't bear to disturb it.
At this moment, Rudeus didn't even dare to utter a sound, but simply stood there quietly, watching her.
It was as if, just by speaking, the moon reflected in one's heart would ripple, bringing an extraordinary sense of tranquility to the heart.
Suddenly, the girl seemed to notice my gaze and turned her head.
" Rudeus, are you done washing?"
She smiled and waved in this direction.
"Come look! The light on that mountainside is so beautiful!"
Rudeus walked over slowly, but never looked in the direction she was pointing. He simply looked at her and chuckled softly.
"Yes... it is indeed very beautiful."
Eris was slightly taken aback.
" Rudeus, I was showing you the mountainside."
She puffed out her cheeks and muttered to herself:
"Why... why are you staring at me like that...?"
A faint blush had crept onto her fair face without her noticing.
Rudeus couldn't help but laugh.
"A barren mountain is nowhere near as beautiful as Eris."
"Eh--"
Eris's ears turned red.
" Rudeus, you're just talking nonsense."
"When have I ever lied to you?"
As he spoke, he gently pulled Eris into his arms.
The girl struggled symbolically for a moment, then obediently leaned against Rudeus's chest.
Hmm...
So quiet that they didn't say a word.
Rudeus lowered his head, leaned close to her ear, and chuckled softly:
"You're always like this, you stay silent as soon as you snuggle into my arms."
His warm breath gently brushed past her ear.
[ Emotion Points +500 (from Eris )]
(Just a whisper in his ear, and the reaction is so strong... This is getting more and more interesting.)
Eris's body trembled slightly.
Ah~ it feels... a bit hot~
Rudeus's hand naturally landed on the outside of her long, slender thigh.
Looking at the girl's flustered and evasive gaze, her disordered breathing, and her constantly rising and falling chest, he felt his rationality melting away little by little.
Consciousness seemed to be slowly swallowed up by some kind of instinct.
Just as the palm was about to continue moving forward--
Snap!!
A loud bang abruptly shattered the ambiguous atmosphere in the room.
The window was suddenly pressed down.
The next instant, a lizard-like figure burst through the window, gripping a dagger in reverse, and thrust it straight at Rudeus's chest!
This strike showed no mercy.
However--
Rudeus didn't even bother to lift his eyelids.
The magic in his palm trembled slightly.
Buzz--
An invisible force field unfolded instantly.
The lizard demons charging at high speed seemed to be gripped by an invisible hand, their bodies frozen in mid-air, unable to move forward any further.
"What... what?!"
The other person's pupils contracted sharply.
"What kind of magic is this?!"
Rudeus released his grip on Eris and slowly stood up.
Looking calmly at the other person, he spoke slowly and deliberately:
"You only have one chance."
"Who sent you? How many accomplices do you have?"
The lizard man suddenly grinned.
The next second.
puff--!
A thick wad of phlegm was spat out.
Clatter
The phlegm landed on the magical barrier that suddenly lit up in front of Rudeus and slowly slid down.
"..."
His eyelids twitched slightly.
"Tsk."
"The defensive magic circle has to be redrawn again..."
The words had barely left his mouth.
A holy light swept across his fingertips.
Buzz--
Before the lizard man could even scream, his body turned into countless particles of light and vanished completely.
The magical light shone again in his palm.
A pale blue ripple of magic spread out instantly from him.
[ Perception ]
A moment later...
He narrowed his eyes slightly.
"There are two more..."
Just as I was about to unleash a homing [ Light-Guided Arrow ] for a long-range sniping kill--
The window next door suddenly flew open, and a tall figure leaped out like lightning.
It's Rujierd.
He had already activated his demonic eye and chased after them with his gun.
Within minutes.
He leaped back into the room, blood slowly dripping from the tip of his gun.
The answer is self-evident.
Rudeus finally couldn't help but curse.
"Damn it~ Anyone dares to serve food on my head like that!!"
It seems...
Building brand awareness and establishing their own influence is now a pressing matter.
Rujierd sheathed his spear and said calmly:
"So, I warned you long ago not to be too flamboyant."
Upon hearing this, Rudeus gently shook his head.
"No, it's not that I'm not flamboyant enough!"
"Let me show you the summoning magic I've diligently practiced over the years."
As he spoke, he slowly raised his right hand.
A rich magical power surged forth from his palm.
One intricate and mysterious pattern after another appeared, intertwined, overlapped, and extended on the floor.
The entire room began to vibrate slightly.
Finally, the last array pattern completely closed.
Without hesitation, Rudeus poured his immense magical power into the center of the magic circle.
[ Spirit Summoning ]!
boom--!!
A dazzling beam of light shone forth!
The roof was instantly illuminated.
At the center of the beam of light.
A slender, tall figure is slowly coalescing.
The pillar of light gradually dissipated as he withdrew his magic.
The figure finally appeared fully before everyone's eyes.
Short purple hair, light purple misty eyes.
The form-fitting suit perfectly accentuated her shapely curves.
She knelt on one knee, her voice cold and devoid of any emotion.
·Oshkinsama."
Eris and Rujierd both froze, their eyes wide with surprise.
" Rudeus!"
"This person... was summoned by you?!"
Rudeus nodded solemnly, his expression unchanged.
" Spirit Summoning."
"Back when I was in Roа, didn't I often go to Perugius's place to exchange academic ideas?"
"These achievements were made during that period of research."
(Hehe~ My ability to make up lies is getting better and better; I don't even need to write drafts anymore.)
Eris was shocked.
Rujierd couldn't help but exclaim:
"Simply exchanging academic ideas with Armored Dragon King is enough to create such a summoning spell..."
Rudeus.
"I understand you less and less."
"That's right! I'm just that awesome!"
His tone remained completely unreserved, because he had absolutely no concept of humility.
"Then it's time to give you a name."
Rudeus stared at the stunning woman kneeling before him, lost in thought...
Under Rudeus's gaze, the other person lowered their head even further.
"I hereby bestow upon you the name --"
"Um..."
" Rong Woxiangxiang..."
The purple-haired woman looked up, paused slightly, then resumed her cool and indifferent demeanor and spoke:
"Thank you for bestowing a name upon me, Master. From this day forward, my Rong Woxiangxiang."
"No, what are you thanking me for? I haven't figured it out yet!"
She immediately lowered her head.
"I was rude; please punish me, Master."
"Pfft--"
Eris finally couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"Hahaha!"
"He's even dumber than me!"
She had barely uttered the words when she immediately realized her mistake.
"No! I'm not stupid!"
Rudeus ignored her and instead looked at the new familiar in front of him.
"Please introduce your abilities first."
"Returning to the master."
"My core ability is creating clones."
"I can separate my own energy to create a completely new individual dominated by my consciousness."
"Theoretically, as long as the force of each separation is weak enough, I can split infinitely."
"All my clones bear the imprint of my soul."
"As long as a mark remains in the world, I will not truly die."
Rudeus paused for two seconds, then slowly inhaled.
(This near-rule-level ability... I actually managed to create it.)
Suppressing his surprise, he nodded, feigning composure.
"Anything else?"
"Of course."
"Transformation, Soul Splitting and Possession, Shadow Escape, Clone Replacement, Mental Probing, Mental Collapse..."
"Alright."
Rudeus waved his hand.
"No need to continue reporting."
"I understand your position."
Intelligence, infiltration, and stealth.
"You are the most perfect shadow."
The purple-haired woman bowed her head in response:
"Thank you for bestowing this position upon me, Master."
Rudeus looked at her, a slow smile spreading across his face.
"So--starting today."
Your name is --
" The Thousand Faces--"
" Yanli ".