Chapter 59: Reunion

Skill: Peerless Rampage!
When activated, the user enters an invincible state.
Strength +10
Speed +10
Has a chance to deal critical hits, inflicting multiplied damage.
After using the skill, the user will fall into a weakened state.
Compatible weapons: Long blade, spear.
Recommended classes: Warrior, strength-based melee.

...

This is a typical “burst-frenzy” skill.
While invincible, the user’s damage output skyrockets, all curses and negative effects are nullified, physical resistances are enhanced, and hardly any health is lost.
It’s even more potent than the Berserker’s “Frenzy” skill.
By rights, this skill is perfectly suited for Ivan at his current stage.
Yet why hasn’t he used this scroll?
If he’d unleashed Peerless Rampage just now, Luo Yong would have had no choice but to flee.

Ahem.
It seems he simply didn’t expect to encounter someone as unusual as Luo Yong, nor imagine there’d be an elven judge nearby.
Given his level, even with this skill, Ivan would still be no match for Yan Bao’er.
The difference in their levels is simply too great to be overcome by a single peerless skill.
Besides, the skill has an obvious drawback—it leaves the user weakened after use...

That feeling of emptiness and exhaustion, like the cold loneliness after indulgence, is worse than death.
If you use your ultimate move but fail to defeat your enemy, it’s you who ends up dying.

Of course, in Luo Yong’s view, the most important point is that Ivan lacks the confidence.
For some, this scroll is an optional skill, easily set aside if there are other choices.
But for Ivan, it’s a priceless treasure.
He wants to learn it, but hesitates.
If he sells it, he’s unwilling to let it go.
In the end, Luo Yong benefits.

For Luo Yong, this skill is less useful than the “Blink” gifted by the elven lady.
Still, learning it gives him a hidden ace up his sleeve.
Better than having nothing.
Besides, this “invincible state” means immunity to harm, but it doesn’t make one truly omnipotent...

Otherwise, if the skill were activated, even the elven lady would have to flee.
That would make it a divine skill.

“But this skill should have some potential for growth, otherwise...”
“At present, strength and speed are both +10—it seems impressive, like gaining ten levels instantly.”
“But if the user is already level 100, then +10 levels doesn’t feel like much of a boost...”
“Hmm, I’ll try it in the secret realm later, where no one can interrupt me, and I won’t have to worry about the weakness!”

Following the principle of “better to make a mistake than miss an opportunity,” Luo Yong would rather learn the skill and not use it, than leave the scroll gathering dust in his storage.
Since he had nothing pressing at camp, Luo Yong wandered around the underground palace for a while, even releasing a skeleton soldier to roam aimlessly.
Who knows, perhaps the clumsy skeleton might stumble upon some hidden mechanism or secret passage!

Yet after a while, nothing was discovered.
Though urgent, there seemed to be no immediate solution; Luo Yong couldn’t afford to get stuck here, so he began to consider other options.

He returned to camp, called for Mira, and brought along Seli, who had just woken up and adamantly refused to stay in camp alone, insisting on joining them in action. The three made their way to the stone circle.
Unexpectedly, he ran into his beautiful teammates there.

“Luo Yong!”
“Captain! You’re back!”
“Did you solve the problem?”

Everyone crowded around, peppering him with questions, concern evident on their faces.
Elia, walking beside the barbarian priestess, suddenly exclaimed, pointing to the little girl next to Luo Yong, “Captain, you... you’ve only been gone a short while, and you’re already bringing your wife and child back?!”

“Huh?!”

The whole team of women gathered around.
They eyed the little girl, who clung shyly to Luo Yong’s sleeve—a suspicious sight indeed!

“No way, no way! My little brother...”
“It doesn’t seem possible—Luo Yong hasn’t been gone long, and childbirth isn’t that quick,” said the Storm Sorceress calmly.
“Mm.” The Wild Huntress nodded in agreement.
Both were composed.
Though they cared about Luo Yong in their own ways, they weren’t overly eager.

“Not necessarily. This world is far bigger than we imagine. Some places have special passages to other worlds,” Wendy analyzed carefully. “It’s said that in some worlds, time flows differently. So while it seems he hasn’t been gone long, perhaps years have passed elsewhere!”

“What?!”
“There’s such a thing?!”

“So that means—”

Everyone turned to look at Luo Yong.

“Ah, I sense it—Luo Yong’s magic aura is slightly stronger than before... just a little,” Elia said, puzzled. If Luo Yong had spent years in another world, he shouldn’t have gained only a slight boost.
Judging by his magical aura, he wasn’t even stronger than herself!

“But how does he already have a child?”
The barbarian priestess eyed Mira with ill intent, leaving her bewildered.

“She’s rather plain—not as good-looking as me!”
“...”

Mira felt a wave of hostility.
Earlier, when Luo Yong said he was also a captain, Mira wondered what his team was like, who his members were.
Now, seeing for herself—

Heh, women!
All women!!

Could it be that Luo Yong is a notorious womanizer?!
The thought chilled Mira, especially seeing the young girl at his side.
But when she noticed the presence of an inconspicuous fat man trailing behind, her unease eased somewhat.

“You lot...”

Thinking of the child at his side, Luo Yong refrained from saying something rude.

“Ahem. Now, as captain, let me introduce the two beside me.”
“Mira, formerly a team leader, now one of us. Her class is Forest Guardian.”
“Seli, apprentice alchemist, destined to be a great prophet.”

At that moment, Luo Yong felt a tug on his clothes. Seli looked up at him, serious, and said, “And [cute]!”

“Yes, a cute prophet!” Luo Yong nodded.
“And [beautiful]!” Seli added.
“Right, a beautiful prophet!”

“A prophet, so young? Is it not too late to start training?” Elia muttered, pursing her lips.
“Better than nothing...” Luo Yong shrugged helplessly. Now that she’d latched onto him, he couldn’t shake her off.
If he tried too hard, he might hurt her.

“Beautiful...” The barbarian priestess strode over to Seli, towering above her, scrutinizing her intently.
Seli, though a little frightened, clung tightly to Luo Yong’s clothes, yet bravely met the gaze.

“The word ‘beautiful’ has always been used to describe me!” declared the barbarian priestess solemnly.

“...”

“That’s enough, A’Man!” The group joined in protest.

“All right, enough chatter. Why are you all here?” Luo Yong surveyed the group—none of his teammates were missing, and there even seemed to be an extra member.

A figure cloaked, hidden from view, stood among them; from the curves, clearly a woman.

“Ah, Luo... Captain! It’s quite a story—pure luck! We met someone who had a secret realm key! But she had no teammates, so we suggested exploring together!” Elia said excitedly.

“A low-level realm?” Luo Yong asked.

“It’s the Lion Isle Secret Realm,” Wendy replied, and briefly explained what had transpired.

Apparently, all of them had reached level nine, able to take on new tasks.
Yet during their missions, they felt a certain pressure.
Their levels had risen, but their strength wasn’t quite keeping pace.
This left them feeling frustrated.
So, as they completed tasks, they wondered how to solve the problem.

By coincidence, they encountered a “lone wolf” who happened to have a secret realm key obtained by making a wish.

“Feels like we did something foolish...”
“That wish scroll was ours originally...”
“But someone traded it away.”
“And then, right before us, she wished for a secret realm key...”

Before Wendy could finish, the Storm Sorceress and Wild Huntress filled in the blanks, both shooting unfriendly glances at a certain cursed witch.

“So that’s how it is!” Luo Yong realized.

From the unfamiliar woman, he sensed magical energy at level eight, same as Mira.
She must have gotten her first secret realm key, lacked experience, and was easily persuaded by the group to explore together.

“Alright, I understand. I approve your expedition,” Luo Yong declared, raising his arm and waving it before the ladies. “I happen to have a secret realm key myself, just acquired in the underground palace after defeating monsters and making a wish. We can go together, or you can explore Lion Isle on your own...”

“It’s a low-level realm?” Wendy leaned in, whispering in his ear.

“Of course.” Luo Yong grinned mysteriously, his expression odd. “If you don’t want to go, you don’t have to—no need to force yourselves...”

“Huh?”
“Force ourselves? Why say that?”

The women who had crowded close to eavesdrop were puzzled.