Becoming a god starts with enhancing fire arrows.

Continue to strengthen.

Please select a skill enhancement direction.

[Flame Arrow - Increased Target (Normal): Flame Arrow can target one more enemy]

【Stealth Step - Increased Range (Normal): The casting range of Stealth Step is now 20 meters】

【Stealth Step - Illusion (Normal): After casting Stealth Step, an illusion will remain in the same location for one second.】

[Next enhancement requires 110/350 Life Essence]

Ok.

My fire arrows already have a fast firing rate, so the "Increased Targets" effect is really not very useful.

This [Illusion] can confuse the enemy for a moment in battle, but unfortunately it only lasts for one second.

It's a bit of a mixed bag.

Let's just do a simple "expand the scope" then.

[Current Skill Enhancement]

Flame Arrow: [Sharp Penetration] [Mastery] [Self-Immunity] [Precision Explosion]

Identification Technique: [Weakness Detection]

Shadow Step: [Double Cast] [Increased Range]

After selecting his skills, Rhodes looked at Harvey:

"The witch's territory is likely to have many traps, making it difficult to fight."

"I can use it as bait to lure it to an open area."

Clint, who had been silent all along, raised his hand to stop him: "A mage like you shouldn't take such a risk."

Harvey affirmed the latter's suggestion: "Oh, my friend~ this time Clint is wearing medium armor with extremely high magic resistance. Whether it's blocking the Hag's damage or in terms of mobility, he's the first choice."

Rhodes shook his head: "The hag is cautious and cunning. If it were Clint, it would be difficult to arouse its desire to pursue."

"In contrast, fragile mages are more likely to pique its interest."

Harvey frowned, about to speak, but was stopped by Rhodes's firm gaze: "Trust me."

He sized up Rhodes: "Alright, we'll do it your way."

"Clint, give him the dagger."

Clint panicked: "Captain, why don't I go? Mages don't wear armor, and if they trigger a trap, they won't be able to withstand it."

As he spoke, he obediently pulled out a dagger that emitted magical energy.

Harvey took it and handed it to Rhodes.

"This is a dagger specially prepared to deal with the witch. Once it hits, it can absorb the opponent's magic power. If you encounter any danger and don't have time to run away, this dagger might save your life."

"However, widows are creatures that excel at creating illusions, so you must make sure you hit their real body for the attack to be effective."

"Okay, thank you." Rhodes took the dagger and immediately used his Appraisal skill to examine it.

【Name: The Absorber】

[Type: Weapon]

[Quality: Rare]

[Description: A dagger specifically designed to target mages, capable of rapidly draining the mana of its target.]

He didn't stand on ceremony and tucked the dagger into his waistband.

If this Drainer is combined with Shadowstep, it might have a surprising and winning effect.

The team traversed the rotting swamp and, in the distance, saw a small hut shrouded in green mist deep within the swamp.

Harvey placed his hand on the ring, which flashed with a barely perceptible light:

"Further ahead lies the detection range of the Rot Tongue Hagra magic."

"Leave it to me." Rhodes patted Harvey on the shoulder, indicating that there was no need to worry.

At worst, I can just use two stealth steps to jump out and that'll be the end of it.

As he spoke, he looked at Paril and said, "While I'm not around, you'll be under Harvey's command."

Paril nodded, looking somewhat worried: "Then don't let the witch capture you and use you for experiments."

Rhodes nodded in agreement.

While keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings, they walked deeper into the swamp.

The air was damp and sticky, filled with a strong stench of decay and the unidentified stench of a corpse.

The water surface was covered with a thick layer of oily sheen, and below the surface was a bottomless black silt, from which bubbles would occasionally rise and burst with a "pop".

He was wary of traps and strange things that might emerge from the swamp at any moment.

We are getting closer and closer to the green miasma.

Rhodes took out a bottle of antidote from his bag, drank it down, and strode in.

The wooden cabin was rooted in the mud and looked as if it could sink at any moment. The roof was covered with a thick layer of dark green moss.

Laughter could be faintly heard coming from the smoke rising from the chimney.

Did I eat undercooked mushroom hot pot?

Pushing open the door, the sticky vines in front of me hung like curtains at the entrance.

Rhodes dismissively brushed aside the green vines with his staff and went inside.

Unexpectedly, the stench inside the house was even stronger than in the swamp; the entire hut felt like the inside of a rotting corpse.

The windows inside the house were all covered by sticky vines.

All the light came from the huge but simple fire pit in the middle of the room, the flames flickering with colorful light.

This environment seems somewhat eerie.

Rhodes suppressed his discomfort and went into the inner room.

The walls of the inner room were nailed with crooked shelves filled with glass jars.

A hunched figure sat beneath the shelf.

"Oh dear, a lost little bird has flown in."

His voice was sharp and dry, yet his tone was filled with deep kindness.

Rhodes activated his Appraisal skill the moment he saw the hunched back.

[Description: A phantom created by magic]

Oh.

really.

The phantom of the Rotting Tongue Hagra silently turned around.

Its skin was covered with wrinkles and pustules, its forehead was unusually broad and prominent, its nose was long and pointed, and its mouth was very large, stretching all the way to its ears, revealing uneven yellow teeth.

The withered fingers pointed to the wooden bowl on the table, which contained a thick soup that looked delicious.

"Come on, little bird, try some of Auntie's soup to warm yourself up."

Even if the other party is just a phantom, their words still have an irresistible allure.

It makes those who hear it want to unconsciously drink the liquid in the bowl in one gulp.

Rhodes quickly turned and walked toward the door, trying to shake off the temptation to eat.

But then another phantom of Hagra appeared at the door.

"Or would you like to hear a story? Your aunt knows many secrets about this swamp, and she also knows what you most desire in your heart."

Listen to your grandpa!

Without a word, Rhodes raised his staff and struck the hag on the head without warning.

"Bang!"

The staff landed on the wooden floor.

The two phantoms vanished simultaneously.

Hagra's unpleasant laughter echoed from inside the house: "Hehehe, is it because the soup here doesn't suit your taste?"

"It's okay, I'll just stew you into soup later."

Before he finished speaking, all the green vines in the room seemed to come alive, growing wildly and wriggling towards Rhodes.

Rhodes calmly took out a packet of flame powder; the reddish-yellow powder ignited rapidly upon contact with the vines.

The flames burned rapidly along the vines, reaching the very end.

At that moment, a bright green ray shot out from nowhere, and Rhodes hurriedly dodged.

He suddenly fell to the side and rolled under a crooked wooden table.

The dark green ray grazed his robes and struck the wall behind him.

At the same time, pale hands suddenly emerged from the shadows beneath Rhodes' feet.

They grabbed his ankle firmly.

Flame Arrow!

A flaming arrow struck the floor and instantly exploded violently.

Rhodes flew out.

He controlled the force of the explosion, and the impact did not seriously harm him.

He rolled to his feet, simultaneously grabbing a healing potion and a mana potion with his left hand and gulping them down.

A huge hole was exposed in the ground that had just been bombed, and inside the hole was a long underground passage.

Hagra stood at the entrance of the passage, his mouth grinning even wider:

"Little bird, your fire arrows seem quite special."

"I'll wait until your aunt digs your brain out and examines it thoroughly."