Roman Belphegor/Story

## Battle

Chen Rui was silent for a while. This guy Lennon wasn't just shockingly agile, but his mind was also really nimble.

The problem was that the strength of this person of the "Sloth" Royal Family was too overwhelming. So, being able to escape from him was good enough.

The slyness of this guy which was absolutely proportional with his strength.

"Wait!" Chen Rui's brain was in the air, and he thought of a temporary solution. "Don't you like to gamble? Do you dare to gamble?"

"Want me to let you live? Don't bother about your bad tricks." Although that man said so, his eyes faintly glowed, "Tell me what's the gamble first?"

"We'll bet if I can escape from you today." While Chen Rui spoke, he told Dodo to run away telepathically and meet him at the mining office.

That man initially thought that the opponent would gamble on an unpopular thing to escape and survive. However, it was such an unexpected gamble. He immediately became interested, "What is the bet?"

"Very simple." Chen Rui said with a husky laugh, "Keep tonight's incident as a secret."

The man stunned and laughed, "Sure. The bandits have nothing to do with me anyway. However, if you lose, your life will be mine."

"No problem. Yet, can I trust your gambling integrity?" Chen Rui said deliberately.

"I, Sir Lennon, am lacking of money and beauties but not gambling integrity!" The man said coldly, "Besides, you have no choice but to believe it!"

Chen then surprise-attacks Lennon but only hits his Afterimage. They battle. Lennon slices Chen's Aurora Shot in half. But Chen uses Aura Blade and a new move from his Raging Sea training: sword qi / blade energy (刀气). Lennon is impressed, but just as he is about to strike, Chen teleports away using Dark Will. The Red Devil Bandits rush in to check on the commotion.

It was Chen Rui's first time using Dark Will's Teleportation function. He felt like his entire body was wrapped by a mysterious force and decomposed into countless "particles". These "particles" seemed to be repelled by the current space, and it was transferred to another location. Subsequently, the "particles" reconstructed into the human form.

Actually, it happened in an instant. After a slight dizziness, he was already in another place.

Based on the magic map, he seemed to still be around the Mount Xilang area. However, the map showed that he was about 10 km from the main pit. This kind of teleportation had a certain distance limit, so it was impossible to return to the Dark Moon City directly. Also, it was very random. Of course, he wouldn't be directly transported to the enemy. Otherwise, he could really be awarded with the King of Tragedy of the year.

Lennon's strength was quite scary. His two ultimate moves, <Aura Blade> and <Aurora Shot> were actually easily solved. Especially his terrifying speed left a strong impression on Chen Rui. Not only his body movement was rapid, but his sword speed was also quick. Surely, Lennon didn't use his greatest strength. It seemed that the gap between ranks were indeed huge.

He certainly couldn't rival a Demon King level powerhouse currently. However, after he surpassed Arux, Lennon would be his next target!

## Lennon

This was Lennon's voice. Chen Rui also saw the guy's face clearly. He really had a languid look. If he didn't meet him last night, he wouldn't have thought that this royal family was known as "Sloth" had a terrifying speed that was opposite of his name. Besides, the horrifying things weren't just the speed.

Lennon examined Chen Rui slowly and a faint, strange glow flashed past his left eye. He curiously asked, "This... "sir", we seem to have met somewhere?"

"Oh! Aren't you that... who... from the Dark Moon City?" We seem to have drank wine together." Chen Rui deliberately pretended to know Lennon. He was apparently trying to cotton up with him.

Lennon was stunned, and he actually laughed too, "Is it? No wonder you look so familiar. Did you bring that kind of alcohol this time?"

Culia at the side was a bit anxious: This human called Chen Rui is the key to redemption. When I was about to capture him back to interrogate or torture, Lennon come out to cotton up with him at this time. Isn't this clearly messing up my plan?

Chen Rui went along the line. He acted close and asked, "You, aren't you at the Dark Moon City? Why are you here?"

"Oh, this Sir Culia said that he's here to capture someone. I heard that there's a beauty here, so I come along to see...", Lennon seemed to be explaining that today's incident had nothing to do with him. When he mentioned beauty, he looked interested, "Can you tell me where the beauty is?"

Chen Rui certainly wouldn't tell the truth, "She had some urgent matter, so she went back to the Dark Moon City early this morning. If you want to meet her, you can go to the Dark Moon to find her."

"It's truly unfortunate. I really wanted to have a deep conversation with her." Lennon shook his head regretfully.

Culia over there said impatiently, "That woman's background wasn't simple. Don't get into trouble! Let's go!"

"Her background isn't simple?" Lennon's eyes lit up and he asked very ignorantly, "Those more reputable the family she comes from, the more interested I am. If she's married or is widowed, that's the best. Can you tell me her name?"

Culia couldn't bear it. As he was about to vent his anger, Lennon suddenly noticed something and looked up to the sky. He saw a small black shadow approaching and enlarging quickly.

It's Kegu! Chen Rui's heart suddenly sank; he finally couldn't keep his calm anymore. It's too unfortunate! Athena actually returned at this time!

Athena also saw Lennon and blurted out, "It's you!"

"Not me!" Lennon who had always looked languid, seemed a little nervous at this time. He turned and wanted to slip away, "Beauty, you recognize the wrong person! I still have something to do today. You guys can chat slowly..."

"Stand still!" Athena pointed at Lennon with her sword and shouted, "Roman! Asshole! I haven't seen you for a few years, but I never thought you'd fall to be a bandit! If you have the guts, you can try to slip away again today."

Roman? Is it the guy's true name? Chen Rui was prepared to risk it all. He was greatly surprised by such a twist suddenly. Yet, he still gathered all his strength, preparing to launch an attack anytime.

"Oh, look at my memory! It turned out to be Athena! I haven't seen you for a few years and you've become more beautiful. I almost can't recognize you! However, I have nothing to do with these bandits. I am just... just..."

"Hmph, you surely still are the same asshole..." Athena said coldly. "I must tell Delia."

When Chen Rui heard Delia's name, he felt a little familiar. Suddenly, he thought of the "back up plan" that Athena arranged for him in the black rainforest. He immediately understood a little. This Lennon or Roman and "Delia" were Athena's acquaintance before she came to the Dark Moon.

"Are your farce over?" Culia interrupted the two's "reminiscence" and looked at Lennon coldly... "Are you actually Lennon or Roman?"

"Should be... all of them. Generally, every time I change a place, I will change my name accordingly." Lennon shrugged his shoulders and turned a blind eye to Culia's cold gaze. Culia didn't know Lennon's true strength, so he said coldly, "No matter who you are, retreat now. Due to my respect for our leader, I won't bicker with you on the matter just now! Human, follow me now if you're tactful. Otherwise, I'll kill half of the miners here!"

Before Lennon opened his mouth, Athena's whole body was covered in flames; she instantly shifted into the battle form. She leaped high and slashed downward toward his head while yelling, "Shameless guy! Before you take Chen Rui, you have to ask the sword in my hands first!"

Actually, after eating the devil fruit, Athena had reached the middle stage of Higher Demon. Then, she drank a full set of Eternal black potions. Even if the potion effects weren't fully manifested, based on her power alone, no regular middle-stage Higher Demon could rival her.

A long-poled scythe appeared in Culia's hand and his demonic fire was ignited instantly.

## Athena and Culia battle

Lennon looked admired, and he nodded, "Athena's strength improved so quickly! 3 years ago, she was only an Intermediate Demon. Now, she's already at the middle stage of Higher Demon. However, she seems to have just acquired this strength; she is still unfamiliar in the control. Culia is also a middle-stage Higher Demon, and he seems to be still holding back. In your opinion, who do you think will win?"

Chen Rui knew that this guy must have some special ability. Lennon suspected that he was related to the cloaked man last night. He immediately shook his head and said, "They're moving too fast. I can't see clearly... However, I believe Athena will definitely win!"

## Infatuation ring

Lennon glanced at Chen Rui's hand that was hidden in his sleeve. Lennon took out a ring and said, "This is a magical equipment that I occasionally got in Town Leia. I'll give it to you as a gift. Remember to say some good words for me in front of Athena later."

Chen Rui looked surprised and took the ring. He saw a purple jewel was embedded in it; it also had some odd engraving. He could clearly feel a faint energy movement.

Chen Rui moved his thought and extended his left hand. When Lennon's gaze instantly focused on his ring finger, his eyes were flashing. Yet, his brow frowned. There was indeed a ring on the ring finger, but it wasn't the secret treasure of a certain royal family. Instead, it was the most common lighting ring / illumination ring (照明戒指).

Chen Rui was long prepared. Knowing that Lennon had always been doubting him, so Chen Rui deliberately used the lighting ring to test him. Actually, Dark Will was kept in the storage. Now, he put the magic ring on his middle finger and smiled, "I truly appreciate your kindness. What special function does this magic ring have?"

Lennon was puzzled in his heart, but as he heard that question, he suddenly smiled mysteriously and lowered his voice to say, "This is a good item that I got after a lot of effort. It's called the infatuation ring (激情指环). Not only can it improve the pleasure of both men and women during intercourse, the most important thing is that it can also enhance endurance. It is definitely a compulsory treasure to seduce the beauties!"

Chen Rui was stunned when he heard that: Lennon's "gift of friendship" is actually such... "equipment"!

## References

1. ↑ Chapter 96 (Steambun)
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Chapter 98 (Steambun)
3. ↑ Evil King Eye
4. ↑ Last night when facing Lennon, Chen was cloaked, hiding his physical appearance.