Damn it, the dimensional step won't work—I can't get back!
Huh?
Wait... doesn't this mean... I lost again?!
He instinctively turned back, wanting one last look at that cunning opponent, but what met his eyes were several mycelial tentacles coiling toward him.
**[Entangle LV6]**
Killing Fifteen or whatever—Puffshroom was still watching. Wrap him up, knock him out, use him as a human shield to challenge the Sword Saint!
However, halfway through their extension, all six tentacles suddenly changed direction.
Their target had become the figure that had appeared like a ghost at the edge of the spatial rift—
Sword Saint Elvain!
He'd been far away just moments ago!
What was this?
Some ultimate teleportation that could only be used once in a lifetime?!
"Really... haven't moved this fast in ages... nearly threw out my back."
The Sword Saint held his unsheathed longsword horizontally in his left hand, threading the scabbard precisely through the loop of the pendant around Fifteen's neck, suspending him in midair like hanging a weather doll.
His right hand flashed out, drawing another short sword from his waist in a lightning-quick motion. With a casual horizontal sweep, all six tough mycelial tentacles were severed with a sharp snap!
Simultaneously, intense paralysis instantly swept through Knight Puffshroom's entire body, freezing it like ice!
**[Status: Paralyzed]**
Ignoring the Knight Puffshroom at his feet, the Sword Saint studied Fifteen with interest as he dangled from the scabbard, looking utterly defeated. His tone was teasing: "My bad, my bad. I was so focused on teaching you swordplay, I forgot to teach you how to use your brain. Look at this—even a mere monster is cleverer than you now."
With that said, he gave his wrist a slight shake, and the shame-faced Fifteen was flung down beside the paralyzed Knight Puffshroom.
Having settled all this, the Sword Saint calmly called out toward the distance: "Little Inanna—! Time for you to get to work!"
"Coming, coming!" Inanna's response carried a hint of bewilderment.
She'd just seen a flash of silver light beside her, and Uncle Sword Saint had vanished without a trace. Then immediately after... it seemed like... it was over?
What had happened?
Had the boss's plan succeeded?
Inanna trotted over to find Fifteen standing behind the Sword Saint with his head hung low, and on the ground, a large mushroom wrapped in a red cloak!
After the knight's legs and mycelial tentacles were cut away, it really did look just like a big mushroom.
"Come on, try whether that dagger of yours can subdue it." Sword Saint Elvain gestured with his chin toward the "mushroom" on the ground, his tone casual. "If it doesn't work... tonight we'll get a taste of what this 'Puffshroom King' is like to eat."
Inanna took a deep breath and drew the jeweled dagger from her chest—"Stoneheart's Binding."
Her gaze fell on the Knight Puffshroom lying helpless before her, and her breathing unconsciously grew heavy.
Though all this was part of the boss's plan, an irrepressible thought still crept into her mind:
What if this dagger really did control the boss?
What if... what if it actually worked... then what should she do?
A boss who obeyed her every word?!
The impact of this thought was so strong that Inanna's hand holding the dagger began to tremble uncontrollably.
The Sword Saint beside her noticed her trembling hand and, thinking she was afraid, comforted her: "What's to fear? Hit by my 'Song Stopper,' it's just a block of wood now—can't make a peep. Tsk, really doesn't seem like that brute Alama's child, being so timid?"
Inanna didn't explain. She steadied herself and channeled her magic power like a gentle stream into the jeweled dagger in her hand.
Eerie blue runes instantly lit up on the dagger's surface, flowing and shifting like living things.
Without hesitation, she drew the sharp blade across her palm. Blood welled up but didn't drip—instead, it was greedily absorbed by the gem on the dagger. The gem's glow became sinister and profound.
Then, under everyone's gaze, Inanna crouched down and aimed the dagger—now pulsing with ominous blue light after absorbing her blood—at the Knight Puffshroom's severed opening, and steadily... plunged it in!
...
Would he really be controlled by a mere magical item?
If his main body were directly hit, there might be some possibility, but through a puffshroom?
Impossible!
Though that's what he thought, Lin Jun actually didn't know the answer for certain.
This was a magical and unreasonable world—maybe it really could work that way!
But Lin Jun still chose to let Inanna go ahead with it.
The reason was simple.
If any random magical item could so easily control him through a puffshroom... then this fatal weakness would be like a sword hanging over his head, utterly unavoidable!
Possessing such a huge and unpreventable flaw, what was the point of talking about secretly developing power or ruling over territory?
Sooner or later, he'd be caught by some nobody who popped out of some corner, reduced to a plaything.
Rather than eventually falling into the hands of some unknown, worthless enemy and being used as a tool at their whim... he might as well "submit" to Inanna now.
At least this silly girl had a good heart. Living under her protection might even grant him some peace.
When the dagger pierced down, Lin Jun still felt a tiny bit nervous.
Before long, the Knight Puffshroom gained a new status.
**[Fixed Status: Intermediate Magic Contract (Inanna St. Clair)]**
Lin Jun immediately checked his own status panel—no changes whatsoever!
So... it was neither completely ineffective nor total control, but merely locked onto this Knight Puffshroom avatar?
Speaking of which, could he still control the knight now?
...
"How is it?" Sword Saint Elvain, who had been watching the show with arms crossed, asked with interest.
Sensing the new connection she had with the puffshroom before her, Inanna said: "It seems to have worked!"
"Oh? Then try making it move." The Sword Saint raised an eyebrow, clearly wanting to see the effect.
*Stand up!*
As Inanna willed it, the Knight Puffshroom, finally recovered from its paralyzed state, struggled to twist its body, but simply couldn't accomplish this command...
Just as Inanna was wondering what command to give next, Lin Jun tested things slightly, and the Knight Puffshroom suddenly spewed out a cloud of hallucinogenic spores.
Second-tier magic—Gale Technique!
Guge reacted swiftly, dispelling the poisonous mist with an almost instantaneous gust of wind.
He said nothing, merely letting his gaze fall lightly on Inanna.
"S-sorry! I'm still not very skilled at this..." Though it wasn't her doing, she tearfully shouldered the blame for this "operational error."
At the same time, that little fantasy bubble in her heart about "controlling the boss" burst with a definitive "pop."
Having easily resolved the so-called "Puffshroom King," the Sword Saint had no reason to delay further and led the team back to the surface.
The Knight Puffshroom's severed mycelial tentacles and stubby legs needed time to regenerate. For now, it could only be carried like a round bundle in Inanna's arms.
However, as she turned to leave, Inanna quietly dropped a palm-sized notebook at the original spot.
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