Emperal conveniently ignored Vara’s words, seeing that the reptile was forcibly shifted from its position, Emperal moved forward.

His sword began to glow with an iridescent radiance, and a faint blue sheen glowed across its blade.

"Ah, this feels good."

If an experienced swordmaster saw this scene, they surely would have been surprised. Emperal’s flow of Verth in his sword was so smooth that there was not even an ounce of leakage in Verth.

It had gone from a good sword to an absolutely lethal sword.

Seeing Emperal so brazenly dashing at them, the snakes hissed loudly and lunged at him. There were ten snakes to be specific, each varying from Stage Two Verth Wielder to Stage Three Verth Wielder.

Their skin was charred black, probably due to the influence of Ashenfield. Their poison was strong enough to even take down a beast above their level!

One of the snakes approached near Emperal, twisting his body. Emperal shifted his body weight, and with a smile on his face, he swung his sword at the nearby snake...cutting its head off.

SSSRHHHHH!!!!?

The sword had created a beautiful blue arc, which was pleasing to look at. And look—she did. Vara was frozen in her spot, her eyes fixed on his movements. His expression, his eyes and his surprisingly wild and untamed nature.

All of it was the most delicious eye candy in her eyes.

"What amazing...swordsmanship. I am afraid no one in the entire Verandis could match his mastery at the same level of cultivation."

She muttered.

AWWOOOOO!! AWOOOO!!! AWWOOOO!!!

Beneath her foot, the reptile’s tail writhed desperately, struggling to free itself, but to no avail.

It had used many means, such as biting, using its razor-sharp claws, and even its crushing weight!

But, no matter what it did, the woman in front of it didn’t budge in the slightest; she was rooted to the ground.

Vara hurriedly waved her hand, and a small jade appeared in her palm. Its surface glimmered faintly as the battle began, reflecting within it.

"Hehehe~ I will watch this every day."

A bead of sweat dripped down Emperal as he waved through the serpents with brutal efficiency. He was swinging the sword in such inhumane arcs that the pythons didn’t even have the time to react; their heads rolled one by one.

"Heavens are truly unfair and blind, those born with monstrous talent are crippled with trash Spirit Roots, while parasites are handed endless opportunities without earning a single one."

The Infernal Dragon mused inwardly, his thoughts aligned with Vara.

Seeing that his control over the Verth was decreasing gradually, Emperal cut off the Verth input. There were still three pythons of the original ten, snapping his sword on his back, he leapt towards the mirror.

His hands began glowing as his nails elongated ever so slightly; his palms and half of his forearm were covered in dense, magma scales.

The pythons stiffened when they felt that heat, but having no choice, the three of them leapt towards Emperal anyway.

But they had become smarter. They didn’t rush collectively at the man; one of the snakes slithered behind his back and coughed a copious amount of poison.

"Tch"

Emperal hurriedly moved sideways, but the two remaining pythons were already waiting. They opened their mouths wide, intending to swallow him whole.

"Hmph! Dare to even think of swallowing me?"

Spreading his hands wide and tightening his fists into the shape of claws, Emperal banged his hands on the fangs of the pythons.

HISSSSSSS!!!!

The two hissed and tried to back away. But, how could Emperal let them leave so easily?

He grabbed both of their jaws tightly, making them struggle, before they could even attempt to use their tails or chomp on his head.

They heard a low , dangerous mutter.

"Kraeth’sol"

The snakes stiffened for a moment, Emperal’s eyes glowed. In the next instant.

SHHHHRAAAHHH!

FWOOOOOOOOM!!!

Intense Draconic flames erupted, incinerating the two pythons into dust in a mere second!

"Huffff...Hufff. That was intense."

Emperal exhaled lightly, turning his head. He saw the last python had slithered away in fear, and Vara didn’t bother to stop it.

Turning his head, he saw that Vara was staring at him intensely. The intensity had bordered on unsettling.

Her usual dark eyes had turned bright, intense, golden. The beast behind her had passed out long ago, unable to bear even a wisp of her aura.

Emperal stepped towards her with a smile on his face. "Is that beast dead?"

He asked, pointing towards the reptile behind her. But Vara didn’t answer and just kept staring at him with the same intensity.

Snap!

Vara was snapped back to reality as Emperal cracked his fingers right in front of her eyes.

"W-What? Ah, yeah. He is sleeping, don’t worry, he won’t do anything."

She spoke, earning Emperal’s nod.

"Now let’s go and take that damn mirror."

Saying that, he started walking towards the mirror. And to his surprise, he saw that Vara was still standing there.

"What’s the matter? Won’t you come?" He asked.

To his question, Vara scratched her head awkwardly. "I would rather not."

Hearing this, he was stunned for a moment. But before he could speak, the Infernal Dragon’s voice echoed in his mind.

"She is right, and you’ll know the reason once you try to obtain that. Now, go"

Seeing the finality in the Infernal Dragon’s tone, Emperal sighed and nodded his head.

"Alright then, wait for me."

Seeing this, Vara nodded with a smile.

"Emperal"

"Hmm?"

"Do not use the Verth Spring’s Verth too much."

"...Huh?"

Seeing her intentions, Emperal knew she would not speak further. He couldn’t help but be annoyed.

"Why are all old people like this? Just say the words you mean to say."

But nonetheless, he heeded her advice.

Stopping in front of the mirror, he couldn’t help but gasp. It was a five-foot-tall, thirty-inch-wide frame. It stood upright on a dark stone.

Its frame was made from an unknown dark alloy of some unknown civilization. Just being near it, he felt it.

His soul trembled as another form of energy began flowing into him. Seeing this, Emperal’s eyes widened.

"Does this mirror...generate Soul Force?"