Rogue Villain-Chapter 227: Hot Tub

Ackster felt an almost tangible surge of existential power leave the salamander’s body after it died. It was the first time he sensed it so clearly. It was a strange but welcome sensation of comforting warmth seeping into his very essence and strengthening him.

He was a little confused at first since he wasn’t sure why he felt the salamander’s existential power. But maybe it was just because the lizard was so powerful. Eventually, Ackster chalked it up to it being because his martial art gave him the power to kill beings significantly stronger than him. And now that he was as strong as he was, the beings he could kill had a lot of existential power.

Ackster thought about it some more while eating the salamander, but he couldn’t come to a definite conclusion. Instead of wasting energy thinking about something useless like that, Ackster focused on breaking apart the salamander’s skeleton into tiny chunks he could eat.

He wasn’t sure he could digest the salamander’s skeleton, but it wouldn’t hurt to try.

After stuffing himself, Ackster continued upward.

His fight with and subsequent consumption of the salamander had boosted his strength, his healing capabilities, and his Pyro Resistance skill. Since he was stronger and more capable now, there was no reason to stick to the kiddie pool. It was also time to really get the Sun God Token charging. So, Ackster headed to the top of the volcano.

It took some time, but after some grueling training that could hardly be called training since Ackster only relied on his skills to do the work for him, he finally reached a point where his healing could fight off the lava’s corrosion. As long as he concentrated and had something to sustain his body with, Ackster could spend an almost indefinite amount of time mostly submerged in the lava.

When he reached that point, Ackster started incorporating Nold’s secret technique into his training. It was time for a second round to strengthen his body even further. He could technically move on to the second stage now that he had completed the first one. But the more times he did each stage, the stronger he would become. Ackster wasn’t going to give up on that just because he wanted to move on.

Besides, he didn’t have the method or tools for the second stage. So, until he found Wilma, he would have to stick with the hammer and chisel until they stopped working for him.

Ackster made decent progress with Nold’s secret technique now that his fiery training from hell had boosted his healing skills even more.

However, he was running out of food in the volcano.

Coincidentally enough, right when he was about to look for another place, preferably with a hotter volcano, to settle down at, he felt a presence approach the volcano. He let his Overhuman Senses work as he closed his eyes and merely listened and felt.

A bipedal creature with more weight than a human but still light-footed and agile. It was also fire-resistant since it approached the volcano through the lava streams without faltering. As the being got even closer, Ackster could even form an image in his head of the general appearance of the winged, horned, and scaled person climbing the mountain while carrying a spear. The dragonling looked around on high alert with its spear at the ready. He was looking for something.

’The salamander maybe. Is it an adventurer?’

Ackster drew a guess based on the dragonling’s light armor that didn’t have any obvious tribal markings and concluded that it was someone sent to subjugate the salamander in the volcano for some reason. The salamander didn’t seem to have had any intentions of leaving the volcano and attacking any settlements. But it was a strong foe and a walking treasure trove for someone who knew how to utilize the materials, so it made sense someone wanted it dead.

’However...’

Even before the dragonling got close, Ackster could tell that he was far too weak to kill the salamander. Just the fact that Ackster had sensed him before he even started climbing the volcano was evidence of the dragonling’s inexperience and weakness. So, he wasn’t in a rush to get out of his bath.

Ackster waited until the dragonling made it all the way to the top of the volcano.

"Hey."

Ackster waved from his spot down in the lava, most of his body submerged.

"!"

The dragonling became alert and pointed his spear at Ackster with a startled but wary expression.

"Take it easy. That stick won’t do anything to me anyway—Ah, can you even understand me?"

The dragonling nodded slowly.

"I understand. The chief thinks relations with other species are important. She taught everyone who wanted to learn."

"Great. I don’t mean any harm. I’m just here to train for a bit. But if this is your volcano, I can leave."

"Not my volcano. Salamander’s volcano. Where is salamander?"

"So that is what you’re here for. Sorry to tell you, but it was in the way, so I got rid of the salamander."

"Hmm."

Ackster raised an eyebrow as the dragonling seemed disappointed and hopeless, which wasn’t what he had expected. He thought the dragonling would either be relieved at not having to fight the dangerous beast or upset at having his prey taken from him.

"If it’s any comfort, you wouldn’t have been able to kill it alone."

"I needed to kill it. I needed to prove my strength."

"I see..."

Ackster thought for a moment about what the dragonling meant. But maybe it was just a rite of passage and not a quest for adventurers that brought him here.

"Well, good luck with that. I’m sure you can find something else to kill around here."

Ackster dismissed the dragonling with a wave of his hand before sinking back down into the hot tub with closed eyes. He was thinking about moving on if the dragonling had asked since he needed to find a new training and hunting ground. But since the dragonling was just on a suicide mission, he didn’t bother entertaining him anymore.

"Please help me, Ancestor!" pleaded the dragonling on his knees.