Rogue Villain-Chapter 270: Shiny

Ackster was no longer sure what was happening with the fight and his own body. As he slurped down more and more of Viztar’s fire, he could feel himself heat up from deep within. It didn’t feel like a fever or his body temperature rising. It was more like his soul was growing hotter.

’I guess that makes sense.’

The skills were related to his soul, so for Smelting Furnace to affect his soul rather than his body was reasonable. It also explained how he could store so much inorganic and organic material inside himself using Smelting Furnace. It was a space connected to his soul the same way his Inventory was.

That space was now being overtaken by green fire that smelted down and refined everything Ackster had stuffed in there, withdrawing everything useful and rebuilding Ackster’s body with it while incinerating and disposing of anything that might remain.

The increased temperature and smelting efficiency burned through the stock Ackster had arranged ahead of time quicker than anticipated. But that also meant he was rebuilding his body with stronger materials quicker.

Ackster’s body was regenerating and being rebuilt stronger while also being tempered and refined by Viztar’s corrosive flames. His body was undergoing a baptism of fire and forging from within and outside.

Eventually, the temperature within Smelting Furnace stopped increasing. The only thing that changed when he consumed more flames was the amount of fire within him, but that decreased as soon as he stopped consuming. It seemed like Smelting Furnace was satisfied with the temperature and amount of fire. Or it would be a waste to contain more of the fire when it didn’t do anything but clog the Furnace.

Ackster opened his eyes. The fact that he had eyes was proof enough of how quickly he had grown stronger since he could regenerate them and keep them regenerated despite the shower of fire.

He inspected his shiny body since he could hardly believe how sturdy it was. Most of the material from all the weapons, treasures, carcasses, bones, and rocks he stuffed himself with had been refined and condensed to such a small amount that it could fit inside his body. Ackster had a feeling that the weapons and armor he picked up from the ruin had done a lot.

Satisfied with his growth and expectant of what would happen if he ate Viztar or if Viztar increased the temperature of his flames, Ackster looked forward.

’Oops.’

While Ackster was distracted, Kargas had broken an arm and lost seemingly all his swords. He clutched his shoulder with unsteady legs as Viztar looked at him with a rapidly healing gash across his cheek.

"No more swords, eh? Then, I guess it’s time to end this. I’ve had my fun, albeit short."

The reason for Viztar taking it easy on Ackster and Kargas was revealed. He was just playing around with them as a pastime.

"Not so fast, crocodile."

Ackster used a burst of vitality to sweep away the fire. It seemed that with his sudden increase in strength and bodily physique, his vitality had also been refined or gotten stronger.

Viztar raised an eyebrow as he looked at Ackster.

"I guess I underestimated you, cockroach."

"I guess you did."

Ackster turned to Kargas.

"You don’t need a specific sword, right? As long as it’s pointy, it works."

Kargas nodded before looking at the state of his arm.

"Yeah, but with my arm like this..."

"You have another. Use it."

Ackster didn’t allow any excuses and tossed Kargas the broken handle to the Sea God’s trident. It wasn’t a perfect weapon. But it was an incredible material, and the broken point was sharper than most swords Ackster had seen. And, most importantly, although it was broken, it was sturdy.

Ackster had tried it out, and the only thing that could compare to the broken handle was the indestructible Sun God Token. Viztar’s flames and defenses wouldn’t cause it any trouble.

"What is that?"

Viztar followed the broken handle with a gaze sharper than he had shown before. Still, he let Kargas catch it. It wouldn’t make any difference, and it would end up in his hands to study when Kargas and Ackster died to them.

"Your dildo."

"Wha—?!"

Without giving Viztar a chance to react or process the answer, Ackster charged forward with his newly reforged body. The strength he could unleash wasn’t quite at a whole new level. But he was faster, stronger, and, most of all, more durable than before. The same punch that skewered his stomach before now only caved his stomach in without doing too much damage.

Ackster’s vitality and mana surged like twin storms fighting for hegemony over his body as he unleashed destructive punches, kicks, and slashes toward Viztar that left pits, craters, and rifts in the ground when they missed but barely more than a bruise when they landed.

Still, Ackster wasn’t dismayed.

After reforging his body using Viztar’s flame, he could feel himself having a fighting chance against Viztar. Viztar was still holding back. But with the difference now, Ackster could feel how much stronger Viztar was. That meant he could feel how close he was to dancing with death instead of a dragon.

That was exactly the kind of motivation and pressure Ackster needed to start diving deeper into the Unimportant Whatever Arts. The first step was connecting his sword to the equation.

Now that he had the parasite, he was going to put it to work. Besides, the sword was pretty good—almost as good as the broken handle, and it was only getting stronger the more vitality it consumed.

But to do that, he needed to master the sword and his martial arts.

However, Ackster quickly realized that a sword was the wrong kind of weapon to use with his rippling strikes. A sword’s sharp edge didn’t transfer force the same way his punches did. It cut through. He could still make ripples, especially since Viztar was too tough to cut.

But it was inefficient. It was more efficient for Ackster to try and sneeze apart Viztar.

Yet, Ackster could feel something. Each time his sword clashed with Viztar’s body or barriers, his hands had an odd sensation, and that sensation grew with each move from the Unimportant Whatever Arts he made and each blow he landed.

Ackster’s mind surged.