[Your frogs watch as you whack the loincloth lad with your staff, beating him until he screams and spits fire from his mouth. Foodie understands now - this isn't love, it's abuse!]

[Your Napoleon wonders how getting beat makes him spit fire instead of blood?]

[Your da Vinci explains simply - by thrashing him, Ming is venting the lad's inner fire, concentrated and erupting from his mouth. Though he's yelling loudly, right now he's also feeling pretty good~]

[Your Napoleon comprehends - watching sweat-drenched you, Ming, you really are a good person who suffers for others' sake~]

[Your Merlin shakes his head - those two are dumbasses, and you, Napoleon, aren't too bright either~]

"The instant I break free, you die!" the loincloth lad roared, silently trying to activate Blink.

[You've been silenced~]

Silenced?

The lad frowned - this guy could even interrupt magic...

Again!

[You've been silenced~]

[You've been silenced~]

[...]

Boom! Ming's staff smashed down right on the loincloth lad's head. By now, he was sunk chest-deep in the muck!

Boom! With another head blow, his whole body is plunging into the mud pit, just the head above the surface.

Boom! One more strike.

Defense broken.

The Giant Divine Staff's power was massive.

Ming swiftly summoned a little spider to wrap the lad's head in webs, exposing his eyes, mouth, and nose. Eight strands secured his head to the tent roof, keeping him from sinking fully into the mire and dying. "Now then..." Feeling a bit tired, Ming glanced at Kubo beside him, who immediately knelt down on all fours - a 'zombie chair.'

[Kubo looks at you - not much meat on my back, make do~]

Seated, Ming tapped the staff's tip on the loincloth lad's forehead. "You have two choices now - die or become my subordinate and happily work with me. Well?"

"Hmph!" Though the 'chair' amused him, the lad remained haughty. "I'm a god; how could I debase myself so!"

"I see~" Ming lifted the Giant Divine Staff high, about to smash it down.

How could gods compare when that side was already in chaos?

"Wait!" The loincloth lad suddenly shouted, "Don't you want to learn some secrets from me? Killing me outright, aren't you an idiot?"

Ming laughed. "The voyeur already told me plenty; no need to waste time with you~" As he spoke, he hefted the staff again.

"Wait!" The lad didn't want to die and hadn't lived enough yet. As a rich heir, he'd gotten away with multiple arson sprees before ascension. Becoming a 'god' finally let him do as he pleased.

He'd once razed a city that refused to submit, even summoning their patron goddess, Athena. He'd burned her alive and reduced the entire city to ashes - the pinnacle of pyromania, the life he desired. With millions beneath his feet, how could he die before his fill?

The wise recognize situations and adapt. Agree first, then rebel later.

The loincloth lad gazed sincerely at Ming. "The road ahead is long, with many thorns. I think you need a hand."

Ming smiled at the staff, leaning beside him. "Your dad awaits up ahead; what then?"

"Sacrifice kin for the greater good!" the lad replied resolutely.

Boom! A blow landed, and the loincloth lad died.

Frankly, Ming didn't dare keep someone who so easily betrayed their family.

Of course, two main reasons existed for killing him:

First, the frogs' collecting bundles had limits, best saved for critical moments rather than wasted.

Second, he'd discovered a 'secret.'

All along the way, it seemed the rules were helping improve his abilities. Both little A and B showed this tendency, the Titan Spirit granting physique and strength, the Three-Eyed Freak foresight, and the Dharma Realm. Killing the loincloth lad was to verify his guess.So the lad died as was deserved.

Ding~ A pile of cards dropped.

Ming sorted through them, stowing fusion and appraisal types away to seek out talents and skills.

[Divine Talent: Immune to Fire Damage - fire attacks nullified.]

[Divine Skill: Three Heads Six Arms - spirit skill, 50 spirit/sec, no cooldown.]

"~~" This tentatively confirmed his second conjecture:

One rule was helping him become invincible. Next, he fused the Fire Lance and Giant Divine Staff, obtaining an upgraded Giant Divine Staff.

[Red Scarf: Wearing restores 50 spirit/sec, steadfast faith.]

[Gold Bangle: Wear to unlimited spirit capacity and endless stamina.]

[Red Sash: From Zeus, tied countless lovers, mastered innumerable knots - auto-activation, random bindings. Do you think Zeus was seduced by charm alone? Sash binds anyone (aberrants, undead, beasts) for 300,000 durability, unable to break free.]

"Nice sash~"

Modified, thank you for your suggestion~

The sash being from Zeus meant the loincloth lad must've killed him. As he pondered the journey so far, Ming realized that despite the dangers, the gains had been abundant after the' Good Person' quest. It seemed he was being 'supported' and 'nurtured' in a way. This hinted at serious divergences among the rules, not an entirely unified bloc.

Ming tidied the battlefield, packing up the tent. The fighting outside was over; the 'heavenly soldiers' were now all zombies.

What a waste of ready manpower, all because his instructions had been unclear. No blaming Raoul and the others. He proceeded to strip several thousand spirit bracelets of varying quality of the soldiers.

Most were handed to Lopene for storage; the rest socketed into the Gold Bangle - now he could fight indefinitely without worrying about energy reserves like before.

[The Black-Haired Pig Demon lifted his pitchfork, blocking the combined assault of the Four Heavenly Kings. In his heart, he cried - Boss, hurry back!]

[Poseidon squatted inside the little black shed, enduring flame broiling and electric shocks... He stamped and cursed - Bullying me on land, big deal! Dare you to try it in the sea!]

[The Red Knight stood by Enyo's side, admiring the chaos she sowed. He decided to become her disciple~]

"Disciple?" Ming suddenly felt the Red Knight might follow Frank's example, inheriting all of Raoul's ways and promoting the 'also' doctrine to new heights. Seemed he had the potential, very promising.

"~~" Ming glanced at the zombie heavenly troops, patting Napoleon's head. "Mop these mooks up."

[Your Napoleon understands, turning to the zombie horde and rallying them - Stop dawdling; let's eat the brains ahead!]

[Your Napoleon diplomatically communicates with the zombies, Puppets +921~]

[Your Napoleon tells Raoul they're fellow zombies now, can put the blades away~]