Chapter 71: The Ritual (1)

Chapter 71: The Ritual (1)

The hunched-back man scratched his head and asked.

Let me ask, how did you know the golems core was there?

Dale replied nonchalantly,

You mages have no creativity. You always hide the core in the same spot.

That has nothing to do with creativity. Placing the golems core there is the most efficient and practical choice

Thats exactly the lack of creativity Im talking about.

Dale cut off the hunched-back man sharply and the latters eyes flickered menacingly from behind his mask.

He then muttered,

Fine, I admit it. Youre more skilled than I thought. Despite your brutish appearance, youre quite cunning. That makes you all the more valuable. If I offer you to my master, he will surely be grateful and commend me.

Try it if you think you can.

I certainly will.

The hunched-back man didnt seem to care about the expenditure of his magical power as he immediately prepared for his next spell.

Dale was not one to stand idly by.

He slaughtered the obstructing demon worshippers and advanced relentlessly.

The hunched-back man who was moving on all fours like a beast used both his hands and feet as he spoke.

What a fine day, isnt it? The new moon, thick clouds, and fog all make up the perfect conditions for what we are meant to do.

Dale thought as he swung his sword without stopping.

He talks a lot.

Like other mages he had encountered, this one seemed to enjoy rambling about things only he understood.

Instead of paying attention to such trivial matters, Dale focused all his energy on cutting down the demon worshippers who charged at him.

While not as troublesome as the hunched-back man, the spells used by these demon worshippers were still a nuisance.

They were not to be underestimated.

Whether the hunched-back man was aware of Dales struggle or not, he continued to mutter incessantly.

We were almost ready. Just one piece was missing, and then you showed up It almost feels like fate, doesnt it?

Instead of responding, Dale forcefully hurled the bisected body of a demon worshipper at him.

The hunched-back man dodged swiftly to the side yet his chatter didnt cease.

Fate has called, and I must answer! Its not to my usual taste, but Im willing to take this gamble.

With those words, he produced a staff from seemingly nowhere.

Dale couldnt just ignore that staff. Its appearance was familiar to him.

The relic staff that controls beasts.

It looked similar but the power emanating from it was significantly stronger.

Its great power could be felt even from a distance.

Pale who was holding off the other demon worshippers shouted out,

Sir Dale!Updated from novelbIn.(c)om

It was a cry that meant action was necessary. Dale nodded his head and, ignoring the other demon worshippers beside him, charged straight at the hunched-back man.

But the man was quicker.

He lifted the staff above his head and then slammed it down towards the ground.

Crash!

The staff broke all too easily, scattering its fragments across the street. But what came next was truly astonishing.

The broken pieces of the staff sank into the ground as if submerging into water.

With all the blood and death that have accumulated around here recently, such things are possible.

The hunched-back man said as he stamped his left foot on the ground.

Suddenly, the road was etched with unknown symbols and geometric patterns.

The atmosphere shifted. The wind ceased, and the fog stirred violently.

This is not good.

Something was about to happen.

Dales plan to use Esther as bait to trace the demon worshippers had led him to this encounter with the hunched-back man, who seemed to have seen some kind of fate in it.

The plan the hunched-back man had been preparing for so long was now being set into motion.

Oooooo

A sinister energy spread throughout the entire castle.

The low-lying fog took on a faint green color. Dale waved his hand to disperse the fog.

The fog contains magical power.

The fog wasnt notably acidic or toxic.

Yet, that made it no less unsettling.

There must have been a reason for the fog to contain magical power.

The mystery soon unraveled.

The door of the mansion which stood like a sculpture on one side of the street burst open.

A family emerged from the mansion: three children, their parents, and what appeared to be their grandparents.

Pale realized it was all futile, bit his lip, and examined the hole.

When did this hole appear A cellar? Or perhaps a storm drain?

Could it be that the citys underground structures had been taken over by demon worshippers? Just like what happened in the past with Hasina?

Pale urgently asked Dale.

What shall we do? Given the commotion weve caused, Sir Talos and the Inquisitors must have noticed the anomaly by now. Theyll likely be on their way here soon. Should we wait for them?

The big hole.

There was a smell more dangerous than anything Dale had ever smelled in that gaping hole and he had no idea what was lurking there.

It would definitely be a dangerous adventure for these three to enter a place like that.

Unlike the calm Pale, Esther expressed her anxiety.

But if we wait here, what becomes of the townsfolk in the meantime?

Pales response faltered.

Well

He couldnt say for sure, but the longer they delayed, the more likely it was that the number of victims would increase.

The two soon turned their attention to Dale.

What do you think, Sir Dale?

Dale quietly peered down into the hole. It was pitch black with an ominous odor wafting up.

He instinctively knew that a dangerous enemy lay in wait below.

Is he deliberately luring me inside?

The hunched-back man coveted Dale. He wanted to kill Dale and offer him up as a sacrifice.

Yet, even though he said that, he had left only this conspicuous hole before vanishing.

It seemed almost like a provocation.

As if daring Dale with a taunt, there was even a sense of mockery in being challenged to enter.

But Dale thought calmly.

The ritual has begun.

It was likely a ritual to resurrect the demon Ganiagos. The castle residents who were now walking as if in a trance were probably intended as sacrifices for this ritual.

The ritual is most vulnerable before it is completed.

It was similar to a mages spell.

Once a ritual is completed, it cannot be undone. The best course of action is to prevent its completion.

Rather than dealing with the resurrected Ganiagos, it was best to stop him before he resurrected.

The battle against time had begun.

It could be a trap.

Perhaps the hunched-back man had laid a trap to lure Dale in.

But on the other hand

This might be my best chance to win. So.

Dale took a moment to survey his surroundings. Pale and Esther were desperately trying to prevent the bewitched residents from walking into the hole.

Indeed, he couldnt just stand by and let this happen.

Dale broke his silence.

I will go inside right now. I need to stop him.

Pale and Esther nodded their heads in agreement with grim expressions.

Then we will join you.

Its going to be dangerous. You might even die.

It doesnt matter. Our goddess did not teach us to flee in times like these.

Esther affirmed her resolve.

I wont hold you back either.

Dale nodded his head in acknowledgment.

The battle would be tough, but overcoming this fight would elevate Pale and Esther to greater heights.

The same went for Dale.

With their decision made, there was no reason to hesitate. The only thing left was to act.

Dale firmly wrapped his arms around the waists of Pale and Esther.

Esther asked with a puzzled look on her face.

. Sir Dale?

Were going in now.

Dale immediately picked them up and ran towards the hole.

Esther let out a startled scream after her body was lifted up, but Dale kept his gaze fixed on the hole regardless.

Eventually, they made contact with the strangely distorted space inside the hole and the three of them vanished completely.

It was quite some time later when the inquisitors and soldiers gathered at the scene after hearing the commotion.