Chapter 123: Prophecy and Onslaught

"Xiao Ke, do you still have enough for meals?"

Luo De shifted position on Vivian's lap, the scent of trees filling his nose.

The half-deer was in charge of Bond's meals.

She feared human contact, but clearly had her own ways to buy food from town.

Still, the mare-girl often came over to the ranger's cabin for dinner, since Tally's cooking wasn't bad.

She'd gobble down her food while quietly complaining that Xiao Ke's meals tasted awful.

Hmm. That's true.

After all, Xiao Ke had a tiny appetite—she'd just drink dew and eat wild berries in the forest and be full, never bothering to cook.

Because of this, she had no feelings about Bond eating at the cabin; sometimes she'd even miss picking berries and wander sadly to the door.

Luo De usually noticed this and stepped out to hand the blushing half-deer a dinner.

"About this—um, no, better let Bond eat at the ranger's cabin. The child's still growing, and my cooking has always been..."

Xiao Ke grew despondent, her little deer ears drooping.

What she didn't tell anyone was that she'd secretly bought a human cookbook.

She'd worn the book out from flipping through it, yet made zero progress.

She sadly concluded her cooking talent was as terrible as her spiritual aptitude—utterly beyond repair.

"Just come eat with Bond and Vivian. You can sneak some tips from Tally."

Luo De smiled.

"No way! I don't want to cook for so many people!"

Tally was naturally lazy—except in bed and while cooking, she'd rather not move a muscle, and Luo De wouldn't coddle her.

"Hmph, I... I don't want to go either."

Xiao Ke's face lit up, but seeing Tally's reluctance, she shrank her thin shoulders, speaking weakly.

"If you don't go, Bond will starve. Tally won't do all that work every day."

"If he's hungry, the master will feed the mare-girl milk." The succubus added with a mischievous grin.

The half-deer girl's face paled.

"I was just joking before—do you really plan to feed Bond milk? She's your daughter!"

"What nonsense? She's still young."

Luo De pinched Tally's cheek and laughed.

"Then I'll pay—consider it meal fees and tuition."

He knew Xiao Ke was stubborn, so he said no more.

The autumn wind rustled, sweeping fallen leaves into swirling circles on the ground.

The four watched silently as the mages ahead bustled about.

"By the way, I came here to say—"

Xiao Ke suddenly remembered why she'd come, clasping her small chest, her expression worried:

"Divination told me danger will strike on the day of the ritual."

The half-deer race's divination was famed across the continent.

Luo De took it seriously, his face turning grave.

"How so?"

"I'm not sure—I only sense vaguely that a woman did something."

Women... that's too broad.

"Hmm, I understand. Thank you for the warning."

"Sorry—if only my divination were stronger."

Xiao Ke apologized.

Perhaps Vivian knew this was what her friend had long brooded over; she remained still, then gently took the half-deer girl's small hand and squeezed it softly.

"I have a way to make you stronger."

Luo De stroked his chin.

The succubus perked up at once.

In the master's continental collection plan, the half-deer had never been included!

"Is it that? Master, is it that?!"

Xiao Ke tilted her head in confusion.

Luo De was about to speak when a commotion erupted among the mages in the distance.

Looking far off:

There, a group of Geye Beasts had drawn perilously close.

"So soon?"

He'd noticed the new wave of monsters spawned by the 【Dark Vortex Rift】, which periodically came to patrol—he just hadn't expected them so soon.

He drew the 【Sword of Devotion】.

"Tally, you two fall back."

Saying this, he charged ahead at full speed.

It was already too late.

Though Sharon screamed desperately, "Spiritual defense!"

Some mages still cast combat spells and successfully felled one Geye Beast.

An instant, silent psychic shock spread through the air.

Mages with low spiritual resistance immediately turned pale and knelt half-dead.

"Those with low spiritual resistance or who can't use spiritual defense—fall back!"

Luo De shouted.

He plunged into the herd of Geye Beasts.

He didn't use powerful spiritual arts—instead, he kept using repulsion spells to harass and draw aggro.

If he'd used even one 【Giant Slash】, he was certain at least half these mages would die here.

"That's the ranger!" someone cried out.

He'd only recently warned everyone to respect the trees, then stood nearby showing off affection—of course the mages recognized him.

"Are you insane?! Get him out of there!"

"No—he's drawing aggro."

"He's not even a spiritual warrior—how dare he?"

Instantly, the mages' expressions turned strange.

After all, spiritual warriors typically had low spiritual resistance—he was risking his life to buy time.

"Didn't you hear? Fall back!"

The dog-girl Sharon barked.

Her fur was bristling, her tail stiff and raised.

The others slowly retreated.

Yet four young mages exchanged glances, cast 【Spiritual Defense】 on themselves, and stepped forward silently.

"Everyone else—use anti-invisibility spells or items! More powerful stealth monsters may appear!"

Sharon silently accepted their advance; though she doubted they could withstand the psychic shock, she preferred not to interfere with mages' actions.

Especially after warning them of the danger—otherwise, they'd be seen as challenging or disrespecting.

Either would be an insult to certain arrogant mages.

This foolish tradition had originated among elven mages, but no one knew why it had spread to humans, especially the younger generation.

As for the older generation—the ones still alive—usually put their own lives first.

Over there:

Luo De was luring the Geye Beasts toward the desert.

Seeing the mages advance, he was slightly surprised.

They even kindly cast 【Spiritual Defense】 on him.

He'd planned to ignore them and just detonate all the psychic shock at once.

But for the ritual's sake, he couldn't afford to lose these minor assets.

So he slowed down, slashing one by one.

Slowly.

The four young mages, battered by relentless psychic shocks, struggled to hold on.

Not long after:

Their shields shattered one by one, and they collapsed unconscious.

They hadn't even landed a single hit on a Geye Beast.

"Brave, I'll give you that."

Luo De swept his sword clean, eliminating every Geye Beast.

He picked up the four mages and tossed them back into the sand willow zone.

At this moment, the mages had laid out anti-invisibility artifacts, and purple-white powder drifted through the air.

(End of Chapter)