Chapter 254: Ritual

It was also because he possessed the 【Will of the Firmament】, a skill that defied the heavens.

Otherwise, the side effect of a mental shock following a failed concentration would have been enough to make him suffer greatly.

Rod pinched the molar earring in his hand.

It no longer stuck to his skin.

Nor did any spiritual presence emanate from it.

The bloodline at the root of the molar had vanished; to the naked eye, it now looked like nothing more than a dirty, yellowed tooth.

There was absolutely no sign that it was a treasure.

Although, even in its fully charged state, no one could tell.

"It seems treasures do not all radiate an imposing aura."

【Treasure Obsession】 has made a great contribution.

I should go chat with Naurin soon to see if she has any rewards she wants.

"I wonder when it will be able to recharge fully again."

Rod could sense the spiritual presence within the molar earring slowly accumulating.

But to be honest, the speed was a bit slow; who knows when it will be usable again.

He tossed it back into his spell satchel.

Then he returned Amy to her own dwelling.

Taking advantage of the early hour, Rod sneaked back to the ranger's cabin.

Two days later.

On the grassland between the Wind Wall Forest and the Henry Farm.

Rod, the elf Calista, the rat-girl No. 13, the half-deer Miss Xiao Ke, the pony-girl Little Little Bangde, the giant squirrel Cui Qian, and the ghoul Pan Ni gathered here.

All because two rituals were to be performed today.

One was Rod's War Soul Solidification Ritual, and the other was the Plague Removal Ritual for the ghoul servant.

Yes, after a period of research.

Calista had finally developed a spell ritual to counter the ghoul plague.

The reopening of the Henry Farm was just around the corner!

It was just unknown whether anyone would be willing to buy beef, mutton, and crops cared for by ghouls.

But now, with the upcoming revenue stream from the magic ring crafted by the zombie Selena, Rod didn't care much about that.

It was more about giving Pan Ni and Chris something to do; after all, it was hard to say what undead races would get up to when left idle.

So why were Miss Xiao Ke, Little Little Bangde, and the giant squirrel here as well?

Miss Xiao Ke was present as medical personnel to observe and be ready for any emergencies.

The pony-girl Little Little Bangde had been dragged over by Calista to set up the ritual.

She had studied for quite some time; even if she couldn't handle delicate work, simple setup and carving should be no problem.

That should have been the case.

But Little Little Bangde had been extremely lazy lately, especially now that she had the giant squirrel Cui Qian as a playmate.

So, as the ritual setup proceeded, Calista corrected her at almost every step.

Finally, the elf could no longer bear it and showed her a red card, sending her off the field.

"Waaah, waaah, waaah."

Crying pitifully, Little Little Bangde wanted to seek comfort from Miss Xiao Ke, but halfway there, she saw her own sister's cold gaze.

She immediately turned around and dove into Rod's arms.

Buried in his embrace, she sobbed and whimpered, desperately pulling Rod's coat over herself.

Seeing her practical performance was indeed terrible, Rod had intended to say a few words.

But Little Little Bangde, with a crying voice, said, "Hide me, hide me."

So his heart softened a bit.

The little one understood shame, so it was not good to scold her further.

He gently patted her back.

"It's okay, it's okay, I have already hidden Little Little Bangde."

He wrapped her in his clothes.

"Waaah, waaah, waaah."

【Little Little Bangde's obedience to you +5, current obedience: 63】

【Obedience broke through to 63, unlocking the Shared Skill with Little Little Bangde】

【Starting random draw.】

【Chou Qu Cheng Gong】

【Shared Skill: King of Polearms】

【Details: Centaurs are the wisest race on the continent most skilled in wielding polearms, capable of mastering any polearm weapon. When this skill is in its prime state, even against a treasure-grade polearm that has already been claimed by a master, one can disarm it with bare hands.】

As a vast amount of knowledge regarding polearm techniques flooded his mind.

Rod's eyes glowed slightly.

Disarming a treasure!

Treasure-grade weapons are extremely rare; last time he wandered through the entire market district of the Magic Control Union, he couldn't even find a decent weapon.

Let alone a treasure-grade weapon.

Hehe, if I can encounter one, I'll instantly transform into a Minotaur!

Pan Ni smiled as she approached: "It's fine, Little Little Bangde. We'll work hard starting today and surely make others look at us with new eyes."

Little Little Bangde was at least polite.

Even while crying, he didn't forget to say thanks:

"Thank you, Auntie Pan Ni."

Pan Ni's smile froze: "A-Auntie?"

She stiffly turned to Rod, asking silently: "Am I that old?"

"If you're already an auntie, then of course you're old."

Rod laughed heartily.

Pan Ni, humiliated and angry, wanted to go over and punch him, but dared not.

She could only bite her lip, lower her head in shame, while secretly cursing in her heart.

Old my ass! Who rushed in in a panic the night before last, without saying a word, and just started doing it!?

You stinky master, how dare you call me old! Waaah... I still haven't gone down from swelling, and you actually dare to complain I'm old after the fact, waaah...

Miss Xiao Ke walked over.

She saw Little Little Bangde buried in Rod's chest, sobbing loudly.

Her heart softened at once, and she gently stroked the back of his head.

"It's not that Sister is forcing you, Little Little Bangde. The times are getting worse, and this forest can't always remain so peaceful and stable... You must have your own foundation to stand on."

If someone else had said such a thing, Rod probably wouldn't have cared.

But this was the race on the continent most skilled in language: the Half-Deer People.

His expression turned serious.

"Did you foresee something?"

Miss Xiao Ke nodded, her face bitter: "Yes, demons. In the near future, a demon will obtain a special drop of blood from the Inferno, and thus intends to expand his influence on the surface... It will start from Coral Bay."

Blood.

Needless to say, it was the Holy Spark Blood of Mystra, the founder of the Weave.

Starting from Coral Bay... Dark Elves?

Then this demon is likely the one the Dark Elves serve?

Miss Xiao Ke wore a thick skirt today that covered her entire deer body, yet even speaking of this, she still trembled.

Rod held Little Little Bangde in one hand while reaching out to put an arm around Miss Xiao Ke's shoulder.

He gently rubbed it.

Miss Xiao Ke could always feel a sense of security from this man.

Her trembling stopped.

She raised her head, revealing a face that was pitiful, like a startled little animal.

"Prophecies don't necessarily come true, right?"

"According to research by the Snow Hill Evening Post, the accuracy rate of Half-Deer People prophecies is between 60% and 85%, so... it will probably happen."

"Can't you just comfort me!"

Rod smiled without speaking and kissed her smooth forehead.

Pan Ni poked her head out from the side, glanced at her master, then at Miss Xiao Ke.

Her expression was dazed.

Miss Xiao Ke's face flushed red, and she shoved Rod away.

"W-What are you doing, kissing me secretly! You're a pervert!"

The giant squirrel, Cui Qian, trembled her fat, asking as if it had nothing to do with her: "Little Little Bangde—have you finished crying? Aren't we going to play in the pit we found yesterday?"

Lady Kali set up the ritual with great efficiency.

Especially now that Little Little Bangde, the dead weight, was gone.

In less than ten minutes, the ritual to cleanse the ghoul plague was completed.

(End of this chapter)