Chapter 2107 - 561: Aftermath Operations 5

Dwarves have their own palaces, and ratmen do as well.

However, this place is not adorned with gold and marble, but with blood-soaked fur and rotting, stinking meat.

Usually, Professor Edgar wouldn't want to disturb this repulsive court, but the situation is clearly not typical now.

The casting group he deployed on the front line has vanished, Marinus has been unaccounted for three days, while the alliance army of the Campbell Duchy and Gutaf Kingdom is advancing triumphantly!

Word is that Erin is making a spectacular show at the front line, worshipped by humans and dwarves... But he knows well, their troubles go far beyond this!

Marinus, it's very likely he's been murdered!

A sense of impending disaster grips Edgar's heart tightly, he must immediately discuss a plan with the leader of the Rot Clan.

If matters become irreparable, they might have to abandon everything in the Ten Thousand Ridges Mountain Range, retreating to the Dimension Desert to avoid the brunt.

Striking before the dwarves and human encirclement forms!

"Mork! We need to retreat! The current situation—"

Stumbling and rushing into this nauseating space, Edgar urgently uttered a sentence, his voice abruptly halting.

He stood rigidly in place as if he were a clock pendulum suddenly stopped.

His face flushed from running, drained of all color in an instant, becoming paler than the bones on the ground.

Beside an altar covered in flesh and blood, stood a gentleman of noble bearing.

He wore a dark blue magic robe without visible creases, holding a short staff embedded with Mithril.

In this foul and stench-filled cave, he was as clean as a drop of mercury in the mud, incongruous, yet commanding an awe that forbade gazes.

The man turned, revealing a well-maintained face. But it was not his face that drew attention, rather his left eye—a carefully polished multi-faceted blue magic crystal.

The crystal rotated slowly in the torchlight, refracting a spectral radiance that unsettled the heart.

Edgar's Adam's apple moved, fear rising in his eyes.

This was the head of the Academic Soul School, one of the Twelve Sages, Omon Sield!

Also his mentor!

"My dear student, upon seeing your mentor, why do you flee?" Omon's voice was elegant and soft, like lecturing in a spacious tiered classroom.

Edgar's teeth started to chatter.

Instinctively, he contemplated escape but horrifyingly discovered his legs felt as if filled with molten lead, immobilized.

"Shift—"

He opened his mouth to cast a spell, attempting to activate the magic ring hidden in his sleeve.

Yet within him, magic power lay dormant; he couldn't even articulate the simplest spell!

The oppressive force of an upper-level spellcaster was terrifying!

Edgar desperately rolled his eyes, seeking help from the corpulent figure on the throne or at least hoping it would become alert.

However, the ratman warlord known as "Soul Shatterer" was like a begging hound, rubbing his greasy palms, sycophantically gazing at Omon.

"Lord Omon Sield! What an honor for you to personally come! Truly... It makes our rat hole illustrious! Can I fetch you something to eat? I'll have the boys grab it right away!"

Mork didn't even glance at Edgar.

In the eyes of this foolish and greedy creature, anyone who could bring strength and benefit was a friend, regardless of their purpose.

Even if they came to clear the area.

Edgar despaired, why is everyone around him such abstract idiots?!

He could only gaze pleadingly to his mentor, striving to squeeze out a sound, indicating he still had some use.

"O...mon... Lord..."

There's no better experimental field than the Rot Clan in the eastern Aus Continent, he'd already devised a new solution!

Just one more opportunity!

If absolutely not feasible...

At least let him survive, he can still work for everyone!

The wise Omon didn't even spare Edgar a glance, merely raised an index finger gently, in the air, making a silencing gesture.

The meaning in that gaze was clear—

When the master speaks, it's not your turn to interrupt.

Instantly, Edgar was stripped of even the last bit of breathy sound.

He could only watch wide-eyed and helplessly as his mentor kindly looked at Mork, as if observing a lab mouse.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Mork."

Omon slightly bowed, his etiquette impeccably flawless.

"My incompetent student messed things up, causing unnecessary trouble at the front line. Upon returning to the Academic State, I'll personally reprimand him."

Edgar's shoulders shivered, his body trembled more violently, like a grasshopper pinned by a shoe.

He was very aware of his fate, losing the master's possessions, the waiting outcome was a fate crueler than death.

As for why he was certain?

Nonsense!

That's how he climbed up, and how he dealt with his apprentices; how could he not know these sages' methods?

"No problem at all! Youngsters are bound to make mistakes! Mork doesn't mind!" Mork grinned widely, revealing grimy teeth, "Just as long as you remember we're still old friends! About… the next batch of supplies…"

"Of course, we wouldn't let our ally fall into difficulty without assistance."

Omon nodded with a smile.

"As compensation for this mistake and as an expression of our sincerity, I've brought you a weapon… capable of turning the tide decisively in battle."

As he spoke, he retrieved a reagent bottle from his pocket.

The bottle contained a purple liquid, which appeared to have life, slowly wriggling against the walls, radiating a mesmerizing and sinister glow.

Even through the transparent glass, Mork could sense the formidable, pure energy within that was vast enough to cause trembling.

In an instant, Mork's pea-sized eyes sparkled with greed, but his instincts as a rat made him slightly cautious.

"What is this?"

The wise Omon's smile deepened, the blue magic crystal eye subtly shifting, as if to record the image of this greedy soul.

He handed the reagent bottle to Mork's oil-stained paw.

"This is the latest result of decades of research from the Soul School, called 'God's Blood'."

"As its name implies, by drinking it you shall acquire strength on par with the Divine."