"Rapid Growth?"
Matthew's face lit up with excitement.
This was also a signature spell of the Druids.
The "Growth Elixir" he used earlier for planting trees was an alchemical form of this spell.
Because it went through alchemical processing, its effect was somewhat diminished.
If he could master this spell proficiently, his tree-planting abilities would rival those of a true Druid!
...
"Wild Transformation and Rapid Growth are both Druid specialties. It seems like the rewards for the 'Maintenance is Important' task are all related to Druid abilities?"
"Not quite. Perhaps it's not related to the task but to the means of completing it, whether it's dealing with the arsonists or the deeper threat of the Cult of the Apocalypse; bloodshed is inevitable."
"In that case, the reward system operates in reverse? Acts of peace and nature, like tree planting, grant necromantic abilities, while tasks involving combat and confrontation reward Druid abilities?"
Matthew pondered eagerly.
There wasn't enough data yet to draw a definitive conclusion, but it didn't stop him from making bold assumptions.
He glanced at the task bar at the bottom.
The Tai Chi symbol had undergone another change.
The green dot on the left had now exceeded 2/3.
It wasn't far from being completely filled.
But no one knew what would happen once it was filled.
It's worth noting the right side.
Though the gray dot was still relatively light, it was in much better shape compared to the stagnant state from earlier.
Matthew had sharp eyes.
He could see the bottom gray dot was surging upwards.
Whoosh! In an instant, the dot shot up to the 1/3 mark.
"Nature's Heart and the Way of Necromancy," Matthew speculated. The rapid increase in the gray dot was likely connected to tonight's battle. The mechanics behind it still needed further exploration, but it wasn't the right time for that.
Near the farm, people had already noticed the disaster here. People were coming from the town and the countryside.
Matthew led his group back to the oak forest.
He sent the skeletons back to their burrow and said to Peggy, "You'll have to walk back on your own."
Peggy exclaimed, "You want me to walk home alone on such a dark night? I'll be scared!"
Matthew cleared his throat, "Should I summon a skeleton to accompany you?"
Peggy grumbled, "You undead mages have no conscience! You don't even pay me overtime and expect me to walk home alone in the dark. You're completely corrupted by negative energy!"
Matthew shrugged, "The time for reverse-summoning has passed, and I'm not a very powerful figure. You should cut me some slack, Peggy."
Peggy softened a bit, "Fine, I'll go back alone, but next time I work the night shift, you better give me a Soul Crystal. You promised a lot of grand things when we signed the contract..."
After seeing off the chatty Tauren skeleton, Matthew gazed to the north.
The merchant ghost had mentioned the disturbances at Ghost Crone Castle. Combined with the contents of the secret message, the base of the Cult of the Apocalypse should be somewhere nearby.
Time was running out. Matthew planned to eliminate the threat as soon as possible. So, he leaped forward with a swoosh, and a crow flew over the moonlit night towards the northeast.
...
"The divination results are in, and we've pinpointed the enemy's location. They're in a valley near Ghost Crone Castle."
Inside the Lord's Hall, a middle-aged man, fully armed and with a lean face, calmly surveyed the surroundings. Some people squirmed under his scorching gaze and shifted their heads uneasily.
Others raised their heads in excitement, eager for a chance to earn the Blood Banner Lord's approval.
"Brad and Ann, each of you lead a squad and flank them from the southwest. Be swift, but watch for ambushes!"
"Mr. Zeler, please continue contacting the senior mages in White Rock City and Torrentflow City. If anyone is willing to lend a hand, regardless of the conditions, accept it!"
"As I expected, our enemies are not mere bandits swayed by money. They are a group of lunatics, scum, and cultists. As I've said before, the Blood Banner family will never compromise with such evil. Your only task is to eliminate every villain you encounter. That's it."
In the quiet Lord's Hall, the Blood Banner Lord's words carried weight. Those assigned to specific tasks were delighted. However, some others started to show doubt on their faces.
"Sir, won't our aggressive actions provoke them, especially considering Miss Sif is in their hands? If we follow your course, her chances of survival are perilously low."
A young man, dressed in robes and exceptionally handsome, spoke up. His words reflected the doubts of others in the room.
The Blood Banner family was indeed known for its strong and uncompromising stance against enemies. However, the current issue was that their beloved young lady was in the hands of those villains. Following the Blood Banner Lord's method would likely put Sif's life in grave danger.
The onlookers stared at the Blood Banner Lord, seeking an explanation.
He responded in a cold tone, "It's precisely because Sif is in their hands that we must take this course of action."
He offered no further explanation and turned to Mr. Zeler, "Mr. Zeler, in addition to contacting the senior mages, please pay close attention to the clues we found earlier. Sif could not have been kidnapped out of thin air. You should understand what I mean."
Mr. Zeler nodded solemnly, "Understood."
"Everyone, please get moving. Use your speed and strength to the fullest. I'm counting on you!"
The Blood Banner Lord waved his hand, and one by one, the people in the Lord's Hall dispersed. In the end, only the Blood Banner Lord remained.
He walked to a window and, in a short while, an owl flew in.
"To be honest, I don't quite understand you Blood Banner folks. You're so worried about your daughter and yet make decisions that could endanger her," the owl said, clearly puzzled.
The Blood Banner Lord took a deep breath, "In front of the public, my identity is always that of the head of the Blood Banner family and nothing else. Every word I say represents the family, and the Blood Banner family will never compromise with evil. That's our motto."
The owl became even more puzzled, "Then why did you call me here?"
The Blood Banner Lord stated firmly, "I know you can transform into a giant eagle."
The owl nodded, "Yes."
"Take me to Ghost Crone Castle. You owe me a favor from before. Consider it settled."
The Blood Banner Lord spoke decisively.
After some contemplation, the owl nodded, "Very well."
"But, shouldn't the head of the Blood Banner family avoid putting himself in harm's way?" the owl asked.
The Blood Banner Lord clenched the sword at his waist, "Right now, I'm Sif's father."
...
"Rapid Growth?"
Matthew's face lit up.
This was also a signature spell of the druids.
The "Growth Elixir" he had used earlier for planting trees was an alchemical version of this spell.
Because it had been alchemically processed, its effects were discounted.
If he could master this spell proficiently, his tree-planting abilities would rival those of a legitimate druid!
...
"Wild Transformation and Rapid Growth are both the trademarks of druids. So it seems that the rewards offered by the 'Maintenance is Important' mission are related to druidic abilities?"
"Not necessarily. It might be related to the means of completing the mission – whether it's dealing with arsonists or the more profound Temple of the Plague. Bloodshed seems inevitable."
"So, are the system rewards following a reverse pattern? Planting trees, a peaceful act close to nature, rewards you with a death mage's bone dragon, while tasks involving killing and combat reward druidic abilities?"
...
Matthew pondered with interest.
There weren't enough samples at the moment to draw a conclusion.
But that didn't stop him from making bold assumptions.
He glanced at the task bar at the bottom.
The Tai Chi symbol had undergone a new change.
The green dot on the left had exceeded 2/3 completely.
It wasn't far from being filled up.
But no one knew what would happen when it was filled.
On the right, although the gray dot was still very faint, it was much better than the stagnant state it was in before.
Matthew had sharp eyes.
He could see the gray dot at the bottom trying to surge upward.
With a swish! The dot rushed up to one-third of the position.
...
"The Heart of Nature and the Path of Death," Matthew guessed. The rapid increase in the gray dot was probably related to tonight's battle. The mechanism behind it was yet to be explored. But not now.
Near the farm, people had already discovered the disaster here. People were coming from the town and the outskirts.
Matthew led his team back to the oak forest. He sent the skeletons back to their burrows and turned to Peggy, saying, "You'll have to walk back on your own."
Peggy exclaimed, "You want me to walk home alone on a night this dark? I'll be scared!"
Matthew cleared his throat, "Shall I summon a skeleton to accompany you?"
Peggy grumbled, "No overtime pay, and you want me to walk back on my own? You death mage types really have no conscience left!"
Matthew shrugged, "The time for reverse summoning has passed, and I'm not some powerful figure. You have to understand, Peggy."
Peggy softened a bit, "Okay, okay, I'll walk back on my own, but next time, if I work the night shift, you should at least give me a 'Soul Crystal.' You promised me the moon when we signed that contract..."
After seeing off the chatty tauren skeleton, Matthew looked to the north. The merchant spirit had mentioned the chaos at Ghostwitch Castle, combined with the contents of the secret message. The Temple of the Plague was likely nearby. Time was of the essence, and Matthew planned to eliminate the threat as quickly as possible.
He leaped into the air and a raven flew over the moonlit landscape, heading northeast.
...
"The divination results are in, and we've determined the enemy's location. It's in a valley near Ghostwitch Castle."
Inside the Lord's Hall, a heavily armored, middle-aged man with a lean face calmly surveyed the room. Some in the room winced under his intense gaze and looked away, while others eagerly met his eyes.
He was an imposing figure, and his commands were strict and forceful.
"Brad and Ann, each of you lead a team to flank from the southwest. Speed is crucial, but be cautious of ambushes."
"Zeller, continue contacting the advanced mages in White Rock City or Swiftstream City. If any are willing to assist, agree to any conditions."
"As I expected, our enemies are not mere bandits swayed by money. They are a group of madmen, scum, and cultists."
"As I mentioned before, the Blood Flag Family will never compromise with such evil scum. Your only mission is to kill every villain you encounter. That's it."
Inside the silent hall, the Lord's words resounded with authority. Those who had received their specific tasks felt a mix of excitement and unease. However, as time passed, some began to question the plan.
"Sir, won't our radical actions provoke the enemy? After all, Miss Sophia is indeed in their hands."
A mage in a handsome robe, with an air of beauty, spoke up. His words echoed the concerns of others present.
The Blood Flag Family was known for its unwavering stance in dealing with enemies, but now, the issue was that Miss Sophia was held by those villains. Following the Lord's approach, the chances of her survival seemed alarmingly low.
The crowd stared at the Lord with puzzled expressions. He did not explain further but simply said to Zeller, "Mr. Zeller, besides contacting the advanced mages, pay attention to the clues we found earlier. Sophia couldn't have been kidnapped out of thin air – you should understand what I mean."
Zeller nodded solemnly, "Of course, sir."
"Alright, everyone, get moving as quickly as possible, and use your full strength. I'm counting on you."
The Lord waved his hand, and the people in the Lord's Hall dispersed one by one. Finally, only the Lord remained.
He paced to a window and, before long, a giant owl flew in. The owl seemed puzzled and asked, "Honestly, I don't quite understand you Blood Flag folks. You're so worried about your daughter and yet make decisions that could endanger her."
The owl was puzzled.
The Lord took a deep breath, "In front of others, I am always the head of the Blood Flag Family, not someone else. Every word I say represents the family. The Blood Flag Family will never compromise with evil. That's our motto."
The owl became even more perplexed, "Then why did you summon me?"
The Lord said, "I know you can transform into a giant eagle."
The owl nodded, "Yes."
"Take me to Ghostwitch Castle. You owe me a favor, and it's time to repay it."
The Lord declared decisively.
The owl thought for a moment and nodded, "Alright."
"But the family head of the Blood Flag Family shouldn't put himself in danger."
The Lord tightened his grip on the sword at his waist, "Right now, I am Sophia's father."
...
One hour later, a raven flew over the moonlit deserted hills. Occasionally, eerie cries echoed in the distance. Ghostwitch Castle stood on a high point in the desolate mountains, shrouded in perennial mist, even though the moon was hanging high in the night sky. Matthew could only make out the faint outline of the ancient castle. He gazed at the mountain mist, and a chilling feeling crept over him, as if a pair of eerie eyes were fixed on him through the mist.
...
"It is said that the castle was once the residence of a human hero before it was abandoned. It used to be prosperous, but after a strange disaster, many inhabitants perished. The survivors fled in haste, leaving behind a mystery that no one could explain."
"There have been attempts to explore the castle, but adventurers who dared to enter never returned. They seemed to have been swallowed by the mist."
"The last attempt to explore the castle was by a renowned necromancer from White Rock City. He claimed to have received information that the castle contained the 'Eternal Life Spell' and was determined to enter it. But he didn't come back either."
"During his exploration, he had a fierce battle with a group of creatures called 'Old Ghost Witches' from the lower world, right outside the castle gates. That's why the castle is known as 'Ghostwitch Castle.'"
...
Matthew recalled his conversation with Brad while gazing at the mountain mist. Suddenly, he had a chilling sensation. His senses told him that this castle was not one he could explore right now.
Fortunately, tonight's destination was not Ghostwitch Castle. He bypassed the eerie mist, and the raven tilted westward. Before long, on the mountainside of the deserted hills, a few scattered fires flickered. In the dangerous mountain valley, there were guards at the entrance, but their vigilance seemed lax.
Matthew lowered his flying raven and glanced at his task bar.
...
"Task progress has been updated: You have discovered the 'Sorcerer's Camp'!"
...
Matthew didn't rush to fly in. Sorcerers were often highly perceptive individuals. A sudden appearance of a raven could easily alert them, making him the target.
He circled the valley entrance, choosing a location carefully. Inconspicuously, he landed in the bushes by the side of the mountain path.
"This place has seen a battle, more than one, it seems."
The mountain path was littered with corpses. There were humans and smaller humanoid creatures. They were 'lizardfolk'!
Matthew made this determination using his 'Knowledge'.
"It's convenient out in the wilderness. For a necromancer, unclaimed corpses are naturally favored by the virtuous dead..."
He decided to summon his skeletons, having confidence in his choice of location. The chanting of his incantation and the flow of his magic gave a mysterious hue to the chaotic pile of bodies.
One by one, skeletons stood up from the pool of blood. Their condition was mediocre; the flames in their skulls flickered inconsistently, and their bones were a mix of lizardfolk and human, giving them a strange and eerie appearance.
These were the lowest-tier cannon fodder skeletons, far from the elite batch that he had hidden in the cellar. But they were good enough to frighten the laymen.
...
The strong magical wave produced by the necromantic summoning quickly attracted attention from the camp.
A corpulent man, over two meters tall, appeared, wearing heavy armor. He was surrounded by his lackeys.
"My friend, the necromancer, what are you doing?"
The fat man squinted at Matthew with some wariness. Matthew continued to summon skeletons nonchalantly.
"Don't you have any eyes? I'm bestowing new life upon these lost souls."
The fat man's face darkened, and he exclaimed, "These are my people! Even if they're dead, they're still my corpses!"
Matthew responded arrogantly, "Well, not anymore."
He stamped his foot in anger.
This caused a slight vibration in the path. "Are you looking for a fight?" Matthew taunted.
"Kill him!" the fat man ordered.
Soon, the camp was in turmoil.
...
"Enough!"
The fat man stopped the commotion. He looked at Matthew with annoyance.
"He's here because he's interested in the task."
"He killed one of our men, so I had to take care of him!"
The fat man was visibly angry.
"Come in, my friend, if you're truly interested in our mission. We should get along just fine."
...
Matthew looked at the man before him and asked, "You're Fayne?"
Fayne nodded and responded with a wicked grin, "You killed my friend, and yet you come to me? Very interesting."
"Well, if that fool is your definition of a friend, I'd say I'm quite disappointed."
Matthew didn't hold back.
Fayne laughed heartily, "He used to be. But he's no longer."
"If you killed him, then you're a part of our mission now. It's only logical."
Fayne waved his hand and urged Matthew to come closer. He said, "Come in, my friend. If you're interested in our goals, we'll get along just fine."
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