Chapter 148: Curse, Illusion, and Magic

Chapter 148: Curse, Illusion, and Magic



After the moving-in banquet, Rayen spent some time strolling through the front and backyards with his family.

"Brother, I love this big yard the most. Now, Anna and I can plant lots of vegetables and flowers," Mint said happily.

Rayen looked at his beaming sister, and his heart was touched by her joy. "Sure, this yard is yours. I hope you'll take good care of it and make it beautiful."

His parents stood by, looking content.

Rayen took in the scene, nodding slightly.

Perhaps this was a definition of happiness.

Rayen had a few things to attend to, so he didn't stay long and soon returned to the attic.

But soon, the alarm in Rayen's heart mysteriously disappeared again.

...

The old man began to chant softly, holding a wooden cane and aiming it at the inverted pentagram on the ground.

First, it was a decently powerful but contact-based spell.

Rayen considered the principles of the oven from his past life, where rapid and enclosed high temperatures could lock in moisture and freshness within the ingredients.

After finding answers to some of his questions on the Beastmaster (Extraordinary) panel, Rayen began to practice the Giant Bear Breathing Technique, making the most of the special nutrients in the Fierce Beast Meat.

"Huh? It didn't die?"

As he approached the alley, Rayen slowed down.

"Huh? How did you find me?"

Because dogs have night vision, Rayen could clearly see through Cuddles that there was a slightly hunched man in a hooded black robe in the alley.

Indeed, high-end ingredients often required the simplest cooking methods.

Suddenly, Cuddles stood up and dashed out of the door, running towards the dark figure in the alley.

Rayen took out a signal flare from his pocket and launched it into the air with a 'whoosh,' quickly exploding and signaling for help.

"Haha, you foolish guy!" Adams couldn't help but feel furious at Rayen's silent signal for help, feeling mocked.

It would be best to investigate first.

Soon, Rayen felt a warm current spreading from his stomach throughout his body.

With his advancement to Level 2 Arcane Apprentice, his combat power significantly improved.

Soon, a pattern resembling an inverted pentagram, about a meter in diameter, appeared on the ground, looking like a child's doodle.

So, Rayen had exchanged the Fierce Beast Meat and planned to do the same in the future, as he considered the principles of the oven from his past life, where rapid and enclosed high temperatures could lock in moisture and freshness in the ingredients.

When Rayen became a Beastmaster, he gained 1 point in mental attributes, so he wanted to test how many Will Runes he could envision at once.

However, Cuddles only stared at the black-robed figure for a few seconds before the figure turned around.

The old man held a bone wand and began chanting softly again.

"Also, according to Lamar, the Iron Doll was destroyed by Rayen," the tall knight explained, struggling to continue.

(Note: The Extraordinary trait 'Iron Skin' level 3 (passive) enhances the host's defense, with the effect positively correlated to the Breaking Limit value. The higher the Breaking Limit, the greater the defense boost.)



The tall knight, carrying a scythe-like weapon, whispered, "High Priest, the mission to kill the knight Rayen has failed again!"

"Go, Sandra, deal with the owner of that clothing!" the old man instructed.

Rayen couldn't help but feel a sense of indulgence at Mint's sweet voice.

"Do you think that reason just now was convincing? You should know that even a peak knight would find it difficult to destroy an Iron Doll with a hammer."

After all, Lamar's explanation was barely believable, so how could the High Priest believe it?

After Black Flame Cultist Lamar's report, the High Priest fell silent for a while, then spoke, "Giovanni, let this Beast Knight handle the matter." "The Black Flame Cult's authority cannot be challenged! Go!"

Rayen held his palms half a meter above the Fierce Beast Meat and began chanting, casting the spell 'Scorching Touch.'

[Your skill Beast Taming has improved. Experience gained: +15]



Previously, when Rayen completed envisioning eight Will Runes and became a Level 1 Arcane Apprentice, his combat power was still far from that of a formal knight.

Since the Fierce Beast Meat had already been bled and washed, no additional cleaning was necessary.

As Rayen took out the hundred pounds of grizzly bear meat he had exchanged at the military supply department in the county town, he began to chant a low-pitched incantation. The iron basin in front of his palm quickly heated up, turning red, smoking, and softening within seconds.

Giovanni clearly didn't want to take the blame.

At this moment, he felt a burning pain all over his body. Looking down, he saw that the chromium plate armor on his chest had been corroded, leaving a large hole. Fortunately, the thin layer of silvery-gray metallic film on his body blocked further damage.

Soon, the female wraith Sandra passed through the wall and infiltrated Rayen's bedroom. She also saw Rayen lying on the bed, his eyebrows furrowed in pain.

Along with this, his extraordinary traits 'Gigantic Strength' and 'Iron Skin' both reached level 3!

Indeed, it seemed that the grizzly bear meat's potency was felt, and 'Cuddles' quickly curled up in a corner of the attic, closing his eyes and dozing off.

The old man glanced and saw it was a stray dog, so he didn't pay much attention.

He felt that this time, the enemy he encountered was not ordinary, as they could control wraiths to attack him.

The dog quickly circled around Rayen, wagging its tail vigorously, its eyes fixed on the remaining piece of roasted grizzly bear meat in Rayen's hand, its expression filled with longing.

Then, like a thin fog, it drifted towards Rayen's location.

"With such a mysterious and powerful enemy, I must eliminate them to have peace of mind!"

Rayen immediately remembered his newly acquired Beastmaster core skill and decided to use it.

"Beast Eye!"

Rayen smiled, seemingly confident in his abilities, and did not respond to Adams' question.

After the night watchman squad left, the old man began to draw something on the ground with his cane, making a rustling sound.

The enemy's bulky physique was comparable to seven or eight slender knights.

Rayen knew it must be the greyhound 'Cuddles'! After all, it was the only one in the house that would scratch at the door, and who else would have such a keen sense of smell?

This was the night watchman's distress signal.

A minute later, Rayen opened his eyes with joy.

After finishing his breathing technique training, Rayen practiced basic meditation.

If Rayen were present, he would immediately associate the enemy with a sumo wrestler from his previous life, as they looked remarkably similar, except for the hood and long robe.

The ring seemed to have touched a deep-seated emotion within her.

As the deputy of security in Flashgold Town, Rayen always carried signal flares.

Within seconds, a tempting aroma of meat filled the attic.

This time, Rayen decided to roast the grizzly bear meat at a high temperature and eat it directly.

(Note: The defense of the metallic film is directly proportional to mental power and limit break. The higher the mental power and limit break, the stronger the ability to absorb metal elements, and the higher the defense.)



The feeling was terrible, like a person prone to seasickness navigating a stormy sea in a canoe alone! Rayen endured the discomfort and shook his head vigorously. At that moment, he looked around again.

The finger bones were long, seemingly belonging to an adult human female.

If it weren't for his recent advancement to the Elite Knight level and the upgrade of his extraordinary trait 'Iron Skin' to level 3, the enemy's bizarre attack would have likely dealt severe damage or even killed him instantly!

"You've disappointed me!"

"Yes, High Priest!" Giovanni and Black Flame both placed their hands on their chests and bowed, obeying the command.

The night deepened.

Rayen thought about using the high temperature of the arcane touch to roast the grizzly bear meat, requiring only a few seconds to achieve a similar effect to an oven from his previous life, retaining moisture and flavor.

Seeing 'Cuddles' licking his lips and looking unsatisfied, Rayen sighed, "That's enough. Don't expect more. This is enough for you to absorb."

The knight's voice clearly conveyed surprise and confusion. "This... Rayen is not only skilled in swordsmanship but also in hammer techniques, no, he should be a master of hammers!" The tall knight thought for a moment and explained, his voice slightly hesitant.

In the county town, after taking a bite of the grizzly bear meat, Rayen's thick knight chest armor was blasted open with a large hole. Adams, who had thought Rayen was surely dead, widened his eyes and opened his mouth in shock. At this moment, he was even more surprised than Rayen. How could this boy survive? No, not only did he survive, but he could even stand up! It was unbelievable!

It seemed the system's coverage was not a complete elimination or total reception.

Damn! So powerful!

Now, Rayen's demand for food was increasing, and he craved more substantial meals.

Consequently, the same arcane techniques, when cast after he reached the second level of apprentice mage, exhibited noticeably enhanced power.

At this moment, the sound of claws scratching at the door came from outside.

Secondly, it required continuous casting to unleash maximum damage.

Meanwhile, Rayen pondered for a moment and decided not to chase after the enemy immediately.

At that time, his only distinguishing feature was significantly stronger mental power and heightened perception compared to ordinary people.

'Cuddles' first sniffed with his keen dog nose, then showed an extremely anthropomorphic expression of surprise.

The Iron Skin skill, at Level 3, allows the body to automatically absorb stray metal elements, forming a thin metallic film on the skin's surface.

"You were lucky to escape before, but now you're seeking death!" As he spoke, he quickly drew a scroll from his pocket and unfurled it.

"This..." Giovanni, the leader of the Wild Brotherhood, was at a loss for words in the face of the high priest's questioning and didn't know how to explain himself.

[Beastmaster (Extraordinary) Experience +11]



This time, Rain ate much more Fierce Bear Meat than usual, but he didn't feel the same intense fullness as before. Instead, he felt warm and comfortable all over.

". (Arcadian Language) Curse: Mental Fatigue!"

Based on his observations, Rain realized that the opponent's perception was incredibly sharp, and it was likely that their Mental Power was even stronger than his! "Is the opponent a Level 3 Apprentice Wizard, or some even more powerful profession?" Rain wondered.

Obviously, with such a mysterious enemy lurking nearby, no one could sleep soundly.

Additionally, Rain confirmed one thing: the 'Lv' level displayed on the Beastmaster (Extraordinary) profession interface had nothing to do with the common understanding of 'Level 1 or Level 2 Apprentice Wizard.'

To be safe, it was best to further enhance his strength.

When Rain stood up again, the scene returned to the dark alley, and the mysterious black-robed elder stood across from him.

"This... High Priest, I was just repeating what Lamar reported," the tall and thin knight said, stepping back and speaking nervously as he saw the High Priest standing up.

[Agatha's Ring: This is an ordinary brass ring, but it carries the sincere gratitude and blessings of a young girl's soul. When worn, it can make some undead creatures feel friendly towards the wearer.] At this moment, the slender female wraith Sandra hesitated, delaying her attack.

Hiss! It was still so delicious!

Rain shook his head helplessly and said, "I..."

Soon, Cookie appeared at the entrance of the alley, sticking his dog head out to peek inside.

After waiting for a few seconds, Rain didn't see the opponent returning, so he quickly got up and went to the window. Through the window, he saw the nearly transparent female wraith floating towards the dark alley across the street.

However, the energy of the metallic film seemed to be running out, and its luster quickly faded.

This was a sign that it was about to melt!

She could sense a kindred spirit on it and understand the meaning it conveyed: "He's my friend, please don't hurt him."

Facing this obviously tricky enemy, Rain's mind raced.

The next second, Rain added a skill point to the Limit Break value in the Knight (Extraordinary) interface, instantly increasing the Limit Break value from 51% to 61%.

'Strength Amplification' and 'Metallic Film'!

At this moment, a hooded black-robed elder walked slowly from the outskirts of Flashgold Town towards the town center, skillfully avoiding the patrolling Night Watch squads with every turn.

However, a figure suddenly appeared in front of him—it was Mint, who waved and smiled, "Brother, come play with me?"

"This battle seems inevitable."

Rain had returned to his new bedroom early and was already fast asleep.

Gigantic Force, at Level 3, amplifies strength.

The highest level for an Apprentice Wizard is Level 3.

Despite this, Rain tore off a small piece of the remaining Grilled Fierce Bear Meat, dropped a few drops of Mutated Growth Potion on it, and then handed it over.

But the next second, Rain realized that he shouldn't be in the alley fighting a mysterious black-robed elder at this time. Suddenly, Rain's heart rang with alarm! Almost simultaneously, Rain felt a sharp pain in his chest, and then his entire body was blasted away.

This propelled Rain from the level of a Veteran Knight directly to the level of an Elite Knight.

In his sleep, Rain felt incredibly tired, barely able to open his eyes and wake up. At this moment, the old man seemed to sense that the curse had taken effect, and he smiled slightly beneath his hood. But it wasn't over yet; he took out a piece of finger bone from his pocket.

After a few seconds, a transparent human-shaped spirit appeared before the old man. From her slender figure, it seemed that she was a beautiful human female in her previous life.

However, the Mutated Growth Potion-infused Fierce Bear Meat was different. It was rich in various nutrients and still provided some assistance in enhancing Rain's Great Bear Breathing Technique.

Cookie was currently just an ordinary Linti Hound, not a mutated beast, and eating too much of this high-quality food might cause indigestion.

Although, in the end, for some unknown reason, this female wraith didn't attack him.

Hmm? Rain noticed at this moment that on his green Beastmaster interface, the original 'Dog Training' skill had automatically changed to 'Beast Training,' and 'Dog Food Crafting' had also transformed into 'Beast Food Crafting.'

Previously, Rain's Scorching Touch wizardry, after a few seconds of guidance, could reach a temperature of around 1000 degrees. Now, it could reach 1400 to 1500 degrees.

"Giovanni! You've been the leader of the Wild Brotherhood for too long; has your brain gone soft?"

Rain opened the door a crack, and Cookie squeezed in.

Although Rain didn't have a scroll or any other magical item in his hand, he could still achieve considerable combat power solely through his Scorching Touch wizardry.

Additionally, Rain had previously cast Scorching Touch two or three times, but now he could cast it five or six times.

Rain noticed the system's update: [You fed the Linti Hound with Fierce Bear Meat mixed with a Secret Potion Mutated Growth Potion, and your related comprehension has slightly improved!]



This made Rain's heart skip a beat, and he immediately controlled Cookie to whine and run away.

Moreover, using secret potions or high-quality food to feed the beast will more effectively increase experience gain.

Rain's pupils constricted. "Limit Break!"

It's worth noting that the melting point of iron is close to 1500 degrees!

However, after hearing that the iron puppet was destroyed, a surprised voice came from the shadows.

A thin mist hangs over the entire Flashgold Town, creating a hazy atmosphere.

Rain, after sprinkling some salt on the mouth-watering medium-rare Grizzly Bear Meat, takes a hearty bite.

The increase in combat power is evident. If given the opportunity to calmly cast the spell 'Scorching Touch' in battle, even an Elite Knight could suffer severe injuries or even be killed instantly. After all, no living creature can withstand the continuous scorching of a 1500-degree heat that can melt steel.

But Rain has already awakened. He ponders the scene before him, wondering why the female wraith, who should be attacking him, hesitates in place instead.

This time, Rain directly completes sixteen runes of willpower, entering the common understanding of a 'Level 2 Apprentice Wizard.'

Sandra, unaware, finds her intended target on the bed, squinting at her.

This situation was also confirmed during the recent feeding.

【Extraordinary Trait: Gigantic Force Level 3 (Active)】

At this moment, a tall and obese figure emerges from the shadows. Surprisingly, they appear shorter than the slender 2.2-meter-tall knight.

Soon after entering, three Flashgold Town Night Watchers patrol past the alley entrance.

Rain's confidence soars. As he appears at the alley entrance, the black-robed elder turns around, and Rain notices a pair of deep eyes beneath the hood, looking at him with slight bewilderment.

Rain immediately cuts a large chunk of Grizzly Bear Meat, about three to four pounds, and places it on the iron plate he had prepared earlier.

In a dimly lit underground hall.

Subsequently, the elder takes out the clothes obtained from the Mint Gang and places them in the center of the inverted pentagram pattern.

With the casting of the core skill 'Beast Eye,' Rain's soul seems to possess the body of the sleeping Spirit Hound 'Cuddles' in the nearby storeroom.

Rain has been craving Grizzly Bear Meat for some time.

"Now is the time to strike."

After some thought, Rain, having reached the level of a Level 2 Apprentice Wizard, realizes the most significant difference is in combat power.

Quickly, Rain devours most of the three to four pounds of Grizzly Bear Meat.

Rain curses inwardly.

Holding the Boar Hammer, Rain prepares to dodge the opponent's scroll attack horizontally.

Facing such a peculiar enemy, Rain feels that fighting alone might not be a good idea. Additionally, the administrative building is nearby, and Hamilton should arrive within a minute.

Adams is perplexed, wondering how Rain managed to find this particular alley.

However, he soon realizes and says, "High Priest, I've brought Lamar as well. He's outside the door. Shall I have him report directly to you?"

Indeed, these are two completely unrelated systems.

"I'm impressed. Don't tell me you're not full yet!" Adams is surprised that his attempt to kill Rain failed again.

After waiting a while longer, the female wraith turns and walks through the wall, leaving the room.

The moon and stars shine brightly in the quiet night.

However, there is no hint of panic or confusion in his tone.

"At this moment, they probably haven't realized I've found them."

Previously, Rain reminisces about the first time he tasted Grizzly Bear Meat in Claire's study.

The female wraith who had just floated into Rain's room seems to be talking to the black-robed person.

Rain immediately deactivates 'Beast Eye,' quickly puts on his chrome suit, grabs his hammer and sword, and rushes out.

Suddenly, Rain feels a wave of dizziness, and the scene around him drastically changes.

The obese High Priest nods slightly.

Although Rain had been thinking about how to make his explanation more convincing before reporting, he couldn't find a reasonable explanation. "Expert in Hammer Technique? A newly promoted knight can shatter the iron-clad woman's outer shell with a hammer?" His words convey disbelief.

In fact, just as Sandra was about to strike, Rain's Level 3 'Danger Perception' had already warned him.

This is also a drawback of Rain's current spell.

To unleash greater combat power, Copper would need external assistance, such as Endry's 'Acid Missile Scroll' used in the Elim Mine.

The next moment, 'Cuddles'' dog eyes widen in surprise, staring at Rain as if saying, "Master, there's such delicious food!"

This might be because Rain has reached the Extraordinary level, significantly enhancing his physical functions.

After hearing the High Priest's explanation, the High Priest's tone rises with anger, saying,

He stops about 40 to 50 meters away from Rain's new home, looks around, and then enters a dark, unlit alley nearby.

Rain is momentarily bewildered.

Why did he use magic for cooking?

Could the knight's plate armor have strong negative energy defense? But it doesn't seem so!

The alley walls soften like noodles, and the black-robed elder standing opposite Rain is stretched and flattened.

The knight's breastplate has already been corroded by Rain's Minor Acid Scroll, leaving a large hole.

Adams, perplexed, furrows his brows in thought.

Suddenly, the sound of rapid footsteps echoes from the alley entrance, and Hamilton, having heard the commotion, rushes in with over ten Night Watchers.

"You're Adams!!!" Hamilton's pupils constrict at the sight of the elder, his face turning pale.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end