Chapter 46: Departure

“We will launch the pre-arranged transformation ritual at the idol square. The ritual will activate during this month’s Bonfire Festival. With the Lord’s radiance, we will achieve the absolution of sin for all Cimali people. The tasks are now being assigned.”

The Grand Priest raised his hands above his head, his expression excited and yearning, highly inflammatory.

Ace was assigned to the northeast corner of the square. They were to use devout prayer to communicate with the Power of Faith in the idol, forming the rhythm and structure of the ritual.

Ace mingled among them. He could not communicate with the Power of Faith through prayer. He could only rely on the Charm and Suggestion spells to make the priests overlook his abnormality.

He greedily studied the secrets of the ritual, discovering that it was still composed of Transformation Runes, but with crucial new components that Ace called the Equivalent Exchange Rune and the Ritual Rune Array.

These were two special types of runes. The Equivalent Exchange Rune could not directly form a Spell Model; it could only be activated through a complex ritual.

The Ritual Rune Array was a series of mysterious runes that were discordant with ordinary runes, expressing completely different meanings.

Pontos’s priests used the Power of Faith from the idol as fuel, guiding the mysterious rules of equivalent exchange through complex rites—prayer, actions, and offerings—to achieve their objective.

The process and the rites of the ritual were also very important, involving the use of mental power, emotion, and will. This wealth of ritual knowledge was greatly beneficial to Ace.

“This transformation ritual is excellent. It is now mine,” Ace murmured to himself with a smile.

Through private experiments, he had already understood the components of the ritual.

A ritual requires four parts:

A Rune Array with the Equivalent Exchange Rune and the Ritual Rune Array at its core, a set of rites that the implementers believe to be true and which indeed possess mystical function, the object of exchange for the equivalent exchange, and the ritual’s objective.

If a certain amount of aid can be provided toward the objective, the consumption of the object of exchange will be greatly reduced.

For example, this transformation ritual required a pre-existing Transformation Rune structure and a sufficient amount of Merfolk scales, which greatly reduced the consumption of the Power of Faith.

Squads of Merfolk quietly infiltrated the temple under the cover of night, wearing cloaks. In Ace’s covert perception, the strongest one had a Mana accumulation level similar to his own.

He chose not to stir up trouble. He could not afford to get involved in a Deity’s plan; one mistake could cost him everything. Quietly assimilating the ritual was the greatest gain.

Three days passed in a flash. Ace used an illusion to slip away from the square unnoticed and bought a clay figurine of a Merfolk baby on the street.

He found Mulen, who had been transformed into a goat, and activated the Permanent Transformation Spell. After several attempts that ended in failure, the ritual finally worked.

Mulen’s skin gradually turned dark blue, scales grew, webbing sprouted between his fingers and toes, his eyes bulged, his mouth enlarged, and his ears sharpened. He had fully transformed into a Merfolk.

Since he believed Merfolk were sinless, Mulen was permanently and irreversibly transformed into a Merfolk.

Ace considered himself to have done a good deed and was in a cheerful mood.

Mulen prostrated himself on the ground in excitement, uttering whimpering Merfolk sounds.

Ace gave him a suggestion, commanding him to crawl into the deep sea and pray devoutly for one month.

Time flew quickly. Cimali was brightly lit at night. The May Bonfire Festival had arrived.

Fiery dragons of torches moved throughout the port city, converging on the central square. People within the fiery dragons were singing and dancing. In this joyful atmosphere, Ace felt a chill run through his body.

The entire city seemed like a giant monster ready to devour people. The colossal idol in the center filled him with dread. Once the transformation began, who in Cimali Port could escape?

A Demigod’s planning, a massive conspiracy. Ace had unintentionally become aware of it. For weak him, knowing such a secret was the greatest danger.

He had no intention of disrupting the conspiracy, nor did he have the power to do so.

The massive monster of the present might be a potential helper in the future. No one could tell.

He chose to back down, decisively packed his things, and quietly left Cimali under the cover of night, leaving this port city that had once moved him, but now filled him with dread.

He traveled north, making brief stops in passing towns. He collected medicinal formulas and materials, wandered in the wilderness, and observed the news coming from Cimali Port.

A few days later, no news of any anomaly came from Cimali.

It seems the Priesthood of the Son of the Sea in Cimali did not plan to immediately launch a rebellion. They are likely lacking in strength. I haven’t heard of the Son of the Sea having Divine Descendants. If they want to establish a new city-state, a Hero or someone with equivalent combat power is indispensable.

These priests must have stumbled onto a vague path. Even a Demigod has a long lifespan and would have the patience to wait, waiting for the Half-Merfolk Priests to discover a unique path to the supernatural.

They are using the Power of Faith to pray within the range of the idol and generate a certain supernatural phenomenon.

Unfortunately, my current strength is too weak. In a world where Deities can directly intervene to this extent, I dare not linger and continue spying. I can only find a way to investigate this in the future.

Ace continued his journey toward Medimus City-State. He was still thinking about Teacher Peter’s treasured copper mirror.

A few days later, on a hill.

A group of Monsters, resembling rats, standing upright and human-high, were attacking a merchant caravan. The caravan had circled their carriages to form a barrier, burning distress smoke in the center, and fiercely resisting the attack.

The caravan guards were struggling. Every time they swung their swords, the Monsters blocked with their rock-hard fists. Their shields were smashed by a few blows from the Monsters. The situation was extremely critical.

“We’re doomed! The Corrosive Fist Rat is only a common low-level Monster, but they are born warriors. One is manageable, but a swarm is equivalent to a small army of Nobles. We cannot defeat them!”

A young guard, whose shield had been smashed, cried out in despair and turned to flee.

The Corrosive Fist Rat facing him easily leaped, tracing a perfect arc in the air, and struck him directly in the back, where his heart was.

The young guard clutched his heart, fell to the ground, convulsing. He was clearly dying.

“Focus! Don’t even think about running! Gather and resist! The distress smoke is burning. Someone is bound to come and save us!”

The old guard captain shouted with a firm attitude. The panic in the others’ hearts was temporarily quelled.

Although they all thought the possibility of rescue in such a remote area was close to zero, they still held onto a tiny hope. No one wanted to wait for death in despair.

Ace, using his Ultrasound Perception, had already discovered this caravan.

He thought for a few seconds, took out Emberlight, transformed into Sharp’s likeness, and put on the standard Monster Hunter attire, covering half of his face with a black cloth.

Transformation Spell is so much fun! It would be a pity not to create another alias. It was time to let loose and establish a new persona.

“I am a weathered vagrant, a righteous Monster Hunter! Did you light the distress smoke to call for my aid?”

Following the deep, melodramatic voice, the people in the caravan all looked toward the source of the sound.

A powerfully built, weather-beaten middle-aged Monster Hunter was rushing toward them.

“Uncle, you alone are useless! Hurry to the nearest town and call for help, find the army to save us!” A young girl from the caravan shouted loudly.

“Hahaha! It seems I am underestimated. Emberlight, let’s go!”

Ace cast Agility Blessing on himself. His speed instantly burst. He ran to the side of a Corrosive Fist Rat in a flash. Emberlight’s blade scorched, instantly igniting an orange-red flame, slicing the Corrosive Fist Rat in two!

A close combat fight is indeed more exciting! Every magic user has a warrior’s heart! Ace thought.

Seeing Ace’s power, the other Corrosive Fist Rats abandoned their enemies and swarmed Ace.

Ace smiled at the sight. “I’ve been wanting to try this move too. Perfect timing.”

He planted one leg firmly, held Emberlight horizontally, and began to spin rapidly.