How come this arcanist is invincible?

Chapter 3 Stigmata Ritual

In games, to encourage exploration, settings such as "gaining experience through reading" or even "unlocking job skills" are often included.

At this moment, Kane desperately needs to take advantage of this rule.

He quickly took down the book of mysteries and began to read.

The book is filled with attacks on the gods, contempt for the magic network, and regards arcane magic as the supreme truth for spellcasters.

After reading the last page, the system panel quietly appeared:

[Check complete: You have read "The Book of Mysteries" (Book Level 5)]

[Reading Reward: Since your level is lower than the book's level, your base experience is 60% of the standard amount.]

[Bonus Effect: Experience gain efficiency +80%, final experience gain 140%]

[Cumulative Experience Points Gained: 80]

Kane understood as the information scrolled across the panel.

With the aid of the medicine, the experience of reading became far more efficient than tedious training.

But he knew very well that this was not a game world where you could level up by idling.

"To survive, combat training must not be neglected."

Just then, a notification that made his heart race finally popped up:

[Hint: You have read the Arcane Path to the Book. Do you want to unlock the new class and change your class to "Arcane Apprentice"?]

[Note: This career change is irreversible]

Kane fell into deep thought.

Arcane masters possess profound potential, comprehensive abilities, and extremely high growth potential.

However, its weaknesses are equally prominent: weak combat power in the early stages.

What he lacks most is the ability to protect himself in a timely manner.

Just then, very light footsteps came from behind.

Kane's heart tightened, and he quickly composed himself.

Turning his head, he saw Shar staring at him with a scrutinizing gaze, her eyes filled with suspicion.

"What are you doing?"

Oops.

Reading is completely out of character for him.

She became suspicious.

If someone is confined for "violating dogma," it's a death sentence in this stronghold.

Kane's internal alarm bells rang, but a wide, exaggerated smile suddenly spread across his face.

"Read a book."

His tone was flippant, deliberately casual.

The more dangerous the situation, the less you should show weakness.

Shar's eyes still held suspicion: "You've never done these things before."

Kane tilted his head and stared at her, his smile turning manic:

"Great Executor, am I supposed to just stay in my room every day, carve a holy mark on my body every seven days, and then wait for the demon's reward?"

"Is this all you asked for? If so, I can go back now."

Shar frowned and looked him over.

"When you joined, you said you never wanted to touch a book again."

"no the same."

Kane stared at her intently:

"Being forced to read is completely different from reading at your own pace."

"I am free now."

As he spoke, he imitated a clown's expression, stretching the corners of his mouth wide to create a stiff and grotesque smile.

Shar stared at him for a few seconds before finally looking away.

"If you really want to read a book, you can check out 'Abyss Worship Ritual Explained'."

She turned and left, leaving behind only one sentence:

"Also, tomorrow is the day to inscribe the second holy mark."

"I understand, that was the moment I got closer to greatness."

Kane shouted back at her retreating figure, his tone manic.

The smile on his face vanished the moment the footsteps disappeared completely.

My back was soaked with cold sweat.

We've managed to get by for now.

He composed himself and refocused his attention on the bookshelf.

Over the next few hours, system notifications appeared one after another:

[Check complete... Experience gained 140%, 50 points awarded]

[Hint: You have read the Warlock's Path to Enlightenment. Do you wish to unlock the new class and change your class to "Warlock Apprentice"?]

Kane didn't return to his room until he felt hungry.

On the table was "dinner": two pieces of meat steaks with blood still visible.

He finished eating without changing his expression and looked at the full experience bar.

The "Change" icon next to the main profession column keeps flashing.

Currently, there are only two career paths to choose from: Arcane Apprentice and Warlock Apprentice.

"I didn't expect that such a large library would only contain these two types of professional books... but it's still a pleasant surprise."

Evil sorcerers can quickly gain power, but the risks are too great, like asking a tiger for its skin.

Although the Arcane Mage is weak in the early game, his immortality is a trump card, making his growth potential more controllable.

"There's no time to wait; I must get rid of the experience penalty for being an 'unclaimed profession' as soon as possible."

No more hesitation.

Kane focused his attention on the panel.

"Change confirmed - Main class: Arcane Apprentice".

hum.

Half of the experience bar was instantly deducted.

System notifications pop up frequently:

[Note: Your primary class has been changed to "Arcane Apprentice" (Level 1)]

[Attribute Bonuses: Constitution +1, Intelligence +2, Agility +1, 1 free attribute point, 1 skill point]

[Skill Unlocked: Comprehend "Basic Arcane Knowledge", Arcane Knowledge Tree is now activated]

[Trait Acquisition: "Ether Affinity (Low-level)"]

As the panel changed, Kane felt a certain indescribable "texture" in the air.

It is an invisible and intangible flow of energy that can be clearly perceived.

At the same time, my thinking became exceptionally clear.

The obscure knowledge points I had encountered while reading suddenly became clear.

"Is this the perception of an arcanist...?"

The candlelight flickered, and half of his face was hidden in shadow.

"Now that I've made up for my skill gaps, I need to acquire useful spells as soon as possible."

He looked at the remaining experience points and then thought about the Stigmata Ritual tomorrow.

He then lay down on the bed and fell into a deep sleep, exhausted.

……

The next morning, there was a knock on the door early.

Kane had just finished breakfast when a black-robed cultist led him out of the room.

The route was exceptionally long.

As he followed, he feigned probing with a frenzied tone:

"I'm about to become Oras's vessel. Are you envious? At that time, I will be the strongest in the stronghold."

The believer remained expressionless, as if he hadn't heard a thing.

Kane chuckled, his tone even more exaggerated:

"Ordinary believers like you have no idea how great this is."

This statement seemed to have struck a nerve.

The believer suddenly stopped, slowly raised his head, and abruptly stuck out his tongue—

Only half of the tongue remained.

After making this gesture, he turned around and continued leading the way, without glancing at Kane again.

"Gathering intelligence is more difficult than I thought."

Kane's heart sank.

At the end of the corridor, Shar and another believer were already waiting there.

She glanced at Kane and gave him a brief instruction:

Blindfold.

The black cloth quickly covered their vision.

A cold, soft hand grasped his wrist.

It's Shar.

"Follow me."

Her voice was devoid of emotion.

Kane suppressed his emotions, letting her guide him in the darkness, while simultaneously focusing all his efforts on memorizing the path:

Go straight, turn right, go up the steps, turn left, then go straight again...

After becoming an arcane apprentice, the increased intelligence brought about a far greater memory than before.

If they were still civilians, it would be impossible for them to memorize such a complex route in the dark.

After an unknown amount of time, the grip on my wrist suddenly loosened.

"Close your eyes for a moment, adjust to the light, and then open them."

Kane did as he was told.

When the black cloth was removed, the sharp sunlight made him squint.

Once his vision cleared, he found himself standing at the entrance of a cliffside cave.

Despite possessing the original owner's memories and witnessing this scene firsthand, Kane still felt a chill in his heart.

At the end of the rocky path is a cliffside altar, with a roaring waterfall to the side and a dense forest stretching into the distance.

"Surrounded by sheer cliffs on three sides, the only passage is the cave behind us, which is firmly guarded by cultists..."

He quickly scanned his surroundings.

"Even with immortality, after reviving from a cliff jump, one will be trapped in the forest and die. More preparations are necessary."

Someone gently pushed my back.

Kane immediately realized what was happening, put on his manic smile again, and staggered toward the center of the altar.

The mentor waited with a gentle smile, holding a black obsidian dagger that gleamed with an eerie light.

"Kane, are you ready for the second Stigmata ritual?"

"alright."

Kane adopted a fearless posture and lay down directly on the cold stone altar.

"Very good, drink it, and the ceremony will begin."

The mentor gestured to the follower beside him to hand over a bottle of dark green potion.

"Facing Him, remember, you can leave by offering a part of your soul and body."

"Yes, mentor."

Kane drank the potion.

[Notification: You have ingested a "Temporary Possession Potion (Inferior Quality)"]

[Note: After drinking, a projection of a certain low-level demon will temporarily invade your body through a ritual.]

To obey or to resist?

Before the system notification disappeared, the mentor had already raised his dagger and slashed it heavily across his right arm.

As he whispered, Kane's consciousness rapidly faded.

Darkness engulfed him completely like a tidal wave.

……

"Is this the 'Land of Souls' from the original owner's memories?"

Kane suddenly opened his eyes.

I found myself standing on a wasteland surrounded by flames.

The stench of sulfur mixed with rotting flesh filled the air.

He looked down and saw that he was holding an obsidian dagger similar to the one his mentor used.

Not far away, a demon was staring at him with greedy eyes.

That was a Quassamon.

It is the size of a hunting dog, with long, thin limbs, claws like sickles, bat wings on its back, and a foul stench emanating from its body.

"A demon's strength is often proportional to its size... This one shouldn't be too difficult to deal with."

Kane gripped his dagger tightly, his entire body tense, fully alert.

However, the next second, his pupils suddenly contracted.

The Quassa demon vanished into thin air before his very eyes.

Immediately afterwards, a sharp whooshing sound came from the side and rear—