The Adventurer's Mission Log

Chapter 25 Hunting Ritual

Michael suddenly realized and patiently explained, "If you are lucky enough to survive the awakening and have a high affinity with the bloodline, you can indeed directly take a magic potion to advance in the initial stage." He gestured with his eyes to the obvious abnormality on Tenor's body.

"But look at this, my friend, your level of external alienation is already comparable to that of a seasoned half-human!"

The Ascension Ritual can mitigate the corrupting effects of potions. Typically, we take an Awakening Elixir to become half-human, then, through time and training, increase our compatibility with our bloodline. Finally, through the Ascension Ritual, we take a general-purpose potion or a specialized potion to advance to the next rank.

Tenor belatedly realized that the abnormality in his body was unusual, but he did not regret it, because his original condition only allowed him to drink the reagent directly.

Fortunately, he did not die from the mutation.

He was curious about the differences in the sublimation reagents, but his first question was about the ritual: "What exactly is the sublimation ritual?"

It is also called the "hunting ritual" and was passed down by the prophet Sirhan.

We need to hunt different monsters as targets, sacrificing them to the bloodline according to the will of the mutated bloodline, using their deaths as the anchor point for the sacrifice.

Recalling his instinctive hostility towards chaotic beings, Tenor suddenly realized that his successful ascension was not only due to luck, but also the possibility that he had unintentionally completed the ritual.

"It's not just these, is it?"

"Yes." Michael admired Tenor's keen insight and explained in a soft voice, "Hunting without a ceremony can only enhance our affinity with our bloodline."

If your affinity is insufficient, you will sense it when drinking ritual potions. This means you need to continue to cultivate and improve your affinity with your bloodline. Never force yourself to perform a hunting ritual.

The ancients summarized a systematic hunting ritual, such as the second-tier ritual of the werewolf bloodline—you need to swallow a potion made of mistletoe, aconite, and liquid silver beforehand on the night of the full moon.

While the effects of the drug are still active, you must use the hallucinations you gain from taking the potion to pinpoint the location of your prey... This is not difficult, and you will continue to sense it unless it escapes beyond the boundaries of a city.

Hunt it down and devour it... your bloodline will be in a state of calm, and any further mutation will be minimally affected.

After you devour your prey, you have one day to prepare to take the medicine.

Using this method, you can maintain your individuality even after advancing to the legendary level. If you don't perform the ritual, you will be devoured by your bloodline when you first enter the high or even mid-level.

"Can the prey be specified arbitrarily?"

"No, after you take the medicine, your bloodline will select suitable prey from within its range."

Therefore, we need to track the target's movements in advance and hold a hunting ceremony nearby, in case there are no viable prey within the ceremony's area—otherwise, you'll end up wasting a bottle of mediocre potion.

"Okay... but what if it's some rare bloodline that wasn't recorded by the ancients? How do you hold a hunting ceremony?" Tenor pessimistically discovered that being a special species was no longer an advantage.

"Use a general-purpose ritual." Michael wasn't surprised. He guessed that Tenor must have helped Simon a lot, so the reward in his words was particularly generous: "I can give you a general-purpose ritual below the eighth rank, enough for you to advance to the seventh rank."

"What about the sublimation reagent? How do I obtain the key materials?"

I've heard that there's a crucial ingredient monopolized by the Mamurs; without it, even cracking the formula is useless.

"Critical materials?" Michael asked, puzzled, frowning as he thought. "Who told you that we need critical materials?"

"A scholar." Tenor lowered his opinion of Reginald. This kid was unreliable... but it was understandable, after all, Reginald wasn't half-human. "What's wrong?"

"I fear people who have only read one book—especially if that book is fake." Michael subtly criticizes the scholars Tenor speaks of. "Unless you insist on using 'general-purpose potions' to mutate, there is no such thing as the key material 'monopolized by the Mamurs'."

The "General Purpose Potion" requires "blood," a substance that only Sylhan can extract from half-humans.

I don't know how the ruler maintains the production of 'Blood Source'. The sublimation reagents circulating in the market are all general-purpose magic potions... but Sylhan is dead... I'm afraid only the ruler knows how to operate the formula for production.

"If you don't intend to break into the palace of the ruler, there's no need to be curious about it." Michael easily dissuaded Tenor from the idea; breaking into the palace was too difficult for him at the moment.

"The 'General Purpose Potion' can activate any alien bloodline. After reaching a higher level, you must rely on the 'General Purpose Potion' to transform."

Before reaching higher levels, all you need are 'special potions'.

Initially, there were all sorts of recipes for "special potions," but it was Sirhan who standardized them.

Depending on the different mutated bloodlines, you need to find your own core material—that is, the target of the hunting ritual.

The other main ingredients are universal; I can give you the recipes.

Overwhelmed with gratitude, Tenor said, "I don't know how to repay you."

Michael was feeling much better. He then got up from Simon's arms and looked intently into Tenor's eyes. In his recollection, he said:

"Other warriors in the palace never inquired about the ingredients of the finished potion after receiving it, but I not only had curiosity, but also good luck."

I have a good relationship with the court alchemist Adil; he is the second son of Damamur and manages our promotions.

Normally, after we receive the potion, we will complete the promotion under supervision, and we are not required or allowed to know the contents of the potion.

But I often discuss these things with him in private.

If you wish to repay me, wait until you are capable enough, then go and tell Adil of Quyaz... I'm sorry.

"It's okay if we can't find him; he might already be dead." Michael said, his voice trembling with sadness and regret.

That friend will be killed because of his defection.

Revealing information about potions to the palace guards was forbidden, and the two dissolute men not only violated this prohibition in private, but also exposed this fact after Michael's defection and Mamur's investigation.

Even the most trusted blood relatives are forced to confront the cold, ironclad rules.

Ternor noticed Michael's low spirits. He knew everything he wanted to know, so he comforted Michael, "I promise you, if I ever see him, I will explain to him."

Please rest assured, everything will be alright.

"I hope so." Michael wasn't in a good mood. He borrowed parchment and a pen from Simon and scribbled on it.

"You may leave. Let's pretend we never met. Let 'Shadow Hand' take my head back."

I will make sure the soul doesn't fall into their hands. Once the storm has passed, the Mamurs won't care about the life or death of a witch hunter and a wild half-man unless we reveal what we discussed today.

"You're planning to sacrifice yourself to save us?" Simon scoffed.

Tenor tried to dissuade him, saying, "Perhaps there are other options..."

Mai could abruptly and rudely interrupt, "Listen to me, don't waste time, they'll find my exact location within a few days."

Great Mamur demands proof of my death, and the Shadow Hunters will not rest until I am dead!

You just need to leave; I don't want you to die a miserable death too!

If I implicate you, I will not rest in peace even in the land of the gods!

"That doesn't sound good," Tenor said, irritated. "Are those in power really that terrifying? Can a single order decide our lives?"

"It really is that terrible." Simon struggled internally, a bitter smile on his face, his eyes glistening. Since his fruitless search for his brother, he thought he had cried all his tears, but today the urge to cry returned.

"Let me stay. There's nothing else I'm worried about outside, Tenor... you can go now."

Tenor silently watched the two brothers. Rationally speaking, he could have simply turned around and left; his mission was complete.

But emotionally speaking, doing so would be a betrayal of the kindness the Simon brothers had shown him.

Michael refused Simon's request firmly, "You can't stay here."

Michael paused, then said with a slight sob in his voice, "I hope you can find your mother and tell her that I miss her very much."

"Can't we just forge a death certificate?" Tenor interrupted the two brothers' refusal.

"What could possibly deceive Mamur's mage order?" Simon's eyes dimmed, his face returning to its deathly coldness, his resolve to die was firm.

"That depends on whether Sir Heinrich is willing to help." Tenor chuckled at his own idea.

Without sufficient incentive, it would be difficult to persuade a vampire to take action; in fact, even the mere sight of Heinrich would be dangerous.

When they encounter vampires again, they might go in alive and come out dead, and then there will be no need to ask anyone to sacrifice themselves.

But this is the only possibility of getting away with it.

A glimmer of hope appeared in Simon's eyes. "Yes! That vampire should have a way!"

Go now, Tenor. Our mission is over; you don't need to take any more risks.

I'll take Michael to find that vampire... Count, if Mor refuses to accept our souls, we'll meet again sooner or later!

"It's a deal." Ternor and the Simon brothers bid each other a solemn farewell.

They told Tenor to exit through another tunnel exit, while they stayed behind to clean up the traces.

The labyrinthine tunnels were enough to trap an ordinary person, but Tenor, with his keen senses, found the exit by observing the airflow.

Before him lay an unfamiliar river, which he guessed meant he had reached the border between the Empire and Orodlin.

He dared not linger, fearing that the Shadow Hunters would catch up with him. At that point, it wouldn't just be a question of whether he could repel the enemy—he might become the Shadow Hands' most wanted criminal because of the formula he possessed.

After finding the road along the river, they indeed discovered a dense flow of convoys.

It was very easy to borrow a ride—for the price of a silver coin—to reach Laghettia.

Two days later, in the evening, after returning to the city of Laghettia, he couldn't help but feel a sense of relief at surviving the ordeal.

At midnight, he walked alone into the Black Rose Tavern and found that some familiar faces were missing.

Only after entering the room, closing the door, and resting did he dare to take out the parchment scroll, carefully memorize its contents, and burn it after mastering it.

He began to recall the formula for the fourth-order reagent, preparing to gather materials and plan his advancement.