In Mushroom Garden No. 3.
With fewer Demonborn around, Gray finally dared to leave her little nest, no longer worried that someone might covet her shiny treasures.
She sat on the ground hugging her tail, carefully watching the two people sparring not far away.
Norris wasn’t piloting Jida. His opponent was the vampire Louisa.
Using his agility, Norris continuously shifted directions to attack Louisa, even using [Air Step] at times to change direction mid-air. Yet every move was blocked by Louisa with a blood whip that constantly shifted in form.
Even as she fought, Louisa critiqued Norris’s techniques: “That jump of yours—other than letting you use Air Step, it serves no purpose. The intent is too obvious. If you meet an experienced opponent, even if they don’t know your ability, the moment they see you leap like that, they’ll be on guard.”
“Your Air Step isn’t some overwhelmingly strong talent. If you want to catch enemies off guard, you have to use it more carefully, hide your intentions deeper.”
Another lash knocked Norris back, Louisa’s eyes narrowing slightly.
【Petrification Ray LV4】
Crack—But since Norris had [Magic Resistance LV6], the effect was weak. It only shattered one of his scales and did nothing to hinder his movements.
Still, feeling the odd sensation on his knee, Norris instinctively glanced down.
The next second, the blood whip coiled around his neck, ending the sparring match.
“In battle, don’t fear injury. Beating your enemy faster is the best protection. And besides… flight is actually the ability that pairs best with this skill…”
As she spoke, Louisa tilted Norris’s chin up and sank her fangs into his neck.
Norris didn’t resist—this was the payment they had agreed on.
Off to the side, Gray pouted, angrily tossing aside a half-petrified scale that no longer sparkled. Another day with no shiny treasures to collect.
Meanwhile, in the swamp of the fifth floor, a certain green mushroom who had watched the entire scene nodded his cap repeatedly.
Louisa truly lived up to her title as a vampire viscount. Her analysis was methodical and precise—even Lin Jun felt he had gained a lot.
Once he learned these lessons, combined with his superior micro-control, in the future even a Knight Puji single-handedly killing a Sword Saint wouldn’t be impossible!
Lin Jun’s combat awareness +1.
…
Back at the Demonborn tribe, the atmosphere was unlike usual.
When Shou led his clansmen to carry the Fat Worm to the cradle outside the Blackstone House, every Demonborn stopped what they were doing.
As if drawn by an invisible summons, they gathered in silence in the open space near the cradle.
No one made a sound, but without exception, all eyes turned toward the heavy, tightly shut stone door.
All the Demonborn longed for the birth of their new clansman.
The decline of the Stone Fortress Dungeon had made tribal life harder and harder. One sign of this was the ever-dwindling frequency of new-birth ceremonies, until half a year had passed without a single new Demonborn being born.
And now, this long-awaited new birth carried extraordinary meaning—like a symbol that the tribe was beginning to thrive again.
Inside the Blackstone House, Xinghuo (Demonborn Chief) took a deep breath, carefully checking the magic array under his feet, determined to prevent any mishaps.
In the past, every birth ceremony had been led by the elders, with him only assisting at the side. Although he was already familiar with every step, this was his first time presiding himself—and for such a significant occasion—so he could not afford any mistakes.
Fortunately, everything seemed normal.
Carrying a stone bowl and a chisel, Xinghuo (Demonborn Chief) walked out and stood before Shou.
Shou took the chisel, pulled open his clothing, and scraped a trace of powder from the magic core embedded in his chest into the stone bowl.
Then Xinghuo (Demonborn Chief) went to the next person…
This was the “Dust Offering” stage of the ceremony. It symbolized the newborn’s bond with every member of the tribe—a gesture more symbolic than practical.
After watching one round of this, Lin Jun, who was secretly observing, was nearly bored to death.
The real show was only beginning.
At Xinghuo (Demonborn Chief)’s instruction, several Demonborn placed the Fat Worm on the sub-array extending out from the cradle.
As the warriors peeled open the Fat Worm’s tough hide, the beast struggled violently in its final moments. The magic array beneath it immediately lit up.
Its life force was siphoned away, and though it tried to escape, the warriors held it firmly down.
Inside the stone house, Xinghuo (Demonborn Chief) guided the array with both hands. Streams of condensed life energy gathered in his palms.
Imitating the elders of old, Xinghuo (Demonborn Chief) separated the deep-blue mist of energy that represented [Cold Resistance].
He first poured the rest of the life energy into the cradle. Within, shattered magic cores and dust broke apart, then reformed, ultimately condensing into a brand-new, complete core.
Flesh and blood began to grow around the core as it filled with life energy.
Two full hours later, a naked Demonborn youth appeared beside the cradle.
The new clansman had been born. Only one final step remained—the inscription of the magic pattern!
This was a step that could only be done at birth. A Demonborn without magic patterns was incomplete.
In the Empire, such an incomplete Demonborn might still survive. But in the far north, without [Cold Resistance], death was inevitable.
Xinghuo (Demonborn Chief) dared not relax. He guided the deep-blue energy he had separated earlier, tracing along the natural lines of the Demonborn’s body, beginning to inscribe the pattern.
At this most critical moment, disaster struck!
Zzzzt—!
The glow of the magic array flickered violently, then faltered, dimming more and more.
Not enough mana?
Why?!
The array was sustained by absorbing free-flowing mana from the underground. He had checked it—there should have been no problem!
No time to dwell on it, Xinghuo (Demonborn Chief) sped up his inscription.
The array was still barely functioning.
If he could just finish before it completely went out…
…
The ever-present magical light inside the stone house suddenly died. Shou, standing closest, noticed it first, dread coiling in his chest.
He wanted to rush in and check, but feared barging in might only make things worse.
In the end, he forced himself to stay put, waiting anxiously for the outcome.
Before long, even the more distant tribesmen sensed something was wrong, their whispers growing louder.
At last, Xinghuo (Demonborn Chief) staggered out of the stone house.
His face was pale as paper, his steps unsteady, as though his strength had been completely drained—or as though he was waking from a nightmare. Leaning heavily against the cold stone doorframe, he barely kept himself from collapsing.
His eyes, usually steady and focused, were now clouded with confusion and deep pain.
Shou had already guessed the answer, but still asked with difficulty: “What happened? The new clansman…”
Xinghuo (Demonborn Chief) shut his eyes in anguish. When he opened them again, they brimmed with regret. “The array… the mana supply was cut off. The magic pattern… wasn’t completed… Chieftain, I failed!”
“How… could this be…”
Failure to inscribe the pattern was even worse than failing to birth the clansman at all.
Because it meant they would have to watch helplessly as a newborn tribesman froze to death before their eyes.
There was no doubt—this failure would deal a devastating blow to the fragile hope the tribe had only just regained.
But as chief, Shou could not show weakness.
Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and said, “Xinghuo (Demonborn Chief), go find out exactly why the mana supply was interrupted. I… will calm the tribe.”
At that moment, an unexpected voice suddenly rang in Shou’s mind:
“Ahem… excuse me… but I think I might be able to help…”