Bab 85: The Magical Array Inscribed with Tunguska Runic Symbols
With a sudden flurry of thrusts, my left shoulder, right leg, and side were pierced by the crystal trident, each strike carving deep gashes into my flesh and rendering me nearly incapacitated in an instant. I had initially believed I could contend with this nameless youth, but once he became serious, I was swiftly defeated in our first encounter. "You are far too weak; even my most casual techniques are beyond your capability to withstand. It would be best for you to return; the title of Demon Island Warrior will not be bestowed upon you."
"What? Is this truly considered defeat? This cannot be right!" Despite the formidable prowess of my opponent, I still had other skills yet to unveil, and the prospect of failure left me unsatisfied. Without the axe or the relentless pursuit of Master Guan's assassins, I would not have cared about the title of Demon Island Warrior; however, I urgently needed to return to Demon Island and enhance my strength. "I must obtain the title of Demon Island Warrior. If passing your test is the only way to qualify, then I shall attempt it once more."
"Oh? You wish to try again? But given your current state, even multiple attempts will not allow you to triumph over me."
"One must engage in battle to truly understand." I snapped my fingers, unleashing a trio of curse spells—slowing, stunning, and weakening—before my opponent could anticipate my capabilities. Caught off guard, the boy fell victim to my spells. Curses are particularly effective against melee combatants; the last practitioner of voodoo magic I faced suffered similarly, forced to engage me from a distance with his knife, unable to utilize his formidable martial skills, which allowed my petrification technique to succeed.
Though this boy possessed remarkable martial prowess, he appeared oblivious to any form of magic. After succumbing to my curses, he found himself in a far worse predicament than the voodoo master, his movements slowing significantly, revealing numerous openings in his techniques. Sadly, despite his diminished strength, the disparity between our skills remained vast; even at half his capacity, he could easily send me reeling.
Moreover, after repelling me with a fierce strike, an intense vortex of true energy swirled around him, suggesting he intended to dispel the effects of my curses using his own power. I was uncertain if he possessed such capability, but his willingness to attempt it indicated that miracles might indeed occur. "This won't do; I must end this swiftly. I have an item that can be utilized in this battle, provided... I can land a punch."
My strategy crystallized quickly, and without pausing to ponder its potential flaws, I charged forward with utmost ferocity. As the boy positioned his crystal trident before me, I summoned my power armor without hesitation.
Bang! Following a fierce clash, my left arm of the power armor was rendered useless, numerous circuits exposed. However, such losses were anticipated in my strategy; the true lethal strike lay in my right hand—I only needed to land a single blow. The boy, taken aback by my fervor, swiftly crossed his trident in defense, but as I shed my power armor and unleashed the Free and Easy Palm, I struck down upon his hand with unyielding force, leaving him helpless to react.
The Level Three Magic Dog Emblem, when employed against a living being, compels them to obey like a docile pup. The artifact I wielded was indeed this previously deemed useless Magic Dog Emblem. "Let me pass."
"What sorcery have you employed against me?" His gaze was defiant and reluctant, yet his body obediently parted to allow me passage. The Magic Dog Emblem proved far more effective than I had anticipated. As I contemplated whether to seize the boy's crystal trident as well, a frail yet authoritative voice emerged from within the cabin, murmuring, "You may enter."
I strode past the boy, entering the cabin to find a diminutive old man with a hooked nose and piercing eyes, his stature barely reaching my waist. Yet, he exuded an aura of formidable presence, embodying the demeanor of a grandmaster. "To earn the title of Demon Island Warrior, one must possess the heart of a warrior. While you may have defeated my disciple, I see no qualities of a true warrior within you."
"I am not a warrior; I possess no warrior's heart! Is the Demon Mercenary Corps merely toying with me? This nebulous examination is absurd; you might as well have told me from the start that I would fail, sparing me this futile journey to Canada." The old man with the hooked nose remained unfazed by my grievances. Once I had finished, he replied, "If you desire to obtain the heart of a warrior, you must accept my training. If you do not wish to earn the title of Demon Island Warrior, then please leave."
"So, I am here for training? I gladly accept; I feared I would be turned away." Upon hearing there was still hope, I respectfully inquired, "May I ask your name, Master, and what kind of training I am to undergo?"
"My name is Horus. Do you not possess a performance card?"
"I do. What do you require it for?"
"Follow me!" As Horus stepped aside, a vast cavern came into view behind the cabin, revealing a colossal magical teleportation array. Unlike the one belonging to the Demon Mercenary Corps, this array appeared ancient, inscribed with runes distinct from those I had encountered at the training camp on Demon Island or the French base of the Demon Mercenary Corps.
Moreover, I recognized the script used to inscribe this magical array; it was the Tunguska runic language from the twenty-six language cards I had purchased on Demon Island. The Tunguska runic language comprises only one hundred and twenty-eight characters, making it relatively straightforward. Although I was not as familiar with it as with the Max magical script, I could not mistake it. Almost instinctively, I opened my hand, and radiant silver light coalesced into hundreds of magical symbols, which began to rotate before quickly aligning in the palm of my hand to form a new magical array.
I clenched my fist tightly, fearing that the silver brilliance might escape, but Horus paid no heed to my small gesture, instead pointing at the teleportation array. "There are approximately seven or eight teleportation arrays worldwide aimed at Demon Island, but this is the only one targeting Skull Island. You can activate this array using your performance card, and the data on the card will be converted into the duration of your stay on Skull Island."
"Skull Island! It sounds like a place devoid of virtue. Will I even survive the return?"
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone