บท 21: Chapter21-Who Dares to Rob Crossbridge?
Lucy's words seemed to set things in motion.
The rest of the team quickly chimed in, expressing their willingness to join the test.
"If Lucy can do it, then so can I," said Lily, the timid-looking priest, in a soft voice. "If we succeed, everyone will become stronger."
She didn't say what would happen if they failed.
But the implication was clear: if they failed, they would all share the consequences.
Daniel smiled slightly.
The bond within this ragtag mercenary squad seemed pretty solid after all.
"Are you sure?" Daniel gave them one last chance to change their minds. "Once we begin, there will be no turning back."
"We're sure!" they answered in unison.
Daniel took out the mana containing the principles of Genesis and gently squeezed it.
The squad members felt a sudden darkness engulf them.
The scenery around them had completely changed.
They were surrounded by swirling magic arrays, countless mana stones shining like stars in the sky.
"Focus your minds, feel the new laws the magic array brings!"
"Relax, let go of the mana in your bodies! Once your mana is depleted, slowly begin to absorb the power of the magic array."
Under Daniel's guidance, the mercenaries followed his instructions.
He showed them how to use the new cultivation laws.
The finer details, however, he left for them to figure out on their own.
Before long, all the magic arrays lit up. They directly infused knowledge into their minds, and the basic grammar of Genesis was deeply imprinted in their brains.
The five had varying talents, and the time it took to comprehend the new laws differed for each.
Daniel was patient.
He stood outside the magic array, watching the situation clearly through the layers of shimmering mana stone barriers.
"Not bad, the physical changes are just as I predicted."
"Lucy and Kent have the best talent, progressing much faster than the others."
"Lily has the weakest talent, but she's determined. She's failed several times but hasn't given up."
The enlightenment lasted a long time.
It wasn't until the sky began to lighten that Daniel snapped his fingers, stopping the magic arrays.
The five woke up from their cultivation.
Their faces were full of exhaustion, and they still seemed somewhat dazed.
Daniel arranged for them to stay in the closest rooms to him to rest well, instructing them to come to him immediately if they experienced any unusual symptoms.
"Master Daniel, I feel like, though I'm tired, I seem to be absorbing natural energy faster than before," Kent said. "And there were things I didn't understand during my previous training that now make perfect sense."
Lucy progressed the fastest. She had originally been at the iron tier, and after dispelling her old strength and starting anew, she had already returned to her former tier.
But the confusion and obstacles she had previously encountered were gone.
Now, the new cultivation law seemed like a straight, unobstructed path, and as long as she followed it, she would reach heights she hadn't dared to imagine before.
The others felt similarly.
They looked at Daniel with deep gratitude in their eyes.
Even the slowest among them could tell that the new law Daniel had them test was something extraordinary, far superior to the lower-grade laws they had been using.
After bowing to Daniel again, they dragged their exhausted bodies to rest.
Daniel, meanwhile, began to record the results of the first experiment.
Errors in cultivation principles: none.
Adverse reactions in test subjects: none.
Risk of collapse during cultivation: none.
He was quite pleased with the results.
Just then, Academic Affairs Director Rowan came rushing over in a panic.
"Daniel!" he exclaimed in alarm, "I've been robbed."
Rowan's mage robe had a large tear in it, and the defensive magic array embedded in it had activated just in time to save him from a fatal attack. However, the magical impact had knocked him unconscious, and he had only just awoken.
After speaking, Rowan suddenly coughed violently.
With a "pfft," he spat out a mouthful of blood, his face as pale as snow.
The number of mana stones stolen was staggering, and upon waking, he had rushed back without even treating his wounds, intent on reporting the incident.
Daniel frowned slightly and placed a hand on Rowan's forehead.
The next moment, Rowan felt a surge of warmth flow through his body, instantly healing his injuries, including the burning pain in his lungs.
He stared at Daniel with wide eyes, momentarily at a loss for words.
This was at least a Tier-Master level blessing! Even the most dedicated priests couldn't perform such a powerful and effortless healing as Daniel had just done!
"If you encounter something like this again, prioritize your safety," Daniel said. "Money can always be earned later; it's just some mana stones. But if you're seriously injured, the academy would suffer an irreplaceable loss."
Rowan was deeply moved by these words.
He had expected Daniel to blame him for failing in his duties.
But instead, Daniel was concerned about his well-being.
It made Rowan feel that his decision to reject higher-paying offers from other families and stay with Crossbridge Academy had been the right one.
"Where are the others who went with you?" Daniel asked, knowing that someone as cautious as Rowan wouldn't have gone to deliver something valuable alone.
"They're all injured," Rowan said bitterly. "I had someone send them back. Most of them aren't in too bad of shape, but Bighead Stone… he was stabbed. He was unconscious all night, and he lost so much blood. The academy doctor said his ribs had punctured his heart, and there's no saving him."
At this point, Rowan felt even more sorrow.
Bighead Stone wasn't very skilled, nor was he particularly bright, but he was loyal to Crossbridge Academy, especially to the old headmaster.
During the academy's toughest times, to prevent outsiders from sneaking in to cause trouble, he would patrol the entrance every night without sleep.
Such a person didn't deserve such an end.
"I'll go check on him!" Daniel remembered Bighead Stone.
Even in the memories of his predecessor, this honest man had left a strong impression.
In a flash, Daniel disappeared, following the scent of blood, and reappeared the next second in the infirmary.
The infirmary was filled with wounded people. Most had already been treated with powerful potions and bandages and had fallen into a deep sleep. The medic was gently wiping the blood off Bighead Stone's body with a cloth.
Bighead Stone was completely unconscious.
He was covered in blood and looked incredibly pitiful.
Vice Headmaster Aldric, Logistics Director Lady Isolde, and three other teachers were there as well, their expressions grim, faces full of anger.
"Whoever did this, I swear I'll make them pay!" Aldric fumed. "Damn scum! How dare they harm one of our own?"
"Damn thieves! How did they know Devon was carrying such a huge amount of mana stones? It must have been an insider leak from Dragonscale Bank," Lady Isolde clenched her fists. "Those double-crossing, backstabbing bastards."
Just as the others were about to speak, they saw Daniel suddenly appear. They were first startled, then looked at him as if seeing their savior.
"Daniel, is there any hope for Bighead Stone?" Lady Isolde asked with a mixture of hope and desperation.
The medic sighed, "I've already told you, Bighead Stone's external wounds are the least of our concerns. Even with the heart injury, there are ways to heal it. The real problem is that his soul is already starting to dissipate."
"He must've been attacked by a curse-wielding soul mage!"
"If there were a high priest here providing protection at the time, maybe he could've been saved."
The others' faces darkened.
Yes, his soul was almost gone.
How could he be saved now?
Daniel scanned Bighead Stone's condition. A faint golden light flickered in his eyes as he saw the fragments of the soul dissipating.
"Greater Blessing!" Daniel whispered. "Holy light, revive the warrior, restore the soul. Scattered soul, heed my command, gather back into your master's body."
As he spoke, a gentle yet immense golden light enveloped the entire space.
Everyone felt a warm sensation throughout their bodies.
The other wounded, though asleep, smiled as their brows relaxed.
Bighead Stone's injuries healed visibly before their eyes. His face regained its color, and although the others couldn't see the state of his soul, the next moment, they all gasped.
Bighead Stone had opened his eyes.
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