Aside from investigating anomalies, Ivan did not neglect his own matters, he comprehended the 21st to the 24th meditation runes.
The “Black Beard Chapter” of the Meditation Method has a total of 40 meditation runes, beginning with the 21st one, each rune corresponds to 0.4 graduated degrees of mental power, up to the 30th rune.
He analyzed that the final 10 runes would each correspond to 0.5 graduated degrees of mental power.
When he sketched out all 24 runes in his mind at one go, he consumed the third vial of Magic Crystal Water, increasing his mental power by 0.6 graduated degrees, reaching 8.2 graduated degrees.
In recent days, he had also learned the spell ‘Mage’s Hand’ and was deciphering ‘Hold Person’; these two spells were actually variations of the same magic, both based on the fine manipulation and application of mental power, similar to a few other spells he had learned before.
As time passed, eleven days had elapsed since they arrived at Swamp Forest City.
Lately, Swamp Forest City had become tranquil, with no one going mad and no wild beasts causing trouble. Inside and outside of the city, it was as if a pause button had been pressed—a very strange occurrence.
For the apprentices who rushed over, it felt like a heavy punch landing on cotton.
Given this situation, they speculated there could be two reasons: either it was bad timing, or someone was manipulating events from behind the scenes. If it was the latter, the problem would undoubtedly be more troublesome.
Ivan, on the other hand, found such days to be rather pleasant, especially since he was pulled in just to make up the numbers.
He then consumed the last vial of Magic Crystal Water, which had a minimal effect, only increasing his mental power by 0.2 graduated degrees. Now, his mental power had reached 8.4 graduated degrees, corresponding to the first 26 meditation runes.
As for magic, he had learned the Hold Person and Thorny Strangulation spells and was contemplating Ground Vine Skill.
Thorny Strangulation had a casting time of 3 seconds, a range of 12 meters, and required: 2 points of mental power, 2 points of Mana; its intensity ranged from 6 to 8 graduated degrees, reaching up to 10 graduated degrees with the use of magic-casting materials.
Thorny Strangulation was in fact an advanced version of the Vine Entanglement spell, manifesting two thorny vines that would entwine and constrict the enemy upon casting.
Ground Vine Skill combined Earth element particles and could summon multiple vines from the ground, with the type of vine depending on the plants in the soil ahead, having a casting range of up to 13 meters, and the spell’s intensity fluctuated between 6 and 8 graduated degrees.
Having experience learning Vine Entanglement, he was not slow in picking up these two spells.
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That night, as usual, the two teams met up to discuss future actions.
“There are no anomalies in the city.”
“Nor have we found anything unusual outside.”
Heidi observed suspicion in the eyes of the Hunting Team members. Everyone knew the Hunting Team was adept at tracking; these individuals were out early and returned late every day, and now to say that they hadn’t found a single clue was hard to believe.
Wolban gave a wry smile, “These past days, even the magicalized wild beasts in the jungles have stopped being aggressive. I’m suspecting that someone is controlling everything.”
“It is likely so.”
After a pause, Heidi made a decision, “I’ve decided to take a trip to Stone Creek Town.”
Wolban said, “What about Swamp Forest City then? It’s best to leave a couple of people here to keep watch.”
“You stay behind.”
Heidi glanced at the other three members of the Enchantment Group, watching Ivan in particular.
Ivan, who had been an impartial observer, didn’t expect the issue to fall to him. He frowned slightly and, after a moment’s contemplation, nodded in agreement.
The following day.
The Hunting Team had already left for the outskirts of the city, while the three members of the Enchantment Group were preparing to head to Stone Creek Town.
Gina suggested, “Why don’t I stay too, it’s better to have an extra person for support.”
“No, the situation in Stone Creek Town is critical, I need enough hands.” Her suggestion was rejected by Heidi, who then turned to Ivan and instructed, “You’re too weak to be of much help; it’s safer for you to stay in the city. Remember to be vigilant for any suspicious individuals.”
Gina, with no alternative, motioned to her junior to be careful.
Without waiting for Ivan to respond, Heidi left with the two others.
“Who does this woman think she is looking down on! Stone Creek Town, what’s so special about that place?” Watching their departing figures, Ivan recalled the situation in Stone Creek Town, which seemed to have nothing particularly remarkable about it.
He didn’t rule out the possibility that the information he had was too limited.
He didn’t stay at his lodging, but wandered around the city as usual. When he felt like it, he’d randomly pick a shop to rest his feet. The city had been calm for so many days that many businesses couldn’t hold back any longer and had opened their doors to trade.
In a restaurant, Ivan sat by the window.
Noticing someone peering around, he saw it was the little beggar he had encountered not long ago. He gestured for the beggar to come over.
The little beggar hesitated a moment, then cautiously ran over to him.
“Haven’t found anything to eat again?”
The little beggar nodded and then shook his head. Gathering his courage, he said, “Sir, if I report some information to you, could you give me some food?”
“Oh, do you know what I’m trying to find out?”
“Mhm.”
“Go ahead, I’ll ask the owner to give you some food.”
“One night, our leader sneaked out. He had never gone out at night before, and he didn’t come back until nearly dawn the next day. He seemed to have forgotten what had happened that night and kept complaining about not having slept well, feeling so tired.”
“Where is your leader now?”
“Gone. After sneaking out a second night, he never came back. Sir, I swear every word I’m saying is true. I’m absolutely not lying to get food.”
Ivan kept his promise and asked the owner to give the little beggar some food. The little beggar carefully held the food and ran away.
“This kind of method is like casting a spell on someone,” Ivan thought to himself. If the little beggar’s words were true, then Swamp Forest City must be infested with a large number of controlled people, and the movements of the two small teams had surely caught the eyes of the person behind the scenes.
We are in the light, the enemy hides in the dark. We must be more careful.
“Sir, it has happened.”
In the afternoon, the City Lord’s eldest son, Nelsey, rushed to find Ivan, bringing news.
Ivan asked them to lead the way, discussing the situation as they moved.
“What happened?”
“Someone has gone mad again, the entirety of a Mercenary Group. My father and the guards are already on their way there.”
Swamp Forest City had been quiet for so long, with the City Lord and his son growing even more anxious. They knew the sorcerer apprentices wouldn’t stay long, and missing the opportunity would mean having to deal with various emergencies themselves, which wasn’t what they wanted.
Today, only one sorcerer apprentice was left in the city, which made the City Lord and his son feel even more helpless and worried. Fortunately, an incident finally occurred, and they were more relieved than startled.
Upon receiving the news, the City Lord immediately sent Nelsey to inform Ivan.
As the two approached the area, the nearby residents had become skittish as spooked birds, immediately locking their doors and windows at the first sign of trouble, leaving behind only the chaos of the streets. Some people who hadn’t managed to flee lay dead by the roadside.
“Kill them!”
“Block them, don’t let them escape at any cost.”
“The City Lord said he wants them alive, be careful not to get hurt by them.”
As a medium-sized city, the defensive forces were not weak. Following the noisy commotion, the two reached the scene where the frenzied individuals were being corralled by guards back into the courtyard of their quarters, with about twenty or thirty of them.
“Sir, these are the sick people. Do you want to capture them alive?” Seeing Ivan arrive, City Lord Simmons sighed with relief and approached with his trusted aide.
“We’ll see how it goes.”
Ivan gestured and took a few steps forward, scrutinizing the raving mercenaries who seemed to have their minds clouded, becoming like wild beasts that knew only destruction, trying to break out of the circle of guards.
He noticed that there were subtle patterns in the mercenaries’ eyes, similar to the rune lines found on the heads of wild beasts, which only appeared when someone went mad.
Suddenly, Ivan sensed a fatal danger, coming from behind.