This dungeon has mushrooms growing on it.

Chapter 259, Section 258: The Ceremony of Rebirth
In Mushroom Garden No. 3.

With fewer demons around, Little Black finally dared to leave her little nest without worrying about anyone coveting her sparkly beauty.

At this moment, she was sitting on the ground holding her tail, intently watching the two people fighting not far away.

Norris did not pilot the Gida, and his opponent was the vampire Louisa.

Using his agility, Norris constantly changed direction as he attacked Louisa, occasionally using [Airwalk] to change course in mid-air, but all his attacks were blocked by Louisa's ever-changing blood whip.

While fighting, Louisa pointed out Norris's problem: "Your jump was pointless except for allowing you to use the 'Airborne' technique. The purpose was too obvious. Against an experienced opponent, even if they don't know your abilities, seeing you jump like that will make them wary!"

"Your ability to step into the air isn't a powerful talent. To use it unexpectedly, you need to be more careful and conceal your intentions more deeply."

Another lash sent Norris flying, and Louisa narrowed her eyes.

[Petrification Ray LV4]

click -

However, Norris's [Magic Resistance LV6] effect was not ideal; it only shattered one scale and did not have a substantial impact on his actions.

But Norris, sensing something amiss on his knee, instinctively looked over.

The next second, the blood whip wrapped around Norris's neck, bringing this sparring match to an end.

"In battle, don't be afraid of getting hurt; defeating the enemy faster is the best way to protect yourself. Besides... in fact, flight ability is the most suitable match for this skill..."

As she spoke, Louisa lifted Norris's chin and then bit his neck.

Norris did not resist; this was the agreed-upon reward.

Little Black, standing to the side, pouted and threw a half-petrified, no longer shiny scale hard onto the ground. Today was another day without any shiny items.

Meanwhile, in the fifth layer of swamp, a certain green mushroom, who had watched the entire process, frequently tapped its mushroom cap.

Louisa, as expected of a vampire who rose to the rank of viscount, analyzed things in a very logical and insightful way, and Lin Jun found it all very helpful.

Once I've mastered these skills, coupled with my strong micro-management abilities, it won't be impossible for me to solo kill the Sword Saint someday!

Lin Jun's combat awareness +1.

……

On the demonic side, the atmosphere within the tribe was different from before.

When Shou directed his people to carry the phlegmon to the "cradle" outside the Black Stone House, all the demons put down what they were doing.

As if summoned silently, they all spontaneously gathered in the open area near the cradle.

They didn't make a sound, but stood or squatted silently, their eyes all fixed on the heavy, tightly closed stone door.

All the demons eagerly awaited the birth of their new race.

The gradual decline of the Stone Fortress underground city made life in the tribe increasingly difficult. One sign of this was the decreasing frequency of newborn ceremonies, until finally, no new tribesmen were born for more than half a year.

Now, the long-awaited birth ceremony is like a sign that the tribe is starting anew and getting better, which has extraordinary significance!
Inside the black stone house, Xinghuo took a deep breath and carefully checked the magic array beneath her feet, making sure that nothing went wrong.

In the past, the new life ceremony was presided over by the elders, with him only assisting from the side. Although he was already very familiar with the process, this was the first time he had personally presided over it, and it was such a significant occasion that he couldn't afford to be careless.

Fortunately, everything is normal.

Xinghuo came out carrying a stone bowl and a file, and stood before Shou.

Shou took the file, pulled open his clothes, and scraped a trace of powder that had precipitated from the magic core on his chest into the stone bowl.

Then Spark moved on to the next person...

This is the "dust offering" part of the ceremony, which represents the close connection between the newborn tribesman and everyone in the tribe. It is a step with more symbolic meaning than practical effect.

After a round of observation, Lin Jun, who had been secretly watching, was almost bored to death.

Now comes the main event. At Starfire's command, several demonic beings placed the filaments onto the sub-magic array extending from the cradle.

As the warriors worked together to pry open the tough skin of the liposome, and as the liposome struggled before dying, the magic circle beneath it suddenly lit up!
The liposome's life force was constantly being drained. It tried to escape, but the soldiers held it down firmly.

Inside the stone house, Xinghuo guided the magic array with both hands, and strands of life energy, condensed to the point of being tangible, gathered in his palms.

Following the example of the elders of the past, Xinghuo extracted the deep blue light mist that represented [cold resistance] from it.

First, all the remaining life energy was poured into the cradle. Inside the cradle, the shattered magic core and dust continuously broke apart and then reformed, finally condensing into a complete new magic core.

Life energy surged into the demon core, and flesh and blood gradually grew out from the center of the demon core.

Two hours later, a naked, boyish demon appeared beside the cradle.

A new race has been born, and now only the final step remains—the inscription of magical runes!
This is a step that can only be completed at birth; a demon without magic runes is incomplete.

Within the Empire, such a crippled demon might have a chance to survive, but in the far north, without the ability to inscribe [cold resistance], they are certain to perish.

Therefore, Xinghuo did not relax at all. He guided the deep blue life energy that he had extracted earlier with both hands and began to inscribe the magic runes along the natural patterns of the demonic offspring.

At this most critical moment, a sudden change occurred!

Zila——!
The light from the magic circle flickered violently a few times, then suddenly stopped, and gradually dimmed.

Not enough magic?

why? !

This magic circle has been operating by absorbing free-floating magic from the ground. He checked it, and there was clearly nothing wrong with the magic circle!

Without time to think, he quickened his pace in inscribing the magic runes.

The magic circle is still barely functioning.

He just needs to be quick, before the magic circle completely dims...

……

The magical light that had never been extinguished inside the stone house suddenly disappeared. Hunter, who was standing closest, was the first to notice the change, and an ominous premonition lingered in his heart.

Hunt wanted to go in and see what was going on, but he was afraid that suddenly barging in would only make things worse.

In the end, he could only force himself to stay where he was, anxiously waiting for the result.

Soon, even other tribespeople who were a little further away noticed something was wrong, and the discussions grew louder.

Amidst the anxieties of all the demons, Starfire staggered out.

At this moment, Xinghuo's face was ashen, and her steps were unsteady. It was as if she had exhausted all her strength to support her body, or as if she had struggled to wake up from a nightmare. She barely managed to avoid falling by supporting herself with her hands on the edge of the cold stone door.

Those usually focused and calm eyes were now filled with confusion and deep pain.

Hunting already guessed the answer, but still asked with difficulty, "What's wrong? The new tribesman..."

Xinghuo closed his eyes in anguish, and when he opened them again, they were filled with overwhelming regret: "The magic array... the magic power supply was interrupted, the magic runes... could not be completed... Clan leader, I messed it up!"

"how so……"

The failure to inscribe it is worse than the failure to give birth to a new race!
Because it means that everyone has to watch a newborn member of their tribe freeze to death!

Undoubtedly, this defeat will severely damage the confidence that the tribesmen have recently managed to regain.

But as the tribal chief, Shou could not show any sign of wavering!

Shou closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and said, "Starfire, go and find out what caused the magic to be interrupted. I... I'll go and comfort the people..."

Just then, a voice that shouldn't have been there suddenly rang in Hunting's mind:
"Um... excuse me... but I might be able to help..."

(End of this chapter)