Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 139 A Terrible Anatomy (First Update!)

This chapter may not be suitable for reading after a meal. Please ensure you are on an empty stomach before reading this chapter. Thank you for your cooperation.

----------

In another distant world, there's a saying: "Those with lots of hair are weak against fire; those with large bodies are weak against doors," vividly describing the general weaknesses of various monsters. As a spellcaster, Salomon naturally couldn't just blindly rush towards a monster upon seeing it; he had to find its weaknesses to launch an effective attack.

Based on his limited knowledge of another mythology, he knew that since this Gorgon had so much hair, fireballs would definitely be effective against it. However, because he was so close to the monster, the blast radius of the fireball would also include him. Therefore, Salomon chose to run towards a densely wooded area, hoping that the thick, broad-leaved trees would block the monster's path and create distance for him to cast his spell. He now deeply regretted not buying explosive throwing weapons like grenades before setting off; otherwise, with his accuracy (honed through long-term use of magic), he might very well have been able to throw a grenade into the Gorgon's gaping maw.

However, this idea remained just that—an idea. Even the ancient, robust American elm trees couldn't stop the Gugger giants, which charged forward like trucks. The sounds of tree trunks snapping violently echoed behind Salomon, growing faster, closer, and louder. The arcane mage reached into his dimensional pouch, rummaging around until he found two egg-shaped ceramic bottles. Without turning back, he tossed one of them behind him. With a soft crackling sound, a dazzling flame ignited behind him—alchemy fire, extremely flammable and far cheaper than blazing glue, a practice piece Salomon had created.

Even though the Kug giant could wade through the flames with its thick feet, the sticky alchemical liquid would adhere to its body and feet, and this liquid was extremely difficult to extinguish unless placed in an oxygen-free environment. This excellent flammable substance would cause continuous burns to the Kug giant. Although it couldn't hold it off for long, it gave Salomon time to cast his spells—again, thanks to Eton College for providing the complete set of experimental equipment. Without a proper laboratory, Salomon could not have achieved anything in alchemy.

Magic Blast + Hadda's Grasp + Sloth Spear = Moves the hit creature 10 feet in a straight line + reduces its movement speed by 10 feet.

Salomon chose to push the Gorgon back into the flames. Although the fire was gradually subsiding, the fallen leaves accumulated over the winter were effectively fueling the flames. The arcane mage threw the remaining Alchemist Flame at the Gorgon; the damage from the ceramic bottle hitting its target was far greater than the previous random throws. The beast-like monster felt a sharp pain as flames spread along its fur, scalding and charring its skin. Even its frantic pounding of the burning areas was futile. In desperation, the monster roared and tried to leap out of the flames to crush Salomon, but the arcane mage's Arcane Burst combo was enough to keep it trapped in the fire—no matter where the Gorgon tried to go, Salomon could pull it back or push it back—as for jumping, that was out of the question; the Grease spell was a time-tested magic, which Salomon used skillfully as well.

As the fire intensified, the Kug Giant grew increasingly frenzied. It lay on the ground, roaring, and repeatedly pounded the earth with its forked arms. This instinctive, animalistic behavior proved effective; flammable liquids, along with clumps of dirt and fallen leaves, were thrown aside. Without further fuel, the fire on its fur gradually died down. However, its entire body was now severely burned. Due to the extreme force of its movements, much of its charred skin had peeled away, revealing foul-smelling subcutaneous tissue. The more it thrashed in pain, the more it struggled; the intense agony rendered the Kug Giant incapable of thought.

An enemy devoid of thought and reason is no match for a spellcaster. Salomon circled around to the other side, summoned acid (trick: acid splash), and easily corroded the Kug giant's respiratory tract (if that's the scientific name), killing the monster. But he couldn't leave yet—this was related to the Kug giant's habits and the location where it had appeared.

The Ghoul is a creature that fears ghouls, and this monster appeared in an area where ghouls are not present. Furthermore, the Ghoul is known to eat humans. Given the monster's proximity to the cave, the arcane mage believes the remaining S.H.I.E.L.D. agents may have already perished in its jaws. However, to confirm this hypothesis, Salomon would need to cut open its abdomen and examine its stomach (if such a location exists in its digestive system) for items left behind by S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, such as bullets, magazines, or Kevlar body armor—items that are difficult to digest.

No, nothing at all. This was both good and bad news. The good news was that no more innocent people had died at the hands of the Kug giants; the bad news was that Salomon, Coulson, and Natasha were unable to obtain ammunition aid from the outside world; and worse still, Salomon experienced severe discomfort after forcibly dissecting the Kug giant. After barely finishing his work, he jumped off the monster's corpse, ran to the side, leaned against an elm tree, and vomited up everything he had eaten.

"I won't do anything so stupid again," the sorcerer spat out another mouthful of acid. He vowed that next time he would only dissect creatures while wearing protective gear, even if it was just a rat! Or a frog! The fermented intestinal contents of that Gorgon giant had almost made him faint, but he had to hold his breath and patiently search through the residue in its digestive system. This monster wasn't frightening when it was alive, but it had left Salomon with a deep psychological scar after its death.

He let out a long breath and continued towards the cave. He had to get there; Coulson and Natasha were in dire need of manpower.

As Salomon headed towards the cave, the witch trial was underway in town. Judge Cotton Mather stripped the last remaining witch naked and showed the fervent worshippers outside the court the needle marks he had left on the suspects—he was using the needle prick test to look for witchcraft marks on the suspects. This method originated in England, where it was believed that witches left marks, such as birthmarks, after allying with the devil. Pricking these marks with a needle would not cause the witch pain or bleeding.

If the suspect felt pain, the interrogator Matthew Hopkins would use the tears test: they believed that witches did not shed tears, so if the suspect was made to cry during the examination but did not shed tears, then the suspect was a witch; but if the witch shed tears, then it was the devil at work, and the witch was still guilty.

In addition, there was the burning test: the suspect was made to run a predetermined distance holding a red-hot iron, or to walk blindfolded and barefoot across a red-hot plow. Three days later, the hands/feet were examined. If there were injuries, the suspect was guilty; if there were no injuries, the suspect could be released. However, this method was not used because the judge and interrogator wanted to execute the witch immediately.

There is an even simpler and more direct method: the drowning test. The suspect's hands and feet are bound together with a rope, and then they are thrown into a pond or river. If the suspect floats, they are undoubtedly a witch, as witches are known to be lightweight (legend has it that witches can fly on broomsticks). If the suspect sinks, they are innocent—however, by this time, most suspects have already drowned. Sometimes, a suspect sinks but doesn't drown; even then, they cannot be declared innocent, because the devil has given them the ability to breathe underwater.

"Everything in our modern life is thanks to the Greeks, and everything out of step with the times is the fault of the Middle Ages," Coulson said, rubbing his eyes. Natasha looked at him with some confusion, and Coulson had to explain, "That's what Oscar Wilde said. In Europe from the 15th to the 18th centuries, the witch hunts resulted in the deaths of about 10 innocent people, and now I've witnessed it with my own eyes, a scene that will appear in my future nightmares."

“If Salomon were here, he would blame Christianity for this mistake, and I know his contempt for religion,” Natasha said. “So what are you going to do next?”

"There's nothing we can do." Coulson glanced again at the innocent woman hanging from the tree and the fanatical, ignorant crowd around him. "But at least we saved one. I want to protect her, even if it costs me my life."

Stop raising books! QAQ

My average subscriptions keep dropping, it breaks my heart QAQ

Please vote for me!!

(End of this chapter)