Ark Undead

With another crisp sound, Maria barely managed to withstand the blow aimed at her head.

Maria already knew that her teacher was a ruthless person from the very first blow he struck her.

The attacks of the Undead have never been merciful; they are always aimed at the forehead, neck, heart, and wrists—critical areas.

They really aren't afraid of hurting their little apprentice!

Maria was panting heavily; trying to block the undead's attack was no easy task.

"Again!"

Maria was adjusting her breathing when the Undead swung his staff at her again.

boom!

Maria was caught off guard and tried to dodge, but she dodged in the wrong direction.

The blow was aimed at Maria's left shoulder, and it landed squarely on her.

"hiss!"

Maria gasped. She clearly felt a tremendous force strike her left shoulder, and she could almost hear a faint cracking sound of bone breaking amidst the thumping.

"Maria!"

Seeing the accident, Zofia rushed over from the side with a pained expression.

But the Undead still raised the iron rod in his hand.

"Don't come any closer! Maria, watch out!"

Maria instinctively looked up and saw an undead man lifting a steel rod and bringing it down on her head!

The solid iron rod, forged from refined iron, pierced through the air and hurtled towards little Kuranta's vulnerable forehead!

In that instant, she didn't have time to raise her right hand, and could only stare blankly as the iron rod came crashing down.

Wow!

But just as the iron rod was about to hit Maria's forehead, it came to a steady stop in mid-air.

Maria blinked; she hadn't quite grasped what was happening yet.

When her right hand instinctively reached up to deflect the iron bar that had almost hit her head, she realized that she had just narrowly escaped death.

"If I were the enemy."

The undead tapped Maria lightly on the head with a steel rod.

"You are already dead."

"Ouch...yes! Ouch...it hurts!"

Maria then understood why she had been made to watch over the body so that no one would die; it was to make her understand the consequences of injury.

Sometimes, the pain from a minor injury can lead to another fatal injury.

This is why, even if no one dies, Maria needs to get used to being beaten by him first.

Because in Qazimir, no attack is more lethal or deadly than that of the undead.

That was a killing technique honed through countless life-or-death battles on an unknown journey.

Perhaps, sometimes what is killed is not just people.

That is precisely what makes his attacks more unpretentious and chilling.

Zofia was also startled by the undead's swing.

The black-stockinged legs, which had been stopped by the undead, started running again.

As I passed by the immortal, I couldn't help but glare at him fiercely.

Is this how a teacher should act?!

The immortal pretended not to see it, threw the iron rod next to the campfire, and watched as Zofia carefully pulled the clothes off Maria's shoulders.

A large red swelling had appeared on Maria's left shoulder. Even when Zofia gently pulled open her clothes, Maria couldn't help but bite her teeth and keep from crying out.

"Oh no, this injury..."

Zofia glared at the undead again, and said helplessly.

"Today's training has to stop; Maria needs to rest for a while."

The undead came to Maria's side, glanced at the swelling on her shoulder, shook his head, and said...

"No need. Take a break, then continue."

Zofia couldn't hold back any longer. Teaching methods that didn't kill people were far too cruel for a thirteen or fourteen-year-old girl.

"Her shoulder is so swollen! If it were just a regular bruise, that would be one thing, but this injury...it looks like her scapula is fractured. If she doesn't get timely treatment, her left hand will also be affected!"

The immortal asked, puzzled.

"Her Originium Arts...can't they heal?"

"No! That can only provide emergency treatment for external injuries; the internal wounds will require further treatment. You don't actually think Originium Arts are a panacea, do you?"

Zofia was about to pick up Maria.

"She needs to go to the hospital for treatment immediately!"

"Don't move."

The immortal extended his right hand and stopped Zofia from getting up.

He raised his left hand and gently placed it on Maria's left shoulder.

"What did you do...?!"

Zofia was about to ask what the Undead were up to.

A soft white light shone forth, flowing between the immortal's palms.

The light reflected in Zofia and Maria's eyes, startling them so much that they froze on the spot.

This is... Originium Arts?

The Undead stared intently at the light in his hand, trying to recall the story that matched it.

That is the shortest piece of the ancient legend, the earliest story studied by the ancient clergy.

Miracle [Restored].

"This is... no! This isn't the Originium Arts of the Nearl family."

Zofia asked the question instinctively.

Are you infected?

Maria didn't care about any of that. She only felt a tingling and numb sensation in her left shoulder, followed by an indescribable feeling of comfort and a reassuring warmth.

It was as if she were quietly enjoying a sunbath.

The warmth made Maria feel drowsy, and she wanted to fall asleep in the warm light.

The light lasted for about four or five seconds.

By the time the Undead withdrew his left hand, Maria's left shoulder had returned to normal, her skin fair and elastic.

"Amazing!"

Maria couldn't help but exclaim in admiration when she felt that there was nothing wrong with her left shoulder.

"I am not infected."

The immortal shook his head.

"Then how can you cast Originium magic with your bare hands?!"

Zofia's gaze gradually turned serious. In Kazimierz, concealing one's identity as an infected person is a serious crime.

Previously, Margaret was deported by the Business Alliance on the grounds that she concealed her identity as an infected person.

"The immortal explained."

"This is a miracle."

Zofia choked up.

Although she knew that the immortals would probably have to explain, she didn't expect their reason to be so simple and straightforward.

What kind of miracle is this? Is it just for fooling children?!

32. Devout believer

"So, you're saying that the Originium Arts you just used can be used as long as you're willing to believe that story?"

Zofia looked at the Undead with the eyes of someone looking at an idiot.

"No, Originium Arts. It's a miracle."

The Undead attempt to correct Zofia's opinion once again.

The spell he used earlier was a low-level miracle called [Restore].

The underlying principle is that one holds a token, recites the deeds of the ancient gods, and sincerely believes that they are real events, thus replicating the magic in one's own hands.

It's easier said than done. To truly believe in the gods is a process that requires years of arduous practice.

Moreover, if one's mental strength is insufficient, it is easy to fall into a state of mental depletion, in other words...

Losing one's mind.jpg

As for the Undead himself, it was through a long journey that he constantly honed his mental strength, and only then was he able to gradually replicate those miracles in his own hands.

Moreover, he also witnessed those miracles in the hands of other undead during his journey.

In other words, miracles are essentially a form of magic passed down orally. Without understanding the story, they cannot be replicated.

For example, the first miracle used by all priests, 【Restoration】, has already simplified the original story to the point of being as simple as it can be.

In the time of the immortals, it was already very difficult to see the ancient gods use their powers to recreate the miracles of the past.

"Where did you hear this mysterious witchcraft? Do you really think I would believe it?"