The Holy Man of Another Century Gospel

Chapter 151 Tracing the Fog
Leonard looked on with surprise as he watched the fleeting afterimage on Eric's body.

"Battle Spirit?"

This was indeed an ability that one could only master at least a fourth-tier warrior. He was surprised by Eric's choice, and also surprised that he had used it so soon after being promoted to the fourth tier.

Eric understood his gaze and didn't explain further. "My uncle is a late-stage eighth-tier warrior. This is the career path he tailored for me."

Leonard nodded without saying anything more.

He didn't care whether Eric really had an uncle with eighth-tier strength—unless his uncle came to take them over right now—he understood the unspoken message: it was Eric's own choice, so don't interfere.

"Do you need to find more undead so you can get used to the increase in your strength?"

Eric expressed his gratitude, then said it wasn't necessary and that they could continue as planned.

They were still in a relatively peripheral area. Although it was difficult to tell which way to go, Eric could vaguely sense that Leonard was leading them in circles on the outskirts, and the fact that they were encountering fewer and fewer people indicated this.

If it wasn't a basic mistake like getting lost, then he must have his own unique route—there are several fixed routes into the depths of the ancient battlefield that are relatively safer, and finding alternative routes occasionally brings unexpected opportunities, but more often they are just accidents.

"Okay, let's move on."

Leonard exchanged a glance with the mage, who gestured with his chin to the right front, and Leonard led the team in that direction.

Eric followed along while opening his career panel.

'Undying Battle Spirit': When using certain attacks, it resonates with the War Spirits, summoning them to attack in tandem and greatly increasing the power of the attack. Requires charging through attacks.

He could understand Leonard's surprise, because for most warriors, the battle spirit seemed somewhat useless: not only did it need to be charged, but it could also resonate with the battle spirit only under specific attack patterns, which meant that it required combos—sweeping, vertical slashing, diagonal slashing, or upward thrusting. Not only did the order have to be correct, but the required number of attacks also had to be done before the battle spirit could be summoned in the final attack to deliver a powerful blow.

But when a real fight breaks out, everyone is busy parrying and dodging, or trying to launch an attack from an opening. There's no room to execute combos.
In other words, if an opponent allows you to unleash a complete combo, you can easily defeat them by playing normally. Using your battle spirit only makes their death more spectacular.

—The warrior and his spirit deliver a fierce and powerful final blow in perfect synchronization, which is really cool.

Therefore, swordsmen who dedicate their energy to the path of battle are usually noblemen: they don't play for real, they only play for flashy and cool moves.

Eric figured that his earlier display of skill might have led Leonard to categorize him as that kind of person.

But he was different from those people. His agility allowed him to quickly recharge, and the numerous combat skills he possessed were enough to allow him to unleash complete combos and summon his battle spirit without affecting his normal offensive.

For him, the Battle Spirit was not the last dance of trickery, but rather a powerful correction to his superior mobility but slightly insufficient offensive capabilities.

Seeing that Leonard kept glancing at him, Eric didn't bother to explain further. Anyway, there would be plenty of opportunities for battle in the future, and the real test would be in actual combat.

The team continued deeper into the fog. As they walked, Leonard suddenly stopped, and Eric almost bumped into him. He first turned his head to look at the wood elf who was acting as his all-hearing ear.

The latter did not respond.

Eric looked at Leonard again, and everyone else stopped as well.

"What's wrong, Leonard?"

He looked at the mage with the same questioning gaze, whose face was full of undisguised confusion and panic.

"Something's not right, Leonard..."

"there is a problem?"

"Yes!" the monk nodded. "The thing is moving!"

Leonard frowned immediately. "Someone else found it?"

"I don't know... the sensations are intermittent, and the location is difficult to pinpoint," the mage said.

Leonard paused for a moment, then made up his mind, "Take the things out."

“...Leonard.”

"listen to me."

The mage nodded, took out a smooth black pebble from the collar of his robe, and Leonard began to explain to his teammates who were looking over.

"Everyone, I'm sorry, there are some things that Hodge and I have been keeping from you."

Hodge is the name of a sorcerer.

Leonard continued, "Our incursion into this ancient battlefield is not merely a aimless exploration, but a specific search for the relics of a group of adventurers who perished there."

"What do you mean?" The wood elf frowned.

“Hodge and I have been here for almost eight years. Five years ago, a particularly famous team entered the ancient battlefield and never came out again. Everyone guessed that they died deep in the ancient battlefield, which was a great pity. But it wasn’t because they were so popular, but because they were equipped with extremely rare magical equipment from head to toe!”

Eric raised an eyebrow, and the other teammates had already guessed what happened next. "Where did you find them dead?"

“Not yet. There’s been no news of them for five years, and no one has found their bodies. But a few days ago, we found this at a small stall.” Leonard pointed to the black pebble hanging on the mage’s chest.

The latter continued, explaining, "This is actually a special kind of magnet. It was formed as a single piece when it was naturally formed. After being cut in half by some means, the person wearing one half of the magnet can sense the location of the other half within a certain range. I have only ever seen such a magnet on the mage couple in that group."

Leonard continued, "The stall owner said he found it on an undead person on the outskirts of the ancient battlefield. Hodge and I suspect it's the magnet from one of the couple. Using the magnet's connection, even if we don't find the entire team, we can at least find the other person wearing the magnet. Magical equipment doesn't decay, so even if we only find one person's belongings, Hodge and I will be rich..."

He sighed, "I brought you all in with me this time, intending to confirm the location first, and then find an opportunity to take the magical equipment by myself. But now it seems that it won't be that simple."

"I only started sensing the other magnet just now, but it was very blurry. I could only feel that the magnet was moving and its direction was constantly changing," the mage said.

"So whether other adventurers find it first or it's picked up by the undead, you all have to find it as soon as possible," Eric concluded for them.

Leonard nodded. "If we keep it from you guys, we definitely won't be able to catch up. Hodge and I alone can't do anything, so... haha."

He paused, looking at his temporary teammates, "The rules remain the same: whatever we find in the end, we'll split it equally according to its value. How about that?"

Who would object to that?
The others urged Leonard to follow his senses and find the place quickly, instead of wasting time talking.

As for the matter of perception, we should consult Master Hodge.

"Don't rush me... my senses are inherently unstable." The mage held the magnet in his hand, sweat beading on his forehead.

“Let’s continue in the direction you sense the strongest,” Eric suggested.

The monk closed his eyes, sensed for a moment, then pointed to the left front, "This way!"

The group quickened their pace and headed deeper into the fog.

"Why didn't you say so sooner?" the wood elf complained to Leonard. "Just being wary of those adventurers on the way wasted so much time. If you had told me earlier, I would have led you around them directly."

“We have no idea about the exact location either. We can only circle around and probe the perimeter, gradually moving deeper in,” Leonard said with a wry smile. “And if you got this opportunity, you would definitely think of taking it all for yourself first, and only share it with others if you had no other choice.”

“That’s true…” the wood elf replied casually, then quickly added, “But I’m not so much interested in your human treasures, I’m more curious.”

Ghost letter.

Several humans muttered the same thing to themselves at the same time, while only the honest and simple tiger-man warrior nodded in agreement.

Without needing to hide anything, the team's progress accelerated considerably, and as they ventured deeper, the mage Hodge's connection to the other magnet intensified.

"Hmm... a little to the left."

"This way."

"We've arrived this way."

Guided by the mage, the group continued deeper into the fog, constantly changing direction. When the mage gave them a new directional instruction, Eric couldn't help but ask, "Are you sure? The way we were going just now was over there. Do you know how far it is to go back and forth?"

The monk looked distressed, because he lacked confidence and dared not refute, "But that's what I sensed; the position of the other magnet kept changing."

"Can only people with strong mental power sense it?" Eric asked.

The monk was taken aback. "No, that's not it."

"Then let me try it."

The mage looked at Leonard, who immediately said, "Let him give it a try."

He removed the magnet, and Eric took it, closed his eyes, and vaguely sensed an indescribable attraction coming from a certain direction.

He opened his eyes and pointed in that direction, "Over there."

The remaining people looked at each other in bewilderment, because he was pointing in yet another new direction.

So the team members took turns wearing the magnets and sensing the directions. The resulting range formed a fan shape, with no two directions matching. Leonard spat and returned the magnet to the mage. "Let's walk towards the middle and see if there's a problem with our senses or with the magnets."

With no other option, under Leonard's leadership, the team headed straight into the fog, using the center of the fan-shaped area as their direction of advance.

After advancing for most of the afternoon, as dusk approached, the monk wearing the magnet had a clearer sense of movement.

"I feel another magnet is very close, within a few hundred meters, but it's moving extremely fast! Over here... over here..."

He raised his hand, pointing into the mist, shaking it constantly, pausing occasionally, and then quickly starting to move again.

It's moving so fast, even if that magnet was attached to the drone, it should have run out of power after flying all afternoon...

Eric looked at the mage who was shaking his finger with his eyes closed, appearing as if he were in a daze, and couldn't help but grumble inwardly.

The whole team thought that the problem was most likely with the magnet.

Just then, the monk suddenly raised his voice and shouted, "It's coming! The magnet is getting closer to us! It's moving very fast!"

Holding onto the belief that it was true, the group immediately reacted, stopping in their tracks and watching the area ahead warily. Their tension grew as the monk repeatedly called out, "They're here! They're here!"

Eric glanced at Leonard, who was standing at the front with a sword in hand, and the veins on Leonard's forehead were becoming increasingly prominent.

"coming!"

The mage suddenly shouted, and Leonard also roared forward, his voice booming like a bell.

"Hold--"

The long-strained emotions transformed into an unstoppable momentum, reaching its peak with this roar, and the entire squad was ready to pounce.

Then, nothing happens.

“ao…”

After raging for half a minute, Leonard finally fell silent, took a deep breath, and then turned to glare at the mage.

The monk turned to look behind him, "The magnet flew right over our heads!"

Leonard also wanted to kick him away.

He snatched the magnet, but before he could even sense it, the wood elf beside him seemed to have heard something and suddenly looked up.

The fog was thick, and everything overhead was a blur. Eric couldn't even see clearly before he had already nocked two arrows and shot them into the sky.

Whoosh!Whoosh!
The two arrows were fired almost simultaneously and quickly disappeared into the fog.

Then, everyone heard an unpleasant scream coming from above.

Gah!
“…A crow?” Leonard looked up.

“It’s a crow,” the wood elf said with even greater certainty.

The next moment, a black raven flew through the mist and fell from the sky, an arrow stuck in its body.

“I heard at least four crows,” the wood elf said, looking at the mage. “The lodestone should still be on one of the crows; crows like shiny things.”

The monk nodded. "The magnet is still moving."

"Those crows are fighting over the lodestone," the wood elf asserted.

"Can you shoot them all down?" Leonard asked.

The wood elf didn't speak, but listened intently to the sky, then nocked another arrow and suddenly shot it out.

Another crow fell from the sky, and along with it fell another lodestone.

"The other two crows have landed as well," the wood elf reminded them.

Eric drew his sword and, as the two crows swooped down to try and snatch the lodestone from the ground, cleaved them into four with a single stroke.

“I thought all the animals on the ancient battlefield were dead,” the mage said, picking up the lodestone.

“That makes sense. These crows all flew in from outside.” The wood elf looked down and examined the crow carcasses. “Hmm, crows from the north, they probably came to find food because they smelled the corpses.”

The others all turned their attention to the magnet, then looked at each other in bewilderment.

"Is there any way to tell where these crows found the lodestone?" Leonard asked the mage.

The latter, enraged, threw both magnets in his hand to the ground, saying, "If I were a crow, I would have a way."

The wood elf also regretfully stated that he was not a druid and could not transform into an animal to discern the origin of the magnet from factors such as smell.

"Damn crows!" Leonard stomped on one of the black birds that wasn't quite dead yet.

In the misty ancient battlefield, the location of the lodestone was almost their only clue in the search for the treasure relics, but it was all destroyed by these crows.

At this moment, the tiger-man, who had been silent until now, spoke up.

"I smelled crows, and nothing else."

"Why look for crows?" Leonard asked, both amused and exasperated. "Killing all the crows here won't solve the problem."

“But by following the trail left by the crows, we might be able to find the location where they first discovered the lodestone,” Eric said. “Around noon, we sensed that the location of the lodestone was constantly changing, right? That means that the crows have been fighting over the lodestone since then.”

“These crows don’t have the strength to fight for so long,” the wood elf continued. “Crows are clever. These few must have waited until the very end to make their move. Before that, the other crows must have left traces from discovering the magnet to fighting each other, such as fallen feathers.”

Leonard realized what was happening and looked at the tiger-man, "Where is the scent coming from?"

The latter pointed into the fog, "The closest one is over here."

"Okay, let's go take a look!"

Following the scent for a while, the group indeed found several crow feathers on the ground. Leonard's hope was rekindled, and he patted Tiger Man's shoulder heavily, "Tiger, it's up to you now!"

The tiger-man grinned, gave a short laugh, and then pointed further ahead, "The taste... the next place, over there."

Eric stood behind and saw his fluffy tail wag twice.

As they continued their search, they found many shed crow feathers, and even a severely wounded crow that was on the verge of death.

Its body was covered in peck marks, and it lay on the ground, barely alive. When it saw the group of people coming, it flapped its wings a couple of times but then lost its strength and looked at them with its black eyes.

Leonard shook his head. "They lost their lives just for a pretty magnet. These crows are clever, but they're really stupid."

"It's also dangerous for us, the treasure hunters, to enter the ancient battlefield," the tiger-man said.

Leonard was speechless and could only shake his head.

As darkness fell, the ancient battlefield would become even more dangerous. The group quickened their pace, searching for traces left by crows, and finally arrived at a section of broken walls and ruins.

By the light of the torches, they saw the largest number of crow carcasses and crow feathers they had ever seen around the ruins.

The tiger-man also said that he could no longer smell the crows from other places.

"This place..."

Leonard looked at the ruins before him. The traces left by the campfire on the ground and the various kinds of trash left by other adventurers showed that this place had been explored countless times.

If that group of adventurers had died here, they would have been discovered long ago.

With the trail broken and the darkness making further exploration unsuitable, the group had no choice but to stay there for the night and make further plans.

While others were starting fires, Leonard, still unwilling to give up, carried a torch and wandered around the not-so-large ruins.

Eric turned to look at him for a moment, then looked away. The mage beside him hung his head dejectedly. "Looks like it's hopeless."

The others remained silent, but Eric asked him for the two magnets he had thrown on the ground earlier, which he had seen Eric pick up before leaving.

"You want this? It's useless now... What do you want it for?"

"Give it to a woman."

(End of this chapter)