I became a god through archaeology in the Wizarding World.

The next morning, as expected, a transfer order was slammed onto the desk in the history department office.

"Rhodes Griffin, this is an urgent order from the Academic Affairs Office."

The messenger was a grey-robed apprentice from the logistics department. He looked at Rhodes as if he were a dead man: "The Pharmacy Department urgently needs a batch of fresh Ghost Mushrooms as assessment material. Due to a shortage of manpower, the History Department must send a teaching assistant to assist in the collection. This is a mandatory task; refusal is tantamount to expulsion."

Professor Isaac, his beard trembling with rage, grabbed the parchment and was about to tear it apart: "Nonsense! Gathering Ghost Mushrooms is the job of combat apprentices! That's deep within the Misty Forest! Sending a clerical assistant there is practically murder!"

"Professor, calm down."

Rhodes reached out and pressed down on the professor's wrist, gently pulling the parchment from his hand.

A perfectly balanced look of helplessness and fear appeared on his face, but his fingers, hidden in his sleeve, gently caressed the rough edges of the paper.

"Since it's an order from the Academic Affairs Office, we can't refuse."

Rod lowered his head, his voice trembling slightly: "I'll go."

The messenger apprentice sneered, seemingly pleased with Rhodes's sensibility: "You're smart. Go to the west gate of the academy and assemble. Steward Kane is already there with his team, waiting for you."

Watching the messenger's departing figure, Professor Isaac stamped his feet anxiously: "Rhodes! You know whose trap that is! You can't go!"

"I know, Professor."

Rhodes raised his head, the fear in his eyes vanishing instantly, replaced by a deep, dark light.

He adjusted the secondhand leather armor he had specially bought from the black market. Although it was old, the key parts were inlaid with puncture-proof steel plates.

"Some accounts can't be settled within the academy. Only outside can they be settled completely."

Rhodes patted the professor on the shoulder, then turned and walked out of the office.

……

The Misty Forest is located thirty miles west of the academy and is shrouded in a layer of white mist with a faint hallucinogenic effect year-round.

The trees here are twisted and tall, their canopies blocking out the sun, and the ground is covered with a thick layer of humus, from which black sewage seeps out with every step.

When Rhodes arrived at the meeting point, Kane was leaning against a dead old tree, toying with the wand inlaid with a cheap gem.

Behind him stood two fierce-looking apprentices.

The burly man on the left, carrying a giant two-handed sword, is named Brutus. He's a famous muscleman who's said to be willing to beat up even his own father for money.

The skinny, sinister-looking guy on the right, with two poisoned daggers hanging from his waist, is named Vic. He is skilled in tracking and ambushes.

Both men were unofficial thugs for the law enforcement team, and were also insurance agents hired by Kane at great expense.

"Oh, our archaeologists have arrived."

Kane saw Rhodes and a cruel smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

He didn't hide the malice in his eyes; instead, he seemed to be admiring a rabbit about to fall into a trap: "I thought you'd be so scared you'd wet your pants and hide behind that old madman, too afraid to come out."

"Steward Kane..."

Rhodes shrank back, behaving meekly: "I'm just here to complete the mission. I'll leave after I collect the Ghost Mushrooms."

"Of course, of course."

Kane stepped forward, patted Rhodes on the shoulder affectionately, and whispered in his ear, "On the condition that you make it out alive."

"Set off!"

Kane waved his hand and led the two into the mist.

Rhodes took a deep breath.

The air was filled with the damp, musty smell and the stench of rotting plants.

To ordinary people, it was a suffocating stench, but to Rhodes, who had fused with the genes of the [Poison Vine Fairy], it was the smell of home.

He could sense that the seemingly lifeless vines and bushes around him seemed to have come alive in his perception, conveying a kind of joyful fluctuation to him.

The group of four slowly ventured deeper into the forest.

As the light grew dimmer, the surrounding fog also grew thicker.

Kane didn't rush to make a move. Instead, he played like a cat playing with a mouse, deliberately leading Rhodes in circles and constantly pushing him deeper into the forest.

That place is a true no-man's land, a forbidden zone for monsters.

"Hey, you good-for-nothing, go scout ahead."

Brut shoved Rhodes roughly, nearly knocking him into a mud puddle: "If you step on a trap or alert a monster, you're dead."

Rhodes staggered a few steps before regaining his balance.

He did not resist, but obediently walked to the front of the line.

In his mind, the danger perception radar of the Ironbeak Raven was already fully activated.

The breathing and heartbeats of the three people behind him, and even the sound of Brutus's greatsword scraping against his armor, were clearly reflected in his mind.

"Five kilometers from the edge of the academy... There are no other apprentice teams around... The terrain is complex and the vegetation density is extremely high."

Rhodes was silently calculating in his mind.

Without further ado, the time is almost right.

Ahead lay a low-lying area overgrown with dense thorns, the dark purple vines intertwined like snakes, blocking the way.

Rod suddenly stopped and turned around, his face showing a look of extreme horror.

"No...something's not right! It's too quiet here! I'm not leaving! I want to go back!"

He yelled and turned to disappear into the dense woods to the side.

"Ha! Trying to run now? Too late!"

Kane's eyes flashed with murderous intent. This was the moment he had been waiting for, the moment when Rhodes would break down in fear and run around like a headless fly.

"Brut! Vic! Cripple his legs! I want to hear him scream all day long!"

"Hehe, leave it to me!"

Vic let out a strange laugh, his figure darting out like a ghost, the dagger in his hand flashing a cold light in the mist, aimed straight at Rhodes' back.

Brutus, dragging his greatsword, blocked Rhodes' other escape route like a charging rhinoceros.

Rod seemed to panic and plunged headlong into the thicket of thorns that looked the most difficult to traverse.

"idiot!"

Kane laughed loudly from behind: "That's the Ghost-Faced Thorn; going in is certain death!"

However, just as Rhodes rushed into the thicket of thorns...

The demonic thorns, which should have been frantically coiling and piercing the intruders, strangely parted to the sides as if welcoming a king, making way for a passage that could only accommodate one person at a time.

Rhodes' figure vanished instantly behind the dense vegetation.

Vic was chasing too fast and didn't see what was happening before he crashed headfirst into the thorn wall that had closed again.

"Damn it! What's wrong with this plant?" Vic cursed and swung his dagger to cut the vines.

"Don't let him get away!"

Kane roared in exasperation, "He must have used some kind of alchemical potion! Chase after him!"

The three roughly cut through the thorns and rushed into a clearing surrounded by tall, ancient trees.

The place was dimly lit, and all around were drooping vines, like nooses for hanged ghosts.

Rod stood in the center of the open space.

He no longer ran away, nor did he panic.

He had his back to the three of them, and slowly turned around.

That face, which was originally filled with fear, was now as calm as a stagnant pool.

"Why did you stop running?"

Kane caught up, panting heavily, and felt a chill creep into his heart as he looked at Rhodes' unusual composure.

But when he glanced at the two powerful thugs beside him and then at Rhodes, who was all alone, the chill he felt was instantly suppressed by his anger.

"Run! Aren't you supposed to be a fast runner?"

Kane grinned maliciously, raising his wand, the tip glowing a red fireball: "This is a true lawless land. Even if I burn you to ashes, no one will know!"

"Yes, nobody will know."

Rod's voice was deep and hoarse, echoing in the mist.

He slowly raised his left hand, removed his glove, revealing the dark green thorn tattoo on his middle finger.

"That's why I chose this place."

Rod looked at the drooping vines around him, a cold smile curving his lips.

"Welcome to my hunting grounds, Steward Kane."

As he finished speaking, the countless vines that had been motionless all around suddenly seemed to awaken from their slumber like venomous snakes, emitting a teeth-grinding grinding sound as they slowly raised their sharp tips, aiming at the three intruders.