Becoming an adventurer by copying monster abilities

"I'm certain that the cave was very large, but it simply vanished into thin air without leaving any trace."

"It even made me think at one point that everything that happened was just an illusion."

"Until yesterday..."

Ryan clutched his head in pain. "The whisper that had been swirling in my ear became clearer, and I could make out a few words."

He kept saying to me, "Misfortune, sacrifice, eternal life..."

At this point, Ryan's emotions spiraled out of control again.

She ran to the corner of the wall, curled up into a ball, and trembled from time to time.

Luke was at a loss for how to help the other party.

After pouring the hunter a glass of water, he quietly left the room.

If the person is a priest, they might have spells that can dispel the other person's fear.

But Luke was just a "warrior" who only knew how to wield a sword and kill people.

Luke had no intention of searching for the mysterious cave Ryan had mentioned.

Even a seasoned hunter who had spent years searching through that forest couldn't find it, so his search would be a waste of time.

However, the investigation did not end there.

At present, he has another path to take.

Luke returned to the village chief's house and looked at the doorway.

There were no footprints or signs of re-covering on the quicklime he scattered before leaving.

Clearly, the people inside haven't come out yet.

When the other party was in such a hurry to get rid of him, Luke thought the old village chief would just run away.

After brushing away the quicklime, Luke found a secluded spot and began to lie in wait.

The other party's strange behavior was so obvious at the village chief's house before.

He would be doing a disservice to his 7-point perception ability if he didn't investigate.

Luke even put some pressure on the other party by showing them the commission report, and now he's just waiting for them to slip up.

The time was from noon to dusk.

From the scorching sun to the high-hanging moon.

Luke took a small sip of the jerky he had brought with him when he left home, and he wasn't anxious at all.

Just like a fisherman, thinking about the big fish he might catch next, the anxiety in his heart is quickly filled with anticipation.

As night deepened, Luke finally caught the big fish he was waiting for.

A hunched-over man in a black robe emerged from the village chief's house.

With his dark vision, Luca immediately spotted the village chief's aged face, as weathered as withered tree bark.

The other party did not leave the village but went to the distant woods.

Instead, they walked along the dirt road in the village to the other side.

Over there stands the largest building in the village, a mill with a windmill.

Luke quietly followed behind and slipped into the mill.

Inside were many grain sandbags, which allowed Luke to better conceal his figure.

In the mill’s main hall, there were a dozen or so figures standing.

They were dressed the same as the village chief, both wearing long black robes.

'That's quite a ritual,' Luke thought to himself.

Upon seeing the village chief arrive, the men in black robes bowed respectfully to him and greeted him.

Immediately afterwards, everyone began to chant a strangely melodious song in hushed tones.

After the eerie chanting session ended, the village chief finally spoke:

"The ceremony needs to start quickly. I don't know who leaked the news, but some damned adventurers have come to investigate."

"What are you worried about? Wouldn't it be better to have more? I'm worried that the few blood sacrifices we've brought won't be enough!"

"How are those adventurers doing?"

"They are no match for the goblins who have been blessed by our Lord, and have already been sent to the altar."

"very good."

The village chief nodded in satisfaction and took out a black object from his pocket, which looked like a small finger bone of some kind of creature.

As the worshippers chanted their low prayers, the space in the center of the mill hall began to distort, and a crack appeared.

At the other end of the crack opening, a black hole can be seen.

The people in black robes filed in, and as the last person entered, the village chief rubbed his black finger bones, and the portal disappeared.

Then he chanted a spell, and the gems on the dome began to emit a faint light, illuminating the dark space.

This is a completely black, empty hall, with even the floor made of some kind of black metallic material.

Walking on it, the sound of footsteps is exceptionally clear.

In the center of the hall, there were densely packed strange symbols that connected to form a circular magic circle.

A strong smell of blood emanated from the symbol, which must have been drawn with blood.

Four figures lay inside the magic circle.

All their equipment had been removed, leaving only thin undergarments, and their bodies bore wounds of varying severity.

"The offerings this time are abundant; may our Lord bestow abundant blessings!"

As the village chief spoke, the others chimed in:

"Misfortune! Sacrifice! Immortality!"

"I pledge my loyalty to my Lord!"

The village chief held up a round plate, and the other men in black robes raised their right hands on their own.

Then, these believers bit off their index fingers and placed the severed fingers on the tray.

Seeing the increasing number of blood-stained severed fingers before him, Village Chief Flint was agitated.

Tonight marks the final stage of the ceremony.

Four offerings are definitely not enough.

But right now, these believers are offering their index fingers, which means they are voluntarily becoming sacrifices.

That's a sufficient quantity...

Flint's thoughts drifted back to many years ago.

The village where he grew up was wiped out, and all the villagers, including his parents, were sent to the gallows as heretics on trial.

He was lucky enough to escape with the villagers' tokens of communication with the gods.

After being displaced and moving from place to place, they finally settled in this small village.

He was probably quite young when he left the village, which probably led to a lack of devotion to the gods.

It wasn't until his old age, when he feared the approaching end of his life, that he finally received divine favor.

I heard that ethereal and beautiful sound:

"Misfortune! Sacrifice! Immortality!"

He can gain eternal life as long as he offers sacrifices!

He said this to himself, and Flint gladly answered the divine call.

First came the wild animals in the woods, then some disobedient villagers.

Later, he began submitting commissions to the association, luring low-level adventurers to become his sacrifices.

Unexpectedly, just the day after the first wave of adventurers arrived, the association sent people to investigate.

He could sense that the young man with black hair was far more powerful than the few people lying in the magic circle.

Therefore, he doesn't have much time left.

Although he had painstakingly gathered these believers, he now had no choice but to sacrifice them all.

Fortunately, he had anticipated this step and cut off his index finger several days earlier, falsely claiming that he had offered it to the gods.

Why haven't you offered your loyalty to my Lord?

Flint frowned and looked at the believers standing at the very edge.

The other party hesitated to hand over their index finger.

Who is this again?

Looking at the unfamiliar figure, he couldn't quite place it for a moment.

Until I got closer and saw the other person's face.

The familiar black hair and black eyes startled Flint, and the wrinkled skin on his face instantly contorted in shock.

"It's you!"