Starting with the defeated female knight

Of course, even so, Green didn't let her leave immediately.

Even disregarding other preparations, this Familia device still needs to be tested. Green won't let her or anyone else take it out before its safety is confirmed; that would be irresponsible to himself and them.

Anyway, let's give it a try.

Fasten your belt, insert the plate containing the contaminant into the dial, and then turn it.

[Pay attention to the range of rotation. Currently, considering that everyone's willpower is different, and that you all need to gradually adapt to this,]

[Therefore, I specifically asked them to add a mechanism to adjust the level of pollution. The greater the rotation, the stronger the force, but the pollution intensity will also increase.]

I've divided it into three levels: high, medium, and low. You can start by trying the lowest one.

The reason it's a belt isn't because Grimm really wanted to create a Kamen Rider, but rather because the location of the pollution spread is also significant.

If it's located too close to the brain in the upper body, the brain might be attacked before the body undergoes physical deformities.

However, if it's done on the lower body, it's not only inconvenient to operate, but it also affects the spread to the upper body.

As a result, after some research, the cathedral staff did indeed discover that the abdomen, or waist area, was the most suitable source of pollution.

Furthermore, the way Grimm collects pollution underground using his tentacles and then stores it in the mold makes it look quite similar to a knight's belt in the end.

Then, at Green's request, those who passed the test fastened special belts, took the plates containing the power of corruption, and inserted them.

Click.

The plate closes, then rotates.

As the polluting power spread, a strange feeling began to spread through them.

When they came to their senses, they found that their senses seemed much sharper than before, and their strength and agility had been greatly enhanced. Even novice professionals who were only slightly stronger than ordinary people felt that they were now strong enough to kill a bull with one punch.

Then, at Green's request, they raised their hands.

It was still a human hand, but compared to before, it had an additional layer of biological carapace, similar to armor. After testing it with swords, it was found that its hardness was no less than that of ordinary iron. In fact, after being injured, it could slowly heal itself like flesh.

[Because I considered that the toxin mutations might be unsuitable for humans and could potentially harm you, I removed the potential for toxin mutations from the sample.]

However, because of this, after the toxins and distortions are removed, this change can provide you with more power and speed.

Furthermore, I can't actually control these contaminations too precisely, so the contamination in each stereotype is different. Moreover, this contamination and tendency to distort will not only change because of the different stereotypes, but will also be affected by your own physical and mental constitution.

So don't think that getting this thing will make you invincible. At best, it's just an auxiliary tool. You still have to rely on yourselves.

Especially, don't let this power cloud your judgment. If you truly become intoxicated by it, you will become its 'armor'.

This is something that involves both risk and power.

But no one objected to it.

After all, everyone knows how difficult it is to acquire power. Apart from those nobles who are born with bloodline power, it is not easy for anyone in this world to become stronger.

Moreover, even among the nobility, only they themselves know what kind of bloodshed and twisted nature lies hidden beneath their seemingly glamorous, divinely bestowed bloodline.

After confirming that their mental state was fine, Green then had them conduct a round of practical tests.

He was very satisfied with the test results. With the support of controllable Familia, the combat power of these people had been significantly improved, and it was said that they had been directly upgraded to a higher level.

Those without a profession can now compete with those with low-level professions, those with low-level professions have been enhanced to the point where they can hold their own against those with mid-level professions, and while those with mid-level professions haven't yet become high-level professions, they have gained more fighting power than before.

As for Tania, who is at the highest level, due to her extremely high mental resistance from spending a long time with Grin, she can even directly raise the level of pollution to the maximum.

Unlike the others, perhaps due to the ancient god's adaptation brought about by long-term soaking in the tentacle pool, her corrupted body did not mutate into armor like others. Instead, it underwent internal strengthening and had more insect-like mimicry on its surface that was more like decoration than armor.

As for strength, even at its maximum, it's impossible for someone of her caliber to instantly become a legend, and she's nowhere near as powerful as some female knights with high stats.

But according to her own account, if she were more familiar with this state, she could at least handle three versions of herself in their normal state.

"Very...powerful."

Tanya commented as follows.

But just like powerful monsters often come at a high price.

Such formidable power cannot be used casually.

After the practical exercise, Green had them switch back to the original setup.

Although Green's estimate was correct, after switching back, under the influence of the reverse mental distortion, these people slowly reverted to their original state.

However, the speed of change and certain remnants still had some impact on them.

After several more tests, Green roughly determined the relevant data.

To be on the safe side, it's best not to transform for more than three minutes at a time. This way, you can activate it again without any side effects after waiting for a one-hour cooldown period.

If the cooldown is more than three minutes but less than ten minutes, it will require at least one day of cooldown time; otherwise, it may cause you harm.

[But once more than ten minutes have passed, the rate of contamination will rapidly increase, and the physical deformities will in turn affect your spirit, gradually turning you into a true kin.]

Therefore, I've set up a safety measure: if the transformation takes more than ten minutes, it will be forcibly interrupted.

I will tell you how to cancel the insurance later.

But I sincerely hope that you will never need to use it.

Green spoke very seriously, and they listened very attentively.

"Yes, we will definitely pay attention."

They assured Green.

Then, a few days later, as the new team completed its training, Green named it the 'Knights of Dawn'.

Tania was the leader, and then she selected a few capable people from among them to be captains, while the rest were collectively called Dawn Knights.

From then on, Dawn City finally had a number of mid-to-high-end combat forces that truly belonged to Dawn City, apart from the investigation team. Although there was still a considerable gap, it filled the void left by the departure of the noble team.

Moreover, after the Dawn Knights completed their training, their next task was naturally to go out and help him find the orc girl.

Yes, in the end, Green actually admitted it.

But not out of some kind of fetish, but rather...

[Miracle: Early Touch Guidance]

[By the remaining light of divine protection, guiding tendrils are formed.]

[It can sense small, immature beings nearby, and once confirmed, it will indicate the direction.]

The tentacles are the guardians of the daisy.

We will never let a flower wither.

Yes, with her outrageous knowledge of Dawn City, Edith concocted another miracle for him.

Moreover, the solidity of this miracle is even stronger than the previous three combined.

And because of how miracles work, if Green really convinces others that he has no interest in the orc girl, then the miracle could indeed exclude the orc girl.

Because of the scattered nature of orcs, finding them is not easy, and groups with little girls are usually larger.

What else can Green do?

We can't do something terrible just for a reputation that's already at rock bottom and has no room to fall any further, can we?

[Yes, yes, I just want to collect the orc girl, is that okay?]

Green used his tentacles to wrap around the lamp, waving it around in despair.

Incidentally, although he was very shy, Deng was surprisingly not afraid of Green. Although he was being entangled, he didn't resist much, just a little shy.

After all, Deng also lived in an orphanage back then. Although he was a 1.8-meter tall child, he received a lot of care from Green.

After borrowing a tentacle for communication and spellcasting, Tania led the newly formed Knights of Dawn to capture... I mean, to find the orc girl.

......

At the same time, in the imperial capital.

At the same time that the Knights of Dawn set out, in a dilapidated little house, where the cold wind blew in from all sides.

The tentacles slowly opened, gathering the children, whose bodies were covered in wounds and trembling, together and gently rubbing them, trying to warm their bodies as much as possible with tentacles that were not actually very warm.

"cold......"

[Yeah, I know]

The tentacles gently stroked her cheek, brushing against her body, which was stiff from the cold, and sighed softly.

Just wait a little while, just a little while.

I promise you, I will keep you warm.

And it won't be long.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

PS: 1+ views completed. Taking a break today, will continue tomorrow.

Book 1: Chapter 72: John and Henry

Winter has proven to be a challenge not only for people on the border.

Even for some people living in the capital, it's not a good time.

As the chill sets in, the lives of the 'trash' are also affected. In addition to hunger and fighting, they have an even more deadly enemy called the cold.

In the recent period, in order to conduct in-depth research, Green had Sheila actively contact other 'scrap' during another trial, and after some selection, he lured and tricked her into bringing him a new batch of 'materials'.

Some were so badly damaged that they were shocking, practically on the verge of death, and were still immature and worthless.

He was already a piece of trash, and was only a hair's breadth away from death, and even his mind was very immature.

A little kindness and warmth can draw them together like young animals.

Next, with some warmth and care, and after spending some time prying open the shell called wariness and vigilance, the soft flesh inside can be manipulated at will. Going further, it means showing the intention to eat, and there will be no resistance at all.

Even so, even if the process of turning around and gaining trust goes smoothly.

Raising children is difficult enough, let alone raising little girls who are physically disabled and on the verge of death.

Sheila's physical condition was serious enough, but the ones Green carefully selected were even more serious than Sheila.

After all, given Sheila's physical condition, she might have lived for another six months if she was lucky.

According to Green's estimate, if he does nothing, the longest these newly picked little guys will last for about a month, while the shortest will probably be rotting within a week.

So what should Green do?

They grabbed the tentacles, disemboweled the materials, and relentlessly bombarded them with everything known, unknown, usable, unusable, humane, and inhumane.

The process was hard to describe. Even someone who had grown up in a desperate environment turned pale, looked terrified, and felt a churning in their stomach.

But in the end, no matter how cruel or outrageous Green's actions were, once everything was over, they would always nestle among those tentacles, opening up their softness encased in their shells to him without reservation, becoming even closer and more dependent on him.

It's not that they have any special fetishes, nor that they were intimidated or corrupted by Green.

It was very simple: they survived, and they saw others survive as well.

And after each bout of pain, I could clearly feel that a certain part of my body felt slightly better.

Perhaps their minds are not yet able to understand what is happening, but their instincts and bodies have already responded, and after each treatment, they become more and more addicted and ensnared.

Being invaded by tentacles is painful, being pierced in the body is painful, and being entangled or even having one's internal organs cut open is even more unbearable with anesthesia.

But even setting aside the feeling of rebirth afterward, even in the most painful moments, feeling the warmth and care coming from the tips of the tentacles, even if the body can't help but tremble and cry out in pain, the heartbeat that has long been numb and dead will still be able to quicken slightly.

There was much cruelty and suffering, but no one died.

This is the result of Green's hard work over this period of time.

At the same time, there is also a large amount of parasitism and modification, as well as understanding and experience in human body cutting and suturing.

To be honest, even if these girls were of the lowest bloodline in the slums, Green could still get some support from the church. As long as things were handled properly, it wouldn't be a problem to raise them openly.