Chapter 353 351-Entering the Camp
Under the faint glow of light, a massive spider tattoo was intermittently visible in the darkness.
Its eight long legs seemed alive, writhing on the skin, creating an eerie and terrifying sensation.
The spider's body was covered with intricate patterns, resembling an ancient scroll filled with endless secrets.
As the rising sun cast its rays upon the spider tattoo, its black body shimmered with a ghostly luminescence.
This mysterious and alluring light made one irresistibly drawn to uncover its secrets.
However, as Ethan gazed at the spider, he felt an overwhelming sense of malice and threat emanating from it.
Its eyes, like two rubies, glinted with an evil light, as if warning the world not to trespass on its domain.
Around the spider tattoo, the skin began to undergo bizarre changes.
Cracks appeared on what was once smooth skin, emitting a suffocating stench of evil.
These cracks widened, forming small holes that seemed like portals to hell itself.
From these openings, deep and guttural roars echoed, sending chills down one's spine.
In this unsettling tableau, the spider tattoo appeared increasingly animated.
Its eight long legs began to crawl frantically across the skin, making a grating sound.
The body of the spider also started to swell, as if it were about to burrow its way out of the skin.
This terrifying atmosphere was unbearable, yet one couldn't look away.
Ethan's facial muscles twitched involuntarily at the horrific sight on Luther's back.
It was unsettling to think that such a terror had been lurking there, unnoticed during Luther's intimate moments with Elida.
Perhaps his focus had been solely on Elida, or it was a matter of perspective, or maybe this spider tattoo required Luther's conscious activation.
Regardless, Luther's current predicament was exceedingly perilous.
His dismal voice snapped Ethan back to reality.
"What is this thing?" Ethan asked, his voice quivering.
"A life form birthed by the Thousand-Faced Demon Spider. I feel it's starting to merge with me. You need to hurry... my time is running out," Luther spoke with a face full of sorrow, looking up at the sky where light began to pierce through, "I have to go back now."
"How can I save you?" Ethan asked urgently, his eyes flickering with determination.
"Enter the camp. We'll plan together. Herman is about to wake up. Lastly, I have a message for you. Whether you come to save me or not, stay away from City 45. Valentine is plotting to kill you."
With these words, Luther gave the skeletal tiger one deep, meaningful look.
He then ran towards his own small cabin, his figure appearing frail and powerless.
Ethan ceased controlling the skeletal tiger, and it instantly collapsed on the spot, its bones absorbed into the earth as if by flowing water.
If no one had witnessed what just transpired, they would never imagine that Ethan had just exchanged information with Luther through a skeletal tiger.
Ethan stood motionless, stunned into inaction.
Luther's message left Ethan's head spinning.
While it answered many of his questions, it also raised many more. What exactly was that spider-like tattoo?
A life form birthed by the Thousand-Faced Demon Spider, but why was it attached to Luther?
What did the Thousand-Faced Demon Spider really want?
The secrets of Herman and his two companions were still shrouded in mystery.
And most importantly, what did Luther's final warning mean?
Valentine, the son of the Adrien family, was in charge of the Deityforsaken Land qualification conference.
Ethan had had a run-in with Valentine, which was resolved by Lana's intervention.
Now, Valentine was making a comeback, intending to kill him?
Where did Valentine get such confidence?
Ethan's mind was flooded with questions, making it hard to breathe.
He watched as Luther, with a smile plastered on his face, once again theatrically emerged from the cabin and stretched lazily.
But this time, he pretended to casually look around, as if admiring the scenery.
Only Ethan knew that Luther was trying to locate him.
Ethan was in a dilemma.
Should he really enter the camp?
"Knowing there's a tiger in the mountain, yet still heading towards the mountain" – this wasn't bravery, it was foolishness.
But Luther seemed sincere and remarkably honorable, not resorting to lowly tactics to threaten Ethan.
If Luther had said, "Come to the camp to rescue me, I have important information for you," Ethan would have been more inclined not to enter.
But now, Luther had put Ethan in a tight spot.
If Ethan didn't enter the camp, it would seem as if he lacked vision and courage.
He landed on the ground, looking at Lana and Daphne.
They seemed utterly relaxed, without a care in the world.
Ethan provided Lana and Daphne with valuable scrolls and books from the Wraith Cult library for their study.
They absorbed the knowledge like sponges, treasuring the secret doctrines of the Wraith Cult as if they were priceless gems.
So engrossed were they that they hardly knew what Ethan had been up to these past days.
After much contemplation, Ethan decided to venture into the camp.
His first reason was the divine crystals; he had to obtain them.
Alvin had been a great help to him, and he couldn't just back away at the sight of danger where the divine crystals were located. Secondly, there was Luther.
Luther had shown true valor.
Even in his dire situation, he thought to convey a message to Ethan, allowing him to prepare in advance.
Even if Luther intended to morally bind Ethan, he had indeed shared critical information.
Ethan announced his decision to enter the camp.
Both Lana and Daphne wanted to accompany him, but Ethan, feigning nonchalance, said, "It's just about retrieving some divine crystals, you won't be of help following me."
Convinced by Ethan, the two women stayed back, and Ethan even provided them with secret texts he had seized from Fernard for their study.
Thus, Ethan embarked alone on the journey into the camp.
Standing before the Magic Circle, he took a deep breath and called out loudly, "Herman——"
His voice echoed through the forest, startling a flurry of birds into the sky.
Herman's figure slightly twisted and then appeared in front of Ethan.
Ethan tensed up, having a rough idea of Herman's strength.
Herman seemed close to Metamorphosis, his divinity surging, almost giving off the illusion of someone on the verge of ascension.
"Have you made up your mind?" Herman asked, a smile creeping onto his face.
Though he eagerly anticipated Ethan's entry, his expression remained calm and composed.
Ethan nodded slightly, a smile on his face as he replied, "Yes, I've made up my mind. The Bernie family taking a tenth of the divine crystals seems quite fair."
Herman responded indifferently, "That's natural. As long as you understand, you may enter on your own."
With that, Ethan stepped into the Magic Circle.
He immediately felt the energy within the Circle beginning to erode his body.
Ethan quickly activated his Golden Divine Dragon Blood, a golden light emerging around him to resist the energy's invasion.
Herman did not intervene; he simply stood with his arms crossed, watching.
Once Ethan passed through the Magic Circle, he experienced a brief sensation of separation, as if all his blood had been left within the Circle.
"What is this...?" he wondered aloud.
"The Magic Circle is testing your blood, to see if your Bloodline is pure," Herman explained. "You know, many beasts have the ability to transform into humans. It's better to be cautious."
"Of course," Ethan thought to himself. If he hadn't contacted Luther first, he might have believed Herman's tale.
Wasn't the Magic Circle simply selecting for pure-blooded humans?
However, in the current world, pure-blooded humans were quite frail.
Many powerful beings had absorbed some amount of Bloodline power.
For instance, which Dark Lord in the Dark Lord camp didn't have the blood of other races flowing in their veins?
Ethan was not a pure-blooded human either; he was a leading figure among the Dragons, the bearer of the Golden Divine Dragon Blood.
Herman, observing the golden symbols above the Magic Circle, visibly showed a flicker of disappointment in his eyes: "Alright, follow me."
Walking through the village with Herman gave Ethan a more direct feeling than observing from outside.
The cabins looked sparse and ordinary from the outside, but when sensed with the Power of Soul, each cabin seemed like a living entity, as if life was being nurtured within.
"Could it be the offspring of the Thousand-Faced Demon Spider?" Ethan thought of the terrifying spider tattoo on Luther's back, and couldn't help but feel his hair stand on end.
Herman, seemingly noticing Ethan's focus, casually introduced, "This will be your cabin for resting. It can assist you in absorbing the power of the divine crystals."
Ethan forced a smile, making light conversation, "You guys are quite considerate!"
"Naturally," Herman replied, apparently taking Ethan's comment seriously. "You're mining for us, bringing us profit. Making sure you're comfortable is our responsibility."
Had Ethan not already been aware of the intricate deceptions within the camp, Herman's deceiving appearance and words would have surely fooled many.
Herman led Ethan to where the miners were lined up, announcing loudly, "Today we have a new companion joining us. Let's give him a warm welcome."
The crowd clapped enthusiastically, some even whistling towards Ethan.
Internally, Ethan felt bitter: "Sold and still counting the money for them, I certainly don't want to end up like this."
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