Our Family Has Fallen

Lance didn’t speak; he simply waved his hand for Dismas to back off, moved the torch closer, and then began to walk around the stone pillar, seemingly studying something.

Ordinary people could only see the surface. But Lance, with his unique talent, could perceive more: a Supernatural Power coiled around the stone pillar. This alone was enough to make him exercise extreme caution.

”I reckon this is a ritual,” Boudica commented casually. ”I’ve seen slain enemies offered to the Ancestral Spirit in my tribe.”

She certainly had expertise in this area. Most of the Mountain Tribe believed in the Spirits of Nature, similar to the concept of shamans. Sacrificial rites, such as killing enemies and offering them as sacrifices, were commonplace for her.

”Boudica is right,” Lance agreed. ”This is a dark altar. The skulls are prominently displayed, and a strange power can be felt in its presence.”

Lance, of course, knew what this was. It was a Bone Altar, a type of scene prop from the Beast Lair instance in the game. Heroes who touched it would receive a very powerful, short-term boost.

And it was precisely because he knew this that he didn’t want Dismas to trigger the power on it. The touch was a one-time effect, but if he could master the method, he could gain a controllable, continuous boost.

His earlier silence was spent studying the Supernatural Power contained within.

In fact, up to this point, Lance had collected many items related to Supernatural Powers. These included the Witch’s legacy and various strange props left by the Bald Sorcerer. He had also discussed Mysticism and various bizarre rituals with Grendel and Tamara, so he had some understanding of these matters.

Soon, Lance understood. A flicker of disappointment crossed his face; it was clear his idea of replicating this boost was naive.

The source of its power wasn’t the stone pillar itself. The pillar was merely local stone used for support, and its rough patterns were only decorative, possessing no magical properties. The reason it possessed Supernatural Power was entirely due to the evil ritual; the stone pillar had merely been coincidentally chosen as its vessel.

The gods of those Mountain Tribes had likely come about in much the same way. It was possible that after centuries of such rituals, these Pigmen could even birth a god of their own.

But now…

Lance reached out and touched the Bone Altar. Instantly, his Sacrifice ability activated. The Spiritual Essence revolving around the stone pillar was stripped away and converted into a boon for him. In his vision, the glow of that Spiritual Essence dimmed and vanished. The pillar completely lost its power, reverting to an ordinary stone.

Essentially, he might have just snuffed out the potential birth of a Pigman ”god.”

Only after dealing with the altar did he turn to Dismas and the others.

”This thing is called a Bone Altar,” Lance began, explaining its nature. ”It’s a very primitive type of sacrificial rite, its origins possibly tracing back to ancient forms of worship. In the future, it’s best not to meddle with anything too strange. You never know if there are evil forces involved.”

Even after speaking, the concern on Lance’s face hadn’t dissipated; he still looked grave.

Dismas and the others were capable fighters, but analyzing complex situations was somewhat beyond them.

Yet, from this Bone Altar, Lance gleaned some useful information.

He was certain this object didn’t belong to the Ascension Sect. Their Flesh Rites were definitely not this primitive. On the contrary, thanks to the Ancestor’s ongoing research and refinement, their rituals were mostly very ”sophisticated.” Furthermore, the presence of elite Pigman Knights guarding this place underscored its importance to the Pigmen. Therefore, this could only belong to the Pigmen. This meant the Pigmen were showing the earliest signs of religious worship—a truly significant development…

”Let’s go,” Lance urged. ”This place must be very important to the Pigmen. We could be in trouble if we stay here.”

Although the team seemed in good condition at the moment, they had reached their limit, Lance knew.

No one said anything; they just silently followed their Lord out.

Lance’s robust physique granted him an eidetic memory. Or perhaps his mind was already so powerful that he didn’t even need to consult the Map in his hand to recall the routes they had explored and marked. Their inward journey had been slow, filled with exploratory detours and wrong turns, but he knew the shortest way out by heart.

Everyone quickened their pace, eager to breathe fresh air.

”Who’s there!” Lance, leading the way, suddenly cried out in alarm. His shout momentarily startled Dismas and the others.

Almost simultaneously, chaotic sounds erupted from the passage ahead—but it wasn’t the familiar squealing of Pigmen.

”Flesh Ascends!”

”Lord, grant me strength!”

Fanatical figures finally appeared—Heretics, all too familiar to them.

”It’s the Ascension Sect!” Lance exclaimed, instantly recognizing them. A cacophony of sounds echoed through the narrow passage, creating a chaotic din.

This sudden encounter didn’t delay the outbreak of battle; in fact, combat began the instant both sides spotted each other.

The Heretic Warriors lurched forward with stiff, stumbling steps, their specially-made claws thrusting out.

Being so close, Lance could see the fanaticism their half-helmets couldn’t conceal—faces utterly devoid of fear.

Lance didn’t hold back. He raised his Shield to parry the incoming claw while swinging his axe with his right hand. To his surprise, the Heretic Warrior actually managed to react, raising its own claw to block.

Steel met claw with a sharp clang. Lance’s strength was still far superior; he pressed down on the Heretic Warrior’s claw and hastily slashed a bloody gash across its body.

But the injury didn’t elicit a cry of pain. Instead, the Heretic Warrior let out a manic laugh as, within a single breath, new flesh sprouted from the wound, visibly knitting itself back together.

Instantly, Lance felt that something was wrong. He’d fought and killed countless Heretics before; he knew a fair bit about these creatures. Ordinary Heretic Warriors were typically just somewhat stronger than average humans. Stronger ones, having endured more Flesh Rites, possessed better constitutions, greater strength, and enhanced healing capabilities, but they didn’t vastly exceed typical human limits. Only those implanted with a ”Seed” were considered a true threat. But that last axe blow should have decapitated it! Yet it had only inflicted such a minor wound, and that recovery speed... it wasn’t right.

”Be careful!” Lance reacted immediately, warning the others. ”These aren’t ordinary Heretics! Kill the Heretic Wizards first!” But his fight with the Heretic Warrior didn’t pause for a second.

In just two or three seconds, they clashed multiple times, the sound of metal striking metal ringing out continuously.

Boudica, however, paid no mind to such subtleties. She raised her War Halberd and charged an enemy, quickly surging past Lance from her position behind him.

The Heretic Warrior crossed its arms, claws overlapping, attempting to block the blow, but it still underestimated Boudica’s strength and the momentum of her charge. The tip of her War Halberd smashed its claws apart before brutally plunging into the Heretic Warrior’s chest.

Boudica might appear carefree in daily life, but she was a formidable force in combat. The instant her War Halberd pierced its target, she stomped forward forcefully, feeling the power from the earth surge through her. Her muscles tensed, unleashing immense strength, the sinews on her bare arms bulging distinctly.

”GRAAAH!”

With an upward heave of her War Halberd, she actually hoisted the Heretic high into the air, then spun and slammed it violently to the ground.

She’d seen the gaping wound torn open in the Heretic’s chest just moments before. An injury like that, even if not instantly fatal, should have been crippling.

After that explosive exertion, Boudica was momentarily spent, gasping for breath. But in those mere two or three seconds, that same Heretic was already climbing to its feet! Apart from the bloodstains, its chest showed no sign of the grievous injury.

Now Boudica understood why their Lord had shouted that warning.

Only then did Boudica realize she had charged too far ahead. As the thought struck, another Heretic lunged from the side, its claws slashing towards her...