Our Family Has Fallen

The aftermath of fierce battles had nearly destroyed the surroundings. The trees Grendel had forced into rampant growth further ruined the terrain.

Lance thought it would be easy to find, but unexpectedly, Grendel only closed her eyes for two or three seconds before turning in another direction.

”Found it!”

With a gentle tap of her Magic Wand, the roots instantly curled up, growing out with the Wolf Fang necklace. Under her control, the roots acted as her extended limbs, presenting the necklace to Lance.

”This should be the inheritance equipment of the Fang Tribe chief. It’s said to be made from hunting down an Extraordinary Giant Wolf, and legend even says it’s imbued with the soul of the tribe’s Wizard, containing power that can calm restless Spiritual Essence and resist some soul-targeting witchcraft.”

A delighted smile appeared on Grendel’s face, as if she were claiming credit. The nightmares that had weighed on her mind were gone, and she now exhibited a youthful vibrancy that marked a departure from her previous silence.

”Impressive! Nature itself is your eyes and ears!” Lance didn’t skimp on praise, though his attention remained fixed on the Wolf Fang necklace.

Grendel, true to her reputation as an encyclopedia of the Mountains, quickly explained the object’s origin and general function, even confirming the legend to be true.

When Warwolf had removed the necklace, Lance had seen fleeting glimpses of twisted, bizarre souls. The moment he touched it, he could feel the surging Spiritual Essence within—surely equipment of at least an epic tier (red gear).

It’s a pity I can’t use it... The necklace, like the Head Wolf Pendant, was a restricted item that ordinary people simply couldn’t utilize.

Lance retrieved the Head Wolf Pendant from the Exhibition Room, a look of regret on his face. He hadn’t delved into Mysticism in his early years, so the Head Wolf Pendant had been ruined when he forcefully tried to decode it. Lance didn’t want a repeat of that situation.

He didn’t have time to study it slowly and had planned to toss it into the Exhibition Room to deal with later. Just then, Grendel used roots to retrieve the bloodstained Wolf Head Statue as well.

”This is the statue of their Wolf God, typically used by warriors leaving the tribe to fervently call upon the Wolf God’s Power in rituals. Of course, it also contains the Wolf God’s Power, but the ritual usually requires blood offerings...”

Facing this object steeped in bloodshed and slaughter, Grendel’s face showed a flicker of disgust and unease, as if affected by its aura.

Lance, unburdened by such concerns, reached out and took it directly. Locking eyes with the wolf head, he indeed felt an eerie sense of being watched, as if it were alive.

”What use is this thing to us?”

”None,” Grendel answered without hesitation, then added, ”Outsiders cannot draw power from it, especially since we just slew its Champion.”

No sooner had Grendel finished speaking than Lance initiated a Sacrifice.

The power of the Void erased its existence from this world.

In return, he received a halo of light. The Wolf Spirit residing within him, as if heeding a call, burst out to consume the Spiritual Essence within, then visibly grew.

Lance didn’t compete for it, instead turning his attention to another matter.

He hadn’t witnessed the first half of the battle, so he’d forgotten something. Now reminded, he located the wolf that Warwolf had beheaded.

The other wolves could be left unsacrificed, but this one was clearly no ordinary beast. Perhaps it would yield some valuable loot.

Sacrifice!

With a wave of his hand, the power of the Void engulfed it. As expected, no Spiritual Essence was directly returned, which sparked excitement on Lance’s face.

But what happened next caught him completely off guard; he hadn’t anticipated it at all.

The orb of light actually flowed into the Head Wolf Pendant in his hand, which had already lost its Spiritual Essence.

The next second, Lance felt the pendant brimming with spiritual light and a responsive power.

What happened?

”Is something wrong?”

Grendel, standing beside him, noticed that Lance’s demeanor was even more volatile after the battle than during it. What’s with him?

”Nothing’s wrong. I was just thinking about how much meat this large wolf had. What a waste to just dispose of it like that.”

Lance slowly shook his head, brushing her off with a simple excuse. He paid her little attention, instead focusing on the power feedback from the Head Wolf Pendant. He understood something.

That means the restriction on it has been lifted! Furthermore, the power it contained far exceeded expectations! No fancy or strange effects, just a pure Strengthening of the user’s power. Such formidable power surged through his body! Even at my level, I can feel my whole body teeming with energy. A fine item! The spiritual light it’s exuding is even comparable to that Wolf Fang long knife from earlier. Another piece of Gold Legend Equipment!

Initially, I was quite annoyed by Warwolf causing trouble so early in the morning. But considering my current gains, I can only say it was well worth it. He traveled a great distance just to deliver equipment to me.

With Grendel right beside him, Lance had to suppress his immense joy and turned his gaze elsewhere.

The Great Axe was thrust diagonally into the ground.

”This axe seems to be called ’Beheader.’ I heard Warwolf took it as spoils of war after he encountered a mercenary squad delving deep into the Mountains and killed them all by himself.”

Lance knew that the so-called Empire mercenaries were actually Slave Catchers. The Empire’s arenas had a significant demand for warriors from the Barbarian Tribes. Some frivolous nobles, or those seeking thrills, enjoyed watching these barbarian warriors fight to the death, whether against various wild beasts or humans.

The Empire’s feud with the mountain clans could go on for days without end. I have no interest in these matters.

Lance wasted no words, walking over and pulling the axe out with one hand, swinging it a few times easily.

”Not a bad weapon, but it’s not very useful to me.”

Lance wasn’t showing off; he was simply stating the truth. The Battle Axe’s material and forging technique were quite good; otherwise, Warwolf, as a tribal chief, wouldn’t have used it. But the problem was that it was just an ordinary weapon, without any Supernatural Power. Without the amplification of Supernatural Power, a long-handled Battle Axe like this would be hard to wield, not just for average people but even for trained Knights.

Normal people can’t use it, and it would be a pity to melt it down for reforging. In short, it’s a chicken rib: tasteless to eat but a pity to throw away. In my hands, it can only serve as an ornament. I can’t be bothered to think about this. He casually tossed it into the Exhibition Room to gather dust.

Next, he walked over to a white wolf lying motionless. Lance’s expression was somewhat odd.

Wang Cai, the white wolf I adopted. I noticed it when I entered. During the Flesh Reconstruction, I even restored its wounds. It lost quite a bit of fur, but the wounds healed. However, unlike the soldiers, it hasn’t stood up. It’s just been lying there this whole time. This situation...

”Its power has been stripped by the ritual, and I fear its Life Force has already dissipated.”

Grendel’s words also held a hint of unease. She had intended to save Wang Cai, but in the end, it still turned out like this.

”It ran out there on its own; it has nothing to do with you,” Lance replied. His reaction was muted; he wasn’t like William, who doted on dogs as if his life depended on it. Wang Cai was merely a pet he’d kept on a whim.

Still, having kept it for so long, I’ve developed some attachment. I’m somewhat reluctant to see it like this, and I definitely can’t bring myself to eat it. Let’s give it a quick end.

Lance didn’t pull out the Battle Axe to behead Wang Cai; instead, he directly initiated a Sacrifice.

The power of the Void devoured it, and like the Wolf King, it vanished from this world in an instant.

At that moment, Lance felt an indescribable melancholy, as if he had lost something important.

But no Spiritual Essence was returned, causing Lance to pause in confusion.

That was my beloved! It’s one thing if you don’t give me extra, but you’re just going to freeload off me?!

As if sensing Lance’s resentment, the Void finally delivered a gift.

Only it wasn’t Spiritual Essence, but a beam of light that shot into the Wolf Spirit that had just been summoned...