Chapter 435 – Sosende

“Caw caw, look at these stinking goat-men. I hate the rank smell on them. Though I do enjoy mutton… but… yes, indeed I still despise goat-men, caw caw.”

Right after the goat-man chieftain left the basement, the peculiar crow perched on Sorsend’s shoulder unexpectedly spoke, immediately launching into merciless complaints. While cawing its grievances, it kept flapping its wings in front of its head—a gesture that made the crow appear remarkably human-like.

“Heh heh heh, alright Vector, these goat-men are quite useful helpers. They might be worthless in real combat, but it’s precisely their presence that lures those foolish good-aligned professionals.”

Hearing the crow’s complaints from his shoulder, Sorsend chuckled sinisterly. However, the old man’s laughter now completely lacked the kindly tone he had used while speaking with Prince Dick. His hoarse, hehehe chuckles sounded like a broken bellows on the verge of collapse.

Slowly rising with the support of his staff, Sorsend casually kicked away an ugly statue at his feet while moving toward the experiment table on the other side of the room. As he walked, he continued speaking to the crow named Vector:

“So, this Nightmare Cult I created has proven somewhat useful, hasn’t it? Beyond its primary function of helping me acquire precious test subjects… it can easily enslave a bunch of idiot goat-men. Moreover, the cult’s mystique keeps attracting reckless adventurers one after another. Heh heh heh, soon three more will deliver themselves to our doorstep.”

“Caw caw, really now~~ Next, these goat-men are going to attack a Kingdom for your illusory demon god. Even if it’s just a minor kingdom in some remote area, is such ostentation really wise? It seems the Benevolent God Church—those busybodies always competing with legendary organizations—has started paying attention here, caw caw!”

Vector spoke while tilting its small head, during which it cast a contemptuous glance at Sorsend’s sinisterly grinning face. Clearly, this fellow didn’t think much of Sorsend’s plans.

But Sorsend remained utterly unfazed. When the Benevolent God Church was mentioned, a flash of undisguised disgust and madness suddenly appeared in the old man’s eyes:

“The Benevolent God Church? Heh heh heh heh! I admit they’re truly ‘always late but never absent,’ but it doesn’t matter. I’ve made preparations for my advancement. After this research, I shall become a great Legendary Expert. When that time comes, I can simply hide in another plane—even the Church of the Lord of the Dawn won’t be able to threaten me anymore. What do I have to fear? I am Sosend Jess! I can already see my legendary future beckoning to me, heh heh heh, HAHAHAHA!”

As he spoke, Sorsend’s voice escalated into hysterical laughter. Along with his maniacal cackles, massive amounts of eerie black-red mana began raging violently throughout the laboratory. This mana conspicuously carried substantial Abyssal energy within it, the terrifying magical turbulence saturated with a chaos even Sorsend himself could no longer control.”Caw caw, has the potion worn off again? This guy is really something. Although there are many madmen among Legendary Experts, most seem to have gone insane after reaching the Legendary level. Can someone who goes mad prematurely even advance to Legendary? Caw caw.”

Helplessly watching Sorsend’s hysterical laughter, the Magical Raven Vector shook his head disdainfully, while his claw had somehow produced a pale cyan potion filled with green foam.

Without further delay, Vector directly injected the syringe into Sorsend’s neck:

“Caw caw, wake up, my master. Your enemies are about to storm your gates.”

The syringe was rudely inserted into Sorsend’s artery by the Magic Raven. Thanks to the pressure enchantment preset on the syringe, the liquid was almost instantly injected into Sorsend’s body.

Accompanied by the “clang” of the empty vial hitting the floor, Sorsend abruptly stopped laughing and collapsed onto the ground, coughing violently:

“Cough cough… really… cough… troublesome. The effects of Potion No. 7 are fading too… cough cough… As expected, these things only address symptoms, not the root cause… cough cough…”

While coughing with enough force to seemingly expel his lungs, Sorsend also furrowed his brows intensely.

The old man, freshly emerged from his frenzied state, appeared nothing like a formidable peak Master-Level expert at level 19. Now he seemed even more frail than before.

“Caw caw caw, my master, are you really up for this? Never mind the near-certain death of advancing to Legendary—you still have to face challenges from three Master-Level experts. It’s not that I doubt you, but… caw caw caw, I’ll say no more!”

Flying down to retrieve the empty vial, Vector voiced his doubts to Sorsend in a hushed tone. In the Laboratory now, only the sound of Vector’s flapping wings and Sorsend’s heavy, wheezing breaths, like a broken bellows, could be heard.

However, Sorsend clearly disagreed with the Magic Raven’s mockery. Struggling to rise from the ground with the support of his staff, he gasped:

“Heh, my condition isn’t ideal, but there’s no choice. Time no longer permits hesitation. My lifespan likely can’t hold out for even ten more years, and my soul transformation still requires more Abyssal energy infused with law power. I need more Master-Level souls as sacrifices… Damn it, that Minotaur Shaman’s soul could have served as a substitute, but now that fool has been killed… Fortunately, the arrival of three Master-Level experts fills the gap. There’s still hope for me to complete my research before my lifespan runs out.”

As he spoke, a fanatical delight once again surfaced on Sorsend’s face:

“Heh heh heh, these three Master-Level experts arriving in the Raging Wave Desert at this time are a gift from the heavens. Yes, they must all remain here. My path to Legendary can wait no longer.”

“As for the battle…”

When mentioning combat, a sharp, bloodthirsty glint flashed in Sorsend’s narrowed eyes.”I’ve heard about what happened in the Hoth Mountains, and it just so happens that Ovakain from there and his pursuers from the Thought of Truth have both disappeared without a trace… Hehehe, this confirms the identities of our two guests in the desert. I believe their grudge will save me quite some trouble.”

“And… the splendid trap has already been prepared. Our Sub-Lord must be growing impatient by now…”

Carefully lifting the magical curtain covering the experiment table’s magic circle, Sorsend’s face appeared demonically twisted under the crimson glow.

“Don’t you think I’m right, Miss Zola?”

As the curtain was removed, the hidden scene on the experiment table was fully revealed to Sorsend.

There, bound in the center of the magic circle on the experiment table, was the “sacrifice” – none other than the level sixteen Master-Level female ranger Zola, covered in wounds, with powerful magical chains piercing through her shoulder blades, forced into a kneeling position.

(End of Chapter)