Justin provided most of the materials and magic crystals needed for the treatment.

So Saul could begin treatment directly without having to collect various magic materials again.

Before starting the first pollution reduction experiment, both of them rested well.

Especially Justin—after entering deep sleep, he meditated for another three hours, bringing his spiritual body to its most stable state.

Meanwhile, Saul had already drawn the magic array outside the wizard tower and was doing a final check.

Since this was the first time using this self-designed array, despite having Camus’s approval and the diary’s silence, Saul still checked it over and over again.

After ensuring he was thoroughly familiar with the function of every rune, he had Agu ask Justin to come out.

Justin walked down from the wizard tower and immediately saw the massive magic array in front of it, with a row of human figures standing around the array, looking like children.

But when Justin approached, he discovered these children were actually dolls made of special materials, without facial features.

“These are dolls that will bear your injuries—you can also call them substitute dolls.” Saul briefly explained the array’s characteristics to Justin so he could cooperate with transferring the damage.

The substitute dolls were inspired by Saul’s previous memories. But since they were self-designed, they could only be used within magic arrays, transferring damage to the dolls through massive magical power channeling.

The prerequisite was also that the subject couldn’t resist the spell.

After informing Justin of all precautions, Saul pointed toward the center of the array. “Then let’s begin.”

Justin nodded and calmly walked past the substitute dolls into the array.

After confirming Justin was positioned and fully relaxed, Saul stood at one corner of the array with Agu, Ann, and Herman at the other three corners.

Saul was responsible for directing the array, while the other three consciousness bodies assisted with adjustments.

“Let’s start.” He exhaled, and his mental power and magical power began surging.

The enormous energy became substantial, distorting the surrounding air.

The substitute dolls around the array began trembling slightly, as if they too felt fear.

Justin lowered his gaze to the ground, watching the magic crystals at the four corners light up one by one.

“Snap!”

“Snap!”

“Snap!”

“Snap!”

It was as if dozens of people were walking barefoot on the twisted lines of the magic array, while also stepping on his soul.

When the magical power was fully channeled, the lines and runes throughout the array also began to distort. The substitute dolls around them raised their arms one by one, seeming to want to flee.

Boom—

A soundless impact descended upon Justin’s spirit and flesh. He instantly felt some force cutting beneath his skin, then like a filtering cloth, slowly draining the pollution from his body.

Justin’s face turned deathly pale from pain.

The feeling was like having interwoven threads buried in his body, then slowly drawing them out after the wounds healed.

Outside the array, Saul was concentrating intently on carefully controlling the magical power, ensuring the giant net tearing at Justin’s body wouldn’t break away too quickly.

Soon, harsh metallic scraping sounds began emanating from Justin’s body.

The pollution source had appeared!

Through his mental perception, Saul discovered black shadows emerging all over the other’s body, with the most concentrated at the back of his head.

Saul spread his hands, his ten fingers transforming into soft, semi-transparent tentacles that gradually extended, taking control of the black spots one by one, but carefully avoiding the back of Justin’s head.

He couldn’t touch the pollution source there yet.

As Saul’s tentacles made contact with Justin’s body, the substitute dolls around the array began developing facial features.

The newly changed faces actually bore seven-tenths resemblance to Justin. These substitute dolls no longer tried to flee, but instead turned around, gazing at Justin’s body with intense longing.

“Now I am him.”

“So I can replace him!”

Inside the dolls were soul fragments full of greedy malice that Saul had specifically selected.

Only such consciousness would make the substitute dolls actively establish a connection with Justin.

Then the first substitute doll lifted its foot from the ground and took a step toward the center of the array.

With the first, came the second, the third…

Soon, dozens of dolls were slowly moving toward Justin.

At the same time, the dolls desperately wanting to seize Justin’s body didn’t notice that the moment they moved toward Justin, their bodies began showing signs of strong acid corrosion.

Their skin made “sizzling” sounds, like meat on a hot plate.

Fingertips and knees suddenly caved inward, as if something had dripped on them, instantly corroding flesh and skin.

But the desire to regain bodies made these painless dolls ignore the abnormalities on their bodies. They continued approaching Justin, as if merely touching him would let them truly steal his body.

Saul slowly absorbed the pollution from Justin’s body.

Several consciousness bodies constantly adjusted the array on the ground. When they found a doll running too fast, they would reduce the conduction efficiency of the runes where it stood.

But despite the consciousness bodies’ control, these substitute dolls still gradually approached Justin.

The nearest substitute doll was less than a meter from Justin.

Of course, its damage was also the most severe.

Both its arms had already corroded away completely, and even one foot had disappeared up to the knee.

If not for magical power supporting it, it would have fallen long ago.

Saul calculated the time. “Can hold on for another three minutes.”

Though little time remained, Saul didn’t increase the frequency of absorbing pollution.

Because if pollution separated too quickly, causing suddenly worsened injuries that couldn’t be transferred to the substitute dolls in time, it would create an imbalance in Justin’s internal injuries.

“At this pace, probably three more such experiments could reduce the pollution in Justin’s body to a relatively safe range.”

Suddenly, Saul heard enormous sounds from behind.

He paused absorbing pollution and looked back.

The mushroom forest by Rhine Lake was actually shaking.

Large amounts of spores scattered, creating towering white mist.

Someone had broken into the mushroom forest!

Moreover, judging by this situation, it seemed like a very rough forced entry.

Otherwise, the mushroom forest wouldn’t have such a strong reaction.

The visitor came with ill intent!

Saul didn’t hesitate and immediately severed his tentacles.

“Someone with malicious intent has come. Today’s array ends here. Herman, take Justin back to rest.”

Although Justin was second rank, patients were at their weakest—he couldn’t be expected to fight at this time.

“Ann, go call the Old Witch!”

Train soldiers for a thousand days to use them for one hour.

“I’m here.” The Old Witch walked out from the arched door of the wizard tower.

She had been secretly watching and studying the operating principles of Saul’s array.

Saul let her watch.

Given the Old Witch’s basic knowledge of runes and arrays, she couldn’t learn it even after watching ten times.

Just then, the mushroom forest’s defenses were finally breached.

The mushroom tree closest to Rhine Lake was cut down with a single slash. The entire mushroom crashed down, revealing the invader behind it.

A fully armored figure wearing a silver-gray metal helmet, mounted on a black, tall four-legged fierce beast, was crossing the wide Rhine Lake, staring directly at the white Purity Wizard Tower.

Saul looked back and saw the invader’s head slowly lower from looking up until their eyes met.

“This is a bit troublesome.” The Old Witch’s voice was hoarse and low. “He’s riding a Gallows Beast—that thing has terrifyingly high magic resistance and is a fierce beast that can withstand third-rank magic!”

(End of Chapter)

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