After passing through Wolf Valley and traversing the territory of the blue wolves, they finally reached the outskirts of the Gonsago Ruins. Perhaps the lingering fear of the Blue Wolf King kept other powerful magical beasts at bay, as they encountered no formidable creatures along the way. Occasionally, they stumbled upon small packs of blue wolves, but the impression left by Durl and the others was so profound that the wolves fled at the first sight of them. This could be considered a significant achievement, having dealt with the Blue Wolf King and its aftermath.
Fars, having consumed the blood of the Blue Wolf King, found his physique further refined. The magical array in his mind also operated more efficiently. However, his current vampire level was still too low to fully absorb the immense energy contained in the wolf king's blood. This resulted in a considerable waste during his earlier consumption, but the intoxicating pleasure of that experience lingered in his memory. Fortunately, he had saved some of the wolf king's blood, which he consumed in small amounts daily as a supplement. This gradual intake allowed Fars to strengthen his body without experiencing issues of excessive vitality or mental agitation.
Danis also reaped significant benefits from the encounter. The essence of a top-tier magical beast was incomparable to that of lesser ones. Perhaps due to her incomplete digestion of the energy, Danis had been lethargically resting on Fars's shoulder for the past couple of days, only occasionally consuming a few ice crystals. It was impossible for her to go unnoticed; the appearance of a young phoenix differed greatly from that of an adult. Unlike ordinary birds, Danis's luxurious blue feathers were quite striking, and the magical flames coursing through them added an air of mystery.
Joanna had once discreetly inquired about Danis from the knowledgeable Master Perugino, but he had no answers. This was understandable; while documented species could be identified based on their characteristics, Danis was a mutated ice phoenix, which deviated significantly from the traditional image of a fire phoenix. Master Perugino had not anticipated that a vampire viscount would possess such a noble creature.
Fars remained tight-lipped about Danis, merely stating that the little one had approached him on her own, and he was unsure of her exact species. This explanation frustrated Miss Joanna, especially since she had once wanted to hold the charming Danis. Unfortunately, Danis's magical flames were not to be trifled with, and Joanna had to react quickly to avoid being burned, resulting in the loss of half a coat. Fars, however, took the opportunity to feast his eyes on the scene. Although nothing too revealing was shown, the sight of her porcelain-like arms stirred desires within Fars, who had not indulged in such pleasures for a long time. The view was splendid, but Danis's formidable presence made Fars feel he could not approach her.
After Fars presented the precious materials he had collected from the wolf king to the group, everyone was satisfied with the outcome. Fars had shown good judgment by leaving enough wolf blood behind, which eased Master Perugino's concerns about him. The master generously allowed Durl, the knight he had collaborated with for a long time, to choose first.
Durl, understanding the situation, knew that the wolf king's magical core was off-limits. He took only a piece of the wolf king's hide, expressing his guilt for accepting it, but he genuinely wished to use it to craft a wolf-skin armor. The others praised Durl's integrity and humility, and after some polite insistence, he accepted the wolf king's hide. Although the scene felt somewhat contrived, everyone present was either a noble or a powerful individual of comparable status, accustomed to such exchanges. Fars was particularly enthusiastic in praising Durl, as Durl had spoken favorably of him, allowing Fars to enjoy the wolf blood and giving Danis the chance to absorb the wolf's essence. It was evident that Master Perugino lacked deep knowledge in the realm of souls; otherwise, he would not have overlooked the essence of a top-tier magical beast, which had ultimately benefited Danis, who naturally fed on souls.
In the end, Master Perugino took all the remaining materials and promised to craft small charms from the wolf fangs for everyone. This pleased everyone, as charms made from top-tier materials by a magical scholar were sure to be of high quality. The young nobles were delighted; while the Medici family was indeed powerful, they were merely elite offspring with limited access to funds each month. They might possess many valuable items, but having a small charm to give away to others was also a good way to win hearts. A charm crafted by a mage would surely serve well in many significant situations.
Fortunately, the distribution of benefits did not marginalize Fars too much. Since everyone was satisfied, Fars felt a sense of camaraderie with the group, which allowed him access to their luxurious tent. This was a form of acceptance for him. Inside, there was no designated resting space for Fars; the night watch was assigned to him, a vampire who thrived in darkness. Even the knightly Durl felt it inappropriate to take this duty from him, wanting to help him.
After several days of travel, they finally arrived at the outskirts of the Gonsago Ruins. One significant reason Fars had initially chosen not to enter was the presence of many enchanted vines within. This place could be considered a forbidden zone for magical beasts; if a beast accidentally wandered in, even a high-tier one would quickly find itself ensnared by countless vines and drained of its blood and flesh by toxic thorns. Their method of draining was far more terrifying than Fars's. He had witnessed a high-tier magical bear that mistakenly entered the area turn into nothing more than a skeleton in mere moments. This left Fars wary of approaching, opting instead to bypass the area entirely. Fortunately, the unfortunate bear was able to find peace, as even its bones were dragged into the ground by the vines to serve as fertilizer.
After briefly explaining the situation, Master Perugino did not appear overly concerned, which reassured Fars that they must have some preparations in place for exploring the ruins.
"This must be the place. According to records, these enchanted vines are the products of ancient mages' research and modification, serving as their guardians. If one does not possess a special item to enter, they will be attacked mercilessly. However, these vines also have a lifespan; I wonder if they can still recognize the item after so many generations." At this point, Master Perugino decided to share some of his knowledge with Fars. He produced a thin purple crystal chip, which was likely the key to passing through. It was unclear how they had managed to acquire such items.
"Fars, take one of these and try entering to see if you will be attacked. Of course, I will cast several high-level defensive spells on you."
"Um, esteemed Master Perugino, could we perhaps use a magical doll or summoned creature to scout the area first?" Fars was not willing to gamble with his life at Master Perugino's command. Who knew if this item was genuine? After all, it had been thousands of years; could it still be effective? At the very least, if he were to enter, he wanted to ensure there was some benefit.
Everyone knew how to persuade this greedy and fearful vampire to willingly enter. Master Perugino was not foolish; he could not send someone to risk their life without offering something of value.
After some thought, Master Perugino produced a parchment covered in various symbols and handed it to Fars. "These enchanted vines are only interested in living beings. A magical doll will not provoke them. If you are willing to scout ahead, this parchment containing the 'Finger of Death' spell will be your reward."
If this item failed to entice Fars, who had always possessed the power of a high-level mage but lacked mastery of high-level spells, no one would believe it. This price seemed sufficient, and it was unlikely that the vines would be powerful enough to break through multiple layers of high-level defensive spells in an instant. Most importantly, offering a reward was a good approach; otherwise, they could simply toss him in to test it.
The "Finger of Death" was a high-level dark spell that could inflict tremendous damage on an enemy's body and also had an instant-death effect, requiring immense willpower to resist.
If Fars mastered this spell, his capabilities would no longer be limited to merely assisting the group. Even the Blue Wolf King would hesitate to confront someone wielding a spell that could lead to immediate death. Durl would no longer be so passively suppressed by the wolf king. Fars and Durl could hold their ground until Master Perugino and the others emerged from the valley, without needing to turn back to slay the wolf king first.
Fars was indeed tempted. Although his expression remained neutral, the clever individuals around him understood his thoughts. Since the price was sufficient, it was time for Fars to take action. Learning a high-level spell was not something that could be accomplished in a moment. He carefully accepted the parchment Master Perugino offered and took the crystal chip. Next, Master Perugino cast the Earth Armor, Shiva's Guardian, and Elemental Skin spells on Fars, and with the robe he wore, he could activate Elemental Armor once more. Fars had never experienced such formidable defensive power before.
With a roguish glance at the beautiful Joanna, signaling that he was going in, he confidently stepped forward.
The enchanted vines indeed reacted, surrounding Fars with their dense tendrils. However, they did not immediately attack him. Instead, they hesitated, confused about how to proceed. Their instincts told them that this creature could not be attacked and that they should let it pass. Yet, after thousands of years without encountering anyone bearing a passage crystal, their awareness had become somewhat muddled. Moreover, the countless generations of reproduction had caused many of the vines to mutate. Even their creators could not guarantee that none of the vines would defy the rules they had established.
As expected, some of the vines, after hesitating, retreated in accordance with their instincts, but others, still unsure, lashed out at Fars without mercy.