This Necromancer Just Wants to Plant Trees - Chapter 153

Chapter 153: The Skull of Augustus

Submersion would be an exaggeration.

But when things poured out from the rift, the ground indeed accumulated a heap of coins and various odds and ends.

Matthew cast a detection spell and estimated with his own eyes.

The gold coins here amounted to about two hundred thousand.

These coins were small ones issued by the Alliance, not very heavy as they were essentially a thin layer of gold mixed with other metals, hollow on the inside.

Judging the quality of these small coins was possible by lightly tapping their surface and listening to the echo they produced.

Theoretically, the value of these Alliance coins should be much lower than that of pure gold coins of similar weight.

Yet, in the Eindor continent, at least in the south, these small coins circulated freely just like pure gold coins.

Because they represented the credit and authority of the Seven Saints Alliance.

So, even though these small coins seemed plasticky, Matthew didn't mind them at all.

The only regret was that, by the principle of 'finder's keepers,' he and Rhaegar should share them equally.

Thinking this, it felt like Matthew's heart was bleeding, and inadvertently, his gaze toward Rhaegar turned hostile.

However, Rhaegar didn't notice this at all.

He excitedly circled the pile of gold coins twice.

Then he lifted a handful of coins and spilled them on the ground.

Rhaegar cheerfully said to Matthew, "I take back what I said earlier; this zombie lady is simply our lucky charm. Next time something similar happens, we must make sure she takes action."

"Coincidentally, Sefin's coming-of-age ceremony is approaching, this money can serve as her pocket money. After all, it's something her father obtained through arduous adventures; this gift will surely hold special meaning for her."

Hearing this, Matthew's gaze suddenly softened.

He didn't have any ulterior motive; he simply found the father-daughter affection heartwarming.

Next was the time to inventory the items.

There were plenty of things left behind by Spanther, mostly magical materials, scrolls, and some peculiar items.

Matthew quickly sifted through them and found several high-value magical items.

First was a pendant he wore around his neck, wrapped in a purple metal casing.

The pendant's metal casing was quite large, almost the size of Matthew's palm.

Through the hollow gaps in the metal casing, Matthew could see a yellowish gem inside.

Clearly, this gem was the Swiftstone that Spanther had stolen from the Alliance's vault.

It was said to break the daily limit on spellcasting, rapidly refreshing cooldowns, allowing a mage to cast spells numerous times within a day.

Of course, this came with a price.

According to the news Rhaegar saw, Spanther and his companions had developed a spellcasting addiction.

For mages, this condition was fatal; even if Matthew hadn't killed him, he was close to death.

Therefore, the Swiftstone was labeled a forbidden item by the Alliance, typically only available to mages who had applied for and received permission.

Matthew cradled the pendant in his hand and noticed a secret magic lock on it.

This magic lock was highly sophisticated, with a coffee-colored gem as the lock eye, containing a large amount of milky liquid flowing within. Matthew glanced at it briefly and felt his body being drawn into a creamy whirlpool.

He quickly looked away.

Despite that, he still felt his mental strength depleted; it was a sign of significant mental exertion.

"It's an Alliance secret lock, of high level. It would take at least a fifth-rank mage to decipher it. Once trapped inside, this illusion might take ten days or more to recover from," Matthew said, still feeling the lingering effects.

He carefully stowed away the purple pendant.

It appeared that although Spanther had stolen the Swiftstone, he hadn't had the chance to use it yet. Matthew wondered what he was thinking at the time; he had defected from the Alliance for something he couldn't use immediately.

There had to be a reason behind it.

Unfortunately, Spanther was too serious; he hadn't left behind any diaries, making it difficult for Matthew to grasp the full picture of the event.

About the secret lock and the Swiftstone.

Matthew planned to study them himself for a while. If he couldn't unlock it, he would find a pretext to involve a mage within the Alliance. Simply returning it wasn't impossible, but he needed to test if the Alliance was willing to increase the reward for the wanted man.

Next were three items taken from Spanther's body.

...

"Hardshell Robe: In its regular state, it appears as an ordinary robe, providing 1 armor point and a minor stamina regeneration.

When activated or when the wearer is in danger, the Hardshell Robe rapidly inflates into a sphere, offering comprehensive protection for all parts except the head.

At this time, the armor provided by the Hardshell Robe is 13 points (equivalent to heavy armor level defense).

Note: Why doesn't it protect the head? Because the alchemist who ordered it didn't pay enough. It's that simple.

—A certain renowned but stingy Alliance alchemist"

...

"Dragonhide Belt: Strength +1; Slowly increases mana recovery rate;

Especially, the Dragonhide Belt can significantly enhance the strength between the waist and abdomen.

Note: Initially, I made this belt just to win the sit-up championship. But unexpectedly, it made me the reigning Duck King in the city of flowers.

—A certain renowned but stingy Alliance alchemist"

...

"Fairy's Necklace: Charisma +1; Slightly increases the success rate of divination.

When you wear this necklace, your mood easily becomes extremely optimistic.

For everything in the future, you feel as though everything will go your way.

This kind of optimism tends to infect those around you, making you more charming and more likely to succeed.

Note: It's suitable for people in dire situations. For example, myself. A few days ago, I lost everything in gambling. After putting on this necklace, I suddenly became optimistic. So, I sold my body to a necromancer, and with the down payment I received, I went back to the gambling den. This time I'll definitely turn things around, definitely.

—A certain renowned but stingy individual"

...

Each of these three magical items had its own merits.

Although the Hardshell Robe's inability to protect the head was a bit of a drawback, the thirteen points of armor combined with its lightweight wear was enough to make countless warriors cry silently.

Wearing it, one only needed to supplement with a magical piece of armor above the neck.

The Dragonhide Belt went without saying, it was an item worth wearing without much thought.

Only the Fairy's Necklace made Matthew frown.

Though the increase in charisma and the improved divination success rate were excellent, excessively optimistic emotions often led to disaster.

He categorized this necklace as a "useful item in specific situations" and tossed it into the reserved slot of his magical pouch.

But beyond their attributes, what intrigued Matthew more was the alchemist who left the notes.

To be able to create three items of this level indicated an impressive level of expertise for that alchemist.

However, based on the tone

in the notes, both the Dragonhide Belt and the Fairy's Necklace were meant for his own use, yet now they ended up in Spanther's possession.

Matthew guessed that his fate wouldn't be pleasant.

Among all the magical items, what recently excited Matthew the most was a translucent crystal skull.

It was also the most valuable item Spanther had.

...

"Skull of Augustus (Exclusive weapon for necromancers/Fifth-tier spellcasting medium): The great necromancer Augustus, after becoming a lich, turned his own head into a weapon. After enduring prolonged refinement, it lost a fair amount of spirituality but remained a deadly weapon for necromancers.

Basic Effect: Every thirty seconds, you can control the Skull of Augustus to launch a burst of necrotic flames or a negative energy projectile toward a target within thirty meters (no consumption).

Attributes: Intelligence +1/Perception +1/Legendary or lower-level spellcasting speed +100%

Enchantment —

1. Wrath of the Dead: Significantly enhances the effects of necromancy spells.

2. Dual Casting: When casting negative energy-related spells, there's a fifty percent chance of double casting.

3. Lich's Soul: This skull holds a small amount of Augustus's soul. Each week, you can ask him three questions, but he might not answer them directly.

4. Frost Lock (Legendary spell/Reduced tier): Every month, you can trigger the legendary spell 'Frost Lock,' with a shortened incantation time of 6 seconds. Due to the retreat of spirituality, the spell's effect drops to the fifth tier.

5. Feeding (Passive Effect): You can feed the Skull of Augustus with food, each bringing different passive effects.

During this period, it will orbit around you, deflecting a small number of projectiles for you and providing various buffs.

Requirements for use: Fourth-tier necromancer or a third-tier necromancer with mastery in relevant magical domains.

Method of use: Synchronization."

...

Undoubtedly, this was a necromancer's top-notch weapon!

It could perfectly replace a staff or a spellbook's function.

Matthew had long desired such a weapon.

He had seen similar items in the Alliance shop, but their prices were exorbitant.

As a non-consumable magical weapon, even as a fifth-tier item, its price was higher than legendary consumable items Matthew had seen.

He even speculated that this Skull of Augustus was the primary reason the Alliance urgently wanted Spanther.

He felt a dense aura of necromantic magic emanating from the skull.

Unfortunately.

At present, Matthew wasn't qualified to synchronize with the Skull of Augustus.

His level was only third-tier, and he hadn't temporarily mastered the necromantic spell domain.

It was strange.

Matthew frequently used necromantic spells, so he should have accumulated a lot of related elements, but he still hadn't mastered the necromantic spell domain.

Contrarily, the transmutation spells, which he had recently begun practicing, succeeded right away.

This left Matthew quite puzzled.

"Could it be Rhaegar's doing?" he speculated.

Unfortunately, this speculation couldn't be tested.

After all, Rhaegar was doing perfectly fine.

He couldn't consider turning him into a dark warrior already, could he?

That would be too inhumane.

At this moment, the two swiftly divided the loot; Rhaegar still carried himself as the lordly older brother.

"He claimed he didn't contribute much, only took half of the gold, and wouldn't touch anything else."

Matthew, on the other hand, displayed the characteristic of plucking feathers from a goose.

Not only did he wrap Spanther's body in a shroud and had Renaismae carry it, but he also picked out some usable corpses of withered beings.

Subsequently, they inspected the platform thoroughly, confirming no oversight before ascending the stairs.

Just as Matthew had seen before, the Cloud Inn took on a spindle-shaped form, with the penultimate level being the central one.

Ascending further led to a slightly narrower platform, distinct because of the dead trees growing here, resembling the ominous tree below.

Matthew speculated this to be a ritual of the withered beings.

These were likely among the sturdier trees in life that they had plundered for their vitality.

He sensed decay emanating from these trees; even staying near them, he felt his own life slipping away faster.

This was the origin of the Ritual of All-Winter; through this, the withered spread their powers of decay, agitation, and destruction using the moist snowflakes as a medium.

They encouraged all life to self-destruct, wither rapidly, to draw upon the force of nature, thereby sustaining or even enhancing their own abilities.

All things eventually wither, and by making others wither prematurely, they, as spokespeople for withering, could delay their own decay.

This was the doctrine of the withering cult.

Matthew and Rhaegar swiftly demolished the trees here.

Thus, the ritual ground was broken.

---

"Notification: You disrupted the withered beings' 'Ritual of All-Winter,' gaining an additional 100 points of reinforcement experience!"

---

"Destruction is always simpler than creation and maintenance," Matthew pondered as he felt the collapse of the ritual ground.

The architecture on this level mirrored that below, except for the camps the withered had erected; the rest comprised treehouses or mud constructions left behind by the cloud spirits.

While not particularly magnificent, these buildings, tightly arranged on the aerial platforms, held a sense of secluded beauty.

Finally, the two arrived at the highest level.

Here stood a pointed tree tower; on its eastern side, a massive tent had been set up, surrounded by magical traps, presumably Spanther's belongings.

Matthew and Aebing spent some effort dismantling a path through the traps.

They entered the tent.

Inside was a hammock, and behind it, a separate space was partitioned, where faint cries could be heard.

Rhaegar stepped forward and pulled aside the curtain partitioning the room, revealing cages for beasts, holding over thirty young frogmen crying restlessly inside.

In the center was an experimentation table, beside which lay the corpses of two young frogmen.

On the table lay a dissected heart and a purple-covered research log.

Furrowing his brows, Matthew opened the log; it contained few words, a few random glances.

---

"I heard before the ascent of the Heavenly Palace, frogmen were a deity's retinue in the domain of time.

Thus, the royal frogmen enjoyed lifespans comparable to the Wood Elves'.

Unlike other races, royal frogmen's blood was evenly dispersed among each young frogman.

During their growth, any could awaken the royal bloodline, becoming the elite caste with golden skin.

The above information is from the Alliance Library.

I think it's all nonsense.

I dissected three young ones today, not a drop of royal blood even in their hearts.

Shows the Alliance itself is nonsense."

---

"Collaborating with the withered beings is truly idiotic.

These people are poor and foul-smelling.

Characters like Kunna, I wouldn't have entertained before.

But since leaving the Alliance, such opportunities have become scarce.

I must seize every chance to vent.

Otherwise, I fear I'll again struggle to contain my spellcasting impulses.

Damn, it's itching; I want to cast spells, even a fire tongue would do!

Apparently, the reason the withered agreed to steal the frogmen's offspring for me is to anger the frogmen, pushing them into the withering domain.

They're a bunch of lunatics.

What's good in the withering domain!

I've decided; no matter how tempting Kunna may be tonight, I'll refuse her."

---

"I couldn't refuse Kunna.

My spellcasting impulse is becoming severe.

I can feel it gnawing at my bones.

It's no illusion.

The Heart-Eating Worm is real.

I don't have much time.

I must produce sufficient results for the higher-up.

Only then will there be a chance for a lifeline.

Damn it, ordinary frogmen won't do; I need the blood of true royal frogmen!"

---

"Played some new games with Kunna today.

Now my butt hurts a bit.

Must tell the kitchen to use less chili.

Ah.

My back hurts too.

At least the symptoms of the spellcasting impulse significantly reduced today.

I'll have the energy to dissect a few more young frogmen, speeding up the deciphering of the secret door.

Miss the Alliance.

Once I decipher that door, perhaps I'll return and surrender.

Even if it's in the Blackthorn Mountain prison, it's better than this cursed place.

Yes, that's the decision."

---

After reading, Matthew's expression was varied.

He didn't write a diary, yet his thoughts were inscribed in the research log.

There wasn't much about the experiments in the log, but it was filled with complaints.

Unfortunately, Spanther had lost the chance to surrender.

Upon consideration, Matthew and Rhaegar decided to inform the frogmen tribe to rescue their offspring.

Matthew assigned this task to Rhaegar.

The frogmen held mages of the Alliance in high regard; Matthew's personal involvement wouldn't yield greater benefits.

However, with Rhaegar involved, it meant the chance for more friendship between Rolling Stone Town and the frogmen tribe.

It was a favor easily extended, and Matthew willingly offered it.

Consequently, the two split up.

Rhaegar went to find the frogmen village.

Meanwhile, Matthew entered the tree tower outside the tent.

At the tower's core was the secret door mentioned in Spanther's research log.

Approaching it, Matthew placed his hands upon the secret door.

---

"Notification: You've discovered the abandoned/encrypted portal of the Cloud Ruins!

Do you wish to attempt decryption?"

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