Off the coast of South Los, an uninhabited island.
Using the technique of "Silent Successive Steps," Arthur stepped on the "Hand of Void" and descended from mid-air.
Fujin, with Stolas and Mapa in tow, circled above Arthur's head.
Kuliqi and Kiri erged from the sea, shaking off the water from their bodies as they ca ashore.
"Stay alert to anyone approaching here,"
Arthur ordered the two "Death Hounds."
An unprecedented solemnity made the faces of the two "Death Hounds" turn serious, even Kiri, who bore the appearance of a silly, big dog, nodded in agreent.
The cream-colored Labrador that was Kuliqi even restrained its smile.
Woof!
After the two "Death Hounds" barked once, they vanished into the shadows.
"Fujin, if sothing appears in the sky, I'm counting on you,"
Arthur said, looking up.
Caw!
The crow flying with outstretched wings responded with a loud call.
Stolas and Mapa by its side also responded in kind.
Arthur nodded slightly, his gaze turning toward the sea.
The next mont—
Whoosh!
The water churned as a giant snake, 40 ters long, rose from the sea.
"Nidhogg, stop any boats that approach!"
Arthur instructed.
The giant snake Nidhogg, who regarded Arthur—with his "Serpent of Death" bloodline—as a brother, nodded repeatedly before diving back under the surface of the sea.
The tens of thousands of water snakes that followed Nidhogg began to gather around the waters of the naless island.
They could not understand complex orders.
So, Nidhogg gave only the simplest command—
To kill any living being that approached.
Indeed, not just Nidhogg, but also Fujin, Kuliqi, and Kiri thought the sa.
In their simple worldview, their master was undertaking an exceptionally important task, and they would not allow any disturbance.
And their "spirituality" was telling them that the importance of this task was a matter of life and death.
It concerned not only their master but also themselves.
If they were to fail, they would die.
If they succeeded, they would have a future of unparalleled brilliance.
With such an instinct, they, being arcane creatures, displayed an unprecedented ferocity.
Even Pendragon, who was always held in Arthur's arms, silently adjusted his state.
"Don't be nervous, Pan.
Your role is not here.
You once bathed in my 'Orange Cat' ritual, which greatly aided .
And for this 'Great Orange' ritual, while it isn't explicitly stated, I believe in my intuition—that you will undergo 'Baptism' again.
Similarly, you will again provide with the corresponding feedback.
So, Pan, relax."
As Arthur spoke, he walked toward a cave nearby.
The cave wasn't carved by Arthur himself, but naturally existed.
It was also because of this cave, after checking and confirming there were no mistakes, that Arthur chose this island among the many uninhabited islands near Coconut Island.
Demon-Repelling Holy Salt, white in color.
Evil-Repelling Brick Powder, red in hue.
They were set in place, one after another, sealing up the entrance to the cave.
What ca next was Barrier Oil.
After completing these precautions, Arthur started to dig a Z-shaped passageway within the cave, ending in a space that could completely accommodate him and Pendragon.
He then filled the tunnel with the freshly dug soil.
Having Fujin inspect it once over to ensure there were no flaws visible from the outside, Arthur then circled around the space, layering Demon-Repelling Holy Salt, Evil-Repelling Brick Powder, and Barrier Oil in cycles from the outside inward three tis.
It was only after doing all this that Arthur felt slightly relieved.
Then, Arthur reached out and stroked the top of Pendragon's head.
Arthur could clearly sense that because of his own cautiousness, Pendragon had beco tense again—
"Don't worry.
Isn't it just another Baptism?
You're with , your dad, you'll be fine!"
Arthur gave himself a thumbs up.
"ow!"
Pendragon owed.
Unlike the prolonged call of warning,
This ti, there was a bit of a... milky tone to it.
Of course, Arthur understood that his cat was expressing concern for him.
But, Arthur wouldn't admit it so openly.
"Eh?
Pan, are you showing your sassy side now!"
Arthur wore a look of surprise.
"w w w?"
Pendragon's cat face was dumbfounded.
"What?
You're talking about the 'Griffin Spirit Potion'?
And the 'Griffin Gale Potion'?
Such a greedy little kitty...
True to my own cat!
You're so like !
Don't worry, if I can get them, I'll definitely get them for you!"
Arthur picked Pendragon up into his arms and gently stroked him.
Originally intending to emphasize that he was just genuinely concerned, Pendragon eventually resigned himself to lying in his master's arms, rubbing his head against Arthur's palm.
"Stop worrying.
Even if sothing did happen to you, I'd go to 'The Eternal Resting Land' to find you, and then...
I'd stuff you into the body of a little female cat."
"ow!"
The infuriated Pendragon began to struggle.
Arthur, however, didn't care and held Pendragon up, pressing his forehead against Pendragon's and said in a very serious tone—
"I promise you!
We won't have any problems!"
After saying this, Arthur put down his cat.
The young 'Spirit dium' looked at the words before him—
[Evaluating the Entry-level Atlas 'Great Orange'...]
[Has 'Phantom Stomach', evaluation passed!]
[Physique, evaluation passed!]
[Spirituality, evaluation passed!]
[Evaluating the 'Orange Cat' Ritual, can be pushed to the limit. Use 9981 XP points for promotion to Entry-level 'Great Orange'?]
...
'Yes!'
Arthur affird in his heart with confidence.
XP points blazed wildly.
Everything before Arthur's eyes beca hazy, and double images even began to appear.
Subconsciously, Arthur squinted his eyes and shook his head vigorously.
The haziness dissipated.
The double images disappeared.
And the cave in front of him no longer existed.
All that remained in his ears was—
"Here! Over here! The Black Cat is here!"
"Why is there only one?"
"Shouldn't there be two?"
"Where did that Orange Cat go? You damn Witch!"
A mob ard with torches, pitchforks, and scythes charged into the secluded forest cottage, whose elderly hostess was powerless to stop the intruders—in fact, a few days ago, these sa intruders had been but sick farrs who ca to her for herbal redies, and she did her utmost with the herbalism she learned in her youth to heal them.
All was well and good.
But for so reason, these people she had helped now sought to harm her and her cats.
She had lived a solitary life, losing her father when she was young, her husband when she was youthful, and her son when she was old, leaving only two cats for company.
The Black Cat had been raised since it was a kitten and was well-behaved and obedient.
The Orange Cat was picked up injured in the deep forest while gathering herbs half a year ago; it seed to have been attacked by so large animal.
She had thought it wouldn't survive.
Unexpectedly, she nursed it back to health.
She had even celebrated—the two cats were treated to a special cat al.
But how did she co to be known as a Witch?
She wasn't one!
The elderly lady wanted to explain, but a pitchfork pierced her heart, and together with the decapitated Black Cat, they were set ablaze.
Her body and that of the Black Cat, along with the forest dwelling, were engulfed in flas.
anwhile, deep in the forest, the Orange Cat had blinded a black bear's eyes and mockingly watched the Blind Bear ramble around in confusion, unable to help but excitedly ow.
w w w~
It had its revenge!
How dare it ambush him!
Today it would have its retribution!
The Orange Cat, waiting for the exhausted bear to collapse before finishing it off, suddenly paused and twisted its head towards the direction of the smoke.
Instantly, the Orange Cat began to run at full speed.
By the ti the Orange Cat rushed back, its ho was gone.
The woman and that foolish fellow of its kind were both dead, burnt beyond recognition.
And in the air, which was thick with the stench of burning, lingered thirty-seven unfamiliar scents and sixteen scents it had caught a few tis before.
Sniffing these scents, the Orange Cat leaped up.
It perched atop a tree canopy, eyeing the direction from which the scents were emanating, its eyes flashing with the coldness of a hunter as it growled low in its throat—
ow!
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