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Going out and shuttling between various shops, it took an entire afternoon to finally purchase all the materials.
Leyton had converted one of the bedrooms on the second floor into a utility room, and it was now filled with all the materials he had bought.
"Bugs Bunny, come here and help me make some special clay."
Leyton called over Bugs Bunny, who was gnawing on fruit on the sofa, to help. The Planter pathway was very suitable for this kind of heavy labor.
Leyton himself took out a quill and parchment, writing a story on it, or rather, a description of a Monster:
Plague Doctor: Karasius, they wear bird-beak masks, carry walking sticks or bells, and are draped in pitch-black robes. Wandering in the darkness, they are as terrifying as Death.
The quill, dipped in ink made from ritual materials, wrote down the legend of a bird-beak Doctor on the parchment. Then, a pattern of a bird-beak mask was drawn on the parchment.
Leyton himself didn't know if this legend was true or false, but since it wasn't for Mystical Reenactment, truth or falsehood didn't matter.
Taking the clay Bugs Bunny had prepared, he molded the outline of a Plague Doctor, carved out the details with a carving knife, and then colored it. Finally, he carved the circle representing a Spirit World Sorcerer and his own symbol onto the base.
"It's that simple; a lifelike Plague Doctor figurine is complete," Leyton said, holding up the finished figurine and admiring it in the sunlight.
Bugs Bunny, standing beside him, looked at the pile of failed attempts reaching the height of the table and shook his rabbit head speechlessly.
Leyton casually mixed some materials with a Doctor's Beyonder characteristic to concoct a failed potion, which he then poured over the finished Plague Doctor figurine.
Beneath the bird-beak mask of the originally somewhat crude Plague Doctor figurine, a pair of scarlet eyes seemed to emerge.
Bugs Bunny, standing beside him, looked at the Plague Doctor figurine, and an uncomfortable feeling began to grow within him. His feet instinctively took two steps back, and he whispered:
"Boss, I feel like this thing is so evil! I have a very unsettling feeling."
Crow Anu was also attracted by the commotion, staring warily at the Plague Doctor figurine in Leyton's hand.
Leyton looked at the Crow with surprise, not expecting it to be able to discern the difference in the figurine.
Thinking that as a Beyonder creature of the Death Pathway, the Crow might be able to see things he couldn't, he asked with great curiosity:
"What else can you tell?"
The Crow shook its head, its tone somewhat hesitant:
"I can only feel that it's very evil, yet also very sacred."
"Hmm."
Leyton nodded, not pressing further.
This feeling of being both evil and sacred did align with his understanding of a Plague Doctor. Perhaps it was his own understanding that led it to lean in this direction.
With the Plague Doctor figurine completed, Leyton quickly gathered the ritual materials, arranged the candles, and drew the mystical symbol of the Hidden Sage on the ground. He placed the parchment with the Plague Doctor's story and the figurine upon it.
He dripped essential oil and hydrosol onto the lit candles, causing the flames to flicker wildly. Leyton quickly stepped back, sprinkled herbal powder around, then took another step back and began to chant the incantation:
"Sage who observes the world, eye that peers into truth, embodiment of endless knowledge and numerology!"
"I implore You, I implore the power of knowledge."
"I implore You to bestow tangible power upon abstract knowledge."
As the prayer incantation concluded, the light in the room dimmed. Leyton could clearly feel the connection between the Spirit World and the real world strengthening in the surrounding area.
Bugs Bunny and the Crow had instinctively retreated to the corner of the room, vigilantly watching the surrounding movements.
A whooshing sound of wind erupted in the room, and the candlelight was tinged with a hazy purple glow, flickering unsteadily.
Leyton picked up the ritual dagger, cut a wound on his palm, and dripped blood onto the parchment and figurine placed on the ground.
A pair of cold, indifferent, lashless eyes, containing countless glittering stars, appeared in the flickering candlelight.
Immediately, the parchment and the Plague Doctor figurine on the ground began to rapidly disintegrate, turning into streams of information that condensed into a phantom ball of light.
More information merged into this phantom ball of light until it was tinged with a hazy bronze glow before stopping.
This phantom ball of light began to contract and reform, once again taking the shape of an even more realistic Plague Doctor figurine.
"Spread its story, and you can draw strength, gradually bringing it to life."
A piece of information was transmitted into Leyton's mind. The surrounding anomalies quickly receded, leaving only the scattered, charred herbal powder in the room and the lifelike figurine on the ground, confirming everything that had just transpired.
Leyton knew his attempt had succeeded because, at this moment, he had received feedback, and a portion of the Mysticism Magister potion in his body had been digested.
Leyton bent down and picked up the Plague Doctor figurine from the ground. The moment he touched it, a cold, heavy, and lifeless sensation entered his mind.
He held up the figurine. Leyton stared at it for a long while. He had a feeling that the figurine was staring back at him.
"It has certain living characteristics."
Leyton murmured, then sat back in the armchair by his desk, using dream divination to determine the figurine's effects and abilities:
Plague Doctor: Karasius
Possesses medical skills beyond reality, enjoys following the footsteps of plagues and diseases, and is happy to treat every patient in its eyes, but its treatment is often accompanied by powerful side effects, with the ability to treat serious illnesses and stitch souls.
The figurine can be temporarily brought to life by infusing it with spirituality, summoning a Plague Doctor, but it will not absolutely obey commands; it has its own likes, dislikes, and judgments.
"Somewhat useful, but not much!"
"Such a good healing ability, yet it mutated into this form. Who would believe this is a Beyonder ability from a Doctor characteristic if you told them! And it even has its own likes, dislikes, and judgments, which could even become an unstable factor in battle."
After obtaining the detailed information about the Plague Doctor, Leyton pondered for a moment, quite speechless.
Leyton wasn't particularly satisfied with the Plague Doctor as a creation:
"If I had the characteristic of a Demoness of Afflictions, or the main ingredient for its potion, the Plague Doctor could be optimized further. A Plague Doctor is a better match for plagues and viruses!"
However, the success of the Plague Doctor at least proved that this approach was feasible. Moreover, the current Plague Doctor could only be considered a semi-finished product. According to Leyton's vision, it still lacked abilities related to plagues and viruses.
"As long as I have enough materials, I'll be able to raise an army in the future!"
Leyton envisioned a scene where, with a wave of his hand, groups of Plague Doctors would scatter from behind him.
Leyton planned to find a time to go to the gangs in the East Borough to test the Plague Doctor's abilities and, incidentally, replenish some funds.
It was a night with light, drizzling rain. On the streets of Backlund's East Borough, homeless people huddled together under eaves or bridge arches to shelter from the rain and keep warm.
Under the dim streetlights, Leyton walked down the street holding a pitch-black umbrella. It was as if a layer of night shrouded him; under the dim light, all noticeable traces were miraculously concealed.
In fact, if one didn't focus their attention, people around would subconsciously ignore Leyton walking on the street.
This was one of the many spells mastered by a Warlock. After reaching Sequence 5, Leyton had a higher level of understanding and application of spell abilities.
Using corresponding materials and incantations, Leyton solidified this spell, which concealed traces, onto the pitch-black umbrella. Although the duration wasn't too long, it was sufficient for use.
Leyton, familiar with the route, arrived at an underground casino controlled by a gang. He met no resistance because the unprofessional guards were busy boasting and chatting, completely oblivious to an inconspicuous figure passing by.
"Big! Big!"
"Shit! I should have listened to myself!"
"Hurry, next round! Next round!"
Compared to the desolation outside, the casino inside was quite lively. Leyton skillfully took out a gold coin to exchange for chips, then, by cheating through divination, he moved between the many gambling tables.
Once he confirmed he had been targeted, Leyton returned to the casino counter and exchanged his chips for cash. He had a total of 73 pounds, 18 soli, and 5 pence.
Leaving 8 soli and 5 pence as a tip for the counter staff, Leyton swung the wallet full of banknotes in his hand twice, then walked out of the casino amidst the greedy or envious gazes around him.
The rain had stopped at some point. After walking a short distance, Leyton opened his black umbrella again.
Under the dim streetlights, he walked slowly forward.
Thump, thump, thump~
Urgent footsteps and heavy breathing came from behind him.
Ahead was a shadowy area untouched by the streetlights on either side. The moment Leyton stepped into the shadows, he sidestepped forward and distorted his body, directly swinging the open umbrella in his hand onto the head of the person closest behind him.
Whack!
The umbrella struck the person's face hard, and the open umbrella blocked his vision.
When he finally flung the bothersome umbrella away, standing before him was a terrifying figure wearing a bird-beak mask, holding a walking stick, and draped in a pitch-black robe.
The Plague Doctor simply stood there, and the gambler, who had been viciously preparing to rob him with a knife, instantly panicked. His hands trembling, he raised a fruit knife and stumbled backward in a hurry.
"You, you, don't come closer!"
"I, I have a knife! I'm not afraid of you."
"You're sick! Don't be afraid! I'll cure you!"
The Plague Doctor took two steps forward, holding his walking stick. A bell hung from the stick, making a crisp sound with his movements.
Leyton discovered something he hadn't noticed during divination: the Plague Doctor's bell seemed to have the effect of inducing fear in people's hearts.
It wasn't a Beyonder ability, but more like a psychological induction.
As the creator and user of the Plague Doctor, seeing this scene, he couldn't help but shake his head and sigh:
"This is really a bit perverted. Did I write the Plague Doctor's image too perverted in my story?"
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