When she witnessed the skull monster, Dorothy's mind was in chaos. Her perception and thoughts became sluggish, her consciousness began to waver, and an incomparable sadness surged in her heart. She wanted to cry, but her sluggish mind didn't know how to.
This state lasted for an unknown amount of time before she felt her consciousness gradually clear. When she stood up on the ground, covering her head, and slowly opened her eyes, what appeared before her was Aldrich, standing and smiling.
"Heh heh… To witness a divine remnant without any protection and not collapse directly, but only suffer a slight mental impact, Miss Meisihuos, my interest in you has probably deepened by a few points."
Standing in front of Dorothy, Aldrich said with a smile. Dorothy shook her head, clearing her mind again, and then asked.
"What was that thing just now…?"
"It was the skull remnant of a divine creature, found by that guy during an exploration and used in his constructs. It is his trump card and symbol, and the title Deer Skull also comes from this."
Looking at the calm sky in the distance, Aldrich continued calmly.
"Generally speaking, ordinary people or low-tier Extraordinary will suffer various adverse effects when witnessing a divine existence. There is direct mental radiation and Spirit Sight infusion, and sometimes it can also cause some material-level mutations. Although that thing is just a remnant, the impact is much lighter, but you can still stand up, which is indeed beyond my expectation…" Looking at Dorothy in front of him, Aldrich said frankly, and Dorothy also nodded in understanding.
'Witnessing a divine creature will cause many negative effects… Among them is a certain amount of Spirit Sight, and I am immune to Spirit Sight, so the impact is much lighter. Therefore, after seeing that remnant, I can still stand. Aldrich also helped me eliminate the other negative effects.'
After hearing Aldrich's words, Dorothy understood the reason for her previous state. Then, suddenly, she thought of something else.
'Right, if witnessing divinity has a negative impact on ordinary people and low-tier Extraordinary, then Vanya…'
Just then, Dorothy looked towards the Church behind her, and she saw Vanya lying before the altar. She quickly ran over to check and found that the other party was currently unconscious.
"Hey, my companion seems to have passed out after seeing that guy. What should I do now?" Turning her head, Dorothy immediately asked Aldrich, who also walked over, checked, and then said.
"No big problem, move her to the basement."
After speaking, Aldrich stood up, opened the secret passage in the Church leading to the basement, and walked down. Dorothy also controlled the Corpse Puppet to carry Vanya and followed behind.
After a while, Dorothy followed Aldrich to the familiar underground workshop. Then Dorothy listened to Aldrich and placed Vanya on a long table in the workshop. Next, Aldrich had Dorothy give the unconscious Vanya two tubes of potion. Then Aldrich lit a special incense and consumed a few Spirituality storage items to perform a simple ritual for Vanya, and then clapped his hands to indicate completion.
"Alright, now we just need to wait for this Miss to wake up on her own. All she needs is a little time."
Listening to Aldrich's words, Dorothy breathed a sigh of relief, and then continued to speak to Aldrich in a joking tone.
"I see you used so many things. You won't charge her when she wakes up, right? She's just a Student Sister of the Shining Light Church, she doesn't have much money."
"Heh heh… What are you talking about, Miss Meisihuos? I have always been clear about debts. Today you helped me a lot, and I still owe you. How could I dare to ask for any fees? If I really wanted money, the information I told you about divine creatures just now would cost at least a hundred pound."
Sitting on a chair he often sat on before, Aldrich said with a smile. After hearing Aldrich's answer, Dorothy couldn't help but be startled.
"Haha, according to you, can I ask whatever I want for free next?"
"Of course, ask whatever you want, but each answer I give counts as a repayment. If you ask too many questions and I've repaid everything, you'll have to pay again. Of course, the favor I owe you is not included. These are extra rewards given to you outside of the favor." Aldrich replied like this, which made Dorothy's mouth twitch slightly.
'Old thing, you can even haggle over this. Only you know the standard of how much is owed.'
After complaining internally, Dorothy continued to ask.
"So, you have successfully defeated your great enemy now?"
"Almost, but to be precise, I only defeated one of his Cursed Bone clones. His main body is still there." Aldrich said slowly, and Dorothy asked doubtfully.
"Cursed Bone clone?"
"The'Shi' (Stone) path… Bonecrafter branch, the ability of the Crimson Tier 'Great Spirit Bone Wizard'. It can create a Cursed Bone from a section of its own bone, and then graft the Cursed Bone onto other skeletons to make a clone. Here, it's this…"
Saying this, Aldrich took out something from behind him. Dorothy looked carefully and saw a section of black human bone covered with curses. At this time, this section of human bone was broken into two halves, obviously severed.
"This is… Cursed Bone? This means that the Deer Skull is a Crimson Tier?" Looking at the broken bone in front of her, Dorothy continued to ask, and Aldrich continued to answer.
"Yes, but relying on the remnant of the divine creature, his strength can be considered Crimson peak, just one step away from completing a great achievement and entering the Golden, but this time he lost a Cursed Bone, and his power will be discounted a little."
'That monster… has the strength of Crimson peak, just one step away from advancing to Golden…' Listening to Aldrich's words, Dorothy thought to herself, and then she continued to ask Aldrich.
"Then, since that guy is so powerful, how did you two become enemies?"
Hearing Dorothy's words, Aldrich paused, then fell silent for a while. After drinking a cup of tea, he slowly replied.
"The enmity between him and me originated two hundred years ago. At that time, we both belonged to the high-level members of the White Stone Craftsmen's Guild, both being outstanding individuals of the Crimson Tier.
"At that time, there was a vacancy in the highest level of the White Stone Craftsmen's Guild—the 'Golden Three Seats', and therefore a most outstanding person needed to be selected from the high-level Crimson Tier. This outstanding person would be able to receive a large amount of resource support from the Craftsmen's Guild to help him advance to Golden and fill the vacancy in the Golden Three Seats. He and I were the biggest competitors."