The Righteous Player(s)

Although they successfully defeated Count Urie, they were still trapped in the barrier.

In theory, as long as the intensity was sufficient, it should have been possible to break through the barrier. This was what was known as “might makes right.”

However, as Count Urie was launched into the barrier, it bounced back rather cartoonishly. The barrier didn’t even shake… It showed how sturdy the barrier was.

Annan originally intended to use the “Tyrant’s” triple amplification. By self-harming to critically low health, he then planned to unleash a Brilliant Sword attack to break the barrier.

However, Jacob’s words convinced him otherwise.

“Your Majesty, we had no idea what would happen after the barrier was broken. It might have deflected the attack back, or it could have exploded. There was also a chance it would alert others… The barrier might even absorb damage, or even use the lives of ordinary people to repair itself.”

“You’re right.” Annan nodded in agreement.

He asked, “So do you have any solution?”

“Certainly.” Jacob said confidently, “I can break the barrier of this level.”

Watching his solemn and earnest demeanor, Annan was skeptical yet somewhat convinced.

Annan decided to give Jacob a chance.

“This looks like a composite ritual of Grail-holding Lady mixed with Red Knight, manifesting the [colosseum]. At the same time, it is also a [stage] and a [battlefield].”

Following behind Jacob, Annan casually remarked, “Logically, once we have the victor, this barrier will no longer be a [colosseum] or a [battlefield], it will be resolved through the ‘curtain call’…”

“It doesn’t have to be so troublesome.” Jacob smiled, “A barrier of this level can’t stop me…”

After the battle, Jacob slowly regained himself.

Previously, he was hiding everywhere, driven to flee like a mouse… However, when everyone was too busy to pay attention to him, the attacks from both sides were cleverly executed, yet none managed to hit him.

“That’s part of the ritual. I won’t be hit by ‘stray attacks’. To hit me, you would need to launch at least two consecutive attacks specifically targeting me. Those attacks not aimed at me won’t hit me.”

Facing Annan’s confusion, Jacob didn’t hide anything and patiently explained how he achieved this effect, “By using a ritual, I linked my [wounds that are present but not yet manifested] to a keyhole, and the things that can inflict these wounds to a key.”

“After that, I set up the most classic curse ritual on myself, casting the curse of the [key must not align with the keyhole] on myself. Then, I cut off a piece of my skin, turned it inside out, and sewed it back. At the same time, I tattooed the ‘inside’ on what was originally the inner side (now the outer) and the ‘outside’ on what was originally the outer side (now the inner). I also embedded copper wire and cursed pearls, crafted by artisans, within my body to construct a ritual site, reversing the concept of inside and outside.”

Afterward, Jacob showed his right shoulder to Annan.

Indeed, there was a patch of skin on his shoulder that appeared unusually shallow. And around it, the skin did have faintly protruding marks, swelling like a brand, forming a barely visible ritual site.

…So, you gain the protection of stray attacks just like that?

Annan was shocked.

This is brilliant!

Though this person’s hair is like dry straw and he has the long-lasting odor of not bathing… he really seems to be a talented individual!

Jacob’s control over rituals was quite narrow, essentially limited to the aspect of “locks and keys”. However, within his domain, his grasp and understanding of rituals were remarkably strong.

Among all the ritualists Annan had encountered so far, Jacob was the only one who had thought of using “foreign objects” to construct a ritual site within the body.

Logically speaking, this should be impossible.

Because the flesh and blood within the body inherently carried meaning, their mere existence would interfere with the ritual.

Like during the process of human alchemy? It was like having an extra iron bucket for holding materials in the alchemical ritual… That certainly changed the proportions.

Jacob, by embedding pearls within his body, likened his body to a “clam”, representing the flesh inside the shell. Would this mean he defined his entire physical body as “inside”? By using the pearls, he redefined the foreign objects inside his body, implying that these objects couldn’t be considered as “flesh”.

In this way, he could allow the materials used to construct the ritual site within his body to form a separate ritual, without affecting himself. This enabled him to successfully construct a ritual site within his body.

Coupled with the “reversing the inside and outside” ritual he designed… It was exceptionally outstanding. Without being a transcender or knowing divine art, using only a simple ritual, he was able to achieve something that even the Bronze Rank Transcender couldn’t do.

Although Annan had forgotten most of his mystical knowledge, his keenness for rituals hadn’t faded. Upon hearing Jacob’s explanation, he quickly reverse-engineered Jacob’s “formula”.

He truly lived up to being the so-called “Master Key” and “Lockpicker”…

Annan’s first reaction was — He seems to be a good candidate as a ritualist mentor for the players,

With Jacob’s brilliant mind, if combined with some transcended profession… it might even create a new profession.

For instance, using the ritual embedded within the body in combination with curses collected by hunters, spreading them outwards? Or using a warrior’s robust physique to store a large number of rituals within the body? Or even, allowing Shaping Wizards to transform, to a certain extent, internal organs or tissues as part of a specific ritual…

In some rituals, hearts, blood, or bones were used. However, not all rituals needed to consume these materials — some organs were just needed as a medium.

So? Why can’t we use the organs in our bodies as ritual mediums?

“You are a genius.” Annan praised.

Maybe Jacob’s experience and knowledge can’t be applied to the players.

But his ideas themselves have considerable value.

After being praised by Annan, Jacob smiled sheepishly.

Jacob, who had been beaten before, finally no longer felt embarrassed this time without anyone interfering. He demonstrated his profound ritual knowledge and why he was known as “Lockpicker”.

He first took an antidote in advance, then took out a poisoned steel nail and slowly drove it through the palm of his left hand, all the way to the back of his hand. The venom paralyzed his sense of pain, enabling him to do this.

He began to chant simultaneously, “I am the lock, steel is my key — I open my flesh with potent poison, as a key unlocks every door.”

As he chanted, he pulled out the steel nails and put his left hand close to the barrier.

“I am the door, and the thing I cling to is the wall. This wall has no door, but I am the door!

“I open all locks with potent poison, thus I am the key — I shall open all doors.”

As he spoke, he pulled his left hand, which was attached to the barrier, back towards himself.

A vortex-like illusory door, centered on the wound in his palm, spread across the barrier.

The shape of that door resembled a body pierced by a steel nail, magnified countless times.

“Okay…please come over.” Jacob smiled and turned around.

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