I Made Up Forbidden Spells, and They Actually Worked?

Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Even the Saintess-in-Waiting Needs a Mentor?

The specter formed from thousands of souls was overwhelming, both in its sheer size and the oppressive force of the countless souls fused together, all screaming in unison. Even though both sides were battle-hardened, they couldn't help but feel a deep sense of dread.

As the specter, resembling a giant, moved closer with each thunderous step, and the ground trembled beneath them, the idea of resisting seemed futile. Instinctively, everyone began to retreat.

But the size difference between them and the specter was so immense that retreating was useless. When the specter suddenly stomped down with a foot formed from hundreds of fused souls, it covered a vast area, crushing several figures beneath it.

There wasn't even time for a scream—only the thick scent of blood filled the air.

When the specter lifted its foot again, the ground beneath it was left with deep, blood-soaked impressions, where the earth had been stained red.

"Fall back! Everyone, fall back!"

"Protect the Saintess!"

Voices shouted in panic, magical waves rippling through the air. But in the midst of this chaos, Dean Bruce took a deep breath and, to everyone's shock, calmly walked toward the specter, eliciting gasps from those around him.

Dean Bruce wasn't walking to his death; after his earlier contemplation, he was certain that his magic could counter the specter!

"Rumble!"

As the massive foot rose again, countless souls let out eerie screams, ready to crush Dean Bruce. Many of the onlookers couldn't help but close their eyes, bracing for the inevitable.

But the expected crash never came. Instead, the specter let out a howl of pain.

When the others opened their eyes, their pupils contracted in shock, filled with disbelief.

There, before them, was Dean Bruce, calmly extending his right hand, pointing at the towering specter. Black streams of water flowed out, binding the specter in place, rendering it immobile.

"What…?"

"That's the same magic he used last time! My God, what level is Dean at, to be able to control such a terrifying creature?"

Those who had witnessed The Interrogation of the Soul spell before now looked on with brightened eyes, their previously tense nerves beginning to relax.

Noticing their gazes, Dean Bruce couldn't help but smirk inwardly. His guess had been correct—since the specter was composed of countless souls, The Interrogation of the Soul magic could indeed subdue it!

Sure enough, as the black water emerged and the magic fully activated, the massive specter froze in place, showing signs of disintegration. The souls that composed it began to fall into chaos, frantically turning on each other in a desperate struggle.

"Hiss!"

"This magic is incredible! Those souls are tearing each other apart!"

"It looks like the specter is about to fall apart!"

"Thank goodness the Saintess had the foresight to agree to work with Lord Dean. Otherwise, we might have all died here!"

As they watched the specter's enormous body begin to break down within the black water, everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief and started making lighthearted remarks.

Even the person who had initially advised against Lina Jones' actions fell into silence.

Buzz—

As time passed, the specter completely disintegrated. The fragmented souls couldn't linger in the air for long. They cast meaningful glances at Dean Bruce before turning into white light and vanishing.

Dispelling the magic, Dean Bruce maintained a calm demeanor, basking in the admiration evident in everyone's eyes. He spoke with an air of composure, "The specter has been defeated. Let's regroup and quickly move toward the Ritual Temple! We mustn't give the enemy any chance to recover!"

Everyone has a natural inclination to respect power, and coupled with the fact that Dean Bruce had just saved them, there was little hesitation as the group surged toward the mountain where the Ritual Temple lay.

Lina Jones, having recovered from the aftereffects of being forcibly controlled by the angel, was still pale but able to move on her own. She wobbled over to Dean Bruce's side and remarked, "If I'd known you were that powerful, I would've let you handle Lunia! I could've saved that scroll for later!"

Noticing that the other Temple of Wisdom followers weren't keeping up, Lina Jones suddenly lowered her voice and said, "Dean, are those spells you used advanced magic? Could you teach me one or two?"

Dean Bruce was taken aback, staring at Lina Jones in surprise and confusion. He couldn't understand why the Saintess-in-Waiting of the Temple of Wisdom, with her high status and access to powerful magic, would make such a request.

Was she testing him?

Sensing his confusion, Lina Jones stuck out her tongue and quietly explained, "The magic of the Temple of Wisdom is mostly focused on defense and support. But I've been sent on several dangerous missions where I had to find ways to protect myself. I really need to learn some offensive magic with more firepower!"

"I certainly don't want to die on a mission before I even become a full-fledged Saintess!"

Dean Bruce raised an eyebrow at Lina Jones' explanation. He didn't doubt her words, but it did change his perception of her. She wasn't as simple as she appeared.

It made sense, though. If Lina Jones were truly naive, how could she have become a Saintess-in-Waiting at such a young age?

Pushing aside his thoughts, Dean Bruce responded calmly, "I only teach my disciples. You're the Saintess-in-Waiting of the Temple of Wisdom, so teaching you magic would be inappropriate."

"Then…" Lina Jones hesitated, biting her lip before suddenly saying, "I could also become your disciple. Being a student and having a faith aren't mutually exclusive."

This was exactly what Dean Bruce had been waiting for. He replied softly, "If you want to be my disciple, it depends on how sincere you are."

What does it mean to maximize benefits?

Dean Bruce's approach was just that. He wanted both the system's rewards and a proper tribute from his disciple!

Why settle for just one reward when he could have both?

Lina Jones wasn't a child; she quickly understood what Dean Bruce was implying. After a moment of thought, she said quietly, "Once we're out of here, I'll give you a generous tribute along with a Divine Descent magic scroll."

Hearing the words "Divine Descent magic," Dean Bruce's eyes lit up with interest.

However, he couldn't quite believe that Lina Jones would be willing to share such a valuable item from her temple. His eyes narrowed as he asked, "Divine Descent magic is supposed to be one of your temple's most guarded secrets. Are you really willing to give me a scroll like that?"

Lina Jones pouted and replied, "Almost every temple knows some form of Divine Descent magic. It's not as rare as you think. Besides, I'm only giving you a scroll to use in emergencies; I'm not teaching you the magic itself. Even if the temple finds out, they won't make a fuss."

"Master Dean, do you think my offer shows enough sincerity? Are you willing to accept me as your student?"

As she finished speaking, Lina Jones blinked her big, bright eyes, staring intently at Dean Bruce.

Looking into her eyes, Dean Bruce could tell that she genuinely wanted to be his disciple.

It made sense. After all, she had encountered life-threatening situations both times they had met. Anyone in her position would be fearful of the future, so her desire to learn some offensive magic was perfectly reasonable.

Dean Bruce narrowed his eyes, not easily swayed by Lina Jones' feigned innocence. He responded calmly, "One Divine Descent magic scroll is a bit too little. I want ten."

After a brief pause, Dean Bruce added, "You have several senior brothers and sisters, don't you? More Divine Descent scrolls would help ensure their safety as well."

He had no choice but to justify his demand by shifting the reasoning to Nicholas William and the others, in order to maintain his image as a strong leader.

Lina Jones nodded slightly, not questioning Dean Bruce's logic. She pursed her lips and replied, "Ten is too many. Although Divine Descent magic scrolls aren't exactly rare, they are connected to the divine, so the temple regulates them strictly. The most I can provide is five."

"In that case, on behalf of my senior brothers and sisters, I thank you for the Divine Descent scrolls."

Dean Bruce and Lina Jones exchanged a glance, both smiling brightly, genuinely feeling as if they had come out ahead in this deal.

They both feel get more benefit.

Dean Bruce, in particular, was secretly thrilled. With five Divine Descent scrolls, he could directly learn the magic!

In the future, if he encountered any dangerous situations, he would have a powerful ace up his sleeve.

Having reached an agreement, Lina Jones smiled and quickened her pace, rallying the followers of the Temple of Wisdom to head toward the Ritual Temple.

Dean Bruce, meanwhile, caught up to Alita Miller and said in a cool tone, "Alita, don't you think you owe me an explanation?"

"An explanation? What do you mean?" Alita Miller stopped in her tracks, her face full of confusion.

Dean Bruce's voice grew colder, "Since we arrived at these ruins, a lot has happened, and every event has been completely different from what you initially told me. You said that the ruins were filled with magic that limited defensive abilities and that's why you needed me. You also claimed that the magic here was weak in attack."

"But the ruins we're in now are nothing like the ruins you described!"

"…"

Alita Miller's expression turned bitter as she sighed in resignation, "I didn't lie to you. We've entered these ruins before, and they were filled with lightning. Any counterattack would only make the magic inside grow stronger."

"I had no idea that the ruins Lina and her group entered through the same entrance would be completely different from the ones we experienced!"