Ascension Ritual

Jack rode his horse back to the ruins of the the Frye family's house.

He barely dismounted, and after exchanging a few words with Dr. Morgan on horseback, Jenny II walked over to Professor Armitage.

"I've found it; it's back on the the Whateley family's wasteland," Jack said.

Professor Armitage gave Jack a piece of fruit candy.

Jack was delighted, staring wide-eyed at the little thing in his hand.

After putting the candy in his mouth, Jack told Jack what he wanted to do.

"Ascension Ritual?" Professor Armitage asked in astonishment.

He hesitated for a moment, thought about it carefully for a long time, and touched the silver Briefcase before finally nodding to Jack: "If you want, you can definitely give it a try."

"Don't worry," Jack said, "If the situation becomes too urgent, I won't insist."

"Of course, I believe you," Professor Armitage replied. "I will assist you. But—"

Professor Armitage paused for a moment before saying, "Isn't this a bit too hasty? If I remember correctly, you're only twenty-six, even younger than Dr. Morgan."

"That's true," Jack said. "But, Professor, do you remember when your third Ascension Ritual was?"

It's not very clear anymore.

37

How old were you that year?

After a brief silence, Professor Armitage said, "Twenty-four years old. I was the youngest triple ascendant at that time, but that's precisely why I hoped you could wait a little longer. Back then, circumstances didn't allow me to wait."

Jack shook his head firmly. "Professor, I think I've waited long enough."

He seemed to be merely seeking Professor Armitage's opinion; after speaking, he didn't even look at Paul and Hope before riding back to Dr. Morgan.

"Jack wants to complete his Ascension Ritual?" Hope asked.

Professor Armitage nodded.

Why today?

Professor Armitage looked at Hope: "There may not be enough time for me to explain in too much detail. Simply put, the Ascension Ritual requires a sufficiently powerful being as a target, Jack chose it."

A sufficiently powerful being—as Professor Rice mentioned, Jack wanted to find a being with sufficiently high Inspiration—

Do you need to target it—what does that mean, kill it, and then inherit its attributes or gain experience points to level up?

"Why—well, how is that possible?" Hope asked. "Does Jack inherit the other person's attributes?"

"It's about actively accepting contamination," Professor Armitage explained. "Mystical contamination, generally speaking, refers to the phenomenon where a creature with lower attributes experiences an uncontrollable increase in its attributes when it is near a creature with higher attributes."

"Because it's uncontrollable, although the attributes will increase, it may lead to some negative consequences."

Hope stared wide-eyed at Professor Armitage.

Self-Sense: 4.11

An absolutely high-attribute creature.

And Hope herself:

Self-Sense: 0.57

It's almost seven times worse.

"No, no." Professor Armitage shook his head. "I'm not that high yet. To pollute other creatures in a normal environment, one needs to be at least a sixth-rank or higher, and at least five ranks higher than the lower-attribute creature."

"So, does that mean the Transparent Monster is already five ranks below Jack?" Hope asked in surprise.

Professor Armitage shook his head again. "It should only be a fifth-order creature. If it is a sixth-order creature, there is nothing we can do now except request support."

But you just said—"

"But as I said, the Ascension Ritual relies on the ceremony itself to 'accept contamination.' It's safer and more stable, although there's still a possibility of failure, but it's still better than facing the sixth order directly."

Professor Armitage spoke, he suddenly stood up, and Hope also stood up, with Paul helping him.

"Actually, I can still stand on my own," Hope said helplessly to Paul. "Not only that, I can walk on my own too."

Paul didn't respond, and instead gave a couple of morally bankrupt laughs.

"It seems they've already made up their minds. Let's go back to the car," Professor Armitage said.

Dr. Morgan and Professor Rice arrived at the car almost at the same time as them.

Dr. Morgan, still preoccupied with what had just happened, awkwardly opened the car door for Hope with the posture of a servant, bowing almost at a ninety-degree angle. "Please come in! This is the treatment a hero deserves."

Hope coughed twice, trying her best to appear haughty, looking down at Dr. Morgan with her nostrils flared. Paul then became respectful as well, helping Hope to bow her head.

Professor Rice was already in the car. He couldn't help but laugh at Hope's expression, then reached out to Professor Armitage for candy.

"Where are we going this time?" Professor Armitage asked.

"The Old Williams House's," Dr. Morgan said. "There's a large, abandoned lot there, and it's close enough to the Whateley House."

"If it's there, I can take you there directly," Hope volunteered.

But Dr. Morgan shook his head.

"No need, we're not in a hurry," Professor Rice said. "Could you take the car with you?"

Hope had never tried it before, but after touching and feeling it, he vaguely guessed the result, and shook his head. "It's too big."

"Let's take it slow then," Professor Rice said. "We'll definitely have to get there eventually. Besides, Jack needs to prepare as well."

He looked out the window, and Hope looked out the window too. Jack and Paul rode alongside the car on horseback, with Jack a little further away.

"What is Jack doing?" Hope asked.

"Perfume," Professor Rice replied. "Ah, I mean, Spirit-Infused Water. A special version, so effective it's almost unbelievable, so effective it might cause some unpleasant phenomena. That's why he has to ride a horse; that way, even if some of it drifts into the air, it will be diluted by rapid diffusion."

Why spray Spirit-Infused Water?

"You're like a curious child," Professor Rice said. "I'd love to explain it to you, but I'm not a professional, Dr. Morgan."

"Do you already know what 'pollution' means?" Dr. Morgan asked.

"Yes, Professor Armitage already told me."

"So, simply put, Jack is removing his armor, making himself more vulnerable."

More vulnerable----

"Make him more susceptible to contamination?"

"Yes," Dr. Morgan said, "If only all my students were as smart as you. I always have to explain things to them so many times, but all they think about is how to date the opposite sex from the next class after class. Seriously, Hope, you should come to Miskatonic University."