Chapter 250: Right, Wrong, and Blame
Vito's figure flashed through Ruger's mind. Thinking back to their first meeting, Vito had said that he had accidentally fallen into a mountain ravine and ended up in the Land of Fissures where Rabbit Cottage stood. Looking at this filthy hat, Ruger knew the man's situation must be dire.
"Squeak!"
Clever Bug Zhizhi raised its head and called out.
Ruger thought for a moment, then nodded.
Zhizhi let out a cheerful chirp and nimbly tried to burrow back into the soil, but Ruger stopped it. Zhizhi looked at him, twisted its body, and crawled straight out instead.
With a light leap, Ruger jumped onto Zhizhi's back and turned to signal Layden to follow.
The cook glanced at the campfire and climbed on as well.
Zhizhi's countless legs scrabbled against the ground as it shot forward. Just as when it burrowed, it did not rely solely on the brute strength of those claws to dig through earth. In truth, while running, its claws accounted for only seventy percent of the effort. It was as though the earth favored it; when it burrowed, the soil and rocks would actively cooperate with it, allowing it to travel underground with only a little strength.
Ruger had always believed that the solidification of spells at different stages of a Wizard's development began with learning—or perhaps imitation. Some magical beasts and peculiar subterranean creatures were born with abilities akin to certain spells. Ordinary humans, through their own efforts and artificial intervention, turned themselves into humanoid magical beasts. Later, countless different paths and spells emerged, carrying them farther forward, far beyond those subterranean creatures they had once imitated—surpassing dragons step by step, crossing over demons, and forging the Wizard's path of today.
"It says it hasn't sensed Vito's aura, but there's