The black sun hangs high

Chapter 119 New changes

The mice that had been listening to Hugh and his companion's conversation quietly dispersed.

The topic the two young people were discussing put them under immense pressure. These spirits from the Ernst family, who had lived a century ago, had hoped that the conversation between the two young people would bring them some pleasure. However, the moment they opened their mouths, they began to discuss chilling academic questions about magic.

And it also seems to be related to himself.

However, the new changes in the corridor drew the attention of all the souls back to the scene. The moment the shriek came, both Benhardt and Alexandra felt an urge to respond.

It was as if they were a pack of wolves that had heard the call of their alpha.

However, at this moment, the running rat Sniggy was not in good condition in Hugh's perception, because the magic power in its body was too abundant. The running rat was now basically a "rat-shaped" balloon. Hugh could feel that the magic power accumulated in its body was pulsating extremely violently, as if it was about to explode completely in its body at any moment!

However, the offspring of this three-tailed giant rat seemed completely oblivious to its own condition. While emitting a piercing shriek, it swung its tail and precisely "picked out" two blind rats from the swarm that were blessed by the Earth Mother Goddess and were about to attack it.

It was only then that Hugh noticed that Sniggy's tail had undergone a huge change.

Its three long tails, which were originally just tough and sharp, capable of attacking like swords and whips, are now beginning to show some sharp protrusions. This is a feature that Hugh had seen on the three-tailed giant rats in his dream before...

After the three tails successfully pierced the bodies of the two blind rats, the protrusions at the ends of Sniggy's tails instantly "extended" into sharp barbs under the stimulation of magic. With a forceful swing of the tails, these barbs instantly transformed into terrifying blades, tearing the two blind rats impaled on them apart on the spot. The blessing of Mother Earth that originally belonged to them was naturally taken away by Sniggy.

The feeling of magic expanding intensified as the battle progressed.

Hugh felt that his summoned creatures were repeatedly testing the threshold of "self-destruction"...

If things continue like this, it's only a matter of time before it explodes.

Just as Hugh was determined to forcibly recall the raging rats, it once again let out a piercing, loud shriek. Under the influence of excessive magical power, a visible trace of magical power spread out from the rat swarm, sweeping across the entire underground floor like a wave.

This seemed like a signal, or rather, a powerful command.

Hugh discovered that when the shrieking subsided, the previously chaotic swarm of rats had completely fallen silent. Not only them, but even the rats gathered around Hugh and his companion, who were the carriers of the Ernst family's will, had fallen silent. Hugh turned his head and saw that the rats, who had been manipulated by their "ancestors," were now huddled together, their heads pressed against the ground...

It was as if it were an expression of worship and submission.

In fact, all the rats remaining in this underground floor are now in the same state. Whether they were originally controlled by human will or divine rituals, they are now all lying down quietly in the same direction.

And right in the middle of them was the figure of a sprinting rat.

This magical creature, which had been with Hugh for a long time and had been severely injured in the recent battle, now looked completely different.

Its body size has increased significantly since it was first born. Now, when it lies on the ground, it is much larger than some of the pet dogs of wealthy women. Its fur has become dense and thick, as smooth as a gray blanket.

Not only its size and fur, but also the Runaway Rat's sharp claws and teeth have changed. Through the magical connection, Hugh is certain that the Runaway Rat now possesses sharper and stronger claws and teeth. The corrosive magic originating from the metal disc has been deeply implanted into its body. Under these circumstances, even if Hugh does not actively infuse it with magic, it can still inject its terrifying and deadly poison into its target.

"Unfortunately, it hasn't grown horns on its head yet... It's still far from being a three-tailed giant rat that has truly received the blessing of the Earth Mother Goddess."

Hugh glanced at his summoned creature with some regret, but this simple action caught Sniggy's attention, and the next second, a very clear sense of dissatisfaction was transmitted through the magical connection between the two.

"His temper has certainly grown quite a bit..."

Hugh shook his head with amusement, only to see Sniggy's tail swaying rhythmically as it cried out again, but this time the sound was far less shrill and piercing than before.

Under this new "command," all the blind rats gathered there immediately broke free from their stiff and immobile state. They retreated to both sides, making way for a wide path, allowing the sprinting rats to stroll out with their heads held high.

However, to Hugh's surprise, his summoned creature did not return to his side immediately.

Under his gaze, the scurrying rat trotted lightly to Vera's feet, circled her ankle twice, and its fawning posture would make even a real cat admit defeat.

Hugh's eyebrows furrowed immediately. He bent down, grabbed the large rat by the back fur, and lifted it right in front of him.

Faced with Hugh's actions, Sniggy simply blinked his eyes, which had returned to their dark green color, and put on a very innocent look.

This thing doesn't know how to control its thoughts and emotions yet, so just now, all the details of its thinking were precisely fed back to Hugh's mind through the magical connection.

Hugh had no idea that Virin had gained Sniggy's trust and favor simply by casting a few summon enhancement spells on him, and that the creature even had the idea that "so-and-so is inferior to so-and-so" in its head.

"Such disloyal thoughts must not be tolerated; we must take strong measures!"

Thinking this, Hugh raised his finger and flicked the running rat's nose hard. At the same time, Hugh's own will was directly applied through the magical connection, erasing some of Sniggy's strange thoughts while also gaining more details about Sniggy's condition. The grooves in the metal disc began to change.

This time, the increased power of the Running Rat did not directly "open up" a new space on the metal disc; what changed was the groove where Sniggy had previously been housed.

Hughes saw that the space in the groove seemed to have expanded considerably. If the previous groove was like a shallow "pit", then the changed groove seemed to have real depth - it had become a cave existing in the spiritual world.

One can imagine that in such a space, the running rats would have a more spacious and comfortable area to move around in, and the cave itself seems to be able to accommodate more things, although Hugh is not yet able to figure out the intricacies of it.

Moreover, Hughes noticed that a series of patterns gradually emerged on the edge of the groove. These patterns were very simple in style, but the images they depicted were extremely clear.

It was a long line of blind rats, easily recognizable by their eyeless heads and mutated, fleshy, whisker-like hind legs.

"It seems that the Earth Mother Mystic Instrument has indeed brought it tremendous benefits..."

Hugh observed the changes in his mental world and pondered: "The raging rat is a kin of the Earth Mother Goddess, a fact that has been confirmed in the previous dream. Therefore, its acceptance of this power is obviously far greater than that of ordinary creatures, and definitely surpasses that of all the rats and magical creatures I have encountered so far."

Sniggy was clearly unhappy that Hugh was carrying it, so it carefully twisted a couple of times. Seeing this, Hugh released its grip, letting it fall back to the ground.

As if to "make up" for its previous mistakes, the mad rat had just landed back on the ground when it affectionately and ingratiatingly rubbed against Hugh's leg twice. Then, under Virin's extremely disgusted gaze, it ran forward two steps and began to actively show Hugh its "new special skill".

With a command, the rats in the corridor, which had previously not only disobeyed its orders but had even attacked it, immediately sprang into action. Under Sniggy's deliberate manipulation, these dense rats immediately formed a neat line that stretched all the way to the end of the corridor.

It seems that its ability to manipulate and command the will of rodents has been greatly enhanced. Not only can it summon a much larger swarm of rodents, but it has also included these magical creatures, which have been transformed by the power of the Earth Mother Goddess, in its command list.

While demonstrating his abilities, Sniggy cleverly and shrewdly reduced his influence on his "own rat horde." However, Alexandra and the rest of the family members still felt immense fear of Sniggy's presence.

"It feels exactly the same as that secret ritual, so I believe you..."

Alexandra walked slowly over, glanced warily at Hugh's summoned creature, and then said, "You not only have a connection with the Black Sun Society, but you may also have some kind of relationship with the gods that the society worships and believes in."

"It's too early to tell."

Hugh glanced at Alexandra, quickly suppressing the slight excitement he felt from the changes in the Running Rats, and said, "We've only temporarily resolved the immediate problem. Only when the ritual itself is completely destroyed or terminated can this matter be considered over."

He glanced at the Ernst family members gathered around him. After this series of events, the once large family rat population had been reduced by nearly half. The servants and attendants who had been controlled by Alexandra to "take care of" and "serve" these rats had been almost entirely wiped out in the recent conflict.

Given their current severely depleted state, it seems that the human will that has persisted for countless years has finally reached its end.

Hugh even suspected that once he completely destroyed the secret ritual buried beneath the manor, these "ancestors" before him would immediately vanish without the support of their power.

His thoughts did not escape the notice of these souls with rich life experience.

After a moment of silence, the bruised rats made a soft sound, telling Alexandra, the speaker, the result of their "discussion." The once-legendary figure then gave the two young people a gentle smile.

"We were already prepared."

Alexandra spoke softly, her emotions subtly shifting, the dark shadows in her eyes flickering like candle flames about to go out: "As former leaders of the family, as pioneers of the family, when we learned the truth about the ritual and gathered on this floor, we were already prepared to face a bleak end... Child, don't forget, we are the dead."

"For us, a peaceful sleep would be the best outcome."

Alexandra raised her arm and showed Hugh her arm, which was gradually collapsing into rat form due to the weakening of her power: "Moreover, we don't want the younger members of the family to know that their elders, whose portraits were painted and hung everywhere, have ended up looking like this."

As they were talking, the sprinting rat, which had already quietly returned to Hugh's mental world, sent him a message. Hugh instinctively understood the contents of the message, and his expression immediately changed subtly.

Seeing the change in Hugh's expression, Vera seemed to sense something, so she tentatively asked, "It seems that Mr. Hugh has a slightly different opinion on this?"

"I wouldn't call it an opinion."

Hugh looked at Alexandra, then at the swarm of rats beside her, and sighed softly. “I have some other suggestions for this matter, but I can’t be sure they will work, or whether they will align with your original ideas.”

General Bernhardt, always impatient, immediately had his share of rats clamoring, "Tell us! Tell us!"

“If I do not choose to destroy the Earth Mother’s ritual, but instead try to inherit and take over its power, then you will all be able to continue to exist in your current form… However, at that time, you will no longer be bound here, but will be able to leave with me and return to the outside world.”

Hugh slowly read out the message that Sniggy had passed on to him. He said seriously, "I cannot guarantee the safety and security of this approach. After all, accepting the power of the Mystic Ritual is inherently risky. Therefore, the choice is left to you."

(End of this chapter)