"Whoa!"
Ethan quickly pulled the reins tight, forcing the Bone Horse to stop.
The still-arguing Sylas and Nostradamus suddenly fell silent as well. Both of them stared straight at the large pit ahead.
"I think I sense an evil aura!"
"Me too. There's probably a cursed object here," Sylas frowned, "Kid, this isn't a place to linger. We'd better leave now."
"No need. I know there's a cursed object."
Ethan casually looped the Bone Horse's reins over the Scarecrow's head, using it as a hitching post.
Only then did he slowly walk toward the pit.
"Kid!"
Sylas quickly floated in front of him, "Don't be arrogant! Every year, who knows how many people die from curses."
"The resentment from the cursed object down there is so strong it's already seeping out of the ground."
"You can imagine how terrifying it must be!"
"Yeah, boy," Nostradamus stepped onto the same side as Sylas for once, "Cursed objects aren't a joke. Even though I call myself an invincible astrologer, I wouldn't dare provoke one of those."
"You'd better not go over there. If we just go around this place, we'll be fine."
Seeing Ethan actually planning to approach the cursed object, the two of them panicked and tried to stop him.
After all, one of them still needed Ethan to make a wish, and the other needed Ethan to find someone to replace him as gatekeeper, otherwise, they would never become human again.
"Actually…"
Ethan said calmly, "That cursed object was put there by me."
"WHAT?" ×2
The two of them were stunned at the same time, "You put that cursed object there? How is that possible?"
"Yeah! It's that powerful. How could you possibly control it?", Sylas said, "Kid, now isn't the time to show off. If you mess this up, it won't just be your pride that gets hit. It'll be your life."
"I'm not showing off. I'm telling the truth."
Ethan walked straight through Sylas's misty body, while Sylas kept nagging behind him.
"You brat! Why won't you listen to elders? I've eaten more salt than you've eaten rice! When you suffer for it later, you'll understand!"
"Sigh! Old ghost, stop trying to persuade him."
Nostradamus followed along, letting out a long sigh as he began gathering a ball of soft white light in his hands.
"Young people these days all have their own ideas. You can't stop them."
"They'll only learn once they suffer."
"But right now, what we need to do is save his life. We can't let him die. So you need to help me."
"Sigh! Fine!"
Sylas sighed helplessly as well, then pressed his finger against the white light Nostradamus had gathered.
With both of them working together, the white glow grew brighter and brighter.
"If that cursed object releases killing intent in an instant, that means the curse is about to activate," Sylas instructed Nostradamus, "You immediately strike it with holy light, got it? I'm not sure we can stop the curse completely, but at least we should be able to save that kid's life."
"I don't need you to teach me!", Nostradamus, exhausted to the point of sweating stone dust, snapped back, "I know what to do!"
"Hmph!"
Sylas snorted but didn't argue further.
Both of them needed to focus now.
Focus on Ethan, who had already broken through the snow and jumped into the pit. They had to intervene the instant the curse activated. Only then would they have a chance to save this apprentice mage from such a powerful curse.
No wonder they say newborn calves aren't afraid of tigers. This kid's magic was too shallow. Otherwise, how could he not see…
How terrifying this cursed object truly was?
Meanwhile, Ethan, who had broken through the snow and jumped into the pit, had no idea what the two old men were saying about him above ground.
He simply followed the prompt and searched for the rag doll and the Mud Monster eggs.
Soon, he saw the rag doll lying on the ground, its limbs bitten into pieces.
And the most disgusting part was that its body was covered in sticky slime.
No need to think too hard. It was definitely left by the Mud Monsters. As for exactly what it was, better not to ask.
["It's you again, you damn bastard!"]
The rag doll had lost all four limbs and could no longer move at all.
But its eyes were still intact, rolling around as it glared at Ethan.
["You turned me into this. Happy now?"]
"Pretty happy, yeah," Ethan smiled.
(◕ˇ∀ˇ◕)
["You bastard! If you've got the guts, come closer!"], the rag doll cursed loudly, ["Touch me! Let's see if my curse doesn't kill you!"]
"And what if I touch you and your curse still can't kill me?"
Ethan shrugged, looking completely unconcerned.
As the most vicious cursed doll, being looked down on like this only made it angrier.
["How could I not kill you with a curse? Come on then! If I fail to curse you to death, I'll obediently be your wife for a year!"]
"I'll pass on the wife part. I'm not into dolls," Ethan raised an eyebrow, "But if I touch you and you still can't curse me to death, you'll work for me for a year. Deal?"
["Pah!"]
The rag doll made a spitting motion at Ethan.
But after a while, seeing that Ethan was ignoring it and wandering around the pit, seemingly searching for something, and wanting revenge for its master, it gritted its teeth.
["Fine! I agree!"]
[Lord Contract established!]
A contract was suddenly formed between them.
The rag doll was stunned on the spot.
But… thinking that Ethan had absolutely no chance of succeeding, it quickly felt pleased again.
It was the most vicious cursed doll in the world. Nothing could block its curse power. Not even the famous Black Dragon Leather Gloves.
Black Dragons represented the pinnacle of dark magic. Gloves made from their hide were said to be the finest isolating gloves in existence.
Yet even that level of item couldn't block its curse.
It refused to believe that Ethan, who wasn't even a full-fledged mage yet, possessed anything more precious than Black Dragon Leather Gloves.
(≖◡≖✿)
'Master! Soon, the doll would avenge you.'
"I stick!"
However, Ethan really did walk up to the rag doll and crouch down.
Then he took out a Talisman of Obedience and slapped it straight onto the doll's forehead.
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