Why did Red Hood, Lunpena, Elaine, and the others have to wait for the game's protagonist, the Magician, to appear before they could attempt to clear the hall?

Because without the Magician's Sacrificial Arm or Hand of Redemption, killing the Demons would be futile.

As long as the Demons in the hall were not dealt with by the Magician, even if defeated, they would refresh in a short time or even resurrect on the spot with full health.

Red Hood and the others were Magicians themselves. Judging by their hands, they had clearly performed countless sacrifices and redemptions on Demons before. But now, perhaps due to the game's design, this task could only be performed by the protagonist Magician.

Caroline, having just been saved, was astounded to see the Magician redeem the civilians from the Patchwork Monster and then conjure a Fried Chicken Combo out of thin air for them.

"Can magic now create fried chicken?"

If it were actual creation from nothing, that would seem too much like a bug, Ren Suo thought, so he had the Magician answer, "This is my Spatial Magic, which allows me to retrieve stored fried chicken at any time."

Caroline asked, "But why fried chicken?"

The Magician replied, "Because it is the food developed by your humans that has the highest calories, replenishes energy the most, and is the easiest to purchase."

At that moment, the Magician spoke with Elaine, and they began to use Offerings to heal the injured Federal Cultivators.

When the Patchwork Monster went on a Rampage, several Federal Cultivators were seriously injured. Although they seemed to possess Healing Magic, they were helpless against injuries like fractured ribs, internal organ damage, and severe bleeding.

"Let me do it."

The burly, dark-haired Magician squeezed past the Healing Cultivators. However, Caroline, the on-site Commander, instructed the Federal Cultivators not to act rashly. They watched as the dark-haired Magician slapped the chest of a dying Federal Cultivator, miraculously keeping them alive by a thread!

Once the Magicians had healed all the injured, Caroline approached the dark-haired Magician. Clenching her teeth, her cheeks flushed, she suddenly bowed and said, "Thank you very, very much for your help."

The dark-haired Magician turned his head to look at her and said, "Under the World Tree, magic shelters all beings."

"Why have you sent so many people here? When have mortals become so reckless as to enter the Demon's hall without regard for their lives?"

Caroline was silent for a moment, then said, "Sir... We received news that your companion has already cleared a Secret Realm similar to this one within the Mysterious Country."

"Yes, and that companion has already sacrificed himself," the dark-haired Magician said indifferently. "To protect, to guard. Since you know about the other Secret Realms, you should also be aware that this Secret Realm is one you can enter but not leave—until we Magicians purify the hall."

The Magician that Ren Suo now controlled looked completely different from the Silver-White Mage of the first hall.

Since the people of Mysterious Country would consider the Silver-White Mage to be 'sacrificed,' Ren Suo decided to play along with this assumption, changing the Magician's appearance after clearing each hall. After all, the Magician used Forbidden Techniques at the end of each level and was typically in a near-death state after defeating the boss.

Caroline nodded. "We know."

"Then why did you still come in?"

Caroline stared intently at the dark-haired Magician and after a moment, spoke slowly, "Mr. Magician, it seems you are not aware..."

"The Secret Realms in Mysterious Country... what you call halls... even after Magicians purify them, Demons still appear. Entry and exit aren't restricted then—though only Transcendents can pass."

"These Demons will not revive like the ones here. Instead, they appear in batches after some time, and they are said to be very powerful. However, after killing the Demons, all participating Transcendents receive a Mana blessing, becoming even more powerful. This is dozens or even hundreds of times faster than practicing our Meditation methods. They can even obtain some mysterious items."

"This is why we've come in—not only to eradicate the Demons within this hall but also for us Transcendents to become stronger."

Caroline gave a wry smile. "But now it seems, this may have just been our arrogance."

Ren Suo really hadn't expected the purified halls to offer such benefits.

He knew that after a hall was purified, it would likely remain intact. Red Hood had said that once the Forbidden Fruit fell, it would take root. All the Magician could do was purify the Forbidden Fruit; otherwise, if it fully matured and burst open, the tragedy within it would spread.

Ren Suo's eyes glinted as he said, "Since that is the case, as capable human beings, please assist us, the World Tree, in purifying this hall."

Before Caroline could speak, a red-haired Federal Cultivator, also a Transcendent, stepped forward. "Sir, it should be you World Tree Magicians assisting us, the Federal Watchers. We have seventy-eight warriors here equipped with modern weapons, while you only have four. Isn't it obvious who should lead and who should assist?"

"Alternatively, Mister Magician, why don't you disclose your ability to purify Demons so we can lend you a helping hand? Wouldn't that be better?"

"If this is your Innate Ability, that's fine too—Mister Magician, since you could buy a Fried Chicken Combo, it means you can also appear on Earth. All the top scientists of the Federation are willing to strive to analyze your Innate Ability, if you truly are... fighting to protect humanity!"

"Surely, a Magician with such a grand mission should understand that fighting alone is not as effective as uniting our strengths?"

Ren Suo couldn't help but hold this red-haired Federal Cultivator in higher regard. The man's name, Victor, might be common, but his words skillfully laid a trap, twisting the Magician's earlier statements. He's essentially saying: 'Aren't you the protectors of the world, putting human interests first? Then contribute your secret powers!'

Most people would find it difficult to respond to such a challenge, but Ren Suo was different. He was the founder of the Supernatural Forces; no one could expose the lies he fabricated!

"What you speak of, we have already tried."

The dark-haired Magician said, "We once attempted to spread the power of magic, and the result is what you see before you."

The dark-haired Magician pointed at the shattered Imperial Palace and the Demons meandering within. "The power of magic comes from Desire. Only a very few, the Magicians with the Talent, can control this Desire and become Hunters walking the bloody, thorny path. However, all mortals who seek to fulfill their wishes through magic will eventually become corrupted like this. They transform into Demons, fighting viciously, and are ultimately trapped in the land of Despair, causing the world to collapse into Forbidden Fruits."

"Furthermore, the mission of a Magician is not something ordinary people can bear. This Destiny, we alone will carry."

Victor scoffed. "Is that so? ...Regardless, while you're here, you'll follow our commands. We're the soldiers with formal combat training."

Ren Suo chuckled and activated an Offering—'Madly Growing Roots'!

Within the range centered on the Magician, vines suddenly erupted from beneath the feet of all the Federal Cultivators, winding around their legs and up to their torsos, trapping them firmly!

Having cleared two halls, the Magician had acquired several useful Offerings. For instance, these roots provided an area-effect Binding Skill. While practically useless against bosses and humanoid Demons, it was immensely powerful against Lower Magical Creatures, capable of immobilizing them for several seconds. This made it highly effective for escaping or launching a counterattack.

Humans, being similar in size to Lower Magical Creatures, were well within the skill's binding range.

"Nope—"

Even Victor and Caroline were tightly bound. Caroline, in particular, was so entangled that her face turned crimson, the curious coiling of the vines further accentuating her figure.

"Numbers are meaningless to us."

In an instant, the dark-haired Magician Flickered behind Victor and Caroline and said coldly, "Magicians exist to protect, but not without dignity."

"The World Tree fights for humanity, but it will not be dictated by the so-called 'will of humanity.' We can cooperate, but there will be no superiors or subordinates between us."

"If this is your attitude, or if you hinder us in combat, the World Tree will choose to purify other halls first—but I can't guarantee that this hall won't be the first to mature into a corrupt fruit, unleashing countless Demons to ravage the land."

"Do you understand, Mr. Victor, Miss Caroline?"

With that, the dark-haired Magician immediately dispelled the Offering's magic. It seemed someone was already on the verge of breaking free from the vines.

Just then, Caroline quickly reached out to restrain Victor. Turning her head, her face still flushed, she looked down at the dark-haired Magician and said, "Understood, Mister Magician. I, representing the Watcher Commander, am willing to Fight Side by Side with you."

"And please, just call me Caroline."

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