As the hunters moved toward the center of the ruin, caution was necessary.
The shattered buildings and towering pillars loomed higher than those outside.
Igor didn't understand what kind of food they could possibly find in such a place. Everything was destroyed, and there was no sign of resources for consumption anywhere.
Yet, he followed along in one line, just like how ants follow each other.
Although, his Trickster's Eyes helped him see through people's personalities and lies.
And so far, he hadn't spotted any deception in their words.
"Calamity, on your right!"
Barefoot and a few others warned Igor from the left.
"Yes, give me a second."
Igor, already aware of the approaching Death Knight, instinctively jumped onto it like a primal hunter.
Bang!
Splash!
The rusty helmet shattered, and along with it, the skull was crushed instantly.
Then, with another swift move, he effortlessly dragged the corpse under the sun.
"Haha, our Calamity is really getting good at this," a female hunter chuckled.
Blaze looked equally appreciative, but his demeanor remained strict as he announced,
"Stay focused, fellow hunters. There are stronger knights where we are heading."
Hearing his serious warning, everyone became alert.
They knew their leader never lied, and their trust in him was unwavering.
Igor wanted to test his Acquisition ability, but with so many people around, this might not be a good idea.
Until now, he had only seen Blaze using special abilities, and there were no visible signs of him having contracted beasts.
That meant he needed to understand the situation of Summoners in this world.
Was Blaze the only one with an ability in Forsaken Land, or were there others as well?
Moreover, how did people view Summoners nowadays?
Though Igor couldn't exactly be called a proper Summoner, his Acquisition ability worked somewhat similar to how Summoners functioned.
But he didn't rule out the possibility of getting a chance to use the Acquisition ability when he found himself alone.
As they walked, Igor finally got a chance to ask Barefoot a question.
"Barefoot, what was that fire ability Leader Blaze just used? Can't we use it too?" he asked in a whispering tone.
Barefoot, walking steadily on his bare feet, let out a disappointed sigh upon hearing Igor's query.
He answered with a sigh, "Yes… The Lost Arts. How could you forget? Oh right, you lost your memories.
Anyway, Leader Blaze was lucky to stumble upon one of those Lost Arts that had been long forgotten in this age. With that, he likely formed a contract with a Magical Beast. That's how he was able to gain fire abilities."
"Still, as the legend says, his fire ability couldn't compare to its prime when our Ancestors dominated the world with the Summoners' Arts."
"Alas, those glorious days are now gone because of the Perfect Society. Using Science they developed Mechas, which became a huge threat to the Summoners.
They now rely on advanced Mechas instead of the magical beasts. Because surprisingly the Mechas had been proven far more powerful than the magical beasts.
They are the ones who caused the Great Rebellion—the same terrifying rebellion that destroyed the Age of Summoners along with our Ancestors 2,000 years ago.
And now, we, the great descendants of those Ancient Summoners, are nothing but slaves, outcasts of the Perfect Society.
Sigh… that's how it is."
Barefoot spoke with great disappointment, as if longing for the old days. He looked truly disheartened by the reality of their situation.
"I see..." Igor nodded, before saying, "But there's one thing that's been bugging me. Can another person not learn the Art that Leader Blaze has?" he asked, puzzled by the thought.
"Sheesh..." Barefoot covered Igor's mouth, his face serious. "Don't say such things. You can't just ask for that kind of power so casually. When the leader feels like it, he will grant his Art to those he trusts. Moreover, talent and affinity play a role—not everyone can learn the same Art."
Igor nodded once the big hand was removed. "I understand. But is there really no one besides Leader Blaze who is a Summoner?"
Barefoot's expression turned grim.
"There are plenty, but they choose to remain hidden because of the Perfect Society. Here in the Wasteland, they appear more often, but in their world, Summoners are simply intolerable."
"Oh, that sounds dangerous," Igor muttered as if frightened, but inside, he was carefully absorbing the information.
From what he had just learned, Summoners were both respected and feared in the Forsaken Land.
That meant there was no issue with trying out his Acquisition Ability.
After walking for about ten minutes, it seemed they had finally reached their destination.
Igor looked ahead and was surprised.
Beyond the rubble and ruined buildings, he found himself staring at a vast, circular clearing.
At its center stood a raised platform, upon which loomed a decayed and ancient statue of an unknown woman with graceful air and regal posture.
The strange glowing lines, eerie and intricate, formed a sinister pattern around the statue, their ominous glow casting unsettling shadows.
Encircling the platform stood dozens of formidable-looking undead knights under the shadows, their hollow eyes fixed forward in eerie stillness.
Within the formation, twelve freshly slain animals or beasts lay arranged in a deliberate pattern, as if they were offerings.
"The Forbidden Summoning Art..." Blaze muttered, his voice low but filled with seriousness.
"They're trying to summon the soul of a Fallen Monarch probably."
His gaze swept over the group, before speaking in sharply, "We have to steal the sacrifices and stop the ritual, just like we did in the past. Got it?"
"Ay ay, Leader. We're always ready," a female member of the group grinned, licking her lips as if already savoring the food in her vision.
Seeing their confidence, Igor felt a bit more assured. At least they had experience from previous hunts even if he, unfortunately, had forgotten all of it.
Slowly, his trust in them grew slightly.
Yet one question nagged at him—where did the undead knights find such fresh offerings?
Perhaps there was a place where these beasts roamed in plentiful. He made a mental note to ask about it later.
"Igor," Blaze suddenly called out, not just him but three others as well.
"You three will be in charge of moving the carcasses. Am I clear?" he ordered forcefully, his tone left no room for argument.
"Yes... Everything is clear, Leader," Igor and the others responded without hesitation.
"Whoosh! Whoosh!"
The air crackled as Blaze and the others charged forward with a fierce battle cry.
Blaze's sword burned like a raging inferno as he leaped high, bringing it down upon one of the Greater Death Knights.
With a single slash, the knight was cleaved from head to toe, flames spreading instantly, reducing its form to cinders.
Igor and the three other weaker hunters exchanged glances, clearly impressed.
They were waiting for the perfect moment to steal the resources while the knights were distracted.
Soon, the opportunity presented itself when all of the sixteen hunters was engaged in separate battles in a Circle.
"It's time! Let's move!"