Taking the Mafia to the Magic World

Chapter 961  Banishing Ritual

As soon as he opened his arms in the middle of the small platform with several golden markings and a small black box in the center, Outer Elder Collins said. "The Banishing Ritual is special. As much as it has a defensive component to prevent much higher existences from existing among lower ones, it can be used on a much more practical level.

For example, it allows me to clear the space around me and perform extraction surgery on a still-living organism without the risk of infection."

Vicente opened his eyes in realization, feeling that it really made sense to use the ritual to sterilize the environment, the patient's affected area, and the Healer's instruments.

"But we use rituals as a basic step for other, higher-level magic. Let's say I'm interested in setting fire to a certain area. I might be interested in removing the water element from the area. With the ritual, we can do that easily."

Vicente nodded, keeping the Elder's words of instruction in his mind. Meanwhile, the mana around the Elder glowed brightly as his seven pentagrams emerged from his body.

The magical configuration of Outer Elder Collins was even more impressive than what Vicente had seen on his journey: green, yellow, green, cyan, cyan, cyan, indigo.

Meanwhile, a golden leaf condensed in front of the Elder, emanating the magical fluctuation of the form of this man's powers.

When the leaf appeared, golden symbols made of mana came out of it, while the markings on the platform activated like lights waiting for energy.

"Today, however, I'm going to show you an offensive form of ritual. In the black box in front of me is what we call a spectre. This is a creature similar to ghosts, but more irrational and dangerous.

The spectre I'm about to release possessed the body of a small animal. It's not uncommon to find possessed creatures in Anicane, so this could be very useful for you to see and learn from."

Collins opened the black box, and a dog-shaped creature emerged from it. But this was no cute dog, but a creature that seemed to have escaped through the gates of hell and climbed into the realm of the living.

Its eyes were the size of baseballs, bright red with dilated pupils and black veins in the sclera. Its teeth, numbering in the dozens, were sharp and large, blending into its extremely thin face, with parts of its bones not covered by its skin.

It had almost no fur, and in some parts of its body, its skin didn't cover its flesh and bones, making it look like a creature that had survived a serious accident.

Dark mist condensed around its paws, sharp claws positioned to attack anyone who threatened it.

Meanwhile, the foul stench from its mouth spread to the surrounding area, drawing the attention of Vicente, who couldn't help but put a hand to his mouth to cover his nose.

"Possessed creatures are usually not beautiful, have a terrible smell, and are dangerous. In a state of possession, spectres are not so irrational, they can plan better and take actions that make it harder to defeat them.

Anyway, if you have some free time, read up on possession.

Now take the candles, the incense, the salt and the bell that are on the table behind you.

Vicente felt a little scared as the creature's eyes focused on him. He knew it was safe, as the Elder's powers somehow activated a special barrier around the platform. But he could feel the terror of this possessed creature, who was a 1-Star Magus!

But he controlled his fear and looked back at the table Collins had pointed to. There were all the items strapped to it, but also a knife and some tokens made of gold.

Vicente used his mana to control the candles, salt, bell, and incense, and had no trouble passing through the special barrier on the platform.

Collins used his own mana to receive these items and dashed them to where the possessed dog was.

The six candles lit up around the creature, the smoke from the incense enveloped the creature, and the golden letters left Collins' magical form and joined the smoke.

Small golden sparks appeared between the letters and the smoke, forming a gray cell of shifting and flashing golden lattices. Meanwhile, the bell rang in front of the creature, causing it to stop looking at Vicente and howl at the sky.

"Auuu!"

"The candles and incense are to keep the room from suffering the consequences of the ritual." Collins continued his explanation. "The candles maintain the boundary between the unaffected area and the affected area, while the incense releases a special smoke that can restrict movement.

But for this to work, you must somehow connect your powers to the smoke. This is unique to each magician, so you must find your own method."

Then, as the creature screamed in agony, its body distorted into a strange shadow that looked like something was coming out of it, Collins threw salt mixed with his mana.

"The bell disturbs the soul or elements we wish to attack. As for the salt, it can be prepared to be corrosive to the type of creature you wish to exorcise. But if this ritual had a unique creature in mind, or even a different purpose, the salt and almost all the other elements of the ritual would be used in a different way.

Now comes the most important part."

As Collins' hands formed symbols with his fingers, the golden letters glowed differently as he moved.

"You can use hand seals, mental commands, or incantations if you prefer. Somehow, you must make the surrounding nature understand what you are doing and use your power to manipulate it to your liking."

At that moment, he stopped making hand seals and said special words in a language Vicente didn't understand.

Then, in response, a gray creature emerged from the dog's body, glowing as if different parts of its body were circulating electricity.

The once hideous creature suddenly changed shape, losing much of its malevolent features as the sinister entity hovered over it. The spectre screamed in agony as its body became more and more transparent as it was consumed by something.

Amid what seemed to be the end of the spectral creature, the front of the area changed, and the black wall that hadn't caught Vicente's attention until now transformed. In an instant, it no longer seemed to be a wall, but a dark horizon.

Black clouds moved in as a vast black desert appeared. Then a chariot of burning horses, with various symbols associated with death, emerged from this place.

Vicente stared at it in disbelief, seeing for the first time the Gate of Hell open before him.

Elder Collins broke into a cold sweat as he stood in front of Vicente. He said in the young Archmage's mind, 'This is the Gate of Hell. Spectres are natives of Hell. When they escape, no one comes for them. But when they are about to die, an executioner seeks them out to punish them.

When you come face to face with the Gates of Hell, don't move and don't look the creatures of this realm in the eye. They are only interested in the spectre.'

Vicente swallowed his saliva, feeling an aura from the burning carriage that was much stronger than any he had ever seen in Light Cay.

He didn't look into the eyes of the creatures around the carriage, but he saw their bodies made of darkness and felt as if his destiny lay before him. But at the same time, he felt he was standing in front of an endless abyss, with icy winds blowing around him.

A humanoid creature in the burning chariot raised a hand towards them, and Vicente thought that this was the end.

But only the spectre was attracted, and it continued its painful screams until it fell into a black cell.

At that moment, the surroundings returned to normal, the deadly sensations fading as Collins' powers diminished in intensity.

"Sigh! What you saw could happen. I didn't plan on it today, but whenever we perform a ritual against a spectre, there's always this risk... Anyway, never look into the eyes of the dead. The dead can only see other dead unless we give them permission to see us. Remember that in the future."

Gulp!

Vicente nodded in understanding, while he couldn't help but wonder what this place was and how the surroundings had suddenly changed.

"Elder..."

"I know what you have in mind. But even I can't give you a straight answer..." Collins sighed solemnly. "The Hell is a different dimension from the 10,000 worlds and Anicane. I can't say exactly where or what it is. But it's not one of Anicane's islands, I can assure you.

But don't think too much about it. The Hell and its creatures rarely interfere with or affect the lives of the living. Just take the precautions I've already told you, and everything will be fine."