Chapter 441: Wielding the Sword with Telekinesis
Returning to the mansion.
Minnie was watering flowers with Shanaila in the garden.
These days, there seemed to be little happening at Starflower. Shanaila had been visiting more frequently.
Moreover, she had started treating the place like her own home.
Greeting the two women, Wu Heng went upstairs to the room where the previous ritual had been performed.
He released both spirits.
Xiaoxiao circled above his head once, while Glenda directly asked, "Have you found any results from the last incident?"
"No, the trail went cold, and I didn't pursue it further," Wu Heng replied.
In this world, investigative methods were not as advanced as modern techniques.
Basic inquiries supplemented with magical tools or artifacts were the norm.
Necromancers' corpse questioning or truth-inducing items were already considered advanced methods here.
Now that Wu Heng hadn't found anything, it would be even harder for the association or the guards to uncover more.
Glenda cautioned, "Be careful on the island; enemies are more dangerous than pirates."
"Yes, I understand."
Wu Heng continued, "I retrieved the missing materials from the consortium today. We can proceed with your upgrade."
Neither spirit spoke, waiting patiently.
Wu Heng added, "Last time was Xiaoxiao's turn. This time, let's enhance Glenda."
Xiaoxiao nodded in agreement, "Yes, enhance Aunt Glenda this time."
Glenda didn't refuse, merely asking, "What type of ability?"
Wu Heng pulled out a necromancer's notebook. "It's called 'Telekinetic Sword Wielding.'"
"You only gathered materials without understanding the ability?" Glenda looked down at him, displeased.
"No, I reviewed it before. I'm just double-checking for accuracy."
"What's its effect?"
Wu Heng explained, "It allows spirits to wield weapons physically."
Spirits, lacking physical bodies, couldn't hold weapons.
Their 'Telekinetic Push' trait could lift objects but didn't mimic the slashing effect of a sword.
Moving or stopping objects was useful but lacked combat efficacy.
Killing enemies required methods like lifting rolling mines to hurl at pirates.
After listening, Glenda agreed without further questions, "I have no objections."
As Wu Heng's level increased,
his enemies grew stronger. Spirits solely providing reconnaissance were becoming inadequate.
Especially since Xiaoxiao had gained the ability to discern enemy levels.
Enhancing Glenda's abilities had become necessary.
"Alright, I'll prepare the ritual materials. Please wait," Wu Heng said.
Xiaoxiao raised her hand mid-air, "Uncle, if I'm not needed, can I watch cartoons upstairs? I'll come down when Aunt's done."
"Go ahead, but keep the volume low in the study."
"Got it," Xiaoxiao replied and flew through the ceiling to the upper floor.
Wu Heng began unpacking the prepared materials one by one.
He mixed blood and gold powder in a bowl, stirring them together before painting the required ritual circle according to the notes.
Compared to Xiaoxiao's enhancement,
this circle was more intricate, but the instructions were clear and allowed for precise replication.
When the last stroke completed the circle,
a dark necromantic energy filled the room.
Without delay,
Wu Heng meticulously arranged the materials by quantity and type in their designated spots.
Once everything was ready, he looked up. "Glenda, enter the circle. It'll be fine."
Even in her spectral form, Glenda's nervousness was evident.
She nodded and floated into the center of the circle.
As Glenda entered, the ritual circle began to glow.
The materials disintegrated into fine dust, transforming into energy that enveloped Glenda in a swirling vortex.
As time passed,
Glenda absorbed the energy and reverted to her original form.
[Spirit skill unlocked: Telekinetic Sword Wielding.]
The process was successful.
And everything went smoothly.
Glenda examined her translucent form, "Is it done?"
"Yes, you can come out now," Wu Heng replied.
Glenda floated out, commenting, "Honestly, I don't feel any different."
"No rush!" Wu Heng checked her status panel.
As expected, a new skill, 'Telekinetic Sword Wielding,' was listed.
[Telekinetic Sword Wielding]: Allows the spirit to focus telekinesis on a weapon, simulating the effect of wielding it.
It matched the notes closely.
Though not true weapon grasping—lacking a body—
it focused telekinetic energy on a weapon.
Simulating a sword-wielding effect.
It seemed quite useful.
Looking up, Wu Heng saw Glenda testing her new ability in mid-air.
He placed a sword on the table. "Try using this as if holding it."
Glenda focused on the sword.
After several attempts, an ethereal hand gripped the hilt,
lifting it from the table.
Wu Heng was surprised, and so was Glenda. "It actually works."
"Swing it and see!"
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The sword sliced through the air with a sharp sound.
Indeed, it was unlike the usual feeble telekinetic control of objects.
"This is impressive!" Glenda exclaimed.
Wu Heng handed her a pistol. "Try this."
Glenda, familiar with its use, grasped it, aimed forward.
"Now, turn invisible."
Glenda vanished, leaving only the floating pistol visible.
It appeared eerie.
"How is it?" Her voice echoed from the void.
"It's excellent."
Glenda reappeared and returned the pistol.
Wu Heng remarked, "You can now contribute to battles."
"Finally, I can be helpful," she said, relieved.
After the skill test,
Wu Heng returned upstairs to the study, where Xiaoxiao was watching cartoons.
She glanced up, "Did Aunt's ritual succeed?"
"It did."
"Oh, what's her new skill? Show me!"
Glenda smiled and picked up a cup nearby, moving it slightly.
Xiaoxiao looked disappointed. "That's it? She could already do that before!"
"It's different now. I can use weapons and fight."
Xiaoxiao's enthusiasm waned. "Alright, as long as you're happy."
Wu Heng spent some time in the study.
By evening, Minnie called for dinner.
Instructing the spirits to stay upstairs, Wu Heng went down to eat.
...…
The next morning, after breakfast.
Wu Heng returned to the zombie world.
Emerging from the room,
he looked toward the train station.
Today, only two survivors were bartering for supplies, chatting with the trade overseer.
Descending the stairs, Wu Heng hadn't gone far before Qi Hancai rushed over.
She pulled him aside, saying, "Something happened."
"What is it?"
"Yesterday, a group was sent ahead to scout the 'military zone,' but they never returned. We sent a rescue team, but they found no trace of them," Qi Hancai reported gravely.
Wu Heng frowned slightly.
They were missing.
Given the state of the refuge, it was unlikely they fled with resources.
A more plausible scenario was that they encountered danger.
If zombies were involved, the rescue team should have found the scene.
After all, zombies wouldn't move vehicles.
This indicated trouble unrelated to zombies.
Before Wu Heng could respond, someone emerged from the radio room.
They called out, "Sister Qi, come here!"
Qi Hancai glanced back and went over with Wu Heng.
Inside the room,
the radio operator reported, "A shelter contacted us, claiming they have our people. If we want them alive, they're demanding 2,000 bags of grain, 500 guns, and ammunition."
500 guns?
Did they have 500 men?